clever

From Kansas City, Missouri, to Memphis, Tennessee, to Lexington, North Carolina — a small town with a big appetite for BBQ — many cities have awarded themselves the title of best city for BBQ.

These claims to the BBQ throne are tough to settle without hard data. So we’ve cooked up a new ranking of the 50 best BBQ cities — based on research on prices, restaurants, BBQ events, and search activity — to provide evidence-based answers.

USA Today 10Best

In 2022, San Antonio restaurants accounted for seven James Beard nominations. That’s on par with both Dallas and Houston. And the fact that one of the four Culinary Institute of America campuses is located at Pearl has helped give the local food scene credibility around the country. New York pizzaiolo Roberto Caporuscio, who has trained more than 300 pizza makers around the country, refers to San Antonio as one of his favorite food cities.

MySA

San Antonio’s popular Día de los Muertos festival, the largest in Texas and one of the most notable in the nation, is returning to Hemisfair this fall, on October 29 and October 30. Guests will enjoy two days of free music, activities, dancing, processions, and more.

Travel + Leisure

San Antonio is a great example of the phrase “everything is bigger in Texas.” As the seventh largest city in the U.S., it’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, with five 18th-century missions and an impressive concentration of Spanish colonial architecture. The heart of much of the action centers around the River Walk, a 15-mile network of paths that connect various shops, restaurants, and hotels along the San Antonio River.

USA Today

The United States is home to the most beautiful sights in the world, according to a new study of over 450,000 TripAdvisor reviews.

The study conducted by Kuoni, a luxury travel company, narrowed down the top 10 sights in Europe, the U.S. and around the world as of June 2022.

Condé Nast Traveler

It’s an understatement to say that the 300-year-old city of San Antonio has a storied past. In the same day, you can take in grand turn-of-the-century estates built by German settlers in the King William neighborhood, then explore 18th-century Spanish missions and an iconic battleground for Texas’s fight for independence from Mexico. The happening Pearl District is a prime example of the city’s knack for historic preservation. It’s also where you’ll find chefs, artists, and shopkeepers eager to leave their own mark.

ZillowGroup

Looking for a partner and looking for a rental home can have a lot in common. You’ll likely want to make sure they both have enough space for you, that they fit your lifestyle and that they are totally available. So why not tackle both journeys at once?

Zillow ranked the top 10 places for singles to move to for love using data that compared the density of singles in an area, available rental listings and rental affordability.

LoveExploring

If you’re a culture vulture in search of new haunts, you’re in luck. A smattering of new museums are opening across the world, covering all subjects from ancient Etruscan art to celebrating LGBTQ+ culture. One of the most exciting debuts is the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, which will house all King Tutankhamun’s tomb treasures in one place, for the first time ever. These are the new museums opening their doors in 2022 and beyond.

Travel + Leisure

The best cities in the United States, according to Travel + Leisure readers, offer a welcoming mix of history, delicious food and drink, and attractions for the whole family.

Condé Nast Traveler

At a center table in Clementine, a stylish restaurant in the Castle Hills neighborhood of San Antonio, the lights seem to shine—as they often do—on Amber Nixx. A prominent drag performer, pageant winner, and owner of the Miss Gay San Antonio pageant, she picks at a plate of hush puppies with wildflower honey and entertains my questions.

The Chalk Report

Although San Antonio restaurant Dough calls itself Pizzeria Napolitana that is a true, but only partial, description of it. Not many pizzerias can claim to offer burrata made in house in preparations that faithfully derive from Apulian origins, or housemade sausage, or a reserve all-Italian wine list.

KSAT12

This year, Pride is hitting the San Antonio River to “promote the city’s inclusion, encouragement and support of the LGBTQ+ community to live openly with equal rights.”

This year’s Pride Month will feature the first-ever Bud Light Pride River Parade by Visit San Antonio on June 18.

WalletHub

While the COVID-19 pandemic put many Americans’ summer travel plans on hold during the past two years, travel is much safer and much more feasible this year due to vaccines and the lack of restrictions. In fact, nearly 80% of American travelers plan to take a trip in 2022. The only question is: Where should you go? You might have a few destinations already in mind, but your travel budget might not agree, especially after the financial difficulties of the pandemic. Regardless, it’s ideal to have fun while keeping your spending in check.

MySA

With so many first-rate San Antonio restaurants to choose from, figuring out where to dine is no easy task. From a Texas-forward bistro housed in a building that dates back to 1904, to one of the country’s only South American-Asian fusion eateries, to restaurants with stellar brunch menus, San Antonio knows how to do food right

thrillist

Of all the things that put San Antonio on the map—the Alamo, the River Walk, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure—barbecue has never really risen to the top of the culinary bucket list like the city’s beloved Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants. Sure, like most other Texas cities, it may never earn the kind of recognition Austin has as a Barbecue City in capital letters, but San Antonio still manages to hold down a solid smoke scene, no matter how you slice it.

