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More than 20 million people
visit this city each year, and
San Antonio
welcomes them to a true
Texas
experience. Tex-Mex food, mariachis, the River Walk,
and countless other attractions showcase
Texas
at its best.
The
Alamo
300 Alamo Plaza,
San Antonio,
TX
78299
210-225-1391, thealamo.org
This small stone compound is no
doubt the best known site of Texas History. In 1836, a
dedicated but seriously outnumbered band of Texans under the command of
Colonel William Barrett Travis was besieged here by thousands of Mexican
troops. The siege went on for nearly two weeks before
Mexican General Santa Anna stormed the mission. The
short but deadly battle was disastrous for the Texans, and only a handful of
women, children, and slaves survived. An estimated 189
men lost their lives without knowing that
Texas
had declared its independence a few days earlier. The
battle furthered the cause however, by buying time for General Sam Houston,
who later defeated Santa Anna in the 18-minute Battle of San Jacinto. *Open
Mon-Sat 9am – 5:30pm, Sun 10am – 5:30pm. Admission: Free
Aztec on the River
201 E. Commerce Street, Suite 300 • San
Antonio • TX 78205
Phone: (210) 227-3930 Toll Free: (800) 432-9832
www.aztecontheriver.com
The Aztec On The River™ is the RiverWalk’s
newest, most exciting attraction. This historic 1926 movie palace has been
meticulously restored, complete with a Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ.
Modern enhancements have been added to create an incredible experience: a
FREE multi-million dollar special effects show in the Grand Lobby every 90
minutes, a giant screen theatre with incredible surround-sound, plus
unique shopping and dining. Open daily - call for showtimes. Group, senior
and military discounts available. On the RiverWalk at the corner of E.
Commerce and N. St. Mary’s Streets.
San Antonio Botanical
Garden
555 Funston • San Antonio • TX 78209
Phone: (210) 207-3250 • Fax: (210) 207-3274
www.sabot.org
This 33-acre living museum, one can enjoy
colorful seasonal floral displays, a serene native forest walk, exotic
plant specimens from around the world, modernistic glass pyramids, and
even an authentic log cabin. Highlights include the Old Fashioned
Perennial Garden, Rose Garden, Sacred Garden, Garden for the Blind,
Kuamoto En (an authentic Japanese Garden), and extensive native
collections representing the hill Country, East Texas and Southwest Texas.
The futuristic Lucile Halsell Conservatory features plants from around the
world displayed in the Exhibit Room, Desert Pavilion, Tropical Forest
Room, Palm House and Fern Grotto. The Aquatic Garden Pool is the central
feature of the Conservatory Courtyard. The historic Carriage House, your
entry point to the Garden, also includes the gift shop and restaurant
(kitchen closed Mondays). Garden is open every day from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: Adults $6.00; Children
(3-13 yrs) $3.00; Seniors (55 yrs and up) $4.00; Student/Military (with ID
card) $4.00. Tour rates available.
Buckhorn Saloon and Museum
318 E.
Houston,
San Antonio,
TX
78205
210-247-4000, buckhornmuseum.com
This 1881 saloon, museum,
and café will give you a taste of the Old West. Sip a
drink as you stroll through 33,000 square feet of artifacts from
Texas
history and world wildlife exhibits with African, Asian, Alaskan, and North
American themes. An old-fashion arcade and a curio store
add to the fun. *Call
for times. Admission: Adults $10.99, seniors $9.99,
children 4-11 $7.99, under 4 free.
HemisFair Park
600 HemisFair Plazaway,
San Antonio,
TX
78205
210-207-3029, sanantonio.gov/sapar/hemisfair.asp
Full of lush green spaces
and dramatic waterfalls and fountains,
HemisFair
Park
offers a refreshing break from the hustle of city streets.
At this park, the site of the 1968 World’s Fair you’ll find the Tower of the
Americas,
the Magik Children’s Theater, the Instituto de Mexico, the
Institute
of
Texan Cultures,
the
Henry
B.
Gonzalez
Convention Center,
and much more. Also on the grounds are walking paths and
fine examples of early
Texas
architecture. *Open
daily. Call for theater and observation deck prices.
IMAX Theater Rivercenter
849 E. Commerce,
Ste. 483,
San Antonio,
TX
78205
800-354-4629, imax-sa.com
Movies are projected onto a
giant screen with a special sound system here at the IMAX.
The 45-minute docudrama Alamo: The Price of Freedom runs
daily; in the evening the shows tend toward the action-adventure genre.
The two-screen theater also shows 3-D movies. *Open daily
9am – 10pm. Admission: $10, seniors and students $9, children 3-11 $6.75
(tax included).
Institute Of
Texan
Cultures
801 S. Bowie,
San Antonio,
TX
78205
210-458-2330,
texancultures.utsa.edu
Dioramas, artifacts, and
historical photographs trace the contributions of 26 of the varied cultural
and ethnic groups that had a hand in developing
Texas,
from Spanish and German families to Dutch dairy framers, Jewish settlers,
and Japanese rice farmers. Start your tour with the
dramatic multimedia presentation on 36 screens in the Dome Theater.
