San Antonio has so much to offer. It's a city full of life and rich with history. The story of the Alamo may be one of the most heart-clenching historical events that makes me proud to be a Texan. It may have had a sad ending but it was a battle fought by men who believed in free life, a free Texas, and their sacrifice nourished the courage of other men to fight and form a free republic. The city has been apart of Texas for so long and has shared so much of its history and culture.
There is so much to do here. There are several missions that you can visit that date back to when the Spanish settled in the area. Of course, there is the Alamo which is a must. The downtown is one of my top favorites. It has been preserved so well to keep its history and character. I would recommend walking around downtown savoring all it has to offer. There's SeaWorld, The Natural Bridge Caverns, and the Botanical Gardens to name a few. The Hemisfer overlooks the city and will leave you speechless. The Cathedral of San Fernando, which dates back to 1738 was once occupied by Santa Anna and is the site of Jim Bowie's wedding.
My absolute favorite thing to do when we come is the Riverwalk. I never get tired of just walking along the river taking in the breathtaking scenery. You feel like you're in a different place and completely forget that you're in the center of a city and it's 100 degrees out. You can hear the cars honking and driving over the bridges but somehow you forget that all exist. The sound of the fountains places you in a tranquil mood and the cypress trees not only provide plenty of shade from the sun, but they create this feeling that you are walking within a forgotten village that has been secluded from the outside world.
I love watching the ducks swim by and sometimes they'll come up to the bank and waddle along the edge scavenging around for any misplaced food. One time while having dinner one swam up, waddled his way up the steps, and came right to our table and looked at me like "You going to give me that piece of bread right?" I don't know why, but I have a fascination for the ducks.
The main thing to do along the river is to eat. Food, food, and more food. There are so many places to choose from; if you want Mexican there's more than one restaurant to pick from, maybe something more close to home like a good hamburger or juicy steak, you'll also find some German and French restaurants to choose from. There's a wide selection that represents the diversity of the state itself.
And if you are craving something sweet go check out the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, it has an amazing display of hand-crafted chocolates. You can hear the Mariachi playing in one of the restaurants and it really transports you. The music and life that you find along the Riverwalk is not your typical everyday life. It's rich and vibrant and a whole new world that lies beneath one of Texas's most historic cities.
Honestly, I could just walk and walk along the river, it's that beautiful. It's like someone took a piece of paradise and placed it in the middle of Texas. I would say the trip is most definitely worth it. So when you go to San Antonio take some time to walk along the river's edge and take in the beauty that has been placed beneath the streets and listen to the music in the air and watch the ducks swim along the bank.
Comments