San Antonio trips and vacations

Start your vacation to San Antonio at the River Walk, a riverside pedestrian street lined with restaurants, shops and colorful umbrellas under which you’ll enjoy a prickly pear margarita. Stroll these 15 miles of walkways, or take an eco-friendly river cruise. Pause at Rosita’s Bridge to honor Rosita Fernandez, a Tejano music icon.

First a Spanish mission, then the site of a famous battle, the Alamo today is seen as an emblem of the Texan spirit of defiance. The Alamo and four other missions form the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas, known collectively as the San Antonio Missions Historical State Park. Cover the distance by bike tour or walk between the attractions.

Some 90 minutes east, the charming town of Schulenburg delivers a dose of Germany to your San Antonio vacation with its ornate painted churches and old-world vibes. While there, check out the Texas Polka Music Museum, which highlights the German and Czech heritage of polka music. And don’t leave without picking up some authentic German sausage at City Market.

This is the best area to stay in San Antonio for first-time visitors. You’ll have easy access to the River Walk here, plus cultural attractions including the Spanish Governor’s Palace and Alamo UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stop by the San Fernando Cathedral at night for a light show depicting the history of San Antonio.

Good for: History, attractions, nightlife

Southtown plays host to First Friday and Second Saturday, two monthly art walks bringing together artists and art lovers. If locally owned bars, artisan coffee shops, boutiques and those all-important galleries sound good, then hip Southtown is the best neighborhood to stay in San Antonio for you.

Good for: Art galleries, bars, boutiques

Upscale Alamo Heights is where to be if you’re seeking a reprieve from the city buzz. Fans of the great outdoors will appreciate all the green space. Go birdwatching at the Judson Nature Trails, hike the Olmos Basin Park, or find tranquility in the Japanese Tea Garden.

Good for: Hiking, parks, gardens

San Antonio’s most notable attractions are often free. Start by exploring the Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The River Walk has miles of walkways — check the calendar for shows at the Arneson River Theater and river parades. Nearby, you’ll find the McNutt Sculpture Garden, a little-known space portraying Wild West history.

Historic Market Square is the biggest Mexican market in the US. Fuel up at beloved bakery Mi Tierra before browsing more than 100 independent vendors. Stop by the plaza on a weekend for mariachi bands, dancing and street food. Elsewhere, shopping in San Antonio doesn’t get better than the boutiques of the Pearl District.

While the first ‘Fiesta’ honored those fallen during the siege of the Alamo, it has since evolved into a celebration of the cultures that make San Antonio what it is today. Don’t miss the Battle of the Flowers parade or standout museums like the Dia De Los Muertos Museum, which explores the Mexican custom of remembering the dead.

Some of the best nightlife in San Antonio can be found along the River Walk. Work your way through variations on the margarita, including the prickly pear, a local favorite. Or enjoy drinks with a view in one of the city’s rooftop bars. Get a double dose of spirits when you join Night Spirits ghost tour and pub crawl.

Tex-Mex reigns supreme in this UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and nothing represents the city’s culinary imagination more than the puffy taco. Composed of a deep-fried taco shell, the crunchy-yet-fluffy concoction can be found all over San Antonio. Ray’s Drive Inn and Henry’s Puffy Tacos are two of the best restaurants to try them.

Enjoy the tropical landscaping and sleek Art Deco design of Cool Crest Miniature Golf, founded during the Great Depression and still one of the best things to do with family in San Antonio. Morgan’s Wonderland is the world’s first theme park designed for people with disabilities, while HopScotch is an immersive art museum with a bar up front for parents.