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. With regards to having 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 individuals. It’s simple 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 might be like. A desert wasteland? No, by no means, fortunately! Would everybody be in ten-galloon hats and cowboy boots? Properly, not everybody, however you’ll undoubtedly see some Texan vogue! 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 inform you all about one of the best issues to do in San Antonio, Texas. So let’s get into it!

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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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), usually 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 vitality the town exudes throughout this time. Individuals come out to get together, very like we do right here in Louisville throughout the Kentucky Derby Competition or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and there was a lot to do and see throughout this time.

I extremely suggest 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!

Get to San Antonio, Texas

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

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 a whole lot of 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 a lot of the Fiesta occasions.
  • Trip Shares or Rental Vehicles: To succeed in my different locations I used rideshares, however this could add up shortly. In case you’re going to remain for quite a lot of days renting a automobile could also be your best choice, however not completely essential.
  • The Bus: San Antonio has a bus system referred to as the VIA Metropolitan Transit that runs a number of traces for an affordable price.
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The Alama 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? Properly to get the heartbeat of the town, and the historical past that constructed it, there may be one cease that may 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 in regards to the historical past of the Alamo!

Be taught Your Texan Historical past on the Alamo

Even for those who aren’t the most important historical past buff, the Alamo is an efficient 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 seems 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 inns, however strolling across the Alamo grounds seems 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, though a lot of the partitions and buildings are lacking immediately. 

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 converted the old mission into military 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 opinions 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 handy again a canon to the Texans who lent them it. Ultimately, the Texans fired a shot on the Mexican Military, resulting in the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

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Contained in the Alamo grounds.

The Texans hunkered down on the Alamo, as Normal Santa Anna’s Military marched towards Texas. On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. The Battle of the Alamo happened 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. 

At this time the Alamo stands for bravery, revolution, and resilience, although it has a extra difficult facet, in that a part of the political unrest of the Texans was they needed to combat Mexico to keep their right to own slaves. Like nearly all of US historical past, there’s a unusual line between honoring the difficult previous and utilizing it to information us to a greater future.

Visiting the Alamo church is free with a timed ticket, and you may also take a guided tour or private tour (Ernesto was a tremendous information!). Additionally they simply opened the model new Ralston Family Collections Center, which options an enormous assortment of things associated to the Alamo (many donated by singer Phil Collins) together with Santa Anna’s area sword, a rifle owned by Davy Crockett, and a Violin comprised of the Alamo church wooden.

The Alamo is presently going by way of some enlargement efforts, constructing out elements of the unique Alamo so guests can see what all the complicated 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 a whole lot of the missions on a private tour!

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 this time the occasion lives on within the month of April, however fairly 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 immediately brings the town collectively all for 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 function!

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 purchase or it’s possible you’ll be given by enterprise or party-goers. For Fiesta you costume 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 texasman 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 realize a *little* about what Fiesta® San Antonio is, listed below are a number of the occasions you may’t miss:

  • A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) – A Night time in Outdated San Antonio or NIOSA (as you’ll extra generally see it written or heard it mentioned 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 lots of totally different “lands” crammed with meals and drinks from that tradition which takes place within the downtown historic arts village of La Villita. You will get escargot from France, rooster on a stick from New Orleans, pretzels from Germany, elote from Mexico, and a lot extra. Reside music fills the air, everyone seems to be ingesting and having enjoyable, and you’ll discover the world in a single evening!
  • 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 everywhere in the metropolis for the 45,000 seats which are 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 navy shows, cultural floats, and the Fiesta® Royalty, together with its duchesses in lengthy, ostentatious beaded clothes. You’ll hear spectators yelling for the ladies to “present us your footwear!”, and so they’ll present what they’re sporting beneath their clothes to the viewers – often rhinestone cowboy boots!
  • Cornyation – Cornyation (a spoof on “coronation”) began within the Fifties as a approach to make enjoyable of the wealthy, Anglo residents of the Fiesta® Royal Court 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 “Court docket 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 this time 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 guide – Cornyation: San Antonio’s Outrageous Fiesta Tradition – to be taught extra about this tremendous enjoyable custom.
  • Fiesta de los Reyes – Positioned within the Historic Market Square, which has been used as a gathering level for meals and the local “chili queens” since 1730, you’ll find your self amongst 100+ native distributors throughout an enormous avenue get together. The Fiesta itself is the most important free occasion in San Antonio, and you’ll stroll down the road with a margarita whereas noshing on a rooster on a stick. Reside music permeates the air and it’s fantastic individuals 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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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

