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Thursday, December 7, 2023

25 Sensational Issues to Do in San Antonio, Texas


When it comes to having a good time steeped in history, there are so many scenic and fascinating things to do in San Antonio, Texas. You can wander around in one of their many museums, take a riverboat down a fairy-tale-esque river, and walk the grounds of what was once a Mission turned gruesome battlefield. Not to mention stunning gardens, incredible food, and friendly people. It’s easy to find yourself falling in love with San Antonio on your first visit!

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A tree-covered riverwalk with quaint stone bridges. An eleven-day pageant with confetti and rooster on a stick. Remembering the Alamo. On the subject of having an excellent time steeped in historical past, there are such a lot of scenic and engaging issues to do in San Antonio, Texas.

You possibly can wander round in certainly one of their many museums, take a riverboat down a fairy-tale-esque river, and stroll the grounds of what was as soon as a Mission turned grotesque battlefield. To not point out beautiful gardens, unbelievable meals, and pleasant folks. It’s simple to search out your self falling in love with San Antonio in your first go to!

Visiting Texas for the primary time I questioned what it will be like. A desert wasteland? No, in no way, fortunately! Would everybody be in ten-gallon hats and cowboy boots? Effectively, not everybody, however you’ll undoubtedly see some Texan vogue! And would the vibes be off since Texas has some actually questionable politics? I’m glad to say no – the town is various and welcoming. So let’s get into it!

Psst: Planning a go to to Texas or the West? Take a look at a few of our different posts that can assist you plan your journey!

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the alamo church san antonio texas
Keep in mind the Alamo, ya hear?

The Finest Time to Go to San Antonio, Texas

The very best time to San Antonio, Texas is earlier than it will get too sizzling or too chilly (all you want is a lightweight jacket), typically in March/April or October/November. The temperatures throughout this time vary from the mid-60s to the 80s, and once I went in April it bought just a little sizzling at noon however not stifling. 

I additionally visited San Antonio throughout their Fiesta pageant which occurs each April, and fell in love with the power the town exudes throughout this time. Individuals come out to occasion, very like we do right here in Louisville in the course of the Kentucky Derby Competition or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and there was a lot to do and see throughout this time.

I extremely advocate visiting throughout April in the course of the 11-long-day pageant (extra on this beneath), and if you happen to’re into enjoyable and plenty of occasions to attend, this actually is the most effective time to discover the town!

The way to Get to San Antonio, Texas

Texas is a large state, and the best option to get right here is to fly. Many airways don’t fly instantly into San Antonio however join by means of Dallas, which is about an hour’s flight away. The San Antonio airport itself (SAT) is sufficiently small to get by means of shortly and is barely quarter-hour away from the middle of the town.

The way to get round San Antonio, Texas

There are a few methods to get round San Antonio simply. These are:

  • Strolling: I stayed downtown proper throughout the road from the Alamo throughout my keep and was in a position to stroll to lots of the cultural highlights of the town, together with the Alamo (after all), the River Stroll, the Outdated Market Sq., just a few of the museums, some nice eating places, and many of the Fiesta occasions.
  • Trip Shares or Rental Automobiles: To achieve my different locations I used rideshares, however this may add up shortly. Should you’re going to remain for quite a lot of days renting a automotive could also be the best choice, however not completely needed.
  • The Bus: San Antonio has a bus system referred to as the VIA Metropolitan Transit that runs a number of strains for an affordable value.

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the alamo church in san antonio texas
The Alamo Church with commermorative wreaths adorning the garden.

Issues to do in San Antonio, Texas

There are such a lot of issues to do in San Antonio, Texas, the place does one start? Effectively to get the heart beat of the town, and the historical past that constructed it, there’s one cease that can put into perspective the tradition, and complex historical past of the town and the state of Texas. Lest we overlook, let’s begin with studying in regards to the historical past of the Alamo!

Be taught Your Texan Historical past on the Alamo

Even if you happen to aren’t the largest historical past buff, the Alamo is an effective place to start out your time in San Antonio as a result of it places the town, and the state of Texas, into historic perspective.