*Call for hours and prices.
La Villita Historical District
418 Villita,
San Antonio,
TX
78205
210-207-8610, lavillita.com
La Villita (Spanish for “little
town”) is a good name for this area, which was one of
San Antonio’s
earliest communities. Today the charming adobe homes are
used as gift shops, artisans’ studios, and fine restaurants. *Shops
open daily 10am – 6pm. Area open daily till 10pm.
Majestic Theatre
224 E.
Houston,
San Antonio,
TX
78205
210-226-5700, majesticempire.com
This theater, once a atmospheric
vaudeville movie palace, is a
Texas
and national historic landmark. The restored theater is
now home to the San Antonio Symphony and Broadway Across America Series.
Individual concerts and events are showcased as well, in both the Majestic
Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, located next door.
*Call or go online for schedule and prices.
Market Square (El Mercado)
514 W. Commerce,
San Antonio,
TX
78207
210-207-8600, marketsquaresa.com
Within this historic two-block
downtown area of shops and restaurants, the El Mercado building, the largest
Mexican market in the United States, features imported goods from south of
the border. The Farmers market Plaza building offers a
blend of merchandise that is representative of the cultural, artistic, and
ethnic influences of
Texas
and
Mexico.
*Shops open daily 10am – 6pm.
Admission: Free. Call for schedule of events.
Natural Bridge
Caverns
26495 Natrual Bridge Caverns Rd. • Natural
Bridge Caverns • TX 78266
Phone: (210) 651-6101 • Fax: (210) 651-6144
www.naturalbridgecaverns.com
Come experience one of the world's
premier caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns. Take the North Cavern Tour and
see what millions of others have seen - an incredible underground world of
natural beauty. This 75-minute tour travels through a half-mile of the
largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas. Other cavern tours
include the Jeremy Room Flashlight Tour and the South Cavern Adventure
tour. Or take Watchtower Challenge and climb and zip from one of the
tallest and longest climbing tower and ziplines in Texas! Also, be sure
to visit the Natural Bridge Mining Company, where you can pan for gems and
minerals like miners panned for gold. A gift shop, snack bar, and picnic
grounds are also available. Open year 'round from
9 am - 4 pm, with extended Spring and Summer hours.
Paseo
del Rio (River Walk)
Accessible via numerous bridges
and entry points
800-447-3372,
sanantoniovisit.com
The Paseo del Rio is a
picturesque walkway set below street level that follows the meandering
course of the
San Antonio
River
for miles. Access to this tropical paradise is gained
via arched stone stairways that lend an architectural element to the
setting. The order of the day on the River Walk may
include strolling along the water, sampling fine cuisine, shopping or
relaxing on a guided boat tour. Plenty of hotels, bars,
restaurants, and shops stand ready to cater to your whims. *Area
open 24 hours.
SeaWorld
San Antonio
10500 SeaWorld Dr.,
San Antonio,
TX
78251
800-700-7786, seaworld.com
Come visit SeaWorld San Antonio,
home to killer whale Shamu, dolphins, sea lions, sharks, otters, and more.
The park offers more than 25 major shows, including “Believe,” which
features Shamu and other killer whales. After the show,
check out the coral reef aquarium and dolphin touch pool, or enjoy a roller
coaster ride or slide in the Lost Lagoon water park. *Open
Mar. – Nov. Call for hours. Admission: $46.99, seniors
$43.99, children 3-9 $36.99, under 3 free. Parking $10.
Six Flags Fiesta
Texas
17000 I-10 W.,
San Antonio,
TX
78257
800-473-4378, sixflags.com
Hop from concert to coaster at
this huge park known for its spectacular shows and thrilling rides.
Shows include everything from live performances of classic country and
rockin musicals to an international circus, multicultural fiestas and “Xcelleration,”
a theatrical production including BMX bikes, acrobats, and bungee artists.
The Tornado is an award-winning extreme tubing experience in the water park.
Kiddie rides and Warner Bros. cartoon characters make this a true amusement
park for families. *Call for hours.
Admission: $46.99, under 48 inches $31.99, children under 2 free.
Parking $10
Spanish Governor’s Palace
105 Plaza de Armas,
San Antonio,
TX
78205
210-224-0601, sanantoniocvb.com
The palace was originally built
in 1722 to protect Mission San Antonio de Valero, today known as the
Alamo,
and its surroundings. The building, now a national
Historical Landmark, was the seat of government when
San Antonio
was the capital of the
Spanish
Province
of
Texas.
It has also been a second hand-clothing store, a tailor’s shop, a barroom, a
restaurant and a schoolhouse. The keystone above the
front entrance bears the coat-of-arms of Spanish King Ferdinand VI along
with the date 1749. Now visitors can see it restored and
arranged exactly as it was when the captain of the presidio lived there,
right down to antique furnishings from the 1700s. *Open
Mon-Sat 9am – 5pm, Sun 10am – 5pm. Admission: $1.50,
children 7-14 .75¢, under 7 free.
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