Southern Style in San Antonio

From the Alamo and the River Walk to RV parks, this Texas town will keep you entertained and relaxed any time of the year.

by Jennifer Leigh Hill

Destinations

January 1, 2023

12:00 AM

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S01 E39 - From the Alamo and the River Walk to RV parks, San Antonio will keep you entertained and relaxed any time of the year.

Jennifer Leigh Hill

Views from the River Cruise.

Story and Photos by Jennifer Leigh Hill

In a recent article, “Living in San Antonio: 40 Things You Need to Know Before Moving Here” Alexander Pfirrman, an agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, described the city as ‘every American’s dream.’ The authour cited its reasonable real estate, low taxes, small-town vibes, big-city amenities, and major sports teams. Also mentioned were its mild winters, which make it ‘every snowbird's dream.’

San Antonio is hot and humid in the summer but through the winter, daily highs hover around a comfortable 21⁰C (69⁰F) and temps of 25⁰C (77⁰F) are common. From March through to May, the temperatures increase steadily from 22⁰C (72⁰F) to 32⁰C (90⁰F) but the humidity is relatively low. It’s not only the weather that will appeal to snowbirds, it’s the city’s history, culture, ambiance and amazing Tex-Mex cuisine.

At 1,307 sq km (504.6 sq mi), San Antonio is a large city but during my recent visit, I found it to be a very walkable one. Some of the best advice I can offer is to leave your RV or tow vehicle at the RV park when you plan to visit its downtown core as parking is limited. There’s a great transit system and everywhere you turn, you’ll find bike/scooter rentals. Taxi and rideshare services are available.

Jennifer Leigh Hill

The Alamo, which is one of the most visited attractions in Texas.

To get an overview of any new destination I visit, I always take a tour of the area and San Antonio has an excellent ‘Hop On-Hop Off Trolley’ that fits the bill. The loop takes approximately two hours and it’s best to go early as there are 19 stops where you can get out and explore.

Aside from the trolly, several other companies provide tours of San Antonio. One that I also enjoyed was a narrated river cruise by Go Rio Cruises. Although it’s only 35 minutes, it’s an amazing way to experience the city’s culture, history and architecture from ‘below ground level.’ They also have dinner cruises that typically start at 6 pm or 8 pm, just when the river’s edge starts to come alive.

If cruising is not your thing, plan a stroll along The River Walk (aka Paseo del Rio), San Antonio’s outdoor centrepiece. Lined with shops and restaurants along the San Antonio River, it’s home to countless events throughout the year including river parades with many more around Christmas. This is when the area is lit with thousands of sparkling lights.

Jennifer Leigh Hill

The El Mercado.

The actual walk is a 24 km (15 mi) urban waterway, which is one of the largest urban ecosystems in the nation. It’s also one of the most popular bicycle routes in North America.

There are a variety of excellent RV parks in and around San Antonio. The one I stayed at (and recommend) is the Traveler’s World RV Resort. Only 5.8 km (3.6 mi) from the world-famous Alamo and the River Walk, the campground is close to a variety of services and there’s an excellent bus service just outside of the grounds.

The daily rate at the park is from $62 to $68 USD and it has all the amenities you need. Another highly rated park is Mission City RV, which is a bit further outside of the downtown core (8.4 km ((5.2 mi)) but the rates are a little less at $50 USD per night.

While there are less expensive RV parks, be sure to read the reviews as the first one I pulled into (and out of immediately) was seedy, even though it had good write-ups online.

Jennifer Leigh Hill

Saga is a video art projection light show at San Fernando Cathedral.

There are so many sights to see in San Antonio that I had a hard time narrowing the choices but here are my top three:

1. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and The Alamo

The park has four of the five Catholic missions in the San Antonio area including Mission Concepción, San José (known as the ‘Queen of the Missions’), San Juan, and Espada.

Located along the San Antonio River, approximately 5 km (3 mi) apart, the missions combine to provide a nationally acclaimed collection of Spanish colonial architecture. Originally constructed as walled compounds where priests and native Americans resided, worked and prayed, each mission’s design is unique. Undoubtedly the best-known mission in San Antonio is the fifth mission, the Mission San Antonio de Valero, more commonly known as The Alamo.

It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas and is a designated National Historic Landmark. The small but iconic building is visited by more than three million visitors every year and is considered to be hallowed ground by most Americans. It’s where Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett and William Barret Travis, along with approximately 185 soldiers, were killed during a 13-day siege that lasted from February 23, 1836, to March 6, 1836. They were fighting for Texas’s independence against a Mexican force of over 2,500 led by President General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

Jennifer Leigh Hill

The graves of America's Heroes.

2. El Mercado

Built in the late 1930s, El Mercado is located downtown and is one of the largest Mexican markets outside of Mexico.

It was originally called the ‘Municipal Truck Market’ since local farmers sold their produce after driving their trucks into an enclosure and opening the tailgate. Following extensive renovations in 1975, the market is now enclosed with more than 100 shops where you can browse locally- and Mexican-made gifts, clothing, crafts and more.

There are also several restaurants serving various Tex-Mex flavours. One of the best restaurants I dined at - the Mi Tierra Café y Panadería - is in the market and has two dining rooms that can serve 250 patrons.

It’s not only a famous landmark known for its immense bakery but the Tex-Mex cuisine is bar none. I had the best Menudo (a soup made out of beef tripe and hominy) served in traditional style with lemon wedges, chopped onions, peppers and tortillas.

Jennifer Leigh Hill

Don’t miss the great views from the Tower of America.

3. San Fernando Cathedral Light Show

Although I rarely go out at night, I recommend seeing the Saga, a video art projection light show at San Fernando Cathedral. The fascinating 30-minute presentation was created by French artist Xavier De Richemont and tells the story of the city's past to present. Seats are limited so it's best to arrive early.

Two other attractions I suggest seeing include the Tower of the Americas where you can enjoy amazing views of the city and the Bracken Cave Preserve. It’s home to one of the largest bat colonies in the world, which take flight into the failing light of the day.

On my next trip to San Antonio, I hope to enjoy the Fiesta San Antonio, an extensive celebration similar to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. It’s scheduled from April 20-30, 2023. If you can’t make it, don’t despair. These San Antonio sights and more can be experienced and enjoyed at any time of the year.

For more information www.visitsanantonio.com