San Antonio: Passions Run Deep

Fall in love all over again in a city that is three centuries old, layered with the sparkle of a modern American metropolis.

Historic Hotels

Fall under the enchanting spell of picturesque architecture and San Antonio’s storied past at a historic hotel Many are conveniently situated right downtown or near the city’s heart line, the River Walk.

The Menger Hotel, right next to the Alamo, oozes old San Antonio charm. Built in 1859, this national landmark boasts rooms tastefully appointed with poster beds, modern amenities and the city’s largest heated outdoor swimming pool. The opulent St. Anthony Hotel dates to 1909 and has been restored with lavish carpets, bronze accents, French Empire antiques and works of art from around the world. For Spanish flavor, the Omni La Mansión del Rio, with origins back to 1852, blends Spanish colonial architecture with elegant accommodations and River Walk views. If you prefer sleek lines and sophisticated style, the chic Hotel Valencia combines modern ambiance with luxurious amenities such as beds enveloped in seven (seven!) layers of Egyptian cotton linens. You may never want to leave.

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B&Bs

Transport yourself to a slower-paced time at one of the city’s charming B&Bs, many of which are located in the  King William Historic District just south of downtown. A good example is the Oge House, which overlooks the River Walk and was built in 1857 in the antebellum, neoclassical style. Surrounded by manicured grounds, lush plantings, rose gardens and expansive verandas, the Oge House is steeped in romance. Exquisite rooms are furnished with period antiques, and serene gardens (complete with a hammock) offer the ultimate luxury – time to relax and reflect.

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Resorts & Spas

Relax at one of the area’s premier resorts and spas. The Mokara Hotel & Spa on the River Walk, recipient of Mobil’s coveted four-star rating, offers the ultimate in personal attention. Do the “Texas Two Step” – not the dance, but the dual massage for couples – or experience a unique signature massage, like one that uses Spanish rosemary followed by yucca serum to re-energize tired muscles.

In northwest San Antonio near Six Flags® Fiesta Texas, The Westin La Cantera Resort perches on a high hill on the site of an abandoned limestone rock quarry. With two championship golf courses, six pools, a health club and spa, La Cantera offers a haven for those seeking a sophisticated twist on R&R. The hotel’s restaurant, Francesca’s at Sunset, located on the third floor of the resort’s Citadel building, is a popular spot for watching glorious sunsets.

The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, located near SeaWorld® San Antonio, boasts 27 holes of championship golf and the full-service, world-class Windflower – The Hill Country Spa and Salon. Windflower, located amidst 300 acres of wildflowers and meadows, offers a couples massage and stone massage, as well as other treatments.

Nightlife

San Antonio’s passion for, well, passion heats up at night. Evening transforms San Antonio into a city of lights and music. The River Walk sets the stage for romance with twinkling lights in the trees and candles flickering on tables at riverside restaurants and nightclubs. Listening to soft jazz while sampling succulent seafood in a cozy restaurant, or being serenaded by a mariachi band at one of the city’s many outstanding Tex-Mex restaurants, turns shared meals into shared memories. So does a candelight dinner on one of the barges that cruise the river.

Afterwards, enjoy a performance at the ornate, atmospheric Majestic Theatre, inspired by Spanish Mission, Baroque and Mediterranean architecture. The theatre transports you to a mystical villa with its elaborate ornamentation and vaulted sky that comes to life with twinkling stars and drifting clouds.

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Horse Drawn Carriages & Trolleys 

A romantic way to take in the city sights by night or day is with an intimate ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Or hop on a downtown streetcar to discover your heart’s desire in shops selling fine art, jewelry, apparel, pottery and folk art from Mexico, along with unique San Antonio treasures.

Hidden Gems

Although it’s hardly hidden, the River Walk may be one of the city’s best-kept secrets. If you want to stick to the downtown portion, go just after sunrise, before the bounty of restaurants and shops open. It’s the perfect place for a romantic, relaxing stroll, with the sounds of singing birds and falling water, the perfume of flowers, and the rich tapestry of textures and colors that often gets lost among the crowds that will come later. Few visitors know about the less-trodden segments of the River Walk: the Museum Reach and the Mission Reach, both very new and being added to constantly.

The campus of Trinity University, just a few miles north on a high hill, offers spectacular views of downtown. The red-brick architecture (designed by the renowned O’Neill Ford), outdoor sculptures, splashing fountains and an exquisite Presbyterian church with a wall of stained glass overlooking a formal courtyard garden are worth a visit for photo ops and some quiet time.

San Antonio is a city of murals, many of them executed in colorful ceramic tile. The Menger Hotel boasts a gem of one in its courtyard: a colorful fountain where water trickles beneath a vivid wall panel of more than 70 ceramic tiles. They depict a woman in a long white dress clutching a bunch of calla lilies, with a handsome suitor kneeling at her feet offering more flowers. The tile was made by potters at Mission San José. It’s an unexpected work of art that offers an intimate tribute to the timeless power of love. One of the best concentrations of murals is on the city's westside and there's a great self-guided tour that takes you through it.

Texas Hill (and Wine) Country

If you crave spending time alone surrounded by rugged natural beauty, a short drive takes you into the blue-green hills of the Texas Hill Country to marvel at magnificent sunsets, sample award-winning wines from Texas’ version of the famed Napa Valley, or escape to a charming Hill Country inn.

Quiet Spots

There are plenty of out-of-the-way places to take romantic walks, share a kiss or just disappear for a few hours. The Japanese Tea Garden in Brackenridge Park, located on an old rock quarry, offers a serene escape with walkways, stone-arch bridges, an island, pagoda and ponds brimming with colorful koi. The garden underwent a renovation and has recently reopened better than ever.

The San Antonio Missions -- few people realize that the Alamo is just one of five -- are wonderful places to reflect. One of the city's most romantic spots is Rosa’s Window at Mission San José. Legend has it the ornately carved stone window was named for Rosa, the sculptor’s betrothed. Visit San Antonio Missions National Park to see the non-Alamo missions, whose oldest structures date to the early 1700s. All are still active Catholic parishes. Visitors might catch a wedding or couples dancing during the weekly Mariachi Mass at San José.

Exchanging Vows

Many couples exchange vows on Marriage Island, a tiny island just off the bank of the San Antonio River, or in the Little Church of La Villita, the historic downtown village where many artisans own shops selling everything from handcrafted jewelry to handcrafted copper articles to fine blown glass art.

Some of the lovely antebellum B&Bs in the King William Historic District often host weddings and receptions, and the Witte Museum in Brackenridge Park offers a historic setting in a courtyard shaded by a canopy of large oak trees for weddings on the veranda and receptions inside the Prassel Auditorium.