Probably the most charming locations in San Antonio is the River Walk, which weaves between buildings and beneath stone bridges, with eating places and colourful fiesta banners lining the route. In case you’ve ever been to EPCOT it’s a bit just like the Gran Fiesta Tour in 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 principally pure river, it’s possible you’ll discover the Arnerson River Theatre, which you will know because the place the place Miss Rhode Island gives her famous “perfect date” answer in Miss Congeniality (April twenty fifth).

The most effective methods to essentially 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 cozy small barge boat. You’ll find out about issues like how 300 individuals fall within the river per yr, most of whom are drunk or by accident fall in when it’s crowded throughout parades across the river.

In your journey, you’ll wind previous iconic spots, just like the Old Mill Crossing Mural the place Teddy Roosevelt led his Tough Riders, and Selena’s Bridge, the place Tejano celebrity Selena Quintanilla Pérez’s husband proposed to her within the film (as performed by J-Lo, in fact). You’ll additionally be taught 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 Odor 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 fairly 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 atmosphere.

San Antonio Botanical Backyard

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a 38-acre city oasis of crops, flowers, and loads of birds, bees, and butterflies fluttering about. Right here you may stroll by way of culinary gardens, previous huge 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.

Significantly, as soon as the water misters come on within the greenhouses and also you’re strolling by way 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’t miss wandering by way 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 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. In case 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 realize every part is as contemporary as it might probably get!

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

Japanese Tea Backyard

The Japanese Tea Garden was as soon as a limestone quarry and cement manufacturing unit on the flip of the century, however in 1916 Park Commissioner Ray Lambert appeared out over the rocky void and thought, “You recognize what, this may 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 under, water pouring from the waterfall above, you’ll perceive why individuals flock right here to take photographs and normal wander round such a zen place. 

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

The Saga at San Fernando Cathedral

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

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

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

The present is free and takes place each Tuesday by way 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? In addition to 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 Creative City of Gastronomy, and doubtless the explanation I placed on a lot weight in 5 days.

Since San Antonio can be house to a Culinary Institute of America campus, that the majority definitely helps them produce some high 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 may look forward to finding right here. To begin, get the steam buns which embody crispy pork stomach, caramelized onion hoisin sauce, pickled pink cabbage, cucumbers, and mint. To 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 might eat this each time I come right here!
  • Best Quality Daughter – Additionally positioned within the Pearl in a 1906 home with 4 in a different way embellished rooms, Finest High quality Daughter is a New Asian-American Restaurant with some severe fashion. As soon as you compromise into this inventive and comfy 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 effectively (see a theme?), La Gloria “celebrates the wealthy and scrumptious avenue 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 (one of the best view on the town?), get certainly one of their margaritas which have been voted greatest 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 improper with their Tacos Al Pastor
Signature Burrata Al Tartufo© from dough in san antonio texasSignature 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 positive 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 concentrate on handmade bread and pan dulce impressed by Mexico’s Golden Period, which attracts 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 too can 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.
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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 elegant ambiance paired with attractive 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 grew to become developed into the Pearl we see immediately, with flats, inns, retailers, eating places, an enormous 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 chunk to eat, and store!

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

  • Feliz Modern – This tremendous colourful store focuses on curating gadgets made by impartial artists & makers, and is like stepping right into a dwelling portray. You could find tremendous enjoyable playing cards, zany earrings and jewellery, Taylor Swift presents, and many different enjoyable issues which have a Texan vibe. I discovered so many issues I needed for myself and loads of issues to present as presents!
  • The Twig Book Shop – 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 guide on Cornyation and loads of superb souvenirs. You by no means know whenever you’ll want a guide… in my case, one other one!
  • The Food Hall at Bottling Department – The Meals Corridor has 4 fast service meals choices you may decide as much as eat inside or within the park proper outdoors the doorways. You possibly can 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 too can seize a drink to go on the Park Bar, like a frozen boozy lemonade excellent for a sizzling day!  
  • Southerleigh Fine Food & 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.

