Annual Meetings 2023 Tour Information
The Annual Meetings 2023 is pleased to provide various tours of points of interest in the San Antonio area. During the Annual Meetings 2023 registration process, you may register for one or more tours. Tours are non-refundable. All tours will depart from the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center unless otherwise specified so.
San Antonio Highlights Walking Tour
Saturday, November 18, 1pm – 3pm, $35
From the historic block where San Antonio began to the crown jewel of its skyline, join us for "a few of our favorite things" that exemplify the city's unique character. One of San Antonio's oldest and most regal neighborhoods allows a glimpse into the fascinating twists and turns of people and social issues throughout the city's history. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime local exploring Downtown, you’ll always find something new to learn and see!
Cruising and Exploring Tour
Sunday, November 19, 1pm – 4pm, $50
What are the two most popular attractions in San Antonio? The Alamo and Riverbarge Rides, of course! Our first stop is the famous Alamo, established in 1718 and originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero. Guests will see remains of original structures, including the chapel, which is now a shrine to the fallen Alamo heroes. Next, enjoy a barge ride along the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk while your barge captain, who is really a local historian, points out fun facts about culture and architecture.
Haunted San Antonio Walking Tour
Sunday, November 19, 3pm - 5pm, $38
Join us on an exhilarating tour as we walk the oldest parts of San Antonio, visiting some of the haunted places in our city. We will explore where famous people, battles and ghosts are said to appear. We will tell the stories of The Alamo, Spanish Governors Mansion, The Menger Hotel - the most haunted hotel in Texas, and the Old Bexar County Jail. Murder, suicides, the ghosts of famous people, battles, and more are covered in this Haunted History Walk.
Sacred Sites Tour: San Antonio Historic Houses of Worship
Monday, November 20, 1pm - 5pm, $40
First settled by Europeans in 1718, San Antonio is named for Saint Anthony of Padua. It became one of the largest cities in Texas after the Civil War. This tour will explore some of the houses of worship this rich heritage has bequeathed it. Probably stops will include San Fernando Cathedral (dating from 1738 with a major expansion in 1868), the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower [begun shortly after the canonization of the St. Térèse de Lisieux (“the Little Flower”) in 1925], Temple Beth-El (a Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1874 that erected its current landmark building in 1927, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church founded in the Government Hill neighborhood in 1883 adjacent to Fort Sam Houston. Transportation will be provided by bus.
The Sacred Sites Tour will be led by David Bains, Samford University and Daniel Sack, Washington, DC.
Tour and Volunteer Opportunity with Primarily Primates Animal Sanctuary
Friday, November 17, 1:30pm - 5:30 pm, $60
Primarily Primates was founded in 1978, making it the first primate sanctuary in North America and the first to rescue chimpanzees requiring lifetime care following medical research. PPI’s devoted staff supports all dimensions of animal life from diet to medical care to social-behavior management. Staff perform daily animal assessments, including behavior & physical checkups, for illness prevention and social-behavior management.
PPI has an innovative enrichment program to promote natural wild behaviors and mental stimulation. To ensure each day is unique, staff provides daily food enrichment treats using a variety of ingredients and enrichment methods that allow the animals to resourcefully seek food as they would in nature. Additionally, sensory enrichment activities like burning incense, playing music and painting are also offered to stimulate animal residents and prevent boredom.
What we will do:
Primarily Primates does not offer tours to the public. However, they do offer opportunities for visitors to volunteer with them, and a tour will be provided as part of the volunteer work.
Our hosts will break up our volunteer group into teams of about 8 people each. Each team will work on a different activity, such as meal prep, cleaning, or gardening. (Other opportunities might be available depending on the skills and abilities of volunteers.) After tasks are assigned, one team at a time will be guided around the sanctuary to meet some of the permanent residents we will be helping with our work. We will get to meet and learn about the resident monkeys, birds, lemurs, chimpanzees, and more.
