Must Dos in San Antonio
 

I'm heading to San Antonio next week and would love suggestions for things to do, places to go and what to see. I'm staying on/near the Riverwalk and won't have a vehicle. Also, what should I plan to wear for sightseeing? Thanks in advance!

Paging Iceland Elf . . .
 

She would be your best source, being a native and all.:rolleyes:

Have dinner at Las Canarias...where I got engaged! It has great food!

Each time I've visited SATX, I've pretty much hung around the Riverwalk. That's where a bunch of the attractions are centered.

As far as what to wear, I always dress in layers, regardless of what the Weather Channel says. Texas is notorious for extreme temp changes in the middle of the day.

And of course, you'll have to see the Alamo too. Just to say you saw it :D

Have fun!

Hooray! Here are some things I suggest when you visit SA

• Definitely go to the Alamo (Free, wonderful history and cool things to take pictures of (Chapel, long barracks)
• Buckhorn Saloon/Museum (one of my favorite places to go) is now located on Houston street, walking distance from the Alamo
• La Villita (located one street away from River Center Mall)--old village with many arts and crafts stores. Also Little Church of La Villita, beautiful tiny stone church, is located in the heart of the village. Reverend Cleo Edmunds does non-denominational services.
• El Mercado (The Marketplace)--not walking distance but has TONS of vendors with everything from produce, pottery, metalwares, jewelry, spices, produce, etc.
• Rivercenter Mall IMAX--check out the IMAX "Alamo--The Price of Freedom." 45 minute docudrama will give you an idea of the 13 days battle at the Alamo
• King William Historic Area (not walking distance, but the trolley will take you too and from the area.) This is a beautiful German inspired neighborhood, 'gingerbread houses', try to have breakfast at least once at the Guenther House at the base of the Pioneer Mill.
• Take a riverboat ride to see the beauty of the riverwalk, also to check out some great places for dinner (tickets at the rivercenter mall)
• There are horse and buggy rides available with the Yellow Rose Carriage company. Horses park near the Alamo, round the side of the Menger Hotel (I like going to the Menger bar for nightcaps and to look for ghosts ;))
• Institue of Texan Cultures--HUGE museum at the base of the Tower of the Americas--highlights all of the different people and their cultures that settled in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Definitely recommend!

Places to eat--there is a little bit of everything downtown including the Hard Rock Cafe, but if you can, skip the more commercial stuff and go for some local flavor. Some of my favorites are

• Bohanan's on E. Houston almost across from the Majestic Theater. Serious steakhouse.
• Mi Tierra (mexican food and pastry shop open 24 hours :))
• Boudro's Texas Bistro (on Commerce) Southwest flavor
• Dick's Last Resort--Seafood, Hamburgers, on the river. This place you're actually EXPECTED to be rude to the waitstaff.
• Jim Cullum's Landing--at the base of the Hyatt hotel. Some fantastic Jazz here.
• Pat O'Briens-right across from the Alamo. Great hurricanes, somewhat cajun food.
• County Line-Barbecue
• The Republic of Texas Restaurant--Barbecue
• The Tower of the Americas--dine 700 feet up in a revolving restaurant at the top of the tower.

Hope this helps a little.

Don't forget to ask the Alamo tour guide where the bathroom is!

Frantically taking notes.. the Alpha Gam convention this summer is in SA on the Riverwalk and I'm hoping to spend a couple extra days there!

I lOVE Mi Tierra!!!

Places I went to when I visited San Antonio back in 1993:

- Riverwalk
- A tall mall that had glass or mirror walls
- The Alamo
- A Mexican indoor market

Don't remember anything else. But I really liked San Antonio and do recommend it.

Me, too! I went there so much when I was little (my great-grandmother and great aunt lived in SA), I thought our family owned it. LOL.

You and me both. We were looking at brochures for Europe (he finishes school first week of May so we could go when it is still cheap), and then realized we already decided on Convention. He's a good sport. Barring anything ridiculous we'll be touring the Alamo.

Just be prepared - the Alamo is so much smaller than most people realize. That is not to take away at all from the sacrifice of those there - and also, it is in the big thick middle of town - which surprises some people who expect it to be like "in the movies".

He's going to be entertaining himself while I'm clapping and singing and doing "secret squirrel stuff"; he'll probably band together with the other AlphaGam widowers/husbands/boyfriends/men of indeterminate relationships and do something fun.

Is he a golfer? San Antonio has some beautiful courses.

I'm from San Antonio- eat at Mi Tierra, it's great!

If you're looking for golf courses, we have the Westin La Cantera course or there's one out in Alamo Heights, among others.

This is amazing; thank you all sooo much! IcelandElf-I'm printing your response and taking it with me! Is Mi Tierra appropriate for a dinner with my coworkers (mostly middle aged women)?

I grew up in SA and only visited the Alamo once on a school trip but always saw it on the weekends from afar when I went to the club that was practically next door (Bonham-not sure if it is there anymore?). I took it for granted and now that I no longer live there I do miss it. Have fun and stay safe!

They will have a GREAT time at Mi Tierra - the mariachis(sp?) are super!

you're welcome:) I'll post some more things this evening after dinner. Mi Tierra is appropriate for all ages and you can dress casually. There are many rooms so it is easy to get lost. Try to sit in the back room where there is a huge mural devoted to many famous and infamous folk who have been in San Antonio. The margaritas are wonderful and the food is brilliant. Make sure to take home some empanada and Pan de Huevo in assorted flavors (I love the chocolate and strawberry).

Mud Festival is next week
 

just wanted to give you a heads up that the annual Mud Festival is next week. No joke, once a year the section of the river that runs through the city gets blocked off, drained and cleaned from the January 2- 9th, then filled back up. Afterward, the city holds its annual Mud Festival. I don't know exactly what dates you're visiting next week, but it's scheduled to happen January 10 - 13th. They elect a Mud King and Queen, pub crawls ensue, Mud Parade, Arts & Crafts, etc.

Other things to do--

• Ripley's Believe It or Not/Wax Museum--right across from the Alamo. The wax museum is neat--it has historical figures, movie stars from the 1920s and forward, the downstairs has all the scary stuff.
• Golf-the Quarry Golf Club (just a short trip up McAllister Fwy) is nice--the back 9 holes are set among a 90 acre limestone quarry. It's a difficult course and not for the faint hearted!
• Howl At the Moon Saloon--dueling pianos, loud and merry pub!
• Polly Esthers-dance club on College Street has three different dance floors featuring 70s, 80s, and Gen X music
• Suede Lounge--located on Houston Street, here is where to do a little stargazing. On occasion some of the SA Spurs (including Tony Parker and Eva Longoria) come to meet and drink.
• The Menger Bar--one of my favorite places to wind down the evening. This bar is one of the oldest bars in San Antonio. Resembling a pub, this was where Teddy Roosevelt used to recruit his rough riders :)