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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 hen on a stick. Remembering the Alamo. On the subject of having a very good 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 ugly battlefield. To not point out beautiful gardens, unimaginable meals, and pleasant folks. 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 questioned what it could be like. A desert wasteland? No, in no way, fortunately! Would everybody be in ten-gallon hats and cowboy boots? Nicely, 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 – town is various and welcoming. So let’s get into it!

Psst: Planning a go to to Texas or the West? Try a few of our different posts that can assist you plan your journey!

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the alamo church san antonio texas
Bear 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 power town exudes throughout this time. Folks come out to social gathering, very similar to we do right here in Louisville through the Kentucky Derby Pageant or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and there was a lot to do and see throughout this time.

I extremely suggest visiting throughout April through the 11-long-day pageant (extra on this beneath), and should you’re into enjoyable and plenty of occasions to attend, this actually is the perfect time to discover town!

Tips on how to Get to San Antonio, Texas

Texas is a big state, and the best approach to get right here is to fly. Many airways don’t fly straight 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 simply quarter-hour away from the middle of town.

Tips on how 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 in a position to stroll to a number of the cultural highlights of 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.
  • Experience Shares or Rental Vehicles: To achieve my different locations I used rideshares, however this will add up shortly. If you happen to’re going to remain for quite a lot of days renting a automobile could also be the best choice, however not completely needed.
  • The Bus: San Antonio has a bus system known as the VIA Metropolitan Transit that runs a number of traces for a reasonable price.

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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? Nicely to get the heart beat of 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 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 should you aren’t the largest historical past buff, the Alamo is an efficient place to begin your time in San Antonio as a result of it places 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 town followers out from. Subsequent to it’s a mall and a number of other motels, however strolling across the Alamo grounds seems like being in a special world.

When most individuals consider the Alamo they solely consider the long-lasting Alamo church, which in fact could be very stunning and evocative, however the surrounding grounds are simply as a lot of the unique Alamo, despite the fact that many of the partitions and buildings are lacking right now. 

The San Antonio space was initially occupied by the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation of Indigenous Peoples till their inhabitants was drastically 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 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 beliefs from federalism to centralism, inflicting Mexico to fall right into a civil warfare 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. Ultimately, 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 Normal 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 needed to struggle Mexico to keep their right to own slaves. Like nearly 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 too can take a guided tour or private tour (Ernesto was a tremendous information!). In addition 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 advanced would have regarded 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 number of the missions on a private tour!

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Celebration 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 somewhat than being a single parade, it has developed into an 11-day-celebration that honors all issues San Antonio, together with its various residents, with parades (a number of ones!), music, patriotic observances, Fiesta Royalty with rhinestone clothes, and plenty of good meals and drinks!

Although the unique pageant could have had extra of the strictly Patriotic historical past related to it, Fiesta right now brings 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 providers to San Antonio residents all year long. It actually is a celebration with a goal!

You’ll see folks 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 you might be given by enterprise or party-goers. For Fiesta you gown up – we’re speaking a complete colour explosion, and also you’ll see lots of people in Latin-inspired embroidered tops and big gaudy hats, very similar to the Kentucky Derby!

man with big hat at fiesta niosa festival san antonio texas
Did you actually go to Fiesta should you 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 few of the occasions you possibly can’t miss:

  • A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) – A Evening 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 lots like Disney World in a manner – there are various totally 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, hen on a stick from New Orleans, pretzels from Germany, elote from Mexico, and a lot extra. Dwell 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 folks organising bleachers everywhere in the metropolis for the 45,000 seats which can be bought. 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 women to “present us your footwear!”, they usually’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 girls 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 a complete 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 – Situated within the Historic Market Square, which has been used as a gathering level for meals and the local “chili queens” since 1730, you could find your self amongst 100+ native distributors throughout an enormous road 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 hen on a stick. Dwell music permeates the air and it’s fantastic folks watching amongst the historic structure! The Historic Market Sq. can be vigorous on any weekend you might 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 soak up the River Stroll from the water!

