San Antonio | The Saga is such a cool experience and a wonderful way to spend an evening downtown…read more This free, 24-minute art projection transforms the façade of the historic San Fernando Cathedral through light, color, music, and imagery inspired by San Antonio's history. I took my parents while they were visiting from out of town, and we all had a great time. The show takes place outside, and while some seating is available, I recommend arriving early if you want to grab a table and chairs. If anyone in your group has limited mobility or needs a guaranteed place to sit, bring a portable chair. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafés nearby, so it's a great way to end a night downtown. It's beautiful, memorable, and completely free, definitely something both locals and visitors should experience.

The breakfast hostess at our hotel highly recommended we go to this at 9:00 pm…read more We did the riverwalk boat ride the day before, the Alamo the day of and a historical carriage ride before walking over to the San Fernando Cathedral. Doing other activities first helped with following the history of the Saga. This was a beautiful musical and visually artistic chronological history of San Antonio. It had religious, cultural and the evolution of the city. Not all of the history was pleasant, but that is history. Those who fight for freedom, preserve it and take pride in it was felt throughout this artistic show. There are a few seats and we were lucky enough to get two. Arrive early on the weekends, busy nights. We walked over after our carriage ride, and it was lovely. Highly recommend setting time aside for,this show and also donating to them for this wonderful production! https://mainplaza.org/san-antonio-the-saga/

What: landmark/art. Very cool to walk along and have this random, eclectic art to enjoy and…read moreappreciate. Location: 5 minute walk from The Pearl Brewery.

Recommend you check this part of the riverwalk out when in the Pearl District and Museum Reach…read more Keep walking a little further and enjoy Camden Bridge which you can also watch the bats come out at dusk certain times of the year. Parking in the Pearl surface lots are free on weekdays before 3pm and $4 after 3pm. We parked by La Gloria, walked down along the river for awhile then hit Pullman Market when we came back. There are lots of places to choose from though. Pullman Market has clean restrooms and a lots of patio seating to enjoy your selection. We enjoyed grabbing a ready made bacon breakfast taco for a quick bite before continuing on enjoying the area. More about the grotto: https://sanantoniohappens.com/the-grotto-san-antonio/ 'The Grotto along the Museum Reach is a modern public art piece created by Carlos Cortés, which is located in San Antonio's historic Immaculate Conception Cemetery. That said, The Grotto honors this rich artistic lineage. Cortés' work is deeply inspired by his great-uncle's techniques, preserving the faux bois style that blends naturalistic beauty with spiritual reflection. The site evokes a sense of contemplation that connects visitors to San Antonio's broader legacy of public art and cultural symbolism.'

Stop by to take an iconic pic from the Selena movie scene…read more Actually, the best part was meeting other people who showed up to take pics too. Anything for Selenas!

Specifically, it is located on the Riverwalk between N. Saint Mary's Street and Navarro Street…read more Picturesque and romantic. The bridge where Selena was proposed to in the movie. "Late at night when all the world is sleeping, I stay up and think of you, And wish on a star that somewhere you are thinking of me too." If you want to feel free, feel like you're flying even, then you need to get yourself and the love of your life to the Selena bridge.

Historic sculpture on the Commerce Street Bridge. Commissioned by the San Antonio Express, Waldine…read moreTauch created a seven foot tall sculpture to honor the Native Americans. Ms. Tauch was a very well known sculptor in Texas. She was paid $1000 for her sculpture. The sculpture features a First Native American in a full headdress holding shallow bowls in each hand. Each bowl served as public drinking fountains at some point. Pause to think about the historical significance and history that happened here as you visit the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Yanaguana! This is one of my favorite places to hang out…read moredowntown San Antonio. If you can figure out how to get here without a car, this is a great vantage point to see San Antonio, and a great place to start off an adventure downtown. I've always wondered who built this, and Helene S.'s review was quite illuminating! So this sculpture is next to Sebastian's International Torch of Friendship, a maybe 30-40' high red sculpture that's hard to miss. Between this sculpture and that one is the famed Portland Loo- an outdoor free restroom. There's also the elevator that takes you down to the Riverwalk here. Standing on the bridge where this First Inhabitant sculpture is, this is a good spot to eavesdrop on the river cruises below, or just smell the Mexican food coming from Casa Rio. The Indian depicted in this carving must be a Yanaguana Indian chief, as they were the first Indians who were known to inhabit the San Antonio River area thousands of years ago. They covered an area a bit more up river near the University of Incarnate Word down along this river to where the Missions are today. Today, down the street at Hemisfair Park, you'll find Yanaguana Gardens, which celebrates this tribe.

