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San Antonio, Texas has about everything one needs or wants for a great vacation experience-history, culture, scenes worthy of a photo-op, plenty of places for romantic interludes, non-stop thrills, and great food. Texans brag that "everything's bigger in Texas" and shopping in San Antonio is no exception. As the 8th largest city in the United States, San Antonio offers an abundant variety of boutiques, shops, malls, and galleries containing collectibles, art, and clothing that is a reflection of the city's vibrant blending of Anglo and Latino cultures.
When we visit San Antonio, we like to stay on the River Walk where one has a choice of great hotels - giants such as the Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Westin, and Hilton. Here also you'll find Adam's Mark, Four Points (Sheraton), and La Mansión del Rio, among other smaller lodging facilities. Away from the River Walk, there are hundreds of hotels, motels, with most every major chain represented, and well as a number of charming bed & breakfast establishments. Many offer savings discounts through auto clubs, travel clubs, and directly off the many San Antonio web sites. A little pre-planning can save significant dollars. To book online, visit http://www.sanantoniotourist.com/accommodations.cfm.
The River Walk area has a river winding through the downtown area of the city. Along the banks of River Walk you'll find sidewalk cafes, shops, galleries, and clubs. Climb aboard a river cruiser for a narrated guided tour of the area, but leave plenty of time for browsing the shops and galleries and having a bite to eat at any of the many excellent cafes. Over the years I've eaten at Boudro's, Biga on the Banks, La Rčve, and Kangaroo Court. As long as I was prudent with my ordering and remembered that restaurant portions are larger than portions allowed on my meal plan so I'd have to eat less than served, I never had a problem with my blood glucose control. We also enjoyed a leisurely Sunday brunch at the Tower of the Americas. Built for the 1968 World's fair, the Towner hosts a restaurant with a magnificent revolving view of the city.
Since we always drive to San Antonio, we don't have to worry about getting around once we're there. If you are flying into San Antonio, you'd be wise to rent a car at the airport as not everything you'll want to see is centered around the Riverwalk. Most major airlines fly into San Antonio Airport, which is 13 miles from downtown.
What does San Antonio offer to see and do? Here are my favorites:
- The Alamo: Located downtown a very short walk from the River Walk, the Alamo attracts more than 2.5 million people a year to see the old mission where a small band of Texans held out for thirteen days against the entire centralist army of General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Children will relate to the stories studied in school of the courage of the Alamo Defenders such as Davie Crockett, James Bowie, and William B. Travis. Nearby the MAX Theatre relives on screen those unforgettable thirteen days of Texas history with its six-story screen and six-track stereo sound.
- La Villita: A grouping of shops where you'll find artists and craftsmen at work making unique items for the perfect gift for someone back home or something for yourself to treasure to years to come. Not buying-just looking here is fun, too.
- Market Square - El Mercado: From early morning to late night, Market Square is alive with activity. Browse through the 32 shops at El Mercado, which offer colorful folk art and crafts. You'll think you're in a Mexican market south of the border. While you're savoring the Mexican atmosphere, strolling bands of mariachi musicians will serenade you. There are also 80 specialty shops in Farms Market Plaza.
- San Antonio Botanical Gardens: Exotic plants from faraway places make the Conservatory at the gardens a "must see," but as a new Texan I'm more interested in seeing the vast array of native Texas plants.
- San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: This 819-acre historical park gives a glimpse back in time to a fascinating period in Texas history. Preserved within the park are four Spanish Colonial missions, each with an active parish church-Missions San Jose, San Juan, Espade, and Conceptión. Here you'll also see two of the best surviving examples of Spanish Colonial irrigation systems in the U.S.
- San Antonio Zoo: Children of all ages will enjoy the exhibits of more than 3,400 animals representing over 600 species. Recognized as one of the top zoos in the country, the San Antonio Zoo offers a naturally occurring environment for one of the largest bird collections in the country.
- Sea World of Texas: Home of killer whales, playful bottlenose dolphins, sharks, sea lions, and tropical fish, Sea World offers not one but two state-of-the-art, pulse-pounding steel coasters-"The Steel Eel" hypercoaster and "The Great White" inverted coaster for those of you who consider marine life too tame.
- Six Flags Fiesta Texas: A San Antonio star reborn with 15 new rides, Fiesta Texas features over 100 rides, shows, and family attractions, including new megacoasters and thrill rides and water park additions like a huge wave pool and a water tree house.
- Splashtown-San Antonio: If your children are young, this is where to take them. The rest of the family will also have fun, but here there are scaled-down rides and attractions for kids.
- Witte Museum: San Antonio's premier museum features history and science exhibits, major national traveling exhibits, family events, a five gallery theater, and overnight camp-ins for children. Here you'll see Texas dinosaurs and five historic homes from San Antonio's past.
- Brackenridge Park: Features include sunken Oriental gardens, an outdoor theater, lagoons, and a miniature railroad. The Kiddie Park is the oldest amusement park in Texas with 10 rides, including a 1918 carousel. Paddleboats and horseback riding are available.
- Arneson River Theatre on the San Antonio River is unequaled among the city's theaters. The site of Mexican folk dances, opera, flamenco, and other musical vents, the theater uniquely features tiers of grass seats on one side of the river and a patio-type stage on the other side. Boats from the River Walk pass by in-between. Nightly presentations June-August. Hours vary; phone ahead (210) 207-8610.
There's truly so much to do and see in San Antonio that you'll very likely run out of vacation time before you've seen and done it all. Remember to take your walking shoes and pack more insulin/oral meds and diabetic supplies than you'll need in your carry-on bag. Take along some carb snacks to ward off low blood sugar and do keep in control of your diabetes throughout your trip so you can store up wonderful memories of your visit to San Antonio.
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