I had the pleasure of an extended stay in San Antonio in 2008, which was extremely pleasant to say the least. I lived in San Antonio through two seasons, or approximately six months. This gave me the ability to get to know San Antonio. They are crazy about their basketball. The spurs are sacred to everyone, at least everyone that hangs out downtown.
San Antonio has a lot to like. Let us start with the weather. I personally cannot stand rainy or any sort of cold weather. San Antonio is hot, really hot. Though, the humidity is timid so when you see 100+ degrees on weather.com, do not fret. Suffice to say that it seemed as though the sun was always shining. It reminded me of Florida, because when it did rain, it did not rain for very long. If you plan a trip to Seaworld in San Antonio and you spot cloudy skies with a drizzle, 2 hours later it could be sunny without a cloud in the sky.
Now you may be asking yourself, I like to travel where there is actually water, not baron land. I couldn’t agree more. That was my first impression as well. While lakes are not as plentiful as in Michigan, there is Canyon Lake just north of San Antonio. It even has a party cove, that I am proud to announce really is a party cove. I personally visited this party spot on a sunny Saturday afternoon and there was great, scenery? The scene was definitely happening to say the least. There is also Medina Lake. This is a smaller, more quiet lake. As of late 2008, it was starting to turn into a party lake though and I heard through the grapevine that the water patrol was starting to crack down on things quite a bit. If you look at a map of San Antonio, you may notice Calaveras Lake on the south east side. You do not want to visit this lake, it is not for boating or swimming. The water in this lake contains certain things that you do not want to be swimming with. They may be microscopic, but word on the street is, you do not go anywhere near that lake for recreation.
Downtown San Antonio has everything that you will need to have a great time. I stayed at the Tropicano Holiday Inn in San Antonio because of its rating and location. It is right smack dab in the middle of everything. It is literally right on the River Walk. The River Walk is the hot spot of San Antonio. If you visit San Antonio, and you do not visit the River Walk, you will not get the full experience. The River Walk is exactly as it sounds. It is a beautiful river that winds through downtown San Antonio. It is wide enough to allow two boats to go down each way. The public is not allowed on this river, which is a good thing. There are boating tours though with the typical tourist type boat. The tour is an amazing experience and I highly recommend it.
On each side of the river are sidewalks that run the entire length of the river. There are two levels, one runs literally right next to the river. If you have kids who like to play tag or push each other, be careful because you are literally a foot away from the water. On each level the River Walk is lined with all sorts of shops and restaurants. Some of the best San Antonio Restaurants are located here. The Hard Rock Cafe is always a safe bet. I ate there when I was looking for a predictable experience. The club sandwich and shiner bock is always a winner. Be careful if you eat outside though, it is full of “flying rats” as my buddy says. There were quite a few birds jumping around and even up on tables. If you have a little kid next to you feeding them french fries, it only makes the situation worse.
If you are visiting any part of Texas and you are a fan of beer, I highly suggest Shiner Bock. It is brewed in Shiner, Texas and is absolutely delicious. Which brings me to my favorite San Antonio Restaurant. Dick’s Last Resort is not for everyone. The wait staff is sarcastic and full of jokes. Our waiter made me a hat out of butcher paper, and on the front he wrote “Hung like a Horse”, and in small letters next to horse, he wrote “Fly”. I wore the hat the entire time I was there. At least one or two people at each table in the restaurant had one of those hats on, it was a souvenir so-to-speak. The menu was great and the huge Shiner Bock draft beers were a pleasant accent to a wonderful meal. If you do not have fun at this restaurant, than you simply do not have a sense of humor! It is located right on the lower level of the River Walk. Stop by, if you dare.
And of course one of the most amazing parts of San Antonio is The Alamo. It is difficult to explain my feelings when I visited The Alamo. To read what actually went on there in detail is an emotional experience. You can checkout a detailed description of The Alamo and exactly why it is of such importance to our nation at Wikipedia. I am no historian, so to explain The Alamo would fall short of how spectacular it is. I will simply quote the commanding officer at The Alamo just after it was attacked by General Santa Anna of Mexico (this quote is on a plaque just outside of The Alamo in the above picture). It would be his last letter he would write:
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World:
Fellow citizens & compatriots—I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna—I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch—The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death.
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. comdt
What I found amazing as well was the fact that the most famous picture of The Alamo, as pictured above, and which appears almost anywhere The Alamo is represented, is actually only a small part of The Alamo, the Chapel. But like the River Walk, you cannot visit San Antonio and not visit The Alamo. It goes without saying that The Alamo is the most important attraction in San Antonio, and maybe even Texas for that matter. So much so that the Republic of Texas will not allow any shadow to be cast on The Alamo by surrounding buildings.
In closing I will give a brief summary of the geography of San Antonio. People will constantly reference the “410″ and the “1604″. I would say 95% of people give directions by referencing these two highways. That is because they are circular highways that are the heart of transportation. The 410 loops just outside of downtown San Antonio, and the 1604 loops around greater San Antonio. If you visit, it is extremely likely that you will use both of them at least once. The airport is just off the 410 loop on the north side.
Every city has that area that you stay away from, and in San Antonio it is the south side. There are no attractions on the south side, so it is unlikely that you will ever go there. If you find yourself on the south side, do not worry. There are very few actual dangerous areas, and I use the term dangerous loosely. Personally I would have no problem driving around on the south side, but I wouldn’t be going to a movie there!
And that is it. If you have any specific questions about San Antonio, feel free to post a comment and I will answer them.
-Mr. Travel