San Antonio is city with many sides.
Located in south central Texas,
it holds the distinction of being the 7th most populated city in the
US. However, it feels a little differently than your typical metropolitan area
might. Things are just bigger in Texas, so San Antonio is a bit more spread out
and less densely populated than many other major hubs in the US. The town has a
rich history. It was first named by Spanish explorers in the late 1600s in
honor of its namesake, Saint Anthony of Padua. I traveled there this past year
for the first time and I’ll admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I
disembarked the plane. The only preconceived notions I had of Texas were of 10
gallon hats, big belt buckles, cattle ranches, and the like. However, I found
San Antonio to be a bastion of culture, filled with rich history and
interesting locales.
I was lucky enough to enjoy a stay near
Riverwalk, which is a huge center for tourism, dining, shopping, and
entertainment. Encircled by a winding river, the quaint cobblestone streets are
tucked under the busy downtown traffic, providing a cool oasis and a scenic
place to stroll. The first impression San Antonio gave was most certainly the
food! It’s the definition of authentic Tex-Mex and each restaurant is sure to
put their own spin on the flavor, so you won’t have the same meal twice. The
drinks are nothing to shake a stick at either – from prickly pear margaritas to
more traditional fare, this is absolutely a town that knows how to eat and
drink in style. Even the tucked-away holes in the wall that were well outside
of the tourist district did not disappoint, and the prices were surprisingly
reasonable for a city of this size.
My visit happened to coincide with their
annual jazz festival, which was a site to behold. Throughout the week, I saw
signs of several other planned events and festivals. It became quickly apparent
that there isn’t any shortage of things to do here. If you’re looking for a culture
experience during your visit to San Antonio, it shouldn’t be difficult to find
an event that fits the bill. San Antonio blends a lot of culture and history
into one town, so expect their festivals to be equally diverse and exciting.
Because of the reasonably temperate climate allowing them to operate almost
year-round, San Antonio is able to offer more outdoor festivals than many other
cities.
If you’re looking for a trip full of rich history,
great food and drinks, and plenty of stimulating cultural activities, then San
Antonio should be high on your list of places to visit. There are famous
historical sites, like The Alamo, that have proven to be timeless tourist
favorites. There is certainly a lot of the traditional Texas in this city, but
I found San Antonio to be diverse and different, with interesting and
unexpected twists almost everywhere you go. From the tourist district to the hidden
gems that reside off the beaten path, San Antonio is far more than typical.
Thank
you to travel writer Emma Sledge.
Hi Emma - I'm always impressed with how precise your writing is--you do a great job turning a phrase. I have consistently heard good things about San Antonio--how varied it is. The Riverwalk looks like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteYou're too kind, Sona! The places themselves do most of the work, but it gives me no end of joy to write about them. I could definitely do with another week or two on Riverwalk myself :).
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