San Antonio, Texas
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Though one of the older and more historic cities in America, San Antonio manages to keep a low profile. It is said to keep a smaller city feel while still being the seventh largest city in the United States and a destination for thousands of tourists every day. You can expect historic sites and buildings, lots of food, and a proximity to different natural areas. Some of the tourist charm tends to be a little forced, but beneath that is a real genuine city that needs exploring.
Forget the hotels and travel guides and have a local point you in the right direction. Traveling through town is best when you discover its uniqueness both on and off the usual tourist tract.
For the long version, see the Wikipedia page.
Contents |
History and Culture
Much of the culture in town is derived from our history and tradition. Family ties are strong, so oftentimes people born and raised here will stay in town through college and adulthood. Because of this you've got a good chance of finding a host who has lived here all their life. Also, the family culture tends to give San Antonio a smaller town feel and slower pace that similarly sized cities. We as a city stay a bit more to ourselves, leaving a city of 2 million people to really develop its own unique traditions. For instance, we have our own holiday every year, the Battle of Flowers Day, in which school people across the city get the day off in order to head downtown for a big parade. Just a few counties away, this overall annual celebration known as Fiesta is relatively unknown.
Otherwise, because the state is so big many of the transplants are still from Texas.
Of course on the short list of things to do in town, the Alamo is usually the first stop. All San Antonions (and Texans for that matter) have had the story drilled into them since day one, so they could probably tell the tale in some form, but most don't visit the little fort downtown much after the elementary school field trip. That being said, it is a good story and the grounds are always nice for a visit. The Alamo [1]
As you move further south from downtown, there are actually 4 other historic Spanish Missions [2] that easily rival or surpass the Alamos destinations. The bonus of Missions Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada is their lack of tourist shops and of course crowds. Furthermore, the Mission trail takes you through actual neighborhoods, giving you a better sense of the city, before it fades off into farm land just a few miles south of downtown. It's a great tour by car or bike that should include a stopover at the Espada dam or a paleta (ice pop) truck along the way.
San Antonio Riverwalk events [3]
Visit San Antonio [4]
Curiosities
Perhaps the nicest guy you'll ever meet, Barney is usually willing to open up the giant swinging doors to his unassuming garage in the near northside neighborhood of Alamo Heights at a moment's notice. To make sure he's around, and to be nice, try calling ahead of time.
World's Largest Wooden Nickel and Fort Sam
Though being recently vandalized, the nickel is still worth a winding trip through the Manchke Park neighborhood along the side of Fort Sam Houston. You'll get a taste of the old military culture just standing outside the gates of the marching grounds, but it's even better if you get inside the grounds for a nice bike tour and end the day at the VFW Hall by the Wooden Nickel.
West Side Murals A multi-year public art project championed and directed by the late Many Castillo across the neighborhoods of the near west side. Both in style and substance, the murals represent much of the character of San Antonio, as depicted by various San Antonio artists.
Alamo Fiesta Market Any time of the year, expect to find countless piñatas themed to the season that cover the outdoor porches. Inside you'll probably be overwhelmed by the color and density of quality Mexican crafts for sale. It's worth it to just to get lost around the many levels and courtyards alone, but it's also the best place to get a souvenir unique to San Antonio that you probably can't find anywhere else in San Antonio.
"Though large by gargantuan footwear standards, they suffer from the same diminished grandeur of scale that plagues giant things near big cities (or over-the-top shopping foci, such as MN's Mall of America). These Big Boots would seem much more important about 150 miles west. Still worth a photo op stop."
Faux Bois Sculptues This is more of a challenge as the work is scattered around town, some dating back many decades and while some are newly commissioned. You can find some of the better known works as Brackenridge Park bridges, Alamo Heights bus stops, and the the Riverwalk extension by Camden Street.
Arts and Culture
Blue Star[5]
Guadalupe Cultural Arts[6]
Southtown[7]
The McNay[8]
San Antonio Art League Museum[9]
San Antonio Museum of Art[10]
San Antonio Symphony[11]
Museo Alameda[12]
Majestic Theatre[13]
Witte[14]
Southwest School of Art and Craft[15]
Restaurants and Bars
Summary (tex-mex, burgers, Thai, Italian...)
Music
While not a stop for many large touring acts, SA does have a tight music community with all types happening around town. A night of heavy metal conjunto could be expected, but look around a bit more and there's something for everybody.
If you're expecting a little metal or punk head to Bonds 007 Rock Bar. Find various flavors of country, blues, or roots music at Casbeers at the Church, Sam's Burger Joint, and The Cove, each having a laid back unique Texas feel without the honky tonk and tight jeans. If you've got a little time and some transportation head slightly out of town for to Gruene Dance Hall or Floores Country Store [16] for more of this and small town hill country experience. For the youngest crowds head to the St. Mary's strip for The Mix, Limelight, GIG on the Strip or The Warhol and Rock Bottom on Avenue B. Scout Bar and Jack's Patio Bar towards the northside stay more on the rock side and take in a few traveling acts.
For all local music see sarocks.com or The San Antonio Current. For a complete list of venues see the venues tab at sarocks.com.
Outdoors
With our warm weather, there's a good chance you can spend your visit outside. During the winter expect temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, oftentimes in the same day. Up through Spring and Fall, the weather pretty much levels out to perfect and sunny. This makes for perfect days in the park, at Brackenridge Park where you'll find the start of the San Antonio River, ball fields, tiny trains, giant koi fish at the Japenese tea Gardens, ducks to feed, bike trails, and plenty of room to stretch out and picnic. Also try, the Botanical Gardens, and walking the King William Neighborhood with its nearby quiet stretch of the Riverwalk.
Into the summer, it does get hot (a few weeks into the 100s wouldn't be a surprise), so your best bet is heading slightly out of town to a river or spring fed pool. Hamilton Pool or Krausse Springs should be stops for everyone to get a feel for the hill country up north, both no more than an hour from town.
In what can be a whole subject in itself, go tubing (floating, riding an inner tube on a slow river while drinking) for the essence of the central Texas summer. The Comal and Guadalupe rivers both run through New Braunfels bout 35 minutes outside of downtown, with plenty of tube rental places and convenience stores to outfit you with a case of beer. Mostly you just sit in your tube, trying to stay close to your group, while trying to keep most of your beer from dumping out int he mild rapids. Expect a college crowd with tubes filling the river from bank to bank. For much of the same, but less crowded, head further west to Hunt, Utopia, Concan, and other smaller towns with their own rivers and creeks.
For hiking try MacAlister Park, Government Canyon, or Friedrich Park, all in San Antonio or just outside. Further out, Lost Maples, Garner State Park, or Enchanted Rock, are each unique with each providing great camping. With all of these, you'll pass through or be near some interesting small towns with their own small shops and restaurants that are worth a visit.
San Antonio Parks Guide to Texas Swimming Holes Area Hiking Texas Tubing The Local Weather
Shops
Summary (color changing shirts about the alamo)
Transportation
Summary (everything is pretty close if you are driving)
If you do not have access to a car then it is best to stay close to downtown. San Antonio's bus system [17] is not very good, it takes at minimum an hour to get from the suburbs to downtown on the bus if you are lucky.
Street Cars/Trolleys [18]
Parking meters downtown are free all day Sunday and afer 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