This is a spectacular pedestrian bridge in San Antonio. The bridge looks over a few restaurants…read morebeneath, so once you've enjoyed the beautiful view of the cityscape from above, you can take a breather in the shade below and enjoy a beverage or a light bite. This is an excellent space to engage with different parts of the San Antonio community, from children racing each other down the bridge to electric scooter brigades motoring together to dancers creating routines spontaneously to take advantage of the lovely backdrop. When the weather is beautiful, everyone is out and about with smiles from ear to ear. If you're interested in a vast, all-encompassing view of the city and some people watching on the side, the Hays Street Bridge is for you. If you happen to also do yoga, the city periodically offers free yoga lessons at all hours of the day. Be sure to take advantage of those lovely sessions as well!

Cool place to visit, it's a bridge overlooking tracks, fun to walk on…read more The sun was out, the weather wasn't bad, the bridge was an older bridge.

During all my previous trips to San Antonio, I had never visited the Tower of the Americas, so it…read morewas high on our list during our five-day trip this past July. It was a little too far to walk from our downtown hotel, so we drove and used the paid parking lot next to the tower. When we arrived, there was some construction taking place around the property, which made it a little confusing to find the ticket booth. After asking an employee for directions, she pointed us to the correct location outside. We purchased our tickets and headed inside to wait for the high-speed elevator. Before boarding, we stopped for a souvenir photo and were given a card with instructions on how to download the picture later. About 40 seconds later, we arrived at the observation deck. I believe there was a private event taking place that day, as part of the area appeared to be closed off, but we eventually found our way to the outdoor observation section. Since it was a clear day, the views of San Antonio were excellent. We spent some time walking around the deck, taking in the scenery from different angles, and snapping photos before making our way back down. Over the years, we have visited several observation towers, including the Space Needle, the Stratosphere, Sky Costanera, and the Cancun Scenic Tower. While each offers a unique experience and perspective, the Tower of the Americas may be the best value of the bunch. The views were outstanding, the admission price was reasonable, and the overall experience compared favorably with observation towers that cost significantly more. If you're looking for one of the best panoramic views of San Antonio without breaking the bank, the Tower of the Americas is well worth a visit. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip, and I'll be sure to include it on future visits to the city.

Definitely worth a visit for the view when in San Antonio…read more We parked in Hemisfair lot which was cheaper (than the Tower lot) and a short walk to the Tower of Americas. Think we paid $7 for a couple hours. (Some street parking is available if lucky or Tower lot is $20 flat rate). If you want the full experience, go ahead and get a ticket. Elevator ride up is nice. Can take a while waiting for elevator in prime times. If you want to just enjoy the view, going to the bar is a great option. No fee to enjoy. Happy Hour 430-7. Seating on either sides of tables, away from the bar, will give you best views. You don't have full 360 view or listed history to browse but it's still gorgeous. The bar does not rotate. If you eat at the restaurant on the level below the bar, it rotates and you get 360 view. The bar & restaurant have dress code (basically no athletic wear, flip flops, hats, etc.) but it clearly wasn't being enforced when we visited the bar despite having to pass through several staff members to get there. They make you take a picture before you take elevator up. They find you and try to sell you the printed picture while you're there. (Not appreciated - should be an option. Is a waste of time & resources. They also send you virtual options) We went around 5 on a Tuesday. Bar only. Friendly staff. Seat yourself in bar. Didn't take long before a waitress came to take our order. We got a Monarch Margarita, Sprite & Deviled eggs. Drinks came fast and were good. She said eggs would be quick but they took a long time. They were okay, not great but not bad. It was hotter than hot in the bar area. My Mom, who is always cold, was uncomfortably warm. Outside the Tower was decorated cute with hay, pumpkins, & party lights. They are doing renovations on the outside of the tower. There is giftshop, small arcade, & other sections to sit & relax a minute while there.

