- San Antonio tourist attractionAlamo grounds 1 image by Olivia Ogden from Fotolia.com
More than 20 million people visit the city of San Antonio each year, drawn in large part to its rich history and culture. San Antonio, located at the headwaters of the San Antonio River, is perhaps most known for the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Much of the early architecture remains throughout the downtown area, and the many of the buildings are popular tourist attractions. - The most famous landmark in San Antonio is the Alamo, which is operated by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Because of its role in Texas' independence and history, the mission also is one of the most famous landmarks in the state. The property is considered a shrine to the lives lost there during the 13-day Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Visitors are asked to maintain a reverent demeanor, and men are asked to remove their hats.
The Alamo
300 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-225-1391 Ext. 31
thealamo.org/resources/contact.php - river walk image by Svetlana Kashkina from Fotolia.com
The River Walk, which is open 365 days each year, is a public park that winds around 2.5 miles of the San Antonio River. The path leads to restaurants, bars, shops and hotels, and winds up at the Rivercenter Mall. Each holiday season, it is lighted, and each St. Patrick's Day, environmentally friendly green dye is added to the river during a parade. Leashed dogs are allowed on the River Walk, and some restaurants with outside dining areas allow pooches to sit with their people. River taxi services make 39 stops along the way, operating from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. One popular stop is the IMAX Theatre Rivercenter, near the mall. The theater shows a variety of films, including "The Price of Freedom," a 48-minute look into the final days of the 180-plus men who defended the Alamo.
Although there is no charge for the River Walk itself, the taxi service, theater and other attractions require a fee.
San Antonio River Walk
110 Broadway, Ste. 500
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-227-4262
thesanantonioriverwalk.com
IMAX Theatre Rivercenter
849 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
800-354-4629
www.imax-sa.com - Dating to some of San Antonio's earliest days, the village began as a group of primitive huts built on the south bank of the San Antonio River. The settlement was destroyed by a flood in 1819 and was replaced with more structurally sound buildings. During the Battle of the Alamo, La Villita was the site of the cannon line for the Mexican soldiers. Today, the area is an art community filled with galleries, restaurants and shops. Walking tours are available and feature some of the most historic places in San Antonio. La Villita is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
La Villita Historic Arts Village
Located on the Riverwalk at Arneson and South Alamo at Nueva
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-207-8610
lavillita.com - mexican belts image by cilin from Fotolia.com
A colorful three-square-block area full of plazas, shops and restaurants, Market Square represents the history and spirit of San Antonio. One of the most popular stops is Mi Tierra Café & Bakery. Mi Tierra, a family-owned business, has been open since 1943 and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Aside from traditional Mexican dishes, favorites include pralines from the bakery and mariachi music. Market Square also includes El Mercado, an indoor market with 32 shops reminiscent of street shops in Mexico.
Market Square
514 W. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78207
210-207-8600
sanantonio.gov/dtops/marketsquare - stratosphere tower in las vegas image by Balogh Eniko from Fotolia.com
HemisFair Park, which was built to host the 1968 World's Fair, is home to one of San Antonio's most famous landmarks, the "Tower of the Americas." The tower is 87 feet taller than the Space Needle in Seattle. The admission fee includes a 4D theater ride. HemisFair Park also is home to the Institute of Texan Cultures, which sponsors the Texas Folklife Festival each June.
Tower of the Americas
600 Hemisfair Plaza Way
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-223-3101
toweroftheamericas.com
Institute of Texan Cultures
801 E. Durango Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-458-2300
texancultures.utsa.edu - Sea World San Antonio offers rides such as the Great White--the state's first inverted steel roller coaster--and the Steel Eel, an experience in weightlessness. The park's main attractions are its marine life, including whales, dolphins, sharks, seals, sea lions, flamingos, penguins and an aviary area.
Sea World San Antonio
10500 Sea World Drive
San Antonio, TX 78251
800-700-7786
seaworld.com
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time