San Antonio is a city in southern Texas with a rich colonial history. Before my visit, I was told that Texas wasn’t the place for me, that people couldn’t see me enjoying Texas, and that after a day in San Antonio, I’d be bored. I almost changed my plans until my boyfriend gave me some words of wisdom: everyone travels differently and don’t let anyone influence what you want to do. I’m glad I listened.
San Antonio is a wonderful, beautiful place full of things to do! Click To TweetSan Antonio is a wonderful, beautiful place full of things to do. It’s a touristy city. It has historical significance, military presence, a diverse cultural scene, and natural beauty. While it has lost some of its natural impressiveness, it lacks the high-rises and industrial feel of big cities. In fact, most of the houses in San Antonio are just that – houses, not apartments.
Here is my post to help you make the best out of your next trip to San Antonio. Settle in – there’s a lot of information in this post!
Self-Guided Walking Tour
If you’re looking for the perfect San Antonio vacation, look no further. Read on for a self-guided walking tour of San Antonio, and the best spots to hang out at on the River Walk.
Mission San Antonio de Valero, AKA The Alamo
Start at the Alamo, the most historically significant of the San Antonio sights. The Alamo is one of the old 18th century missions for the earliest settlers of Texas. Missions were little enclosed villages started for people to live close to each other in the Wild West. When the Spanish came to conquer the New World, they built missions for Indians to live and learn Spanish ways, like growing crops, sewing clothes, and studying Catholicism. Most missions revolved around the church. The church of The Alamo is one of only two original buildings still standing, so when you visit The Alamo, you’ll have to imagine the rest of the mission laid out where there are now a row of stores like Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Weird Museum, Guinness World Records Museum, and a Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.
The Alamo offers an audio tour, a guided tour, or free admission into the church and grounds. The tours give you some background on the Battle of The Alamo, but if you don’t mind researching yourself, you can save yourself the money. However, the money goes towards The Alamo’s restoration so I can’t tell you not to join a tour. You can book a tour in advance or buy one at The Alamo. After the guided tour, there is a musket demonstration with live fire on The Alamo grounds – not to be missed!
The Menger Hotel
Next up is the Menger Hotel. The Menger Hotel is a grand Victorian Hotel built on the site of Texas’s first brewery. Legend has it that too many brewery patrons would fall asleep on the bar, so immigrant William Menger built the hotel to give his hard-drinking guests a more comfortable place to spend the night. Over the years, presidents, Civil War generals, actors, writers, and other celebrity guests have stayed at the Menger Hotel. It’s worth popping into the Menger Hotel bar to see where all the action used to happen, back in the 1800’s.
Joske’s Department Store
The third stop is Joske’s Department Store. It’s no longer a department store, although some clothing stores, cafes, a Dave & Buster’s, and an IMAX theater have moved in. Joske’s is San Antonio’s oldest department store, dating back to 1889. It was also the first air-conditioned department store. The huge, ornately decorated Spanish Renaissance-style exterior was finally finished in 1939, and it still stands as the emporium you can see now.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
Right next to Joske’s (now known as the IMAX theater), is the Gothic revival-style St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, built in 1876 for San Antonio’s German community. The church lasted through Joske’s department store rising all around it. Look for the beautiful stained glass windows of the church. Anyone can enter to see the gorgeous interior.
River Walk
The River Walk is one of the major attractions of San Antonio. This is a stop you’ll probably come back to more than once during your self-guided tour of San Antonio. However at this point, you can cross over the Commerce Street Bridge to get the famous picture of Casa Rio’s colorful umbrella’s on the river. One thing to note on this stop is that Casa Rio is the River Walk’s oldest restaurant on the River Walk, since 1946. The restaurant began by putting people on gondolas on the river for a quick tour, getting them back in time for dinner at the restaurant.
La Villita
Follow the River Walk down a ways until you reach the Arneson River Theatre, grassy steps that face a stage across the river. Walk up the theatre through the white concrete entrance to La Villita. La Villita is a historic arts village in downtown San Antonio, once the site of the Coahuiltecan Indian village. It dates back to the 1700’s. The Spanish, Germans, and later a community of artists have all settled in La Villita. Now, you can walk through the enclosed village through art galleries, crafts shops, restaurants, a church, and a plaza. It’s a great place to get away from the bustle of city life and relax in an artsy environment.
