San Antonio has always been a crossroads for travelers, explorers, and those on a quest for liberty. Its sights, sounds, tastes and past captivate, while friendly people, the relaxing river and a superb climate entice visitors to come back for more.
From its important role in Texas independence to its fusion of cultures, San Antonio is a truly unique and authentic destination. Explore the routes of the conquistadors, the settlements of the first missions, and the Shrine of Texas Liberty—the Alamo. San Antonio's heart is in its past—but its future is in its celebration of cultures.
The ALAMO. No trip to San Antonio is complete without a visit to The Alamo, an enduring symbol of courage and freedom recognized worldwide. Located in the heart of downtown, The Alamo hosts more than 2.5 million visitors a year and is a must see for visitors to the Alamo City.
DINING. Dining in San Antonio is foodie heaven! Attendees can’t wait to get here to try innovative Tex-Mex options, but also quickly discover the incomparable Bar-b-que, steaks and burgers cooked to perfection with a taste of Texas. All the favorite brands are here as well, alongside renowned local chef-owned eateries and upscale options for every taste.
NIGHTLIFE. Ready to hit the town after dark? Quiet wine bars, well-known watering holes, lively dance halls and a dueling piano sing-along are just some of the many popular stops available on the River Walk or within a short walk of downtown hotels. Other hot spots like Southtown and points north are easily accessible by taxi.
THEME PARKS/FAMILY FUN. The world's largest marine life park, SeaWorld San Antonio, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park offer outstanding entertainment options for groups seeking a large venue or for family fun.
HILL COUNTRY. San Antonio is the perfect place to start a Texas Hill Country adventure. Those looking for the Texas experience will enjoy a visit to a working ranch and perhaps a trail ride, while wine lovers can follow the Texas Wine Trail to discover the thriving wineries in the nearby hills.
Settled by Germans and Eastern Europeans, the Hill Country has a culture all its own. Storybook farms and ranches dot the countryside, and you may still hear older folks speaking German in Fredericksburg, Boerne and New Braunfels. You’ll also find some of the best barbecue in Texas, antiques shops on old-fashioned Main Streets and celebrations with roots in the Old World, like Wurstfest (a sausage festival) and Weihnachten (a Christmas festival).
Shopping in picturesque Hill Country brings a sense of discovery — you never know what treasures you’ll find among its boutiques, antiques shops and galleries. Jewelry, quilts, ceramics, paintings and even handmade furniture by local artists can be especially tempting, Hill Country Shopping in Boernealong with homemade jams, jellies, bread and other edibles. Keep an eye out for home-grown lavender from Blanco, Stonewall peaches in June, locally made goat cheese, and mohair sweaters and shawls from the region’s angora goats. Many towns also have monthly flea markets with everything from earrings to stained glass: check out Gruene Market Days (Gruene is at the edge of New Braunfels), Trade Days near Fredericksburg, Boerne Market Days and Wimberley Market Days. Wildseed Farms is a haven for wildflower seeds and local specialty foods.
Vineyards are another specialty: the Hill Country has become a hot spot for wine connoisseurs. Wine tastes even better with live music, another Hill Country tradition. Stop by Luckenbach on the weekend, buy a brew in the old post office inside a barn, and find a spot under the spreading oak trees for listening to whoever drops in to sing and play their guitar. The Boerne Village Band, founded by German settlers in the 1860s, plays traditional oompah music and may be the oldest continuous band in Texas. Famous Texas musicians play every weekend at wood-floored Gruene Hall, said to be the oldest still-operating dance hall in Texas. And on weekend evenings at the Hilltop Café near Fredericksburg, lucky folks catch Johnny Nicholas on guitar or Floyd Domino banging out hot boogies on the piano. Both are original members of the band Asleep at the Wheel.
If venturing outside of San Antonio doesn’t interest you……
RIVER WALK…..millions of people visit the River Walk each year to enjoy this unusual urban sanctuary that winds along the San Antonio river in central San Antonio, one story below the bustling street level. The lush landscapes, quaint pathways, tinkling waterfalls, quiet pools, outdoor art and relaxing outdoor patios evoke the renowned public spaces of Europe. The River Walk is a long linear park, beautifully landscaped, with great sidewalks. The less congested places are perfect for serious exercising or romantic strolls. The River Walk is eight miles long. In a few years, it will be a 15-mile masterpiece that weaves the city's past and future together, starting north of the city at Brackenridge Park (San Antonio's Central Park) and traveling south all the way to the four Spanish colonial missions south of downtown.
What started as the vision of a young architect, in 1929, has grown, over the decades, into one of the world's most distinctive meeting places -- old and new friends meet up, travelers pause, families congregate, lovers gaze; and weddings, reunions, business meetings spill over into the River Walk.
Eat, Drink & Be Merry
Over fifty restaurants, bistros, cafes, clubs, bars -- most with quaint outdoor patios -- line the River Walk as it meanders its way through downtown San Antonio. There is everything from stellar Tex Mex to haute cuisine and locally-owned spots as well as popular international names like the Hard Rock Cafe.
Land & Art Scapes
Few visitors venture beyond the downtown River Walk but it's well worth it. Explore the Museum Reach, north of downtown, and watch for the twelve art installations on the river banks. Stop along the way at the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Southwest School of Art, then the boat ride ends at the 125-year-old Pearl Brewery complex, now home to restaurants, an outdoor amphitheater, a Saturday farmers market, eclectic shops and the Culinary Institute of America -- San Antonio. If you go south from downtown, the south fork of the river meanders through the stately King William Historic District all the way to the Blue Star arts complex, an eclectic enclave of creative souls, unusual shops and galleries, public art scattered about, and a brew pub.
Sunset Cruise
Lots of folks take a tour of the River Walk aboard a river cruiser, but few know that you can take a sunset taxi ride from downtown, along the Museum Reach, to the Pearl Brewery. Only in the dark will you be able to appreciate the full impact of the art installations that line the banks, all of which use light in creative ways. They were created by some of the most interesting names in the art world. Museums, schools, residences and commercial buildings often are lit in startling and unusual ways.
Secret Places To Shop
Don't leave without a pink cowboy hat of course -- pick one up at any of the River Walk curio shops. Less obvious but also right on the River Walk: La Villita Historic Arts Village; The Pearl Brewery, San Antonio Museum of Art Store and Southwest School of Art Gallery Shop. For major mall goers, the Rivercenter Mall -- with over 60 stores --- hugs the banks of the River Walk lagoon.
Onboard History Lessons
Learn about San Antonio's rich history aboard a San Antonio river cruiser. The boat captains take great pride in their knowledge of the city and its past, so it's a sublime way to learn more about San Antonio and its famous River Walk.
Texas' Only Lock & Dam System
As the river winds north from downtown along the Museum Reach, a lock and dam system, the only one in Texas, overcomes a 9-ft. rise in elevation. Take a river taxi and navigate right through the lock and dam or watch from a bridge overhead.
People Watching
The River Walk commercial district in downtown San Antonio teems with people from every corner of the globe. Most of the restaurants have outdoor patios which are great vantage points from which to watch passersby, but there are dozens and dozens of pocket parks and welcoming benches -- this is a public park, after all.
To find more information on tours, activities and dining options in the San Antonio area, please see the concierge at the hotel or visit the San Antonio Visitors Bureau online at
www.visitsanantonio.com