Try one of many Many Museums

Typically one of the simplest ways to seek out the center 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 here are a number of the greatest museums to go to:

  • The Briscoe Western Art 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 house 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 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 hearken to recordings of holiday makers’ secrets and techniques (and you’ll depart your personal!), a digital graffiti wall, a corridor of neon lights, and extra all in a darkish and magical atmosphere. There’s 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 grab your ticket in advance as effectively!
  • San Antonio Museum of Art – The San Antonio Museum of Artwork has a balanced assortment of gorgeous artworks from world wide, together with a powerful assortment of historic Greek statues and vases, in addition to a good-sized assortment of Egyptian artifacts. Probably the most fascinating and beautiful reveals is the Latin American Popular Art gallery, the place colourful sculptures, masks, and miniatures exploring the themes of life and demise in Latin tradition take heart stage.
the haunted menger hotel in san antonio texasthe 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 previous metropolis, and particularly the place wars have been fought, there’s a tense vitality that by no means appears to go away the place. As our information Robert identified from RJA Ghost Tours, the Alamo is principally only a big 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 evening, 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 number of the buildings downtown are historic, together with many inns 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 Rough Riders again in 1898.

You may additionally 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 evening. 

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 lads noticed six ghosts or “diablos” come out to defend the Alamo as soon as extra. That’s fairly disturbing!

To be taught 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 Tours. They’re enjoyable, just a little hokey, and undoubtedly spooky – particularly for those who discover out you’re staying in a haunted resort!

hotel gibbs in san antonio texashotel gibbs in san antonio texas
Hotel Gibbs is true throughout from the Alamo and is a good house base!

The place to Keep in San Antonio

Whenever you’re coming to San Antonio, it’s greatest 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 fashion you may stroll to a lot of the central points of interest and it makes for a scenic and simple time.

A few of the greatest choices on this space are:

  • Hotel Gibbs – Positioned catty-corner to the Alamo, this resort is clear and fashionable and tremendous comfy, 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 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 just a few minutes away.
  • Sonder The Atlee – If a trip rental is extra your factor, this spacious and tremendous shiny condominium is the proper place to name house base. It’s simply two blocks away from the Alamo and has two bedrooms, excellent for those who’re touring with pals or household.
  • Hotel Contessa – If you wish to keep proper on the River Stroll (which is totally comprehensible), this charming and colourful resort has attractive 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 in fact, too!

In regards to the Creator: 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 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 this stuff in San Antonio are you dying to do (in all probability 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!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 Prime Journey Suggestions & Assets

Listed here are our favourite journey ideas & sources for saving cash and planning journey logistics! For extra ideas, take a look at our travel tips resource page or our guide to planning a trip.

  • 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 inns or non-public rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to guide inns (we love their versatile cancellation coverage) and Hostelworld to guide hostels (low deposit, simple change/cancellation, and glorious evaluations). For trip leases, we want to guide 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 report. You too can guide trip leases on Expedia and Hotels.com. We additionally use TrustedHousesitters as each hosts (for our house 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 Travel Insurance Guide to seek out out why. We suggest 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 are excellent for Digital Nomads and long run vacationers!
  • Journey Credit score Card: We guide all of our journeys on our favourite journey bank card. Not solely can we earn money again that we will spend on extra journey, however the card affords implausible journey perks like journey insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation protection, misplaced baggage reimbursement, and rental automobile protection, which helps defend us on our travels. Learn more here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the journey guides on the CDC website to analysis really helpful medicines and vaccines for worldwide journeys. We at all times suggest getting each vaccine really helpful by the CDC! You will 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 an area’s perspective and a historical past lesson whereas sight-seeing! We guide our excursions utilizing Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to determine the way to get from place to put, and guide native transportation on-line utilizing Bookaway wherever we will. Once we guide a rental automobile, we use DiscoverCars to match rental corporations and discover one of the best deal.
  • Baggage Storage: At any time when we’re testing early or making the most of an extended layover, we use LuggageHero to securely retailer our baggage whereas we’re working 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 whenever you’re linked to an unsecured community whereas touring. Plus, it enables you to use Netflix & different streaming websites overseas! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO whenever you join!
  • What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we deliver on each journey. We even have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and lots of extra. Check out all of our packing guides!

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