Tower of the Americas at HemisFair Park
HemisFair Park was built in 1968 to host the 250th anniversary of the city’s founding. The main focus of the park is the Tower of the Americas, and you can’t miss it. In addition, you can find two museums and a German heritage park. Keep an eye open for events in the park; when I visited, there was an art show where artists combined light and art to wow the audience.
The Tower of the Americas is 758 feet tall, making it the second tallest tower in America. Can you guess what the first tallest tower is? The Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas, coming in at 1,149 feet tall.
If there is nothing special going on, walk around the base of the Tower of the Americas for some beautiful photos of waterfalls on the grounds. When you’ve finished admiring the outside, head inside to the elevators. First stop is the Chart House restaurant, which slowly spins for a view of the entire city of San Antonio while you eat. Second stop is the bar. Third stop is the observation deck. One of my San Antonio tour guides said there is a fee to visit the observation deck, but if you stop at the bar first, they waive the fee because they assume you’ll order a drink at the bar. It’s worth it to get something for your money and still get to see the observation deck, right? However, it was free to visit anywhere in the Tower of the Americas when I was there, so the fee might be a thing of the past now.
Happy hour at the Tower of the Americas bar is a great time to visit. Monday through Friday from 4:30 – 7:00 pm, different food items are $4, $5, or $6. Martinis are $6, wine and cocktails are $5, well spirits and premium drafts are $4, and domestic drafts are $3. Can’t beat those prices that come with a birds-eye view!
The Observation Deck on top of the Tower of the Americas is cool because the walls below the glass have pictures that mirror what you’re seeing in real life. On the pictures are numbers that coincide to a key, telling you exactly what you’re looking at. I was able to locate the Alamodome, Mission San José, Mission Concepcion, the AT&T Center, the Casino Building on the River Walk, the Menger Hotel, The Alamo, Brackenridge Park, Fort Sam Houston, La Villita, and San Fernando Cathedral. It was very helpful to know what I was seeing!
Main Plaza and San Fernando Cathedral
Head back out of HemisFair Park and jump back down to the River Walk. It’s a very pleasant way to walk from one part of the city to another. Follow the River Walk to Main Plaza. You can climb up from the River Walk right into the Plaza from where the Drury Hotel sits on the river.
Main Plaza is a great place to have a seat and take a break. There’s a phone charging station across the street by the Bexar County Courthouse. The Bexar Courthouse dates back to 189, and it’s the oldest functioning courthouse in Texas.
In 1731, King Philip V of Spain sent 15 families from the Canary Islands to settle in this New World village, located on the current day Main Plaza. In 1749, the settlers signed a peace treaty with the Apache Indians in this square. Then in 1835, there was a pre-Alamo battle between Santa Anna and Texan forces, causing them to flee to the Alamo’s fortress. Today, it’s a much calmer, more welcoming place to visit and gaze at the beautiful San Fernando Cathedral.
The San Fernando Cathedral is the oldest parish church building in all of Texas. It also marks the earliest graves in San Antonio. The church recently underwent a massive renovation to restore it to its former glory. The Canary Island settlers built the church in 1738. In 1868, colonists turned the old cathedral into a Gothic Revival architecture style church. Today, there is a sign welcoming refugees: “The Church is not foreign to anyone, anywhere. Welcome refugees!”
The Cathedral puts on an amazing light show on weekend nights (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, twice a night) on the church’s façade. Unfortunately, I missed the show on the Friday night I was in San Antonio but I met a group at Barriba Cantina later that night that showed me pictures. It looked like a movie playing on the church! Very impressive, and I recommend checking it out if you happen to be in San Antonio on a weekend night.
Plaza de Armas and the Spanish Governor’s Palace
Just down the street from Main Plaza is the Plaza de Armas, or Military Plaza. It used to be the parade grounds for the Spanish garrison in San Antonio in 1718, the same year Mission San Antonio de Valero (nicknamed more famously, The Alamo) was established. After Texas won its independence, cowboys, rangers, merchants, and anyone else passing through would stop by the Plaza de Armas to catch the latest news. In the 1860’s, the Plaza was the site of lynchings. After the Civil War, the Plaza became an outdoor market. The Plaza remained completely open until 1889, when the intricate City Hall was built in the center. The City Hall still stands in the Plaza today, across from the Spanish Governor’s Palace.