The Alamo is situated smack dab in the midst of downtown San Antonio, and it appears like the middle of the wheel which the remainder of the town followers out from. Subsequent to it’s a mall and a number of other accommodations, however strolling across the Alamo grounds appears like being in a distinct world.

When most individuals consider the Alamo they solely consider the long-lasting Alamo church, which after all could be very stunning and evocative, however the surrounding grounds are simply as a lot of the unique Alamo, despite the fact that many of the partitions and buildings are lacking in the present day. 

The San Antonio space was initially occupied by the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation of Indigenous Peoples till their inhabitants was enormously diminished by the arrival of Spanish Franciscan Missionaries who established San Antonio de Valero Mission in 1718

In 1793, the Spanish Crown issued an order for the missions in Texas (which was nonetheless a part of Mexico at this level) to be secularized, so in 1803, a Spanish cavalry unit referred to as La Segunda Compañía Volante de San Carlos de Parras transformed the outdated mission into navy barracks which grew to become “the Alamo”. 

In 1821 Mexico gained its independence from Spain, then Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna in 1833 abolished the Structure of 1824, altering his political beliefs from federalism to centralism, inflicting Mexico to fall right into a civil conflict and Texas to hunt its personal independence. 

On October 2, 1835, the Texas Revolution started within the city of Gonzales, when the Mexican Military refused at hand again a canon to the Texans who lent them it. Finally, the Texans fired a shot on the Mexican Military, resulting in the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

the grounds of the alamo in san antonio texas
Contained in the Alamo grounds.

The Texans hunkered down on the Alamo, as Basic Santa Anna’s Military marched towards Texas. On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. The Battle of the Alamo came about on March 6, 1836, and was actually a really small second on this entire political turmoil – the battle lasted solely 90 minutes, and Santa Anna’s Military worn out all 200 defenders. 

At the moment the Alamo stands for bravery, revolution, and resilience, although it has a extra sophisticated facet, in that a part of the political unrest of the Texans was they needed to struggle Mexico to maintain their proper to personal slaves. Like nearly all of US historical past, there’s a unusual line between honoring the sophisticated previous and utilizing it to information us to a greater future.

Visiting the Alamo church is free with a timed ticket, and you can even take a guided tour or personal tour (Ernesto was an incredible information!). In addition they simply opened the model new Ralston Household Collections Middle, which options an enormous assortment of things associated to the Alamo (many donated by singer Phil Collins) together with Santa Anna’s discipline sword, a rifle owned by Davy Crockett, and a Violin produced from the Alamo church wooden.

The Alamo is presently going by means of some enlargement efforts, constructing out components of the unique Alamo so guests can see what your entire advanced would have appeared like earlier than Santa Anna’s military destroyed most of it. Take a look at Mission San Jose if you wish to discover a mission that has been higher preserved (i.e. not destroyed), which is San Antonio’s Nation Park, and you may even hit up lots of the missions on a non-public tour!

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Get together Throughout Fiesta®

Fiesta® San Antonio is a long-standing occasion, initially began in 1891 a one-parade occasion to honor those that died on the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto, the ultimate battle of the Texas Revolution. At the moment the occasion lives on within the month of April, however slightly than being a single parade, it has advanced into an 11-day-celebration that honors all issues San Antonio, together with its various residents, with parades (a number of ones!), music, patriotic observances, Fiesta Royalty with rhinestone attire, and plenty of good meals and drinks!

Although the unique pageant could have had extra of the strictly Patriotic historical past related to it, Fiesta in the present day brings the town collectively all for an excellent trigger – The Fiesta® San Antonio Fee Inc. is a nonprofit, volunteer, self-supporting group and the funds raised present providers to San Antonio residents all year long. It actually is a celebration with a objective!

