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Attractions Rundown

There are too many San Antonio attractions to list, but here are some of the big ones.

The Alamo The 300-year-old Mission San Antonio de Valero was the site of a pinnacle battle during the Texas Revolution in March of 1836. Here, 189 Texas defenders held off Mexican General Santa Anna's 4,000 soldiers for thirteen days.

River Walk The San Antonio River is the heart of the country’s oldest and most extensive Spanish-colonial water system, having supplied water for the construction of San Antonio’s five historic missions. Today, the river still winds its way through the city, defining neighborhoods and offering a landscape of beauty and tranquility to behold from its shady banks. In the city center, the River Walk, or Paseo del Rio, is made up of cobbled walkways, bridges, cafés, shops, restaurants and bars along the river’s edge. Its three miles of pathways are a full level below city streets, creating the ambiance of a secluded oasis.

San Antonio Missions National Historic Park Comprised of four out of five San Antonio missions: missions Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada. Travel from mission to mission on the eight-mile Missions Bike and Hike Trail.

Mission San José San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, the “Queen of the Missions,” is the largest mission in San Antonio. Spanish designers, directing workers from the local Coahuiltecan tribe, built the mission in the late 1700s using Texas limestone and brightly colored stucco. At its height, it provided sanctuary and a social and cultural community for more than 300 Indians, and was surrounded by acres of fields and livestock herds. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) almost fully restored it to its original design in the 1930s. The mission church holds a Mariachi Mass on Sundays and has a rose window in the sacristy.

La Villita As San Antonio's first neighborhood, La Villita, "the little village," was originally established by Spanish soldiers stationed at the Alamo. Today it is a historic arts village that houses shops, art galleries and restaurants in Spanish, Mexican, German and French-influenced residences.

SeaWorld San Antonio At 250 acres, it’s the largest marine life adventure park in the world. Take in a show with trainers and animals at Shamu Stadium, then set off to explore one of the four individual parks. The Great White is Texas’ first inverted steel roller-coaster; the Steel Eel treats riders to bouts of weightlessness; and the Lost Lagoon, the Texas Splashdown and the Rio Loco offer ways to get wet, from wave pools to slides and flumes.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas With eight roller coasters and many more titillating rides, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is an adventure for the entire family. The Fiesta Bay Boardwalk, a 1950s boardwalk with a 90-foot Ferris wheel, is worth a visit even if you’re not that into coasters. And with an ensemble of award-winning shows and a layout that embodies the many cultures of Texas, Fiesta Texas is a must experience for any trip to San Antonio.

Tower of the Americas Here’s where to go for a panoramic view of San Antonio from 750 feet. Built for the 1968 World’s Fair, the tower recently underwent a series of renovations to the observation deck and rotating restaurant at the top; the latter now features upscale dining and a sophisticated bar area. A glass elevator will take you up to the Flags Over Texas observatory, with heart-stopping views all the way. Also brand-new is the Skies Over Texas 4-D ride, a swooping, spectacular tour of life in the Lone Star State.

San Antonio Zoo The third largest zoo in the U.S., the San Antonio Zoo is one of the oldest as well. A collection of animals was assembled in San Pedro Park in the 1800s. more animals were added in 1914. Today, more than 3,500 animals reside at the zoo, representing 600 special of animals on 56 acres. Forget lions, tigers and bears (oh my! They’re here too) – when’s the last time you’ve been up close with a fossa or a white-faced saki?

King William Historic District King William is the oldest historic district in Texas. Built by German merchants in the late 1800s, it is made up of elegant mansions, quirky bed and breakfasts, art galleries, restaurants and the Southtown commercial corridor. Its tree-lined streets sweep the south bank of the San Antonio River; on its edges are the Blue Star and Lavaca neighborhoods. You can pick up a self-guided walking tour from the San Antonio Conservation Society.

Witte Museum This family-oriented museum is geared towards experiencing South Texas history, natural science and technology. There are mummies and dinosaurs, Native American pictographs, Fiesta gowns and an EcoLab with living Texas critters – like tarantulas. The museum recently acquired a circus collection, and a hummingbird and butterfly garden sprawls across the backyard. Also out back: the four-story H-E-B Science Treehouse, with hands-on science exhibits that seem to be the biggest hit with kids.

McNay Art Museum Established as the first museum of modern art in Texas, the McNay is renowned for its collection of 19th- and 20th-century European and American art displayed in a gorgeous Mediterranean villa and courtyard.

San Antonio Museum of Art Its 30,000-square-foot Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art, houses the most comprehensive collection of Latin American art in the country. Its collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, European and American paintings, and Asian and contemporary art is the most extensive in the region. Events include tea ceremonies and meditation workshops. Plus, it’s housed in the turn-of-the-century building that once was the Lone Star Brewery. How cool is that?

Buckhorn Saloon & Museum This 120-year-old saloon is a repository for real-deal cowboy and Old West history, as well as a strange but extensive horn, fin and feather collection. You used to be able to trade a deer antler (or horn, fin or feather) for a shot; now only U.S. dollars will do.

S.A.V.E.

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