San Antonio

Famous as the site of Davy Crocketts last stand at the Alamo. San Antonio is one of the 10 largest cities in the USA, it is not a big industrial oil town like Dallas or a sleepy desert backwater, it is just an attractive Tex-Mex city.

Initially under Spanish rule it was a garrison in 1718 and a town by 1731. By the end of the century, it had been settled by people from both Mexico and the US. When Mexico gained independence from Spain, it got Texas as part of the bargain. At the start this was OK but the US settlers soon found Santa Anna's regime too oppressive and they started to agitate for independence of their own. This led to The Alamo and then to state hood. After this San Antonio boomed and became a major cow town situated at the end of the Chisholm Trail, this led to it becoming a typically riotous, Wild West town.

Cattle still plays a part in the city economy as does tourism, oil and the new technology industries.

Where to Go and What to See

The Alamo

In 1835, 189 Texan troops under the command of William Travis occupied and fortified the mission known as the Pueblo del Alamo. General Santa Anna and his army battered the mission for 13 days until every last defender was dead. These heroics allowed Sam Houston to prepare an army and gave them a rallying cry 'Remember the Alamo'.

All that is left of the mission is the chapel and the 'Long Barracks'. The latter houses a museum devoted to the battle and its participants. This is an extremely popular and therefore crowded site. Don't let this put you off 'The Alamo' is central to the history of Texas and symbolic of so much that is true of the US.

Mission Trail

The Alamo is only one of several missions that the Spanish set up outside of San Antonio to help in their plan to convert the natives. Each of the four missions that make up the trail depicts a different aspect of the religious, colonial life. The most attractive and best restored is the 'Mission San Jose'.

Institute of Texan Cultures and other Good Stuff

This is sited within the HemisFair Park (1968 Worlds Fair) and reflects the history of 26 of the cultures that have helped make Texas the State it is. Other sites that are worth a look include the San Fernando Cathedral (1731), the oldest in the US. The Spanish Governors Palace is no huge lavish structure but it has a wonderful, simple colonial atmosphere and gives an insight into life on the frontier in the very early days.

San Antonio has three good museums. The McNay Museum of Art has works by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Dali and Chagalle on display whilst the succinctly named Nelson A Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art has some fine Colonial, Mexican and Pre-Colombian work on show. The San Antonio Museum of Art is also worth a look.

Sea World and Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Too much culture and history? What you need is a theme park and these two should do the trick. Sea World is part of the franchise that has other places in Florida and San Diego whilst Six Flags has a number of rides designed to separate you from your lunchtime Tamales.

River Walk

The carefully restored riverbank is now one of the city's most attractive sights. Take a stroll along the banks of the San Antonio River, the route is beautifully tree lined and there are plenty of places to stop along the way for a drink or a bite to eat.

Eating, Drinking and Sleeping

To sample some of the best Tex-Mex cuisine head for River Walk, although the city has many fine restaurants in all price brackets across the city. San Antonio is big on festivals and booking a room at these times can be tough. As with so many cities, the centre is where the big hotels are but these tend to be the most expensive. Cheaper accommodation can be found on the outskirts.