SAN ANTONIO

San Antonio is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Texas. Historically, this stretch of lush and scenic land along the San Antonio River was both beautiful and rich in resources, which made it a crossroads of many peoples and cultures including Native Americans, Spanish settlers and missionaries, Latin Americans, and even German immigrants. Throughout the centuries, all this cultural exchange and diversity provided the stage for some of the more dramatic chapters in Texas’s history.

Today San Antonio has settled into its roll as a laid-back, friendly, gritty, hard-working, family town, and is proud to still be a crossroads of cultures. It is a place where Mexico, the old Wild West, and the New World genuinely and successfully collaborate to create a unique culture and relaxed lifestyle that can’t be found anywhere else. It’s a place where Spanish colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers emerge out of the ancient San Antonio River’s beautiful River Walk, where mariachi mass is still offered at one of the old Spanish missions, where masterfully executed murals on city walls tell the story of Mexico and Texas.

People are always pleasantly surprised by the remarkably unique charm this city has. Most people know of San Antonio as the home of the mother of all American pilgrimage sights—the Alamo. Sure there’s the Alamo, Davy Crockett, General Santa Anna, and the fight for independence—but there’s also much more. There’s the beautiful River Walk, the crumbling Spanish missions, world-class museums, and even overblown theme parks. Because of all this history, natural beauty, and fun, San Antonio has grown into the eighth-largest city in the United States and is Texas’s most beloved town.

The Alamo: The most sacred sight on Texas soil is this old mission that became the location of one of the bloodiest and most infamous showdowns in U.S. history. Although small in appearance, the Alamo is huge in stature and importance. (read more)

King William Historic District: An excellent place for a lazy afternoon or evening stroll, this old part of town was built by and for the rich of San Antonio. The mansions are still occupied, and a couple are even open to the public, such as the Guenther House and the Edward Steves Homestead Museum. (read more)

La Villita: The historic site of the first established village in San Antonio has largely been preserved. Housed in original old buildings are art galleries, cafés, and funky shops. (read more)

McNay Art Museum: Safely hanging on the walls of a stunning old Spanish Colonial Revival–style mansion is a spectacular collection of art focusing on 19th- and 20th-century European and American Art, including notable works by Picasso, Cézanne, O’Keeffe, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and a variety of sculpture. (read more)

San Antonio Museum of Art: Four floors of exhibits containing perfectly displayed prehistoric art, Egyptian mummies, Roman statuary, antiquities, and American and European paintings by the masters are housed in the original Lone Star Brewery. (read more)

Brackenridge Park: This beautiful park is home to many of the city’s main attractions, such as the San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium, the Witte Museum, the Texas Pioneer and Ranger Museum, the Japanese Tea Gardens, and a miniature train called the Brackenridge Eagle. (read more)

HemisFair Park: Once the World’s Fair of 1968 was over, San Antonio was left with some amazing features that were wisely preserved, such as the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Tower of the Americas, the water gardens, and the Schultz House Cottage Garden. (read more)

River Walk: Walk down the old stone steps to the River Walk to find another world filled with little shops, boats, and restaurants with umbrella tables, all lining the twisting San Antonio River. Most visitors stay near the river and spend most of their time here because it’s so beautiful and inviting. (read more)

San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium: Nationally renowned, this zoo carved into the side of a cliff is a blast for kids and the whole family. See lions, gorillas, alligators, and a flock of other exotic birds and animals. (read more)