National Geographic UK

The historic Texan city offers the best of the Lone Star State, from a rich Latin heritage to mouth-watering Tex-Mex cuisine.

MSN

Whether it’s glorious geysers or rainbow streets, the US is filled with beautiful spots bursting with color. From natural wonders that look out of this world to multicolored monuments that draw the eye, read on to discover the brightest places across America.

Travel + Leisure

Mother’s Day may be right around the corner, but it’s never too late to plan a last-minute escape. Whether you prefer gallery hopping, hiking, or wine tasting, these 10 U.S. destinations make the perfect mother-daughter getaways. No matter where you choose, lifelong memories and loads of fun await.

Texas Monthly

Ditch your car for a walkable weekend in the Alamo City’s hippest ’hood.

Time Out

In San Antonio, the best way to cool down, relax, and let loose is to head to one of the fantastic bars. First, it gets darn hot down here, so any AC’d venue or breezy patio with an ice machine appeals. Second, it is where everyone else is; so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Time Out

Hungry travelers will find plenty to excite them amongst the best restaurants in San Antonio. The Alamo City is Texas at its diverse best, a city where various communities come together to create delicious food that will have you coming back for more, time and time again. Don’t bother trying to fight it, you’ll just anger your appetite; give in and let the flavors wash over you.

Time Out

A relatively tiny city by Texan standards, San Antonio was traditionally a short day trip from Austin or Houston. The city has bulked up over the years, however, and the list of best things to do in San Antonio has grown in tandem; today, you can’t get away with exploring the city in a single afternoon because San An is a bonafide weekend getaway.

Time Out

San Antonio isn’t just the best day (or weekend) trip to take from Austin anymore. It is a destination in its own right, filled with incredible cuisine, fun time bars, gorgeous hotels, fascinating historical structures, and much more. Time your visit for the annual fiesta celebration or the rodeo, and you’ll need a whole itinerary that requires some forward planning, especially when it comes to accommodation.

Time Out

It is no secret that San Antonio is filled with some of the best attractions in the Lone Star State. River City is one of Texas’s largest cities (the seventh-largest in the whole country by population, in fact), and it is also one of the most visited alongside Austin, Dallas, and Houston. 

Travel + Leisure

The Battle of Flowers Parade at San Antonio’s Fiesta festival is a celebration of the city’s many cultures and a source of hometown pride — and it’s produced entirely by female volunteers.

blooloop.

Zoos and aquariums have come a long way from the classic entertainment model. As we face a biodiversity crisis like never before, these organisations increasingly find themselves on the front line. Good zoos are working on both in-situ and ex-situ conservation projects.

Travel + Leisure

Spend a spring day along the River Walk, biking, strolling, kayaking, or canoeing. May weather in the mid-80s is ideal for visiting the San Antonio Zoo and Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch as well as exploring the Natural Bridge Caverns for a tour of underground natural formations formed over millions of years.

CultureMap Dallas

Texas is in the national spotlight when it comes to food, and this fall, San Antonio will play host to an innovative, Texas-sized showcase of the Lone Star State’s culinary stars.

Shondaland

Walking into the Witte Museum exhibition “Black Cowboys: An American Story” in San Antonio, Texas, I was surrounded by the faces and stories of Black men, women, and children — some enslaved, some free — who were an integral part of ranching and the cattle drives in Texas long before the Civil War and throughout the turn of the 20th century.

thrillist

While we’ve managed to export our Leprechaun-hat-wearing, binge-drinking traditions back abroad, it still holds that St. Patrick’s Day festivities are an American tradition in origin, and cities all over the country go green for it.

San Antonio Magazine

San Antonio restaurants and chefs snag seven semifinalist nominations in the Oscars of food.

Condé Nast Traveler

Despite its huge size, San Antonio remains one of Texas’s more underrated cities—but our readers are starting to take notice. There’s a little something for everyone here, whether you’re looking for barbecue, craft beer, or boutique hotels (when in doubt, stick to the River Walk and ever-evolving Pearl District).

AARP

This scenic road trip takes you through Central Texas’ acclaimed Hill Country, a fantastic region for wines. Beginning in music-centric Austin and ending in San Antonio, the tour leads you on a slow, hilly ramble through small towns with rejuvenated Main streets and past vineyards, farms, peach and apple orchards, and lavender fields.

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love

Samantha gets a taste of authentic Mexican carnitas and talks with James Beard-nominated Chef Alejandro Paredes at his counter-serve stand, Carnitas Lonja.  At the San Antonio River Walk, Samantha enjoys an alternative view of the downtown area by kayaking it with the founder of Mission Kayak, who was forced to retire from the Air Force after a debilitating accident and began kayaking as part of physical therapy.  The Mission Reach project provides walking trails and bike paths, and will use portals to connect the San Antonio River to the four historic missions along the river.

