The Alamo
The Alamo has assumed mythological
significance in American culture. Originally built as a mission by
Spanish priests in 1724, the missionaries later gave the land to
resident converts to continue their farming. But in the early 19th
century, the Spanish military stationed cavalry at the old mission
station. The men began calling the mission the Alamo, a reference
to their hometown in Spain, and during the following wars over
Texas, the Alamo played a very important role. Davy Crocket and his
small party held out for 13 days against a 2,500-strong Mexican
army before finally being overrun. While the actual Alamo is
smaller than most visitors expect, its immense history and gravitas
means it is seen as the cradle of Texan Liberty.
The Alamo
Daniel Schwen
Riverwalk
The River Walks serves as the centre of San Antonio's shopping
and dining district. Winding its way for some five miles (8km)
along the river, travellers can even take a stroll through La
Villita Historic District. Dinner cruises are a perfect way to
enjoy the scenery while over 20 exciting events take place every
year, such as the Fiesta de las Luminarias and the Ford Holiday
River Parade. Cobbled walkways sit a full level below the city's
streets, lending a secluded and peaceful atmosphere, while there
are plenty of restaurants, bars and theatres on hand such as the
Pearl Brewery, the Alamo and the Aztec Theater.
River Walk
Kkmd
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
The city's biggest theme park and one of the best-known in the
United States, Six Flags Fiesta Texas keeps raising the bar with
its water rides, roller coasters and musical shows. Experience the
thrill of the Krypton Coaster, the looping Boomerang, and the
Scream, a 20-storey free fall, or let fly through the air on the
Screamin' Eagle Zipline or the Joker Carnival of Chaos. The rides
all come with a rating, from mild to moderate to max, and there
will surely be something for everyone's taste. After a long day
out, there are plenty of snack shops, restaurants and ice-cream
parlours, while there are numerous fun events to mark out on the
calendar such as the Fight Night on Hallowe'en and the Coca Cola
July 4th Fest.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Chris Hagerman
Buckhorn Saloon and Museum
The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum contains over 8,000
wildlife exhibits, wax effigies and other western memorabilia. The
owner's wife also collected rattlesnake rattles which she used to
create the unusual artwork still on display. The attached Ranger
Museum is filled with guns from the era, along with a shooting
gallery and a lifesize reproduction of San Antonio of the Wild
West. But thirsty customers can still grab a local craft beer at
the 129-year-old saloon, enjoyed at its original cherry and marble
bar counter.
Buckhorn Saloon and Museum
Billy Hathorn
Spanish Governor's Palace
Described by National Geographic as the
most beautiful building in San Antonio, the diminutive palace once
served as the headquarters for the Spanish rulers of this region.
Built in the Spanish Colonial style, it is said to have been
erected as early as 1722. The lovely building is filled with
treasures and historical relics from the 18th century and the patio
flows onto a relaxing garden perfect for contemplation. The palace
is an easy walk from the San Antonio River Walk, while on the last
Sunday of every month a living history group visits in period
costume and performs reenactments.
The Spanish Governors Palace
Lutz Fischer-Lamprecht
Corpus Christi
A resplendent South Texas coastal city, Corpus Christi enjoys a
relaxed and laidback atmosphere. Affectionately known as the
Sparkling City by the Sea, it's just 143 miles (230km) from San
Antonio. Aside from its sought after beaches, visitors to Corpus
Christi can venture on to the floating museum on the USS Lexington,
wander through the botanical gardens and birding trails, or
experience its vibrant promenade nightlife. Nature lovers won't be
disappointed either as the Padre Island National Seashore, the
longest undeveloped stretch of barrier islands in the world, is
easily accessible from Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi
Simiprof
San Antonio has a humid subtropical climate characterised by
fairly mild winters and hot summers. The weather varies between dry
and humid, depending on prevailing winds. Autumn and spring are
warm with a fair amount of rainfall. In San Antonio, July and
August are the hottest months of summer, and travellers planning on
visiting should brace themselves for temperatures that frequently
reach 95°F (35°C). January is the coldest month of winter, with
temperatures dropping as low as 39°F (4°C).
Welcome to the birthplace of Tex-Mex cuisine. This city has
created a wonderful fusion of spicy Latino influences, hearty Lone
Star beef, and German influences. There are plenty of other
cuisines available across hundreds of different restaurants, but it
would be a shame to miss out on the world's finest Tex Mex during a
visit to San Antonio. Explore Central Market and look out for the
food trucks. For breakfast, don't miss the amazing breakfast tacos
made with fresh tortillas, plus an egg, cheese, fried potato and
chorizo filling. The Riverwalk is a great place to go for a range
of dinner options and buzzing nightlife.
Las Canarias
Situated in La Mansión del Río in the downtown area, this highly
regarded Tex-Mex restaurant offers both fabulous food and a
wonderful setting on a riverside veranda shaded by palm trees.
Tapas are available for each meal of the day; main courses are
anchored on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Check out the $12
lunchtime 'Two Courses in 40 Minutes' special.
Address: 112 College Street, River Walk
Silo Elevated Cuisine
Start off slow at the super-modern first-floor bar before
heading upstairs to the restaurant for some of San Antonio's best
dining experience. Enjoy the elegant cuisine with the restaurant's
celebrated chicken-fried oysters or blue-crab spring rolls. If
you're on a budget but your appetite isn't, get here before 6.30pm
for the 3-course dinner at only $30.