You’ll see folks carrying flower crowns (halos), smashing confetti eggs on one another’s heads (Cascarones), and carrying colourful badges on their garments (medals) which you should buy or it’s possible you’ll be given by enterprise or party-goers. For Fiesta you costume up – we’re speaking a complete shade explosion, and also you’ll see lots of people in Latin-inspired embroidered tops and large gaudy hats, very like the Kentucky Derby!

man with big hat at fiesta niosa festival san antonio texas
Did you actually go to Fiesta if you happen to aren’t lined in medals and have a hat within the form of an enormous concha?

Now that you understand a *little* about what Fiesta® San Antonio is, listed here are among the occasions you may’t miss:

  • A Evening in Outdated San Antonio (NIOSA) – A Evening in Outdated San Antonio or NIOSA (as you’ll extra generally see it written or heard it stated as), is a four-day lengthy occasion that celebrates the tradition of San Antonio’s residents. It feels so much like Disney World in a approach – there are various completely different “lands” crammed with meals and drinks from that tradition which takes place within the downtown historic arts village of La Villita. You may get escargot from France, rooster on a stick from New Orleans, pretzels from Germany, elote from Mexico, and a lot extra. Dwell music fills the air, everyone seems to be consuming and having enjoyable, and you may discover the world in a single night time!
  • Battle of the Flowers Parade – This 2.5-hour+ parade is the fruits of the Fiesta® actions, and within the days main as much as it, you’ll see folks establishing bleachers all around the metropolis for the 45,000 seats which might be bought. The Battle of the Flowers® Affiliation is the one all-women, all-volunteer group producing occasions of its form and you may anticipate to see navy shows, cultural floats, and the Fiesta® Royalty, together with its duchesses in lengthy, ostentatious beaded attire. You’ll hear spectators yelling for the ladies to “present us your footwear!”, and so they’ll present what they’re carrying beneath their attire to the viewers – often rhinestone cowboy boots!
  • Cornyation – Cornyation (a spoof on “coronation”) began within the Nineteen Fifties as a option to make enjoyable of the wealthy, Anglo residents of the Fiesta® Royal Courtroom and the Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo, the place yearly 24 ladies of eligible marriage age stroll throughout the Coronation stage and up a set of stairs, ready for the crowning of their Princess and Queen. The primary Cornyation in 1951 mocked the Coronation theme of 1950, the “Courtroom of Islands,” by crowning as an alternative an “Empress of the Cracked Salad Bowl” on the river of the thousand islands, the place all of the Cornyation duchesses dressed up as lettuce and different greens. At the moment Cornyation retains with the custom of panning the elite – you’ll see drag queens impersonating CoUNTry queens, skits making enjoyable of native and nationwide politics, and an entire lot of campy and homosexual musical numbers. It’s chaotic, irreverent, and humorous. I like to recommend this glorious e book – Cornyation: San Antonio’s Outrageous Fiesta Custom – to study extra about this tremendous enjoyable custom.
  • Fiesta de los Reyes – Positioned within the Historic Market Sq., which has been used as a gathering level for meals and the native “chili queens” since 1730, you will discover your self amongst 100+ native distributors throughout an enormous road occasion. The Fiesta itself is the biggest free occasion in San Antonio, and you may stroll down the road with a margarita whereas noshing on a rooster on a stick. Dwell music permeates the air and it’s fantastic folks watching amongst the historic structure! The Historic Market Sq. can be full of life on any weekend it’s possible you’ll be on the town.

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go rio river cruise and river walk in san antonio texas-Blog Photo-2
The Go Rio River Cruise is a good way to absorb the River Stroll from the water!

Stroll Alongside the River Stroll and Take a River Cruise

One of the vital charming locations in San Antonio is the River Stroll, which weaves between buildings and underneath stone bridges, with eating places and colourful fiesta banners lining the route. Should you’ve ever been to EPCOT it’s a bit just like the Gran Fiesta Tour within the Mexico pavilion – however in actual life!

The River Stroll is well accessible from most locations downtown, and also you’ll see indicators pointing down stairs throughout to get to the River Stroll. As you stroll down the principally pure river, it’s possible you’ll discover the Arnerson River Theatre, which you’ll know because the place the place Miss Rhode Island provides her well-known “excellent date” reply in Miss Congeniality (April twenty fifth).

