25 Sensational Issues to Do in San Antonio, Texas

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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!

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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. In the case of having a very good time steeped in historical past, there are such a lot of scenic and interesting issues to do in San Antonio, Texas.

You may wander round in considered 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 ugly battlefield. To not point out beautiful gardens, unbelievable meals, and pleasant individuals. It’s straightforward to seek out your self falling in love with San Antonio in your first go to!

Visiting Texas for the primary time I puzzled what it will be like. A desert wasteland? No, by no means, fortunately! Would everybody be in ten-galloon hats and cowboy boots? Effectively, not everybody, however you’ll positively see some Texan style! And would the vibes be off since Texas has some actually terrible politics? I’m glad to say no – the town is numerous and welcoming.

Fortunately our Editor-in-Chief Richie Goff spent 5 days right here to let you know all about one of the best issues to do in San Antonio, Texas. So let’s get into it!

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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 most effective 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 after I went in April it received somewhat 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 vitality the town exudes throughout this time. Individuals come out to social gathering, very like we do right here in Louisville throughout the Kentucky Derby Pageant or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and there was a lot to do and see throughout this time.

I extremely advocate visiting throughout April throughout the 11-long-day pageant (extra on this under), and for those who’re into enjoyable and many occasions to attend, this actually is one of the best time to discover the town!

The best way to Get to San Antonio, Texas

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

The best 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 capable of stroll to numerous the cultural highlights of the town, together with the Alamo (in fact), the River Stroll, the Outdated Market Sq., just a few of the museums, some nice eating places, and many of the Fiesta occasions.
  • Journey Shares or Rental Automobiles: To achieve my different locations I used rideshares, however this could add up shortly. If you happen to’re going to remain for various days renting a automotive could also be your only option, however not completely essential.
  • The Bus: San Antonio has a bus system known as the VIA Metropolitan Transit that runs a number of strains for a cheap 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 heartbeat of the town, and the historical past that constructed it, there may be one cease that can put into perspective the tradition, and complex historical past of the town and the state of Texas. Lest we neglect, let’s begin with studying concerning the historical past of the Alamo!

Study Your Texan Historical past on the Alamo

Even for those who aren’t the largest historical past buff, the Alamo is an effective place to begin your time in San Antonio as a result of it places the town, and the state of Texas, into historic perspective.

The Alamo is positioned smack dab in the course of downtown San Antonio, and it looks 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 looks like being in a distinct world.

When most individuals consider the Alamo they solely consider the enduring Alamo church, which in fact may be very lovely and evocative, however the surrounding grounds are simply as a lot of the unique Alamo, although many of the partitions and buildings are lacking right this moment. 

The San Antonio space was initially occupied by the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation of Indigenous Peoples till their inhabitants was tremendously 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 known as La Segunda Compañía Volante de San Carlos de Parras transformed the previous mission into army barracks which turned “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 opinions from federalism to centralism, inflicting Mexico to fall right into a civil struggle 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 Common Santa Anna’s Military marched towards Texas. On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. The Battle of the Alamo occurred on March 6, 1836, and was actually a really small second on this complete political turmoil – the battle lasted solely 90 minutes, and Santa Anna’s Military worn out all 200 defenders. 

In the present day the Alamo stands for bravery, revolution, and resilience, although it has a extra sophisticated aspect, in that a part of the political unrest of the Texans was they wished to battle Mexico to hold their proper to personal slaves. Like virtually 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 too take a guided tour or personal tour (Ernesto was an incredible information!). In addition they simply opened the model new Ralston Household Collections Heart, which options an enormous assortment of things associated to the Alamo (many donated by singer Phil Collins) together with Santa Anna’s subject sword, a rifle owned by Davy Crockett, and a Violin made out of the Alamo church wooden.

The Alamo is at the moment going by some growth 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. Try 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’ll even hit up numerous the missions on a personal tour!

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Occasion 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. In the present day the occasion lives on within the month of April, however relatively than being a single parade, it has developed into an 11-day-celebration that honors all issues San Antonio, together with its numerous residents, with parades (a number of ones!), music, patriotic observances, Fiesta Royalty with rhinestone clothes, and many good meals and drinks!

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

You’ll see individuals sporting flower crowns (halos), smashing confetti eggs on one another’s heads (Cascarones), and sporting colourful badges on their garments (medals) which you should buy or chances are you’ll be given by enterprise or party-goers. For Fiesta you gown up – we’re speaking a complete coloration 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 for those who aren’t lined in medals and have a hat within the form of a large concha?