Address: 1133 Austin Highway, Northeast
Fig Tree
Fine dining in a beautiful 19th century house with gorgeous
views of the river. The dishes are European fusion, with plenty of
fresh fish and modern reinterpretations of classic dishes such as
beef Wellington. The desserts are sensational and the wine list
quite possibly the best in town.
Address: 515 Villita
San Antonio International Airport
Location: The airport is located 10 miles (16km) from San Antonio
city centre.
Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday
in November).
Transfer Between Terminals:
A covered walkway connects the terminals.
Getting to the city:
VIA Metropolitan Transit Bus 5 connects the airport to the city.
Buses run frequently between about 5.30am and 9.30pm. The journey
takes about half an hour by bus. Shuttles, taxis and rental cars
are also available at the airport.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies at the airport include Advantage, Alamo,
Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are available at the airport and usually don't need to be
pre-booked.
Facilities:
Airport facilities include ATMs, bars, restaurants, duty-free
shopping and other shops, a shoeshine service, a lost and found,
art exhibitions, a chapel, and emergency medical services.
Parking
Parking is available in the Green Lot and the Parking Garage at
daily rates of $7 and $14 respectively. There is also a Cell Phone
Lot for pick-ups and a Red Lot for overflow.
Fiesta
First started in 1891, Fiesta has grown into a
massive celebration spanning 10 days, hundreds of performers and
thousands of spectators. Promoting San Antonio's multicultural
heritage, it's one of the biggest parties in Texas and by far the
largest in the city. With over 100 events, it's a great time to
visit the city. The Battle of Flowers Parade is synonymous with the
festival, attracting a crowd of some 350,000, while the big Fiesta
Flambeau Parade occurs on the second Saturday. Along with loads of
food and entertainment options, there are also masque balls, art
fairs and motorshows. Families also don't have to worry as kids are
well looked after with several child-focused fiestas happening at
the same time.
![Fiesta San Antonio]()
Fiesta San Antonio
Zereshk
Texas Folklife Festival
The Folklife Festival provides a platform
for over 40 cultures to show their music, cuisine, costumes, and
dance. The event is held at the Institute of Texan Cultures in
downtown San Antonio's Hemisfair Park. Six stages are erected for
the duration of the fair and they play host to a wide variety of
international musical and dance performances. There are also roving
performers moving through the crowds, ready to break out in song
and dance at any moment. One of the main attractions of the fair is
the wide variety of food that is both delicious and unusual.
Coupons sold at the entrance gates can be used to buy both food and
drinks.
Venue:
Institute of Texan Cultures UTSA HemisFair Park
Campus
![Texas Folklife Festival]()
Texas Folklife Festival
Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo
A visit to San Antonio in February wouldn't be complete without
a visit to this rodeo, livestock and agricultural extravaganza.
There's no shortage of fun, with a carnival, loads of food
offerings and bucketloads of rock n' roll and Latin music to keep
the party going. Kids will love the petting zoo and pony rides,
while adults can get stuck into the Ford Truck Corral, casino night
and the Songwriters Front Porch, a stage which gives a little of
limelight to songwriters. While the horse and livestock auctions
aren't part of the entertainment, they are well worth a visit and
can get very exciting and fast-paced.
![Rodeo shows]()
Rodeo shows
C. G. P. Grey
![]()
A great feature of visiting San Antonio is
that the best of the city can be navigated on foot for free,
although in summer months temperatures can get dangerously hot for
pedestrians. Driving is not recommended as there are numerous
one-way streets, congestion is common and there is insufficient
public parking.
Visitors can also get around downtown in
the charming streetcars, which are authentic reproductions of the
same models that travelled these streets 50 years ago. There are
three streetcar routes stopping at major tourist attractions,
shopping districts, and the Convention Center downtown. A single
fare costs around $1.30, and a day pass costs $4.
The VIA Metropolitan Transit operates the
streetcars and also services the city with extensive bus routes,
including a free sightseeing bus for tourists which covers most of
the main attractions downtown, running from 6am to midnight,
Tuesday to Thursday. Metered taxis are also available in the
city.
Considered the heart of Texan cowboy
country, San Antonio offers a wealth of attractions and activities
for visitors to the city. San Antonio has a rich Wild West history,
which visitors can get a feel for by visiting places like Casa
Navarro State Historic Site, the Spanish Governor's Palace, San
Antonio Missions National Park, the King William Historic District
and the iconic Alamo Mission.
There are plenty of galleries and
attractions for the culturally inclined, ranging from the fun and
eclectic Buckhorn Saloon and Museum to the statelier Museo Alameda.
Other great museums include the Institute of Texan Cultures, the
San Antonio Children's Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art and the
Witte Museum.
Spending time outdoors is a great way to
take advantage of the San Antonio sunshine, and families will want
to visit theme parks like SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. There are also many different ways
to travel around and discover San Antonio. Local operators offer
tours by helicopter, Segway, bus and on foot. For a different view
of the city, try the night-time Ghost Hunts of San Antonio
Tour.
The Alamo
Daniel Schwen
River Walk
Kkmd
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Chris Hagerman
Buckhorn Saloon and Museum
Billy Hathorn
The Spanish Governors Palace
Lutz Fischer-Lamprecht
Corpus Christi
Simiprof
Fiesta San Antonio
Zereshk
Texas Folklife Festival
Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
Rodeo shows
C. G. P. Grey
