Visitor-friendly San Antonio provides a glimpse into the past – and a place to party. City planners designed the downtown core with sightseers in mind. Here historic landmarks (ever heard of the Alamo?) sit a stone’s throw from the Riverwalk and its restaurant-bar-cafe bonanza.
Join the throngs who pilgrimage to the Alamo, a fortified mission where nearly 200 Texan rebels died fighting for independence from Mexico in 1836. The site is surprisingly small, and surrounded by kitschy amusements like Davy Crocket’s Wild Ride. Four more isolated missions can be found in San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.
Take a break along the Riverwalk, a recessed canal landscaped with upscale hotels, gardens and more eateries than imaginable. Stroll alongside or hop a river cruiser. Shoppers should check out the Mercado, a Mexican handicraft market hosting a couple of Tex-Mex cantinas. For a bit of culture, visit the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Institute of Texan Cultures and the King William Historic District. Sea World provides thrill rides and orca shows.