Stroll Alongside the River Stroll and Take a River Cruise

Some of the charming locations in San Antonio is the River Walk, which weaves between buildings and below 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 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 largely pure river, you might 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).

Among the finest 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 cozy small barge boat. You’ll find out about issues like how 300 folks fall within the river per 12 months, 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 folks 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 somewhat than the surprisingly lush place that it really 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 soak up each the native flora of Texas, but in addition some superb tropical crops you possibly can solely see in a cultivated setting.

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 possibly can stroll by way of culinary gardens, previous huge plantings of native perennials feeding the native fauna, and thru big sculptural greenhouses, crammed with an unimaginable assortment of orchids, ferns, palms, and different unique crops.

Severely, 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 completed 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 realize every little thing is as contemporary as it could actually 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 regarded out over the rocky void and thought, “You understand 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 beneath, water pouring from the waterfall above, you’ll perceive why folks flock right here to take pictures and normal wander round such a zen place. 

The backyard is free and open to the general public 7am to 5pm day-after-day, and arriving early is best somewhat 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 possibly can seize some meals from the adjoining Jingu House 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 mild present that tells the story of San Antonio by way of music and dazzling photographs.

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

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

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? Apart from all of the flavors of 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 possibly the rationale I placed on a lot weight in 5 days.

Since San Antonio can be house to a Culinary Institute of America campus, that almost all actually 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 possibly can look forward to finding right here. To start out, get the steam buns which embrace crispy pork stomach, caramelized onion hoisin sauce, pickled pink cabbage, cucumbers, and mint. In your primary, 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 creative 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 primary get the Cashew Hen, which is tremendous flavorful and crispy and nothing like take-out!
  • La Gloria – Situated within the Pearl as properly (see a theme?), La Gloria “celebrates the wealthy and scrumptious road meals from inside Mexico” by offering lotssss of fine Mexican eats. As you sit exterior among the many shade and colourful decorations overlooking the scenic river stroll (the perfect view on the town?), get certainly one of their margaritas which have been voted finest in San Antonio and an order of the Tradicional Queso Fundido and chips. For just a little extra sustenance than tequila and cheese, you possibly can’t go incorrect 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 pink 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, further virgin olive oil, and house-made flatbread. In 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 places 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 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 aspect up eggs.
the pearl district in san antonio texas
The Historic Pearl has all of the meals, procuring, 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 attractive structure. This space has been bringing folks collectively since 1883 when native businessmen and moguls opened a brewery right here. Quickly after a brewmaster made his “Pearl” beer, whose title 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 right now, with residences, motels, retailers, eating places, an enormous garden, the Culinary Institute of America, and a contemporary brewery. It’s an awesome place to spend a sunny afternoon, have a drink and a chew to eat, and store!

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

  • Feliz Modern – This tremendous colourful store makes a speciality of curating objects made by unbiased artists & makers, and is like stepping right into a dwelling portray. You could find tremendous enjoyable playing cards, zany earrings and jewellery, Taylor Swift items, and plenty of different enjoyable issues which have a Texan vibe. I discovered so many issues I needed for myself and loads of issues to present as items!
  • 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 once 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 possibly can choose as much as eat inside or within the park proper exterior the doorways. You possibly can get pleasure from Mexican road meals from Chilaquil, pizza from Wonderslice, or Caribbean meals at Mi Roti, which has yummy curry hen and roti, a buttery flatbread. You too can seize a drink to go on the Park Bar, like a frozen boozy lemonade good 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 exterior, the place you seize a drink like a powerful Sangria to get pleasure from your stroll across the Peal.

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Try one of many Many Museums

Typically one of the best 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 up to date artwork, so trying out a specialty museum is an effective way to see all of the nuances and many various cultural lenses.