The Spanish Governor’s Palace is the former residence of the captain of the Presidio de Bexar, but surprisingly not any of the Spanish governors. The commander could watch his troops drilling from his window. There is a beautiful outdoor garden in true Spanish style. The palace is available for tour Tuesday through Sunday.
Market Square
Getting out of the touristy part of the city, you’ll come across Market Square, the Mexican market. At the end of the 19th century, this square was home to the city’s Market House. In 1973, it was converted to El Mercado and switch from selling home goods, crafts, and clothing to more touristy souvenirs. At the entryway to Market Square is the Museo Alameda behind a 30-foot high stainless steel screen that incorporates symbols like the headdress of the Aztec god Quatzalcoatl and the Smithsonian sun logo.
If you’re looking for a futbol (soccer) poncho, day of the dead skull, or miniature knight in armor, you will find the perfect gift in Market Square. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, try Mi Tierra in the middle of the square. Remember, San Antonio is only 2 hours from Mexico so this is the city to get some really good authentic food!
San Pedro Creek Culture Park Project
This part will be outdated soon, but as of November 2018 The Culture Park Project is underway to restore the previously dry and neglected San Pedro Creek.
In 1729, a grant from the King of Spain helped create San Pedro Park. It’s the second oldest municipal park in the United States, behind Boston Common. San Pedro Creek was the original site of Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) and the Spanish Governor’s Palace. Eventually, the Creek dried up and fell into ruin, as it was no longer part of the beautifully kept downtown River Walk area of San Antonio. However, the Culture Park Project is restoring and renewing the Creek into a beautiful river area with green lush landscape, murals, artwork, walkways, and play areas. If you happen to visit San Antonio after the Culture Park Project is compete, please sent me a photo of the masterpiece!
Riverwalk
End your trip back on the Riverwalk. Use this time to rest your feet on one of the river boats. You can take a 35-minute river boat tour with an entertaining guide who talks about all the interesting stories, restaurants, bridges, and buildings on the riverfront. After Thanksgiving, the trees are festive with lights. Even outside the holiday season though, the river is beautiful, day or night. You don’t want to skip the river boat tour, this is a MUST for any visit to San Antonio!
Mission San José
For those who have a car, check out some of the other missions this area has to offer. Mission San José and Mission Concepcion are about a 15-minute drive south of downtown San Antonio. Mission San José is a well-kept and restored mission where you can truly imagine what it was like to live in the Wild West. It’s known as “Queen of the Missions” because it is the largest of the missions. Spanish missions weren’t churches, but communities with the church as the focus. Mission San Jose’s church is famous for its Rose Window, an iconic and widely recognized image in San Antonio. It is a mystery about why the sculptor carved this Rose Window into the church, and what it means. Mission San Jose captures a transitional moment tin history frozen in time.
From here, see below about where to eat, grab a drink, or rest your head.
Where to Eat
By the time you’re finished this tour, I’m sure you’ll be ready for a good meal. There are tons of good restaurants in San Antonio and even a food tour that takes you all over the city, but if you’re in the market to be a tourist you’ll want to eat (and people watch) on the Riverwalk. I’m always one to travel deeper and visit like a local, but I couldn’t tear myself away from the Riverwalk for all my meals!
First, I ate at Rita’s on the River. It used to be an old saddle-making factory, now transformed into a bustling and popular Mexican joint where you can find mariachis on a lucky day. The margaritas are well-priced a strong, the tacos are as authentic as Mexican street tacos, and you can sit right on the Riverwalk sidewalk and watch all the people, boats, and ducks go by. In fact, the ducks will walk right up to your table looking for a handout!
Second, I ate at Barriba Cantina, the second floor (street level) restaurant above the County Line. Barriba has a great happy hour special and late night food until 2:00 am (one of the few that stays open late). Barriba had jazz/blues playing, which struck me as strange for a Mexican restaurant. The tortilla soup was delicious! The atmosphere at Barriba was super friendly, and it’s a great place to hang out and meet new friends.
Finally, at the end of my trip, I drove back to the Riverwalk especially for some barbecue. I decided to try the County Line, the downstairs Riverwalk restaurant of Barriba. It’s a chain restaurant in Texas, but it was exactly the comfort food I needed to end my Texas trip. You can sit right on the water, almost touching the boats as they go by, or go inside for a fun bar atmosphere. Try the ribs and the roasted mushrooms!
Landry Seafood Restaurant got rave reviews on many review websites, but portions looked too big and pricey for lunch. If it’s dinner time and you’re looking for seafood, definitely give Landry’s a try!
