Tourists looking for warm, friendly people and a big Texas-sized welcome might want to consider coming to San Antonio. There are a number of historical attractions to visit and explore from The Alamo to Casa Navarro State Park, Enchanted Springs Ranch, and Fiesta Farm, just to name a few. Once there, one can dine on exquisite Tex-Mex cuisine and even kick up their heels in an old style Texas dance hall. Those who are looking for something a little more romantic might want to stroll along the river as well as enjoy a sumptuous meal along the famous River Walk. One can also listen to some great mariachi music to liven up an evening. And for those into a little exercise, the Mission Trail provides five different missions to explore free of charge. There are also a couple of great theme parks to enjoy. Both Sea World and Six Flags offer hours of laughter, excitement and just plain old fashioned fun. There is so much to see and do that it would be hard to get bored.
The Alamo is quite possibly one of the most famous attractions worth visiting during a stay in San Antonio. Visitors can see the chapel and Long Barracks, which is all that remains of the fort. Also the Long Barracks Museum and Library offers relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas as well as a narration about the fall of the Alamo.
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Buckhorn Saloon & Museum was voted the 2002 Best Attraction. Brimming with one hundred-twenty years of Texas style history, one can enjoy some of the most exotic collections ever seen; filling two whole stories that contains things like a two headed calf, a lamb with eight legs, a fish from the Seven Seas and lots of cowboy memorabilia. They also have the world’s only Wax Museum of Texas history and an authentic shooting gallery and arcade to practice your shooting skills. Also be sure to check out the Curio Store for a fine selection of Texas collectibles and authentic Buckhorn souvenirs.
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River Walk (Paseo Del Rio) is a place where visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll down the cobblestone walkways along the peaceful riverside where lush foliage lines the banks. Towering willows, oaks and cypress trees shade the horseshoe river bend and flowering ornamental plants lend color and beauty. Stretching for three miles, there is a plethora of restaurants, nightclubs and unique retail stores to explore and enjoy.
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San Antonio Botanical Garden is a thirty-three acre living museum featuring an Old Fashioned Perennial Garden, Garden for the Blind, Sacred Garden, Rose Garden, an authentic Japanese Garden as well as extensive native collections. Among the many things to see are modernistic glass pyramids, exotic plant specimens from around the world, a native forest walk, seasonal floral displays and even an authentic log cabin. The Lucile Halsell Conservatory contains a variety of rooms like the Tropical Forest Room, Desert Pavilion and Palm House and has an Aquatic Garden Pool in the conservatory courtyard.
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San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium is considered one of the nation’s best zoos featuring over 3,500 animals of 750 species. There is also a fantastic mini-zoo that has been designed especially for children under five called Kronkosky’s Tiny Tot Nature Spot. Located on thirty-five acres at the headwaters of the San Antonio River, they also feature one of the largest bird collections in the world.
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La Posada Del Rey is a spectacular, family owned restaurant specializing in authentic Mexican cuisine. Depending upon the day of the week, specials featuring Beef Taco, Chili Con Queso, and a variety of enchiladas or a Guacamole salad are offered among with the regular lunch menu. For dinner, tempting meals like Chicken Flautas and Shish Kabob are sure to delight the hungry tummy.
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The Guenther House offers an affordable alternative for breakfast and lunch. Diners have their choice of pancakes, waffles, a breakfast taco, and even a breakfast platter complete with freshly baked buttermilk biscuits with country gravy or a choice of flavorful preserves along with smoked bacon or sausage patties. An egg can also be added for an additional charge. Lunch offers a variety of tasty salads and sandwiches including chicken salad or a taco salad as well as club, vegetarian and a grilled chicken breast sandwiches just to name a few.
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Paloma Riverwalk Parrilla Grille is yet another specialty restaurant offering a tantalizing lunch and dinner menu that is sure to please the palate. With south of the border favorites like Milanesa Blanca, Carne Asada and Beef Fajitas, one is sure to enjoy a memorable lunch. The dinner menu offers a variety of chicken, seafood, beef and still more Mexican specialties. Housed in an historical building circa 1900, the limestone walls, cantera riverside entryway, richly colored walls and tile floors help the diner to feel right at home with the music of Mariachi to enhance their dining pleasure.