Now that you already know a *little* about what Fiesta® San Antonio is, listed below are a number of the occasions you’ll be able to’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 means – there are lots of 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. Stay music fills the air, everyone seems to be ingesting and having enjoyable, and you’ll discover the world in a single night time!
  • Battle of the Flowers Parade – This 2.5-hour+ parade is the end result of the Fiesta® actions, and within the days main as much as it, you’ll see individuals establishing bleachers all around the metropolis for the 45,000 seats which can be offered. The Battle of the Flowers® Affiliation is the one all-women, all-volunteer group producing occasions of its sort and you’ll anticipate to see army shows, cultural floats, and the Fiesta® Royalty, together with its duchesses in lengthy, ostentatious beaded clothes. You’ll hear spectators yelling for the women to “present us your sneakers!”, they usually’ll present what they’re sporting beneath their clothes to the viewers – normally rhinestone cowboy boots!
  • Cornyation – Cornyation (a spoof on “coronation”) began within the 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. In the present day 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’ll find your self amongst 100+ native distributors throughout an enormous avenue social gathering. The Fiesta itself is the biggest free occasion in San Antonio, and you’ll stroll down the road with a margarita whereas noshing on a rooster on a stick. Stay music permeates the air and it’s great individuals watching amongst the historic structure! The Historic Market Sq. can be vigorous on any weekend chances are 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 an effective way to absorb the River Stroll from the water!

Stroll Alongside the River Stroll and Take a River Cruise

One of the crucial 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. If you happen to’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 definitely 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 largely pure river, chances are you’ll discover the Arnerson River Theatre, which you will know because the place the place Miss Rhode Island provides her well-known “good date” reply in Miss Congeniality (April twenty fifth).

The most effective 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 find out about issues like how 300 individuals fall within the river per 12 months, most of whom are drunk or unintentionally 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, in fact). You’ll additionally study concerning the historic structure and see some big 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 straightforward 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 straightforward for lots of tropical vegetation to develop right here. My preliminary thought was that San Antonio was going to be extra like a desert relatively than the surprisingly lush place that it truly is, although I used to be informed that by the tip of summer season the vegetation are fairly baked.

Fortunately, there are two nice locations to absorb each the native flora of Texas, but in addition some wonderful tropical vegetation you’ll be able to solely see in a cultivated setting.

San Antonio Botanical Backyard

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

Significantly, as soon as the water misters come on within the greenhouses and also you’re strolling by 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 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 achieved 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. If you happen to’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 already know all the things is as contemporary as it may possibly get!

The limestone quarry-tuned-Japanese Tea Backyard is somewhat 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 turned 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 under, water pouring from the waterfall above, you’ll perceive why individuals 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 every single day, and arriving early is best relatively than later since even in spring and fall San Antonio afternoons can get sizzling and steamy. If you happen to get hungry for a snack, you’ll be able to 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 music and dazzling photographs.

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

The Saga tells the story with continuously shifting, considerably trippy visuals, portray the story with music from the Native People who known as this area dwelling, to the arrival and colonization of the Spanish, to the battle on the Alamo, to San Antonio right this moment.

The present is free and takes place each Tuesday by 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? In addition to all of the flavors of the town’s Mexican affect, San Antonio is the culinary capital of Texas and is among the two U.S. cities (the opposite being Tuscon) designated a UNESCO Inventive 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 the majority 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 positioned within the Pearl, and its menu accommodates “a melting pot of South American and South East Asian flavors” which is strictly what you’ll be able to look forward to finding right here. To start out, get the steam buns which embrace crispy pork stomach, caramelized onion hoisin sauce, pickled crimson cabbage, cucumbers, and mint. On your principal, get the simple 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 may eat this each time I come right here!
  • Finest High quality Daughter – Additionally positioned within the Pearl in a 1906 home with 4 otherwise adorned rooms, Finest High quality Daughter is a New Asian-American Restaurant with some critical type. As soon as you compromise into this inventive 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 Hen, which is tremendous flavorful and crispy and nothing like take-out!
  • La Gloria – Positioned within the Pearl as nicely (see a theme?), La Gloria “celebrates the wealthy and scrumptious avenue meals from inside Mexico” by offering lotssss of fine Mexican eats. As you sit outdoors among the many shade and colourful decorations overlooking the scenic river stroll (one of the best view on the town?), get considered one of their margaritas which have been voted finest in San Antonio and an order of the Tradicional Queso Fundido and chips. For somewhat extra sustenance than tequila and cheese, you’ll be able to’t go improper 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 crimson or white wine to find your new favourite wine (I positive did, the San Salvatore Ceraso Aglianico Paestum). To start out 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. On 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 methods, together with a 48-hour fermentation course of. Get a puff pastry like a frosting-dipped Oreja, or a standard 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 aspect up eggs.
the pearl district in san antonio texas
The Historic Pearl has all of the meals, purchasing, 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 retailers, and loads of laid-back but stylish ambiance paired with beautiful structure. This space has been bringing individuals collectively since 1883 when native businessmen and moguls opened a brewery right here. Quickly after a brewmaster made his “Pearl” beer, whose identify got here from the foamy bubbles within the freshly poured glass which resembled glowing pearls.