Among the best methods to actually see the place this little river winds is by taking a Go Rio River Cruise, which is a 35-minute narrated boat tour in a colourful and comfy small barge boat. You’ll study issues like how 300 folks fall within the river per 12 months, most of whom are drunk or by chance fall in when it’s crowded throughout parades across the river.

In your journey, you’ll wind previous iconic spots, just like the Outdated Mill Crossing Mural the place Teddy Roosevelt led his Tough Riders, and Selena’s Bridge, the place Tejano famous person Selena Quintanilla Pérez’s husband proposed to her within the film (as performed by J-Lo, after all). You’ll additionally study in regards to the historic structure and see some enormous fashionable sculptures which loom over the river.

Seeing these scenic bridges and other people sipping on margaritas at little eating places on the shore, like at Casa Rio, the primary restaurant to be constructed alongside the river, it’s simple to see why the River Stroll is so magical!

Cease to Scent the Roses at a Backyard

Since San Antonio is in a temperate local weather (i.e. sizzling), it’s simple for lots of tropical crops to develop right here. My preliminary thought was that San Antonio was going to be extra like a desert slightly than the surprisingly lush place that it truly is, although I used to be informed that by the top of summer season the crops are fairly baked.

Fortunately, there are two nice locations to absorb each the native flora of Texas, but additionally some superb tropical crops you may solely see in a cultivated setting.

San Antonio Botanical Backyard

The San Antonio Botanical Backyard is a 38-acre city oasis of crops, flowers, and loads of birds, bees, and butterflies fluttering about. Right here you may stroll by means of culinary gardens, previous large plantings of native perennials feeding the native fauna, and thru big sculptural greenhouses, crammed with an unbelievable assortment of orchids, ferns, palms, and different unique crops.

Severely, as soon as the water misters come on within the greenhouses and also you’re strolling by means of lush inexperienced and a plethora of rainbow orchids, you’ll really feel such as you’re in a prehistoric film – sans the dinosaurs. You additionally can not miss wandering by means of the Japanese gardens, the Texas native trails full with little log cabins, and the formal backyard, crammed with roses and eye-popping snapdragons.

When you’re executed together with your afternoon stroll, dine on the adjoining Jardin Restaurant. Cool off with a refreshing frozen peach bellini, and their grilled cheese with candy tomato jam is to die for. Should you’re within the temper for one thing heavier, strive their house-made pasta, just like the decadent pan-seared potato gnocchi. Being proper subsequent to a backyard, you understand every part is as contemporary as it may possibly get!

The limestone quarry-tuned-Japanese Tea Backyard is just a little paradise.

Japanese Tea Backyard

The Japanese Tea Backyard was as soon as a limestone quarry and cement manufacturing facility on the flip of the century, however in 1916 Park Commissioner Ray Lambert appeared out over the rocky void and thought, “ what, this might make an epic Japanese backyard.” So it grew to become what it’s now – a jaw-dropping, lush year-round backyard with an abundance of flowers, shaded walkways, stone bridges over Koi ponds, and a dramatic 60-foot waterfall. 

As you climb the steps and look over the huge backyard beneath, water pouring from the waterfall above, you’ll perceive why folks flock right here to take photographs and basic wander round such a zen place. 

The backyard is free and open to the general public 7am to 5pm day by day, and arriving early is healthier slightly than later since even in spring and fall San Antonio afternoons can get sizzling and steamy. Should you get hungry for a snack, you may seize some meals from the adjoining Jingu Home which has spring rolls, boba tea, dumplings, and extra!

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The Saga at San Fernando Cathedral

By day, the San Fernando Cathedral is a beautiful Catholic cathedral established in 1731, however by night time it turns into The Saga at San Fernando Cathedral, a colourful gentle present that tells the story of San Antonio by means of music and dazzling pictures.

