Located
in the heart of Texas, San Antonio is probably best known
for the 1836 battle of The
Alamo where 189 defenders held the old mission against
some 4,000 Mexican troops for 13 days. However, the city’s
history dates back to a band of Spanish explorers and
missionaries who came upon the river in 1691, and because
it was the feast day of St. Anthony, named the river "San
Antonio." The actual “founding” of the city
occurred in 1718 by Father Antonio Olivares, when he
established the Mission San Antonio de Valero.
Twenty million visitors each year vacation in San Antonio due in large part to the diversity of attractions available in the city. Sequestered 20 feet below street level, lies one of San Antonio's jewels - the Paseo del Rio better known as the River Walk. The River Walk has multiple personalities - quiet and park-like in some stretches, while other areas are full of activity with European-style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, and nightclubs. Rio San Antonio Cruises, the river's floating transportation system, provides a novel method of sightseeing in downtown San Antonio. Groups can also dine aboard open-air cruisers as they wind their way along the scenic waterway. River taxis deliver visitors to Rivercenter Mall, a dazzling three-level glass shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. NearbyMarket Square is the largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico and the Tower of the Americas offers a spectacular view of San Antonio from 750 feet above the ground.
With
over 300 days of sunshine annually and an average temperature
of 70°, visitors to San Antonio find an abundance
of outdoor sports and recreational
activities to challenge them. Rivers in the Texas
Hill Country, which forms an arc around the northern
edge of San Antonio, provide venues for canoeing,
tubing, and white-water rafting. Area lakes attract fishermen,
as well as water skiing and sailing enthusiasts. State
Parks offer opportunities for hiking and camping
in the rugged terrain of the Hill Country. Just south
of San Antonio, Corpus
Christi and South
Padre Island offer splendid oceanfront recreational
activities.
San Antonio is also home to two major theme parks - Sea World San Antonio, the world's largest marine life park, showcases some of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures through shows, educational exhibits, and rides; and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, a town built just for fun!. Brackenridge Park, a 433-acre refuge in the heart of the city, is a focal point for outdoor activities, providing picturesque opportunities for bicycling, fishing, picnicking, pedal boating, and walking. The park's primary tourist attraction is the San Antonio Zoo, which houses a collection of more than 3,000 animals and is ranked as one of the best zoos in the country. Explore Texas history and science at the Witte Museum and burn off excess energy at HemisFair Park and the newly renovated Milam Park (across from Market Square).
When
the stars come out over the South Texas Plains, it's
time to head to the nightclubs and dance halls, two-step
to a country-western band or sway to a Tejano super group,
traditional jazz, or a sing-along at an Irish pub or
piano bar. Or simply chill out at the Hard
Rock Cafe on the River Walk.