It wasn’t till the 2010s that this space turned developed into the Pearl we see right this moment, with flats, accommodations, retailers, eating places, a giant garden, the Culinary Institute of America, and a contemporary brewery. It’s a fantastic place to spend a sunny afternoon, have a drink and a chew to eat, and store!

A few of the finest locations to take a look at are:

  • Feliz Fashionable – This tremendous colourful store focuses on curating gadgets made by unbiased 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 many different enjoyable issues which have a Texan vibe. I discovered so many issues I wished for myself and loads of issues to provide as items!
  • The Twig Ebook Store – This intimate bookstore is jam-packed with wonderful 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 wonderful 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’ll be able to decide as much as eat inside or within the park proper outdoors the doorways. You may get pleasure from Mexican avenue 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 good for a sizzling day!  
  • Southerleigh High quality 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 unique brewery which began all of it, and you’ll even get a “Pearl on the Patio” beer which pays homage to the unique beer. Pair this with Southerleighs Well-known Fried Hen and you’ve got a meal! There’s additionally a drink cart outdoors, the place you seize a drink like a robust Sangria to get pleasure from your stroll across the Peal.

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Try one of many Many Museums

Generally one of the best ways to seek 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 testing a specialty museum is an effective way to see all of the nuances and many alternative cultural lenses.

Listed below are a number of 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 People who name/known as Texas dwelling to the European settlers. Within the three-level museum, you’ll be able to discover artifacts corresponding 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 lady 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 turned the primary fashionable artwork museum in Texas. Strolling the grounds is like being in a flowery 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 displays like monumental, room-size murals, telephones the place you’ll be able to take heed to recordings of holiday makers’ secrets and techniques (and you’ll go away your personal!), 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’ll be able to seize a zodiac-themed drink earlier than you “go down the rabbit gap”! You may seize your ticket upfront as nicely!
  • San Antonio Museum of Artwork – The San Antonio Museum of Artwork has a balanced assortment of gorgeous artistic endeavors from around the globe, together with a formidable assortment of historical Greek statues and vases, in addition to a good-sized assortment of Egyptian artifacts. One of the crucial fascinating and beautiful displays is the Latin American Standard 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 stay within the Menger Lodge, together with Teddy Rosevelt and a murdered maid!

Get Scared on a Ghost Tour

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

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

A variety 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 concerning the ghosts of San Antonio, and extra concerning the metropolis’s wealthy and unusual historical past, take a look at RJA Ghost Excursions. They’re enjoyable, somewhat hokey, and positively spooky – particularly for those who 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 good dwelling base!

The place to Keep in San Antonio

While 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 most effective space is undoubtedly by the Alamo downtown, this manner you’ll be able to stroll to many of the central sights and it makes for a scenic and straightforward time.

A few of the finest choices on this space are:

  • Lodge Gibbs – Positioned catty-corner to the Alamo, this resort is clear and fashionable and tremendous comfy, and comes with a complimentary buffet breakfast. The most effective a part of all? You may actually have a room that overlooks the Alamo (I did!) and it’s an effective way to begin 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 brilliant condominium is the proper place to name dwelling base. It’s simply two blocks away from the Alamo and has two bedrooms, good for those who’re touring with buddies 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 may come out and stroll alongside the River Stroll at any time in fact, too!

Concerning the Writer: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with a fantastic 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 good friend of Lia’s since highschool, they usually 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 under!

Psst: Planning a go to to Texas or the West? Try a few of our different posts that will help 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 submit 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 & Assets

Listed below are our favourite journey suggestions & assets for saving cash and planning journey logistics! For extra suggestions, take a look at our journey suggestions 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 suggestions: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on solely on a funds airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
  • Lodging: We normally 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, straightforward change/cancellation, and glorious opinions). For trip leases, we desire 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 monitor file. You can too e-book trip leases on Expedia and Motels.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 seek out out why. We advocate both World Nomads or SafetyWing for worldwide journey insurance coverage. SafetyWing is among the few insurance policies that covers Covid-19, they usually have glorious month-to-month insurance policies which can be good 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 incredible journey perks like journey insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation protection, misplaced baggage reimbursement, and rental automotive protection, which helps defend us on our travels. Study extra right here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the journey guides on the CDC web site to analysis advisable medicines and vaccines for worldwide journeys. We at all times advocate getting each vaccine advisable by the CDC! You may get them at your main 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 tips on how to get from place to position, and e-book native transportation on-line utilizing Bookaway wherever we are able to. After we e-book a rental automotive, we use DiscoverCars to check rental corporations and discover one of the best deal.
  • Baggage Storage: Every time we’re testing early or profiting from a protracted layover, we use LuggageHero to securely 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 info (like web site login particulars, financial institution information, 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 enroll!
  • What to Pack: Listed below are the journey necessities that we convey on each journey. We even have packing lists for sizzling climate, chilly climate, and lots of extra. Check out all of our packing guides!
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