OT - sightseeing CA family Texas bound

I would encourage you to consider taking a drive through the Hill Country too. Maybe hitting Fredericksburg (There is always some type of cool event going on there.) Tons of antique shops. (Old German town) Great food. (And beer) Another nice small town is Marble Falls (about 100 miles from SA, but easy drive and nice drive.) If you go there, go to Russo's - really neat restaurant that combines Italian food with a Texas flair. (I live near Marble Falls.) Or, if you like Cajun food - there is a place about 20 miles BEFORE Marble Falls on Highway 281 in a "town" called Round Mountain that is owned by a church group who evacuated from New Orleans during Katrina. The food is to DIE for - it is my favorite restaurant in the whole world. The town of Round Mountain consists of the restaurant, a bank, and a convience store....but there are signs.
If you are a shopper - you might consider driving up to San Marcos and going to the outlet mall there. It is one of the biggest outlet malls in the US.
If you are into tubing (which as hot as it has been in Texas - 100+ degree heat in this area for about 3 weeks) you might consider going tubing in San Marcos also. (Your son, if he is single, would probably LOVE it. My son - who goes to college in San Marcos certainly does.)
As for food - you HAVE to go to Mi Tierra in San Antonio. I personally have other favorites as I tend to dislik tourist restaurants; however, the food is pretty good (Mexican) and then you can do the RiverWalk.

thank you!!!  I have copied your post and put it in my notebook of things to do.  I am just soooooo excited about every aspect of the trip, even the flight itself.  I haven't really been anywhere in my life.  Then to see my boy become a man, wow!!!  There isn't anything better!!!!