Throughout this 24-minute journey by worldwide artist Xavier de Richemont, you’ll see over 7000 sq. ft of sunshine, shade, and visible narration overtop the beautiful structure of the cathedral. 

The Saga tells the story with consistently shifting, considerably trippy visuals, portray the story with music from the Native Individuals who referred to as this area dwelling, to the arrival and colonization of the Spanish, to the battle on the Alamo, to San Antonio in the present day.

The present is free and takes place each Tuesday by means of Sunday at 9pm and 9:30pm.

Stuff Your Face

San Antonio has no scarcity of scrumptious eats, I imply, who doesn’t like some glorious Tex-Mex meals? Moreover all of the flavors of the town’s Mexican affect, San Antonio is the culinary capital of Texas and is likely one of the two U.S. cities (the opposite being Tuscon) designated a UNESCO Artistic Metropolis of Gastronomy, and doubtless the explanation I placed on a lot weight in 5 days.

Since San Antonio can be dwelling to a Culinary Institute of America campus, that almost all actually helps them produce some prime cooks and a few actually distinctive eating experiences. A few of my favourite eating places in San Antonio I’ve tried are:

  • Botika – Botika is situated within the Pearl, and its menu comprises “a melting pot of South American and South East Asian flavors” which is precisely what you may look forward to finding right here. To begin, get the steam buns which embrace crispy pork stomach, caramelized onion hoisin sauce, pickled pink cabbage, cucumbers, and mint. To your principal, get the plain star Lomo Saltado, a savory and decadent dish with Wok stir-fried shoulder tender steak, siyao, wedge fries, candy plantain, pickled aji, and salsa criolla. I might eat this each time I come right here!
  • Finest High quality Daughter – Additionally situated within the Pearl in a 1906 home with 4 in another way embellished rooms, Finest High quality Daughter is a New Asian-American Restaurant with some critical type. As soon as you agree into this creative and comfortable restaurant, order a Tremendous Bien cocktail with Mezcal, Watermelon-Ginger Cordial, and lemon juice that’s smoky and candy. For a starter, get the Mochi Cheddar Hush Puppies that are tacky and chewy and include Thai chili jam (I dream of those), and for a family-style principal get the Cashew Rooster, which is tremendous flavorful and crispy and nothing like take-out!
  • La Gloria – Positioned within the Pearl as effectively (see a theme?), La Gloria “celebrates the wealthy and scrumptious road meals from inside Mexico” by offering lotssss of excellent Mexican eats. As you sit outdoors among the many shade and colourful decorations overlooking the scenic river stroll (the most effective view on the town?), get certainly one of their margaritas which were voted finest in San Antonio and an order of the Tradicional Queso Fundido and chips. For just a little extra sustenance than tequila and cheese, you may’t go fallacious with their Tacos Al Pastor
Signature Burrata Al Tartufo© from dough in san antonio texas
The Signature Burrata Al Tartufo© from Dough Pizzeria Napoletana can’t be missed!
  • Dough Pizzeria Napoletana – Dough is the place to go for high quality Neapolitan pizza, the place their wood-burning ovens that bake the pizzas to perfection in 90 seconds at over 900 levels. Dough options an intensive wine choice, or get a flight of pink or white wine to find your new favourite wine (I certain did, the San Salvatore Ceraso Aglianico Paestum). To begin strive their Signature Burrata Al Tartufo© (so good it’s copywritten) with house-made burrata crammed with truffle essence, mascarpone, and ricotta and paired farm contemporary tomatoes, rosemary balsamic discount, additional virgin olive oil, and house-made flatbread. To your pizza course, get the Fontina E Salsiccia with house-made sausage, fontina cheese, caramelized candy onions, oak roasted mushrooms, thyme, Locatelli pecorino romano, and rosemary balsamic discount. Buon Appetito!
  • La Panadería – La Panadería is a quick-service bakery and cafe with a number of areas round city (together with downtown), which is nice to get a meal on the go! They specialise in handmade bread and pan dulce impressed by Mexico’s Golden Period, which pulls affect from French, Italian and American breadmaking strategies, together with a 48-hour fermentation course of. Get a puff pastry like a frosting-dipped Oreja, or a conventional Mexican candy bread like a Concha. You can too get sandwiches on their contemporary baked items just like the El Favorito served on a spherical croissant with ham, swiss cheese, and two sunny facet up eggs.
the pearl district in san antonio texas
The Historic Pearl has all of the meals, buying, and good drinks for an superior afternoon!

