A Weekend in San Antonio
San Antonio has long been a city I’ve wanted to visit. I learned all about the Alamo during Texas history classes in grade school, so it’s always been on my to-do list. When I attended college in Corpus Christi, however, I never managed to go visit, even though the city was only 2 hours away. So, having made it a goal to visit more Texas cities this year, I planned a Fourth of July trip with my fiancé to the South Texas city. A weekend in San Antonio is plenty of time to hit the highlights, however there is so much to see in this charming city you will definitely want to return!
Our Weekend in San Antonio
We started the day with a very Texan breakfast at the Crockett Hotel. This historic hotel is great because it is just steps from the Alamo and within walking distance to the Riverwalk.
Exploring the Alamo was a nice start to our weekend in San Antonio. Originally a Spanish mission, this small church became the site of arguably the most famous battle for Texas Independence. Famous frontiersman Davy Crockett along with Jim Bowie and William Travis, among others, fought and died here. It’s definitely a must-see! Go early (or late) to avoid the crowds and the South Texas heat.
While the Alamo is the most famous, there are actually four other Spanish missions in San Antonio. Collectively they make up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanish friars arrived in the area almost 300 years ago and began construction of these churches, which became both religious and agricultural centers. Native Americans played a large role in the development of these missions as well. In Europe, you can see these types of ruins almost everywhere, so it was cool seeing old architecture in the “new world”. This was actually my favorite part of San Antonio, so if you visit, you must go! It’s easiest to visit by car since the four missions are a few miles from each other. There is no charge to visit and free parking is available. But beware, there is little shade, so bring sunscreen!
Ah, the Riverwalk! This pedestrian only street follows the San Antonio river one level below the actual street. It’s a popular dining area so plan to visit around lunch or dinner. Even if you aren’t hungry, it’s a lovely spot to just take a stroll – numerous arched bridges connect the two sides and make for great photo ops! Although we didn’t have time to do this, there are boat tours you can take that give you a different perspective of the Riverwalk. So fun!
Along the Riverwalk is a nice little shopping area called La Villita. Once the site of one of San Antonio’s oldest settlements, it is now a bustling arts district. There are numerous artisan shops and dining options here, and I found it so charming.
Continuing on downtown, we stumbled upon the Governor’s Palace. While its facade is the furthest from what you’d expect of a palace, the museum inside was a neat look at early Spanish life in Texas. The gardens were also a nice little oasis in our exploration of the city.
Nearby San Fernando Cathedral is worth taking a peek inside – it’s the final resting place of Davy Crockett and still an active church.
Our last stop on our tour of downtown San Antonio was Historic Market Square. Tacos, margaritas, churros, pan dulce – you can get it all here in this vibrant Spanish plaza. It’s also a great place for souvenirs!
On our final day in San Antonio, we popped over to The Pearl – an old brewery turned hipster urban plaza. There are lots of dining options here – we had barbecue for lunch and macarons for dessert – so yummy!
Honorable Mention
If we had more time in San Antonio, I would have loved to explore these other great places!
Tower of the Americas
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
Witte Museum
Institute of Texas Cultures
San Antonio Museum of Art
San Antonio Zoo
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
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