Listed below are a few of the finest 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/known as Texas house to the European settlers. Within the three-level museum, you possibly can discover artifacts akin 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 grew to become the primary fashionable artwork museum in Texas. Strolling the grounds is like being in a elaborate Nineteen 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 take a look at artwork, however turn into a part of the artwork your self! There are reveals like monumental, room-size murals, telephones the place you possibly can hearken to recordings of holiday makers’ secrets and techniques (and you’ll depart your individual!), 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 possibly can seize a zodiac-themed drink earlier than you “go down the rabbit gap”! You possibly can grab your ticket in advance as properly!
  • San Antonio Museum of Art – The San Antonio Museum of Artwork has a balanced assortment of lovely artworks 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. Some of the fascinating and lovely reveals is the Latin American Popular Art gallery, the place colourful sculptures, masks, and miniatures exploring the themes of life and loss of life in Latin tradition take heart stage.

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the haunted menger hotel in san antonio texas
There are 45 ghosts presupposed to dwell within the Menger Lodge, together with Teddy Rosevelt and a murdered maid!

Get Scared on a Ghost Tour

San Antonio is a really outdated metropolis, and particularly the place wars have been fought, there’s a tense power that by no means appears to go away the place. As our information Robert identified from RJA Ghost Tours, the Alamo is mainly only a big graveyard.

Even should you aren’t a powerful believer in ghosts, taking a ghost tour provides you the prospect to see town at night time, find out about who lived, labored and died in San Antonio, and offers 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 motels 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 exterior the lodge 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 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 positively spooky – particularly should you discover out you’re staying in a haunted lodge!

hotel gibbs in san antonio texas
Hotel Gibbs is correct throughout from the Alamo and is a superb house base!

The place to Keep in San Antonio

If you’re coming to San Antonio, it’s finest to remain for a number of days and discover all town has to supply! The very best space is surely by the Alamo downtown, this manner you possibly can stroll to many of the central points of interest and it makes for a scenic and simple time.

A number of the finest choices on this space are:

  • Hotel Gibbs – Situated catty-corner to the Alamo, this lodge 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 lodge) 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 brilliant condo is the right place to name house base. It’s simply two blocks away from the Alamo and has two bedrooms, good should you’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 lodge 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 Writer: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with an awesome love of the outside. When he’s not 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, they usually 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 (most likely go to Fiesta, proper?)? Drop your feedback and questions on visiting San Antonio within the feedback beneath!

Psst: Planning a go to to Texas or the West? Try a few of our different posts that can assist 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 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 below are our favourite journey suggestions & sources for saving cash and planning journey logistics! For extra suggestions, 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 suggestions: 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 motels or non-public rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to guide motels (we love their versatile cancellation coverage) and Hostelworld to guide hostels (low deposit, simple change/cancellation, and glorious critiques). For trip leases, we desire to guide utilizing VRBO as a result of they have decrease charges and higher help than Airbnb, and we’re not followers of Airbnb’s unethical observe 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 counsel 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, 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 guide all of our journeys on our favourite journey bank card. Not solely will we earn money again that we are able to spend on extra journey, however the card provides incredible journey perks like journey insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation protection, misplaced baggage reimbursement, and rental automobile protection, which helps shield us on our travels. Learn more here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the journey guides on the CDC website to analysis beneficial medicines and vaccines for worldwide journeys. We at all times suggest getting each vaccine beneficial by the CDC! You may 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 a neighborhood’s perspective and a historical past lesson whereas sight-seeing! We guide our excursions utilizing Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to determine get from place to put, and guide native transportation on-line utilizing Bookaway wherever we are able to. Once we guide a rental automobile, we use DiscoverCars to check rental firms and discover the perfect deal.
  • Baggage Storage: Each time we’re trying out early or benefiting from 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 data (like web site login particulars, financial institution information, and so on) protected, even once 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 once you join!
  • What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we convey on each journey. We even have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and plenty of extra. Check out all of our packing guides!

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