This is a nice gazebo in the center of King William, a beautiful antebellum neighborhood just south…read moreof downtown. The gazebo actually started off in the 1890's down the street at the Commander's House on the Arsenal just up the river. The site it sits on was a baseball diamond prior to the gazebo going in. It's the home to the King William Fair, an annual Fiesta event where people sit out and watch a parade, and relax in the park surrounding the gazebo and listen to bluegrass music and jazz. IT was recently renovated, and can be reserved for your next event. There's a bench on the interior, and a water fountain for you and your dog. Parking is easy, when there's not an event going on. The park is well lit, and feels safe, even late at night. It's a sharp looking gazebo, and the perfect place to relax and play.

There's nothing like walking back in time, and I highly recommend you visit here to do so. This is…read moreone of four (five with The Alamo) San Antonio missions in the National Parks system, and you get to walk back in time at this CCC-restored, community advocated site whose advocacy history is also on display. Put on your sunscreen and set aside 2-3 hours, or more if you like! A couple hours flew by before we noticed, and there is so many neat things to see. You are also walking into the present: San Jose is still an active congregation where you can attend mass, light a candle, and the congregation might be already having an event. Thankfully the air-conditioned chapel was open during our visit. As a fee-free site, you can leave $ for the congregation in a donation box by the holy water, or visit the gift shop. Alas the gift shop inside the mission walls was closed, but the visitor center (after staff lunch) was open and full of souvenirs and reading material. What a beautiful chapel, and lovely landscaping and birds outside. Some even nested in crevices outside the chapel walls. A profound spot all around. San Jose isn't the closest mission to downtown, but is the only site with a visitor center, and a good spot if your kid's earning a junior ranger badge (ps, the junior ranger badge collection displayed at the visitor Center is itself amazing).

I would by no means make a special trip to San Antonio for this but, it was a wonderful place to…read morevisit while already in town to sightsee and meet a friend for a girl's weekend. We stopped by around mid-day and it was HOT - 105 degrees. We found that this park is free for all to visit and see and the friend NPS staff at the front were happy to provide inputs, directions and we shopped in the little gift shop. We spent about an hour here walking around and enjoying the place and it's very peaceful, well-kept, and beautiful. Well worth a visit if you are in San Antonio.

This is a cute little village with things to eat and things to buy and it's right along a popular…read moreroad. It backs up to the Riverwalk too, so you can access it from either place. Nice place to stop in when in the area.

I visited La Villita Historic Arts Village in the morning, and unfortunately there wasn't much…read moregoing on at the time. The area is charming and has some interesting historic buildings, but many of the shops and galleries felt quiet, which made the experience a little underwhelming. I enjoyed walking through the village and appreciating the architecture and atmosphere, but it lacked the energy I was expecting. I can see how it would be much more enjoyable during a special event, festival, or later in the day when more businesses are open and there are more visitors around. It's a pleasant place to stroll through if you're nearby, but I would recommend checking the hours and event schedule before visiting to get the most out of the experience.

Just as stunning as the historic Alamo site is the Alamo Cenotaph (Greek for "empty tomb") in the…read morePlaza right outside of the Alamo. Also known as "The Spirit of Sacrifice", the Pompeo Coppini-sculpted Cenotaph is made of a pink Texas granite base and the rest of off white/gray Georgia marble. All the full-body figures are lifelike and stunning to see. From the James Bowie and James B. Bonham on the east side to the William B. Travis and David Crockett figures on the west, their figures are incredibly lifelike. The Cenotaph is a great complement to The Alamo itself, and is an unforgettable, three-dimensional visual that adds to the great battle's heroic legacy. The marker reads: Erected in Memory of the Heroes who sacrificed their lives at the Alamo, March 6, 1836 in the defense of Texas, "They chose never to surrender nor retreat, these brave hearts with flag still proudly waving perished in the flames of immortality that their high sacrifice might lead to the founding on this Texas." The Cenotaph is a great symbol that should stay in front of The Alamo forever, as it effectively and movingly keeps the heroes alive in our minds and hearts.

The Cenotaph is known as spirit of sacrifice to remember the man who actually defended the Alamo…read more This monument was build in 1977. It is to remember the Texas men that was lost and take the stand on the battle. The monument stood very tall with service men carved in the stone. This monument located in front of the Main Street from the famous hotel there.