San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 2277
San Antonio, TX 78298
(210) 270-6700
Population
935933
Time Zone
Central
Latitude/Longitude
29.42° /-98.49°
Today's Forecast
 |
HIGH: 89
LOW: 73
|
|
|
|
Every day is a fiesta in San Antonio. The eighth largest city in the United States, San Antonio is a city of Mariachis and marketplaces, Mexican food and Spanish-Colonial courtyards. The city is a cultural link to the days when Texas was part of Old Mexico. One of the best places to soak up the atmosphere is at Paseo del Rio, the River Walk, a serene riverbank where you can sit in a tree-shaded waterside cafe and watch the ongoing parade of people strolling along the winding waterway and watch boats cruise up and down the river.
San Antonio TX Romantic Hotels
| Attractions |
|
Built as a mission and fort in 1718, The Alamo is the historic heart of San Antonio, and for many, the heart of Texas. Surrounded by bustling downtown streets, this major shrine contains relics of San Antonio's early days, as well as poignant mementos of the men who died in the famous battle of 1836. From here you can begin a tour of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The self-guided Mission Trail leads to four 18th-century Spanish missions: Concepcion, Espada, San Juan, and the fully restored Mission San Jose, the "Queen of the Missions." San Jose's stone carvings and "Rosa's Window" offer fine examples of Spanish Colonial art; its well-known Mariachi Mass takes place Sundays at noon.
Running through the center of downtown, the popular River Walk provides pedestrian access to hotels, restaurants and night spots while water taxis and sightseeing cruises ply the waters of the diverted San Antonio River. The River Walk passes through La Villita, an arts and crafts community and historic district reminiscent of an 18th-century Spanish settlement. Here you can see art and artifacts in the Old San Antonio exhibit in Bolivar Hall and the historic Cos House where General Perfecto de Cos surrendered to the Texans in 1835.
Nearby is HemisFair Park, site of the 1968 World's Fair. This entertainment and recreation center includes the observation decks and revolving restaurant atop the Tower of the Americas, the Instituto de Mexico, and the University of Texas at San Antonio's Institute of Texan Cultures, one of the great ethnological museums of the Southwest. HemisFair Park also is the site of the stunning Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, a complex of theaters, exhibition halls, and a third-generation sports arena, the Alamodome.
The Japanese Tea Gardens in Brackenridge Park on the city's north side make a peaceful setting for a soothing walk. Winding pebble pathways and stone bridges pass flower arrangements, ornamental plants, and placid pools with giant goldfish and water lilies. The park also has an antique carousel, miniature railway, Skyride cable cars, paddle boats, and stables for horseback riding. The adjacent San Antonio Zoo provides a magnificent habitat for over 3,000 animals representing 750 species. Highlights include the airy Hixon Bird House and the lush outdoor tropical habitat Amazonia. The collections at the nearby Witte Museum range from Texas dinosaurs to an Egyptian mummy. The museum includes dioramas of Texas wildlife and plants, reconstructed houses from Texas's early days, and the revitalized exhibits in the H-E-B Science Treehouse. More horticultural displays and a futuristic conservatory may be seen at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Also on the city's north side, the San Antonio Museum of Art, created from the ornate former Lone Star Brewery, saw the addition of the Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art in 1998 and the opening of the Brown Asian Art Wing in 2005. The McNay Art Museum has collections of 19th- and 20th-century European and American paintings and sculpture by Picasso, Matisse, O’Keeffe, and many other significant artists. On the downtown southside, the Blue Star Arts Complex was created by transforming one-time warehouses into galleries, studios, performance spaces, and shops. It's adjacent to the 25-block King William Historic District, a neighborhood of historic homes, built by the German merchants who settled the area. You can tour several of these homes, including the finest of the old mansions, the three-story, French Second Empire Steves Homestead Museum.
Other fun and interesting stops in San Antonio include Tussaud's Wax Museum & Ripley's Believe It or Not! across from the Alamo, the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum, the San Antonio Children's Museum, the Texas Transportation Museum, and the adobe Spanish Governor's Palace, which features period furnishings, a cobblestone patio with fountain, and lush landscaping.
For an evening of high cultural doings, the unique Arneson River Theatre straddles the River Walk, allowing its outdoor dance and musical presentations to be enhanced by the occasional passing river cruise. Patrons can also attend the symphony orchestra at the historic Majestic Theatre. Sports fans take delight in the perennial NBA champion San Antonio Spurs who play at the AT&T Center. The Silver Stars (WNBA) and Rampage (American Hockey League) also play there. Baseball fans enjoy the Missions who play in the double-A Texas League at Wolff Stadium.
For a full day of family excitement, take your pick of the water rides at Splashtown San Antonio, the thrill rides and live entertainment at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, or the marine shows at Sea World San Antonio.
Just outside the city proper, you can drive an African safari route and see endangered species at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, then take an underground tour of Natural Bridge Caverns.
|
Explore another city in Texas
|
|
Weather © 2008 AccuWeather, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
Help 
