One Day of Culture

The River Walk:  Start your San Antonio cultural exploration with a stroll along the River Walk. Restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment follow the serpentine route of this relaxing river, and some of the city's top attractions can be accessed from it. Stop off at the Alamo, the must-see Shrine of Texas Liberty. If you find yourself intrigued by Spanish colonial mission life and architecture, there are four more to see along Mission Trail.

Also along the River Walk is one of the oldest sections of town—La Villita. First it was home to Spanish soliders serving at the Alamo, and in the late 1800s, French and German immigrants settled here. Now, it's a National Historic District brimming with arts, craft shops and galleries. You can find more south of the border crafts and tasty treats at El Mercado, a market square that will make you think you're in Mexico.

Art and Architecture:  Art and architecture thrive in the King William Historic District and Southtown. The King William Historic District is a restored neighborhood with a variety of architectural styles -- Greek Revival, Italianate and Victorian. Once farmland for the Alamo mission, it grew into a German neighborhood. The area fell into disrepair, but in the 1960s, its beauty was rediscovered and restoration began. Two homes are open to the public, the Guenther House and Steves Homestead. The Guenther House was built in 1860, and includes a restaurant, store and museum. The 1870s era Steves Homestead is now a museum of historic homes.

Close to the King William Historic District is Southtown, an arts neighborhood. Its eclectic blend of shops, galleries and restaurants host an art walk on the first Friday of every month. While you're there, check out the Blue Star Arts Center—a renovated warehouse that includes artist space, galleries and a brewpub.

Museums:  San Antonio is also home to world-class museums. The San Antonio Museum of Art exhibits collections of Latin Ameican and Asian art, as well as folk and contemporary pieces. From Diego Rivera and Pablo Picasso to manuscripts and sculpture gardens, the McNay Art Museum invites you to step into a masterpiece. The McNay opened in 1945 as the region’s first museum of modern art. Works are displayed in the ornate setting of a 1920’s Spanish colonial home amid 23 acres of beautifully landscaped terrain.

The Museo Alameda, an affiliate of the Smithsonian, tells the story of the Latino experience in America. And the Witte Museum combines culture, history and science, from Egyptian mummies to dinosaur bones.

Four Days of Culture

Day One:  Start with the Alamo – it’s legendary! Then plunge down onto the River Walk where everywhere you turn there’s something new to experience. In one direction there’s Rivercenter Mall at the foot of the two Marriott hotels, the new Grand Hyatt Hotel and the grotto providing a passage up into HemisFair Park. In another, there’s a way up through the Arneson River Theatre into historic La Villita with restaurants (Fig Tree and Little Rhein) and shops offering custom jewelry (Chamade), art (Monte Wade Fine Arts) and more. And all along the route are unique dining opportunities such as Boudro’s and Las Canarias.

Day Two:  Guided bus, trolley and carriage tours are available in many areas, but when heading north a car is best. Take Broadway to the Pearl Brewery Complex (but detour to the leaning Liberty Bar on Josephine Street for lunch), then continue to Brackenridge Park with its zoo and renovated Japanese Tea Gardens. The Witte Museum is nearby. Make your way to the San Antonio Botanical Garden, then venture to North New Braunfels Street for art immersion at the McNay Art Museum – or continue up Broadway and take a left on Basse Road for The Alamo Quarry Market and serious shopping at Lucchese Boots.

Day Three:  Ride a bicycle to Southtown for restaurants (Azuca, La Frite, Rosario’s and El Mirador) or galleries (Garcia Art Glass, Blue Star Arts Complex and El Sol Studios). Then swing south along South St. Mary’s Street to the Mission Trail. Follow it to as many missions as you have time for. And consider returning via the hike and bike trail that hugs the San Antonio River’s west bank. Wrap up the night at La Tuna Grill, a favorite local hangout that was also recently named one of the 100 best bars in the country by Esquire magazine.

Day Four:  On the east side of town, check out St. Paul Square and the beautiful vaulted ceiling and stained-glass windows of the restored 1902 Sunset Station railroad depot. For lunch, stop at Aldaco’s or go to Tommy Moore’s Café and Deli for Southern-style food and African-American heritage. Then head to the historic Market Square for classic pan dulce at Mi Tierra and shopping at the Mexican market. Take a peek at nearby Casa Navarro, the 19th century adobe home of Tejano patriot Jose Antonio Navarro. Without him, San Antonio might still be the “northernmost city in Mexico.”