On the Bend Oyster Bar & Lounge is a new oyster bar with an outside bar and live blues music right on the river. No one is sure where they get the oysters from, but it’s always busy, bustling, and popular with tourists! You can catch music here late into the night.
Boudro’s is another restaurant that many review sites recommend for steaks, seafood, and cocktails. It’s an upscale restaurant perfect for a date or special occasion dinner.
Casa Rio is the oldest restaurant on the Riverwalk, and it’s here that you’ll find the famous colorful umbrella picture from the river. When it first opened, the owners would have guests take a gondola ride while they waited for their table. Sounds superb!
Little Rhein Steakhouse is one of La Villita’s upscale riverfront restaurants. It’s recognized for its USDA steaks, large wine list, and rustic charm.
Where to Drink
You can find a great drink anywhere on the Riverwalk. If you’re looking for drinks without dinner, however, a few places stand out to me, both on the Riverwalk and off it.
On the Bend Oyster Bar & Lounge has a great outdoor bar right on the Riverwalk. Live blues music plays outside also, creating a very welcoming atmosphere for any who are looking for a stiff drink.
Right next door, Mad Dogs British Pub has loud music, British schoolgirl uniforms, and a solid British pint. Pair it with some fish and chips and you have yourself a fine evening.
Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett’s chain, overlooks the Shops at Rivercenter. This is a manmade part of the river but it still have wonderful views and the comfort you can always count on from a Margaritaville restaurant!
Barriba Cantina has an excellent happy hour special Monday through Friday from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Grab a $4 draft, $4 well drink, or $2 off all Barriba signature cocktails. You can catch live music seven nights a week and during the day on weekends.
Don’t forget the Chart House happy hour specials at the top of the Tower of the Americas: Monday through Friday from 4:30 – 7:00 pm, different food items are $4, $5, or $6. Martinis are $6, wine and cocktails are $5, well spirits and premium drafts are $4, and domestic drafts are $3.
There is a Coyote Ugly in San Antonio. The bar isn’t on the river, it’s on street level above the Riverwalk. The atmosphere is very similar to the movie, where the bartenders get on the bar to entice customers to dance, drink, and be merry.
If you want to drink and play games, check out Dave & Buster’s in the old Joske’s Department Store (next to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church). Play boardwalk arcade games like a kid while you drink like an adult!
Finally, check out the Menger Hotel bar, a beautiful Victorian lounge on the site of Texas’s first brewery. Remember, the hotel was built because customers kept falling asleep on the bar. It’s only fitting that you go see what all the fuss is about!
Where to Stay
I stayed at Hotel Gibbs in San Antonio, a stone’s throw away from The Alamo. The hotel had a historic feel, hardwood floors, a comfortable bed, 24-hour front desk, valet parking, and a complimentary breakfast (with the most amazing breakfast tacos I’ve ever had!) I absolutely loved the Hotel Gibbs and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable hotel with a great location. It’s only steps from The Alamo and the Riverwalk!
If you’re willing to pay top price, there are lots of hotels right on the Riverwalk. You could choose from the Drury Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Wyndham Riverside Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Mokara Hotel & Spa, the Westin Riverwalk, Homewood Suites, the Hotel Contessa, or the Hilton Palacio del Rio, to name a few.
If you’re looking for a bargain still within walking distance of the River Walk, check out La Quinta Inn & Suites Riverwalk, the Crockett Hotel, the Residence Inn by Marriott San Antonio,Sheraton Gunter Hotel, the Emily Morgan San Antonio, the Menger Hotel, Best Western Alamo/Riverwalk, TownPlace Suites by Marriott, O’Brien Historic Riverwalk, or Marriott Plaza San Antonio.
My recommendation is to stay east of the Riverwalk, between Travis Park and HemisFair Park. West of the river becomes more industrial, a little sketchier, and more city-like (less touristy). Between the San Antonio River and Rt 37 is the best place to stay, with most of the best sights within walking distance. Everywhere in this area feels completely safe at all times.
Other Noteworthy Things in San Antonio
Mexican-American singer Selena, famed for making the transition from Latin music to English music just before being shot by her tour manager, spent a lot of time in San Antonio picking up supplies for her shows or performing in local venues. She spent so much time in San Antonio that the 1997 movie Selena spent a significant portion of filming in the city as well.