Discover the Historic Pearl

The Historic Pearl in San Antonio is a literal gem of scrumptious eateries, native boutique outlets, and loads of laid-back but stylish ambiance paired with beautiful structure. This space has been bringing folks collectively since 1883 when native businessmen and moguls opened a brewery right here. Quickly after a brewmaster made his “Pearl” beer, whose title got here from the foamy bubbles within the freshly poured glass which resembled glowing pearls.

It wasn’t till the 2010s that this space grew to become developed into the Pearl we see in the present day, with flats, accommodations, outlets, eating places, an enormous garden, the Culinary Institute of America, and a contemporary brewery. It’s a terrific place to spend a sunny afternoon, have a drink and a chunk to eat, and store!

Among the finest locations to take a look at are:

  • Feliz Fashionable – This tremendous colourful store focuses on curating gadgets made by impartial artists & makers, and is like stepping right into a dwelling portray. You’ll find tremendous enjoyable playing cards, zany earrings and jewellery, Taylor Swift items, and plenty of different enjoyable issues which have a Texan vibe. I discovered so many issues I needed for myself and loads of issues to provide as items!
  • The Twig Ebook Store – This intimate bookstore is jam-packed with superb reads, with loads of books highlighting the historical past of San Antonio! That is the place I picked up my e book on Cornyation and loads of superb souvenirs. You by no means know once you’ll want a e book… in my case, one other one!
  • The Meals Corridor at Bottling Division – The Meals Corridor has 4 fast service meals choices you may choose as much as eat inside or within the park proper outdoors the doorways. You possibly can take pleasure in Mexican road meals from Chilaquil, pizza from Wonderslice, or Caribbean meals at Mi Roti, which has yummy curry rooster and roti, a buttery flatbread. You can too seize a drink to go on the Park Bar, like a frozen boozy lemonade excellent for a sizzling day!  
  • Southerleigh Effective Meals & Brewery – Southerleigh touts itself as “Texas Cross-cultural Delicacies and Craft Brewery” with a seasonally rotating menu. The craft brewery is a throwback to the Pearl’s authentic brewery which began all of it, and you may even get a “Pearl on the Patio” beer which pays homage to the unique beer. Pair this with Southerleighs Well-known Fried Rooster and you’ve got a meal! There’s additionally a drink cart outdoors, the place you seize a drink like a robust Sangria to take pleasure in your stroll across the Peal.

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Take a look at one of many Many Museums

Generally one of the best ways to search out the guts and soul of a metropolis is to go to a museum (or 5)! San Antonio is a many-faceted metropolis, from the Alamo to its Indigenous Inhabitants to modern artwork, so trying out a specialty museum is a good way to see all of the nuances and many various cultural lenses.

Listed here are among the finest museums to go to:

