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AAPG Home : Meetings : 2008 ACE-San Antonio : General Information : Local Info
San Antonio captures the true spirit of Texas. The city has retained its sense of history and tradition, while carefully blending in cosmopolitan progress. The city has always been a crossroads and a meeting place. Sounds and flavors of Native Americans, Old Mexico, Germans, the Wild West, African-Americans and the Deep South mingle and merge.
No trip to San Antonio is complete without a beautiful cruise along the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk has multiple personalities – quiet and park-like in some stretches, while other areas are full of activity with European-style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, nightclubs and gleaming high-rise hotels. The river’s floating transportation system provides a novel method of sightseeing and people-watching in downtown San Antonio. Groups can also dine aboard openair cruisers as they wind their way along the scenic waterway. River taxis deliver visitors to Rivercenter, a dazzling three-level glass shopping, dining and entertainment complex and to the newly expanded Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
San Antonio is home to two major theme parks – Sea World San Antonio, the world’s largest marine life park and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the town built just for fun!
Dining options run the gamut from fine French cuisine to Chinese to Texas steaks and barbecue to soul food and Cajun, but San Antonio is home to Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is a passion with local residents of all ethnic backgrounds and numerous restaurants are open 24 hours.
Market Square (El Mercado), the largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico, is a festive combination of Tex-Mex cuisine, music and entertainment and products ranging from pearls to piñatas.
Developed in the mid to late 18th century, La Villita was one of San Antonio’s original settlements. Today, La Villita is a National Historic District and haven for artists and craftsmen selling blown glass, jewelry, stained glass and other handcrafts, as well as fashions from Mexico and Guatemala.
No matter what country visitors originate from, shopping is an international favorite. Antique shops abound in the central city and in charming towns on the outskirts of the city. Art galleries cover a wide spectrum of artistic achievement from contemporary to western to Latin American folk art. A dozen major shopping malls dot the city and three major outlet malls are within an hour’s drive of downtown.
Visit the Alamo where you’ll find relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and narration on the fall of the Alamo. Take a tour through the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas at Natural Bridge Caverns. Enjoy a breathtaking view of San Antonio from the Tower of the Americas’ observation deck. Northeast of downtown lies Fort Sam Houston, another “must see” for history buffs.
When the stars come out over the South Texas Plains, it is time to head to the nightclubs and dance halls, twostepping to a country-western band or swaying to a Tejano super group. Maybe it’s traditional jazz or a singalong at an Irish pub or piano bar that interests you? San Antonio offers a wide range of entertainment options when the sun goes down.
What’s special about San Antonio? The Alamo, the Riverwalk, conjunto music, friendly people, Tex-Mex cuisine and Fiesta San Antonio. Yes and more. The answer is as varied as the people who live in and visit San Antonio. Come experience San Antonio – you’ll leave with memories to last a lifetime.
April in San Antonio is filled with beautiful blue skies. With an average high temperature of 80.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a average low temperature of 56.9 degrees Fahrenheit, visitors to San Antonio will find an abundance of outdoor sports and recreation to challenge them.
Fiesta San Antonio is a 10-day city-wide celebration, which includes exciting carnivals, spectacular sports, fantastic fireworks, lively entertainment, ethnic feasts, art exhibits and sparkling parades that glide down San Antonio’s Riverwalk and streets.
Fiesta is the biggest and oldest street party in San Antonio with more than 100 separate events. The festivities run the gamut. During Fiesta, one day is especially devoted to the children. With games and performances to watch in a safe, relaxing setting, the Children’s Festival is a kid-friendly version of the streetlevel Fiesta activities.
“A Night In Old San Antonio” is a four-night event that celebrates San Antonio’s diverse cultural heritage. NIOSA (pronounced “knee-oh-suh”), held in the historic little village of La Villita, is divided into different cultural areas for the presentation of ethnic costumes, food, music and fun representing truly “old” San Antonio (www.niosa.org).
Everyone loves a parade and there are plenty of them during Fiesta! Twinkling lights, decorated barges and men in powdered wigs – the River Parade is definitely one of a kind! Dozens of festive floats float down the river featuring revelers in fun costumes, music and local and regional celebrities. Visit www.texascavaliers.org
For well over a century, Fiesta San Antonio has offered fun for all ages. From parades to carnival rides, there’s something for everyone. So bring the whole family—Fiesta San Antonio is waiting for you! For more information or event tickets, visit www.fiesta-sa.org.
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