There is a large portrait of Selena in Mi Tierra, the downtown restaurant in Market Square. You can ride horses where Selena rode in Brackenridge Park in the music video No Me Quede Mas. Historic Sunset Station was the backdrop for the No Me Quede Mas music video. Also in this video, Selena received a breakup letter while eating under one of the brightly colored umbrellas on the Riverwalk. There’s a bridge called “Selena’s Bridge” that you will sail under if you take a Riverwalk boat tour.
In 1852, Brothers of the Society of Mary brought the Catholic religion to Texas, opening the St. Mary’s Institute. They set up their church right on the riverfront in a beautiful building. Today, it’s no longer a college, although St. Mary’s University did branch off from the original Institute and move to another location in San Antonio. The old St. Mary’s Institute is rentable apartments. What a great place to stay on the river!
The 24-story NIX Hospital is probably the third most photographed building in San Antonio, after The Alamo and the Tower of the Americas. It dates back to the 1930’s, in the heart of the Great Depression. It was kind of a “medical mall,” housing doctor’s offices, a parking garage, and a morgue. In the right lighting and at the right angle, the façade from the river creates an optical illusion. Fun (and slightly morbid) fact: this hospital has a bar in it. The old basement morgue is now a bar.
There is a large pink building with a multi-colored pyramid design at the top right on the Riverwalk known as the Casino Club Building. Don’t be fooled by the name, it is not a casino. Back in the 1920’s, it was a gentleman’s club. All of the “hotel” rooms you see from the river were escort rooms. If only walls could talk….
Most of the Riverwalk follows the natural course of the river, however some parts are man-made. Due to flooding, the box formation, where the Drury Hotel is located, was created. Also, dredgers expanded the river into two hooks, where the Shops at RiverCenter now are. The bottoms of these artificial sections of river are concrete. The rest of the river is all natural, with a sediment bed. You can’t tell the difference from above the water, though!
City developers expanded the river due to flooding, but for another reason as well. Back before the city was a popular tourist destination, there was a less desirable part of town. People staying just off the river wouldn’t always feel as safe as they could when traveling the streets back to their hotels, so the city expanded the river to help travelers travel by river. It was safer to travel by boat than by foot. Today, San Antonio feels incredibly safe and it is perfectly safe to walk the streets or sail the river, whichever floats your boat (pun intended).
There is a legend about St. Antonio, which is why you’ll find his statue on the Riverwalk. They say if you lose something, whisper it in St. Antonio’s ear and you will get it back. However, one visitor to San Antonio said this can’t be true, because he lost his mind and even after whispering in St. Antonio’s ear, it never came back.
The Shops at Rivercenter used to be the largest mall on a river in the United States. Definitely something to aspire to, right? Apparently, others thought so. Eventually, another mall located on a river and expanded, surpassing the size of the Shops at Rivercenter and taking the title. So to maintain its title, the Riverwalk mall changed its name to a shopping center instead of a mall and now can reclaim its title as the largest shopping center on a river. Is there a difference? Probably not. But they get to keep their title!
The Shops at Rivercenter also are the only mall in the nation with a river through the center.
The Riverwalk is beautifully lit at night, however the city hangs extra lights on the trees for the holidays. If you want to get in the holiday spirit, plan a visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The lights on the trees go on the day after Thanksgiving, and not a day before.
Even though Casa Rio is the oldest restaurant on the Riverwalk, dating back to 1946, it wasn’t until 1973 that they started adding sidewalks and restaurants on the river.
There’s a red sculpture in downtown San Antonio that you can also see from the Riverwalk. At first glance, it doesn’t look like much. However, it was meant to be a symbol of friendship between Mexico and the U.S. The sculpture is a handshake between the two countries, with a swirl around it. Can you see it?
The Hilton Hotel on the Riverwalk is a sought after hotel for its beautiful views and proximity to everything in downtown San Antonio. Did you know that the first four floors are all foundation? Also, this hotel was not built in San Antonio. All of the rooms in the hotel were built outside the city and brought in. They were stacked on top of each other like Legos. It took 202 days to complete.
Marriage Island is a little island in the middle of the San Antonio River, on the Riverwalk. It’s really popular for weddings because of a local legend. River guides claim that getting married on Marriage Island brings new couples good luck. And it’s heart-shaped!
There are lots of waterfalls on the Riverwalk! They’re beautiful to look at, but they’re not actually there for decoration. They help keep the water circulating to keep the fish and wildlife alive and healthy!