The New York Times

When the historian and journalist Carter G. Woodson proposed the first Negro History Week in 1926, he hardly imagined what would eventually become a monthlong celebration of Black history and culture across the nation. Today, every single state commemorates Black History Month in some fashion, acknowledging the trailblazers of the past, celebrating those making waves in the present, and honoring all the African Americans who have shaped the United States through both triumphs and unimaginable trauma.

Travel + Leisure

These cities have year-round museums, monuments, and more dedicated to Black history.

The Points Guy

While Americans typically commemorate Black achievements and historical challenges during Black History Month in February, African Americans have made contributions that can be celebrated in destinations across the country year-round.

Cheapism

You could stay in this Valentine’s Day, but in a nation packed with romantic locations begging to be explored, why would you?

accessibleGO

Whether you’re dreaming of a special Valentine’s Day trip or simply want a romantic weekend retreat, these six destinations are ideal for creating magical memories with the one you love.

MovieMaker

Before we begin our latest list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker: Some obvious background. The COVID pandemic continues to rage on two years after the virus landed on American shores, and one of the few silver linings has been a revolution in telecommuting — giving us all more freedom than ever before to live and work where we want, how we want.

AAA Texas Journey

Family and cultural traditions flavor the menus at these Black-owned restaurants and culinary enterprises throughout Texas. Here’s just a handful of the many delicious discoveries worth putting on your road trip bucket list.

Eater

They’re delicious, too, but there’s good food everywhere. Destination meals are different. They whisk travelers from their cooking routines and familiar takeout spots, drawing them out with flavors that can’t be replicated, service that can’t be matched, and most of all, a story that can’t be told elsewhere. The cities, islands, neighborhoods, and regions that top the list of places we want to eat in 2022 span the globe, from Guadalajara to Markham, Saint-Martin to Orange County — yes, that O.C. — and their cuisines range from nasi lemak to puffy tacos to conche Creole. But every single one offers a captivating narrative, a reason to visit right now.

PureWow

When we talk about winter vacation destinations in the United States, it’s not all ski resorts and snow-covered mountain towns (although, there are plenty of those). Snowbirds rejoice! For your bikini-wearing pleasure, our list includes sun-drenched spots in Florida and Hawaii, too. We’ve also included a mix of exciting cities for metropolitan enthusiasts and more pastoral picks for people who need a break from the urban sprawl or just plainly prefer to go in another vacation direction. Don’t forget about quiet coastal villages that you’d usually associate with summer but really wow during the colder months and national parks. Basically, you’ve got a ton of options when it comes to winter escapes. Scroll on and pick your perfect little slice of vacation paradise.

Fodor’s Travel

The holidays are here again and if you’re feeling grinchy, there are literally hundreds of places around the country where you can see colorful lights and soak in the spirit of the season. We’ve rounded up the best of the best spots to visit this holiday season, so gather your crew, make some hot cocoa (don’t forget the marshmallows!), and get in the car for these holly jolly holiday displays.

RentCafe

Perhaps even more eager than before the pandemic, many of the snowbirds who seek to escape the cold are now dusting off their old bucket lists, while planning to resume traveling the world. Apart from traditional exotic destinations like Belize and Costa Rica, our own backyard is full of fascinating places and it’s where you can start if you’re new at snowbirding.

Matador Network

If you’ve ever hosted a Thanksgiving get together, then you know it can be stressful. There’s the kitchen prep and planning, of course, but also the cleaning (of your home and your kitchen), entertainment, and attempted sidestepping of controversial issues that’ll put the dinner conversation in a tailspin.

San Antonio Express-News

The beauty of hotel restaurants is they let you eat right where you’re staying. But these seven are worth seeking out on their own merits, with seating on the river and the added luxury of a full bar for unwinding from the River Walk shuffle.

AFAR

With fewer crowds, more comfortable temperatures, and new events, fall is a great time to discover some of America’s cities. Here are eight places we love this time of year.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Got your costumes ready? Halloween is more than a month away, but theme parks, zoos, resorts, haunted houses — and hotels — are already welcoming your little (and big) ghosts and ghouls with fall events.

Travel + Leisure

As travelers sought outlets for their wanderlust over the past year, they turned to their own proverbial backyards, stretching the definition of “drive market” perhaps further than it’s gone before. Southern cities continue to steal the hearts of T+L readers, thanks to the wonderful mix of warm hospitality, approachable size, excellent food, and striking architecture.

AFAR

With the summer crowds long gone, you’ll have more space on the River Walk as well as milder fall weather for exploring San Antonio’s arts, culture, and food scene.

