Home to the legendary Alamo and the world-famous River Walk, San Antonio hosts a vibrant mix of culture, cuisine, architecture and moving history. Explore the rich historical offerings, award-winning theme parks, championship golf courses, amazing shopping, innovative cuisine and interesting cultural events and museums.
The city of San Antonio has an iconic history and deep-rooted culture that have crafted a city unlike any other. This most historic of Texas cities began with Spanish colonial missions. Constructed of limestone and nestled along the banks of the San Antonio River, these missions forever changed the face of Texas. Among them is the legendary Alamo, famed for the epic 1836 battle where 189 defenders of Texas liberty held the mission for 13 days against more than 4,000 Mexican soldiers. These humble limestone buildings are only the foundation of what has become today’s San Antonio, a sprawling urban haven painted with a beautiful culture. This artful destination has a worldly appeal comprised of German and Latino influences among others. Escape to the River Walk, where stone paths follow the river bends to hotels, sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and historic districts.
From historic sites such as the Alamo and the missions to more fun-filled places such as the Six Flags Fiesta and the SeaWorld. This Texas city combines history and and entertainment for all ages, and if you're feeling brave there's even an escape room and a ghost tour.
Usually countries, not cities, are known for birthing culinary genres, but San Antonio is a cultural melting pot that has spilled Tex-Mex cuisine onto the world’s palate. Kitchens here are steeped in Latino and German roots that have melted together to serve up a way of life. Influences from around the world have come together in San Antonio. Fresh Gulf Coast seafood meets Mediterranean spices and locally-grown herbs and chilies are sprinkled across French, Italian, and Asian-inspired plates. Dining in this city is about more than just great cuisine, it’s about the juxtaposition of classic and contemporary. It’s the sharing of recipes passed down for generations and the new ingenuity of chefs trained in the world’s finest kitchens. It's dishes in which authenticity is the most sumptuous of ingredients. Not only can you savor the spices of Latino cuisines in San Antonio, but now you can also learn to master these flavors for your own kitchen. Enroll in public classes at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college, which has a Center for Foods of the Americas campus in historic San Antonio.
When the stars come out over the South Texas Plains, it’s time to head to San Antonio’s nightclubs, pubs and dance halls. Whatever you’re in the mood for, San Antonio offers a wide range of festive entertainment options when the sun goes down. Quiet wine bars, well-known watering holes, lively dance halls and a dueling piano sing-along are just some of the many popular stops available on the River Walk or within a short walk of the downtown hotels. Other hot spots like the South town area and points north are easily accessible by taxi.
With ten shopping malls within an hour’s drive of the downtown area, a variety of eclectic specialty shops and antiques stores along its outskirts, San Antonio is full of reasons not to return home empty-handed. A true shopper’s paradise. With miles upon miles of outlets, malls, galleries, unique shops and Mexican markets, it’s easy to find great gifts or the perfect fit. If you’re into local finds, Artisan’s Alley, Market Square, and La Villita Historic Arts Village offer unique crafts, local art, antiques and south of the border imports. Large shopping centers like the Quarry Market, North Star Mall, Rivercenter Mall and the shops at La Cantera entice serious, upscale shoppers. Plus, you can find great designer bargains at one of the many outlets around San Antonio and in nearby San Marcos.