San Antonio is a city surrounded by ghost stories, and there is a little ghost story surrounding the Briscoe Museum in downtown San Antonio. Harry Hertzberg, an avid circus fan and collector of circus items, donated two beautiful elephant sculptures to what is now the Briscoe Museum when he died in 1940. It’s said that he haunted people who touched his elephants and anyone who touched them would wake up the next morning with second degree burns on their hands. To combat these stories, the city stopped letting people see the elephants after dark. However, the legends still poured in. Eventually, the city got rid of the elephants, sending them to a different museum.
The Westin Hotel on the Riverwalk is a very popular – and smart – hotel. They have a contract with the NBA so all NBA teams stay at this hotel when in town. It now has gotten a reputation as a celebrity hotel.
When it opened in 1929, the Tower Life Building drew in the masses to see the impressive 31-story skyscraper. It’s a wedding-cake tiered building lined with gargoyles to scare away bad luck. Over the years, the Tower Life Building has been the topic of many myths. One of the legends states that, because the Wall Street crash and Great Depression began only a few months after the $3 million dollar building opened, the architects jumped from the top of the Tower Life Building to avoid bankruptcy. This myth has proven to be false. Another folk tale is that the Good Year Blimp was once moored to the top of it, but that myth also has proven to be false, just the clever editing of a picture for an April Fool’s joke. The Tower Life Building also has a wing jutting out into the river that gives the illusion of a ship coming in from sea.
Like all romantic cities, San Antonio has a love lock bridge. After getting married on Marriage Island, couples would fasten a lock to the chain link fence and throw the key in the river. It’s known as the “Secret Love Lock Bridge” because it’s a nondescript fence along the river near the Bexar County Courthouse Wedding Chapel.
The Drury Hotel, one of the good hotel options that combines budget and luxury, was first built as a bank during the Great Depression. The bank didn’t work out well for its time period, and, in 1973, turned into the Drury Hotel.
San Antonio is full of cypress trees. They give the Riverwalk the historic and romantic feel and make for incredible pictures. Some of the trees are hundreds of years old. One in particular, known as the Sniper Tree, is 400 years old. It’s called such because a Mexican sniper would sit on he tree to fulfill his sniper duties as Texans came to the river for water during the War for Texas Independence. The tree is located on the corner of the natural San Antonio River and the artificial part of the river.
Things to Do Nearby
While there’s so many things to do in San Antonio itself, there are some great things to do right outside the city. If you’re in town for a few days and have a car, consider the next few options.
Natural Bridge Caverns
Texas is full of secret underground caverns. In some places, the higher ground falls away revealing these caverns. Other places, someone might drill a well and run into a wide open space, causing explorers to go spelunking. About an hour outside Austin in Texas Hill Country are some of the most famous underground caves, called Natural Bridge Caverns. These caverns are the largest commercial caverns in Texas. The caverns go down 180 feet under the earth. Inside, you can see beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations, underground lakes and rivers, and impressive formations. They offer guided tours of the caverns, lantern tours that go off path and into the mud, a zip line, a maze, and a canopy challenge.
There is also a drive-through wildlife ranch on the property. If you have an hour or two to spend, you can drive your own car through the reserve and see animals like giraffes, zebras, antelope, kangaroos, llamas, lemurs, wildebeests, and rhinos. There’s a walk about but please don’t feed the animals. You can bring your own food for a picnic!
So that’s that! My trip and recommendations for your trip to San Antonio. San Antonio is an easy walking city if you stay in the downtown/Riverwalk area. I highly recommend staying in the middle of everything, even if you have to pay a little more for a hotel. It’s worth it to avoid having a car, parking fees, and driving in the traffic with more pedestrians than cars!
Natural Pools
There are a few popular natural pools nearby. These natural pools are similar to the Mexican cenotes. They form because Texas is full of underground waterways and caverns. Sometimes erosion causes the ground to fall away and expose the vast underground caverns.
One of the most popular natural pools is the Hamilton Pool Preserve, about an hour from San Antonio. Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural pool that formed when the ground above a natural lake fell away due to erosion. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department calls Hamilton Pool Preserve the most significant rural area in Travis County.
Have you been to San Antonio? What did you like about it? What did you dislike about it? Talk to me in the comments below!
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P.S. You might also enjoy Discovering the White Villages of Andalucia or Spirit Airlines: Flying on a Budget