  • The Briscoe Western Artwork Museum – The Briscoe Westen Artwork Museum is the place to assist put the story of the American West into perspective, from the Native Individuals who name/referred to as Texas dwelling to the European settlers. Within the three-level museum, you may discover artifacts similar to settler’s stagecoaches, saddles, spurs and lined wagons, in addition to Native American drawings, sketches, work, and sculptures.
  • The McNay – What’s now the McNay Museum was as soon as the house of a girl named Marion Koogler McNay, an Ohio-born heiress who bought her first fashionable oil portray, Diego Rivera’s Delfina Flores, and commissioned the 24-room Spanish Colonial-Revival home, which grew to become the primary fashionable artwork museum in Texas. Strolling the grounds is like being in a elaborate Nineteen Twenties movie, with fountains and formal gardens, with every room highlighting fashionable artwork from vases to life-size sculptures, to colourful pop artwork.
  • HopscotchHopscotch San Antonion is an immersive artwork expertise, the place you don’t simply have a look at artwork, however develop into a part of the artwork your self! There are reveals like monumental, room-size murals, telephones the place you may take heed to recordings of tourists’ secrets and techniques (and you may depart your individual!), a digital graffiti wall, a corridor of neon lights, and extra all in a darkish and magical setting. There may be additionally a bar earlier than you enter, so you may seize a zodiac-themed drink earlier than you “go down the rabbit gap”! You possibly can seize your ticket prematurely as effectively!
  • San Antonio Museum of Artwork – The San Antonio Museum of Artwork has a balanced assortment of gorgeous artworks from world wide, together with a powerful assortment of historical Greek statues and vases, in addition to a good-sized assortment of Egyptian artifacts. One of the vital fascinating and beautiful reveals is the Latin American In style Artwork gallery, the place colourful sculptures, masks, and miniatures exploring the themes of life and demise in Latin tradition take middle stage.

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the haunted menger hotel in san antonio texas
There are 45 ghosts presupposed to reside within the Menger Lodge, together with Teddy Rosevelt and a murdered maid!

Get Scared on a Ghost Tour

San Antonio is a really outdated metropolis, and particularly the place wars have been fought, there’s a tense power that by no means appears to depart the place. As our information Robert identified from RJA Ghost Excursions, the Alamo is mainly only a big graveyard.

Even if you happen to aren’t a robust believer in ghosts, taking a ghost tour provides you the prospect to see the town at night time, study who lived, labored and died in San Antonio, and provides you a style of historical past you would possibly in any other case miss.

Plenty of the buildings downtown are historic, together with many accommodations just like the Menger, which is presupposed to have 45 ghosts in there alone. Apparently, Teddy Rosevelt is a visitor who by no means actually left the Menger Bar, the place he famously chosen his Tough Riders again in 1898.

You might also see the ghostly apparition of a maid from the 1870s on the Menger, Sallie White, nonetheless making beds after her husband killed her in a jealous rage outdoors the resort one night time. 

Even the Alamo has had its share of ghost encounters – when Santa Anna ordered his males to tear down the remainder of the Alamo after the battle, the boys noticed six ghosts or “diablos” come out to defend the Alamo as soon as extra. That’s fairly disturbing!

To study all in regards to the ghosts of San Antonio, and extra in regards to the metropolis’s wealthy and unusual historical past, take a look at RJA Ghost Excursions. They’re enjoyable, just a little hokey, and undoubtedly spooky – particularly if you happen to discover out you’re staying in a haunted resort!

hotel gibbs in san antonio texas
Lodge Gibbs is true throughout from the Alamo and is a superb dwelling base!

The place to Keep in San Antonio

Whenever you’re coming to San Antonio, it’s finest to remain for a number of days and discover all the town has to supply! The very best space is surely by the Alamo downtown, this manner you may stroll to many of the central sights and it makes for a scenic and straightforward time.

Among the finest choices on this space are:

  • Lodge Gibbs – Positioned catty-corner to the Alamo, this resort is clear and fashionable and tremendous snug, and comes with a complimentary buffet breakfast. The very best a part of all? You possibly can actually have a room that overlooks the Alamo (I did!) and it’s a good way to start out and finish your day. I at all times felt tremendous near the motion (I had a seat for the Battle of the Flowers parade proper by the resort) and the River Stroll is only some minutes away.
  • Sonder The Atlee – If a trip rental is extra your factor, this spacious and tremendous vivid house is the right place to name dwelling base. It’s simply two blocks away from the Alamo and has two bedrooms, excellent if you happen to’re touring with associates or household.
  • Lodge Contessa – If you wish to keep proper on the River Stroll (which is totally comprehensible), this charming and colourful resort has beautiful suites and a pool with a sizzling tub for these sizzling Texan afternoons. You possibly can come out and stroll alongside the River Stroll at any time after all, too!