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Los Patios, in operation since 1970, offers a real treat for the lunchtime crowd by serving its Gazebo lunch outdoors amidst spectacular views. Lunches include such tantalizing dishes as Chicken Green Enchiladas, Crepes Gazebo as well as grilled favorites such as trout, fresh pico de gallo, and Brazier Burgers. A children’s menu offers meals sure to please the little ones. And don’t forget the Sunday lunch buffet, which changes weekly featuring an omelet station, salad bar, dessert table, and your choice of three carved meats, usually turkey, ham, lamb or beef.
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The County Line Bar-B-Q has several locations throughout San Antonio. Its tickle your tummy, mouth-watering barbecue is sure to please. And it offers more than just your typical barbequed chicken, pork or beef ribs, too. Barbecue sausage, turkey and beef brisket can also be found among the taste tempting platters offered. Voted best barbecue, the hungry tourist is sure to find something to fill those empty spaces and bring a smile of pleasure to their face. Huge portions at low, low prices offer a great way to chow down without emptying the pocketbook
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Landry’s Seafood House is a great place for those looking for an assortment of fresh seafood to choose from. Whether it’s Oysters on the Half Shell, Jumbo Fried Shrimp, Stuffed Crab or Crab Fingers, something tasty is just waiting for hungry visitors. And for those guests requiring something other than seafood, delectable chicken dishes as well as steak can be ordered. Landry’s offers a true taste of Gulf Coast tradition.
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Having enjoyed all of the many sites and activities in downtown San Antonio, visitors should consider getting out of town and taking in some of the wonderful sites located outside of the city. Those who like horses can cheer them on at Retama Horse Park. One can also cruise through the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, and swim with the whales at Sea World. Shopping enthusiasts might want to check out Alamo Quarry Market located on Basse Road off U.S. 281 or check out the Crossroads and North Star Mall located on I-410 west.
For those people who would like to save some money on hotel rates, try looking beyond the city center. Affordable rooms can be had at the Hampton Inn Airport running from $74.95 to $89.95, also along or near I-410 is the Courtyard by Marriott with rooms from $99 to $115 and the Doubletree with rooms from $105 to $115. Last but not least, AmeriSuites Hotel on Jones Maltsberger, which is located near the Alamo Quarry Market, has rooms running from $99 to $114.
Tourists looking to experience something a little different can visit Bawdsey Manor in Schertz for a little taste of Great Britain. Run by two British sisters, a person can enjoy famous English dishes like Shepherd’s Pie and Ploughman’s Lunch. Or for those who enjoy wine, why not check out the Niles Wine Bar located at 7319 Broadway in Lincoln Heights? With a ten-page selection of American, Texas and European wines, it would surely be possible to find at least one to suit the individual’s taste, and visitors can enjoy the wine while sitting outside around a crackling fireplace.
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Those people who may have problem with the heat may want to time their travel to San Antonio in the spring and fall months. Temperatures are particularly high during July and August reaching over ninety degrees eighty percent of the time and on rare occasions over one hundred degrees. Humidity is generally above eighty percent during the early part of the day but drops closer to fifty percent come late afternoon. Wintertime temperatures are usually mild and only go below freezing approximately twenty days throughout the entire year.
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A word of caution, while talking on a cell phone and moving about in any fashion out of doors can be a hazardous problem; tourists are advised to be especially careful of becoming too engrossed in a conversation on their cell phone, while walking along the Riverwalk. Pedestrian traffic along here is usually fairly heavy. If a person is not careful of where they are going, they can end up accidentally falling into the river or causing another fellow sightseer to get very wet.
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Sherlock’s Baker St. Pub & Grill has two sides, the bar and the band, the bar side offers darts, pool tables and Golden Tee, the band side features live music every night. The bar side also serves up food like Shepherd’s Pie and other classic pub food like grilled fish tacos, burgers and Baja tacos. Couches and tables serve as a great spot for watching sports on one of the TVs and is quieter and darker than the band side.
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Bonds 007 Rock Bar is for the younger set that enjoys alternative music on Friday and Saturday nights. Frequented by the city’s tattooed party animals, the crowd is friendly and lively as they get their rock fix and enjoy a giant thirty-two ounce icy cold draft beer. For those who aren’t into the music, TVs, darts and pool tables help provide additional fun activities.
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Chango’s Havana Club offers something a little different. Featuring live Jazz, Latin Jazz, and R&B. Visitors are sure to enjoy not only the music and dancing but also the fine wine, specialty cocktails, cigars and art on display. Chango’s is considered one of San Antonio’s live music hot spots.
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