Meetings & Conventions

A multimillion-dollar project that affected all corners of the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter has been completed at the 1,000-room hotel, one of the largest in the city. The property’s meeting and event space was increased by 11,000 square feet during the renovation, to a total of 70,136 square feet.

Fodor’s Travel

From fine dining to open-air concerts, these gorgeous river walks combine the beauty of nature with some stellar riverside attractions.

Great Day Houston

Marc Anderson, President & CEO of Visit San Antonio, recently sat down with Great Day Houston to talk about Si San Antonio and some of the great restaurants, attractions, and more in the Alamo City.

Forbes

Deep in the heart of Texas, San Antonio is enticing visitors with a buzzy culinary and arts scene that juxtaposes nicely with the historical attractions that remain a draw in this colonial city.

Viagem e Turismo

Texas was once French, Spanish, Mexican territory and remained, from 1836 to 1845, as an independent republic before being annexed to the United States. Thanks to the extraction of oil, natural gas and the excellent performance of technology companies, the state is today one of the richest in the country.

Thrillist

San Antonio is something of an underdog when compared to a Texas-sized metropolis like Austin, but hey, we like it that way. While Austin continues to grow and change at a rapid pace, San Antonio has managed to expand at its own speed, maintaining a close semblance to its rich heritage and local culture along the way. Here’s eight major reasons why all y’all road warriors should make cruising over to San Antonio a priority on your next Lone Star State adventure.

Men’s Journal

Ceviche is a mainstay on menus at South and Central American restaurants and the poolside bars along the Caribbean coast of Mexico. But, you don’t need to be on vacation to enjoy this citrus-cured seafood dish. It can be added into your summer snacking repertoire, along with homemade salsas and guacamole. A trip to your local seafood market for fresh fish, some serious knife skills, a little creativity, and tasty tortilla chips will help you master the art of ceviche recipes at home.

San Antonio Express-News

It was a familiarization tour — a FAM in industry parlance. Visit San Antonio and most other major-city tourism marketing groups in the U.S. invite officials from industry associations on such all-expenses-paid FAM tours as they compete to land as many conventions as possible.

The groups also host travel journalists, bloggers and social media influencers, hoping they’ll write glowing reviews of their destinations.

The trips are a long-running practice. But this year — as cities across the country struggle to rebuild convention industries laid low by COVID-19 — the urgency to make a good impression on convention planners is palpable.

San Antonio Business Journal

San Antonio International Airport is gaining — and regaining — flights 15 months into the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest additions are courtesy of Southwest Airlines, which plans to bring more service to and from the Alamo City this fall. The Dallas-based carrier said it will launch domestic flights linking SAT and Colorado Springs Airport beginning Nov. 23.

San Antonio Report

If someone suddenly woke up from a coma in downtown San Antonio this weekend after one year and three months of slumber, they could do nearly everything they had planned for Memorial Day weekend pre-pandemic.

Travel + Leisure

From the pyramids of Egypt to the Great Barrier Reef, there are 1,121 places around the world that have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the gold standard for places of global historical and aesthetic significance. To be included on the list, the site must be of “outstanding universal value” and meet at least one of ten criteria, such as: representing a “masterpiece of human creative genius” or containing “superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty.”

San Antonio Report

With a pandemic fading in the rearview mirror, a travel bug is now spreading among a public eager to leave behind quarantine life.

Esquire

Here’s where to go when you’re ready to get away again but aren’t up for a long haul yet. (Plus, a couple of international destinations for when the time is right.)

Lonely Planet

The great American experience is about so many things: bluegrass and beaches, snow-covered peaks and redwood forests, restaurant-loving cities and open skies.

Travelocity

Between the iconic Alamo, its charming River Walk, and other attractions, San Antonio’s long been a great family vacation destination. Fortunately, the Texas city also overflows with kid-friendly lodgings, offering attractive family amenities like waterpark-like pools, borrowable baby gear, and kid sitting. If Alamo City travel plans are in your future, be sure to check out one of these hotels or resorts, packed with amenities that both kids and adults will love.

Travel + Leisure

Some vacationers prefer the restaurants, nightlife, and atmosphere of cities, and New York’s attractions as well as Philadelphia’s history and cuisine are ideal for them. Wineries, redwoods, and California coastline await visitors in Sonoma County. Santa Fe and San Antonio feature their own summer styles, with history, great food, and relaxing ambiance.

Travelocity

If your family has plans to remember the Alamo soon, rest assured San Antonio is a super family-friendly city well beyond the iconic Franciscan Mission. You’ll want to plan a stroll along the famous River Walk, hit a theme park, make friends with some local animals, and check out all the other top attractions San Antonio has to offer. Check out this list of the best things to do with families in San Antonio and get ready to enjoy some extra-special fun times together.