In regards to the Creator: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with a terrific love of the outside. When he isn’t rising flowers for enjoyable, he’s the Editor-in-Chief of Sensible Wanderlust and Let’s Go Louisville. He has been a buddy of Lia’s since highschool, and so they have taken loads of their very own disaster-prone adventures collectively!


Are you excited to go to San Antonio but? Which of these items in San Antonio are you dying to do (most likely go to Fiesta, proper?)? Drop your feedback and questions on visiting San Antonio within the feedback beneath!

Psst: Planning a go to to Texas or the West? Take a look at a few of our different posts that can assist you plan your journey!

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When it comes to having a good time steeped in history, there are so many scenic and fascinating things to do in San Antonio, Texas. You can wander around in one of their many museums, take a riverboat down a fairy-tale-esque river, and walk the grounds of what was once a Mission turned gruesome battlefield. Not to mention stunning gardens, incredible food, and friendly people. It’s easy to find yourself falling in love with San Antonio on your first visit!

Disclaimer: This publish was created in partnership with Go to San Antonio. All opinions and tremendous corny jokes are 100% my personal and completely not their fault.

Our High Journey Ideas & Sources

Listed here are our favourite journey ideas & assets for saving cash and planning journey logistics! For extra ideas, take a look at our journey ideas useful resource web page or our information to planning a visit.

  • Reserving Flights: To attain flight offers, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Cash-saving ideas: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on solely on a price range airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
  • Lodging: We often keep in budget-friendly trip leases, boutique accommodations or personal rooms in hostels. We use Reserving.com to e book accommodations (we love their versatile cancellation coverage) and Hostelworld to e book hostels (low deposit, simple change/cancellation, and glorious critiques). For trip leases, we favor to e book utilizing VRBO as a result of they have decrease charges and higher assist than Airbnb, and we’re not followers of Airbnb’s unethical observe report. You can too e book trip leases on Expedia and Resorts.com. We additionally use TrustedHousesitters as each hosts (for our dwelling and our fur-child) and vacationers!
  • Journey Insurance coverage: We at all times, at all times, ALWAYS purchase journey insurance coverage for worldwide journeys, and we STRONGLY recommend it – go to our Journey Insurance coverage Information to search out out why. We advocate both World Nomads or SafetyWing for worldwide journey insurance coverage. SafetyWing is likely one of the few insurance policies that covers Covid-19, and so they have glorious month-to-month insurance policies which might be excellent for Digital Nomads and long run vacationers!
  • Journey Credit score Card: We e book all of our journeys on our favourite journey bank card. Not solely can we earn money again that we are able to spend on extra journey, however the card presents implausible journey perks like journey insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation protection, misplaced baggage reimbursement, and rental automotive protection, which helps shield us on our travels. Be taught extra right here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the journey guides on the CDC web site to analysis really useful medicines and vaccines for worldwide journeys. We at all times advocate getting each vaccine really useful by the CDC! You may get them at your major care physician’s workplace or a walk-in pharmacy.
  • Excursions: We love reserving guided excursions, particularly meals excursions and strolling excursions, to get a neighborhood’s perspective and a historical past lesson whereas sight-seeing! We e book our excursions utilizing Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to determine methods to get from place to put, and e book native transportation on-line utilizing Bookaway wherever we are able to. Once we e book a rental automotive, we use DiscoverCars to match rental corporations and discover the most effective deal.
  • Baggage Storage: Each time we’re trying out early or profiting from a protracted layover, we use LuggageHero to soundly retailer our baggage whereas we’re operating round. Use the code PRACTICALW for two hours of free baggage storage on us.
  • VPN Service: A VPN retains your digital data (like web site login particulars, financial institution data, and many others) secure, even once you’re related to an unsecured community whereas touring. Plus, it allows you to use Netflix & different streaming websites overseas! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO once you join!
  • What to Pack: Listed here are the journey necessities that we deliver on each journey. We even have packing lists for sizzling climate, chilly climate, and plenty of extra. Check out all of our packing guides!

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