Table of Content
San Antonio | Introduction
San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas, located in the southern part of the state. In the 18th century, San Antonio was once the largest Spanish settlement in Texas, and later became part of Mexican territory. Today, many of the historical buildings and cultural heritages from the Spanish era remain, filled with exotic charm. The bustling River Walk of San Antonio, lined with shops and restaurants, along with numerous theme parks and museums, adds more color to the city, making it a very popular tourist destination in Texas. Many people believe that San Antonio, surpassing Austin., which is just a 1.5-hour drive away, is the most entertaining city in Texas.
San Antonio | 2 Day Itinerary
We stayed here for two days this time. The short two-day trip was very enriching. The itinerary is as follows:
- Day 1
The first day of the itinerary starts near Market Square in Mexico, and although we drove here from our last stop at Big Bend National Park, many attractions are actually within walking distance. After exploring Market Square, we headed east past the San Fernando Cathedral and the River Walk to the Alamo. The 1.2 miles might seem long, but since this area has many historical buildings and passes through the River Walk, it feels like a continuous exploration leading to the Alamo. After visiting the Alamo, we continued to stroll along the River Walk.
- Day 2
In the morning, we drove to see the Natural Bridge Caverns, then went to the Japanese Tea Garden, and afterwards, we started on the historical pilgrimage along the Mission Trail in the National Historical Park. The Mission Trail is a route that connects five historic missions, starting from the Alamo and sequentially passing by Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. We spent most of the day at the oldest, Mission Concepcion, and the largest, Mission San Jose. In the evening, we dined in the Pearl District.
San Antonio has a wealth of attractions to explore, and with only two days at our disposal, our time is quite limited. Attractions like the Mission Trail or the River Walk could easily fill an entire day if one were to thoroughly explore them. Adding museum visits or theme park excursions could fill a week's itinerary without any trouble. For those with a long list of desired destinations, especially those considering visits to the San Antonio Zoo and SeaWorld with children, it might be worth considering the purchase of the San Antonio Explorer Pass to save on costs.
San Antonio Explorer Pass
San Antonio | Accommodation
For accommodation, I would recommend choosing a place that is affordably priced and close to major attractions like the San Antonio River Walk, Market Square, and the Alamo. Since the main attractions in San Antonio are quite centralized, this approach actually reduces the need for driving and can save on transportation time.
Find a stay in San Antonio
San Antonio | Attractions
Historic Market square
Historic Market Square is a market area rich in history and is one of the largest Mexican markets within Mexico. Shopping here feels like being suddenly surrounded by Mexican culture. In addition to browsing for souvenirs, there's Mi Tierra Cafe, the top-ranked Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. If you're interested in trying Mexican cuisine here, remember to get a number for the queue before you start exploring, or else you may end up waiting for a long time.
San Fernando Cathedral
The San Fernando Cathedral is the oldest landmark in Texas, with construction dating back to 1738. However, the image we see today is the result of a major renovation in 2003. Entry to the interior is free, but the real highlight is the evening light show.
The square in front of the cathedral is called Main Plaza, where many people gather at night to watch the light show. Around the main cathedral, there are actually many historic buildings, which are also lit up at night, such as the courthouse building across the street, attracting many tourists to stop and look.
San Antonio River Walk
The River Walk runs along the San Antonio River, and people call it the Venice of Texas. Many tourists enjoy taking boat tours here to appreciate the beautiful riverside scenery. The River Walk extends through the heart of downtown San Antonio, making any segment of it bustling with activity.
The River Walk at night, illuminated by lights, is even more atmospheric. As the temperature cools down, it becomes an even better time for a stroll. Shops and restaurants line both sides of the bank, with some places hosting outdoor performances, making the walk enjoyable. However, taking a boat tour along the river certainly adds to the atmosphere.
River Cruise Package
The River Walk route is actually quite long, and the stretch from Main Plaza to the Alamo is just one part of it.
The Alamo
The Alamo is the most famous attraction in San Antonio, with free admission. However, it's best to make a reservation in advance on their website, as it's very popular and was fully booked online when we arrived. Tickets for later times can still be obtained on-site, but it's a matter of luck.
The Alamo holds significant historical importance. While it does feature a Catholic church, its primary significance lies in its history as a fortress. Originally established during the Spanish colonial period as the Spanish cavalry outpost, the Alamo became part of Mexican territory after Mexico gained independence. Initially, Mexico allowed a degree of autonomy in governing Texas. However, in 1833, Mexican military leader Santa Anna abolished this autonomy, aiming to establish centralized authoritarian rule. The residents of San Antonio fiercely resisted, prompting Santa Anna to personally lead his forces to attack the city. At the time, the Texian army had only around 200 militia members defending the Alamo. They valiantly fought for 12 days before all perishing. It is said that even those who surrendered were brutally killed.
Following this tragedy, "Remember the Alamo" became a rallying cry, fueling the revenge sentiment among Texans and Americans during both the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War. This battle played a significant role in shaping American history, as it ultimately led to Texas gaining independence and the United States acquiring half of Mexico's territory during the Mexican-American War. Therefore, the Battle of the Alamo has had a profound impact on American history to this day.
The Alamo is also the starting point for the northern end of the Mission Trail, so if you want to walk the entire Mission Trail, you can start here. If you are interested in learning more about the history of San Antonio, you can join a Mission Trail tour.
Mission Trail Tour
Mission San Jose
Mission San Jose was founded in 1720 and is the best-preserved Spanish mission site, making it a significant attraction along the Mission Trail. The Spanish established many similar missions in the San Antonio area, including the Alamo, but Mission San Jose is the best-preserved and much larger than the Alamo. It is currently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The entire mission complex has been meticulously restored to its original state, with a surrounding wall enclosing a large grassy area. In the center stands the impressive main church building. The church indeed looks quite spectacular.
The most famous feature of the church is its elaborate Rose window. This window served as a focal point for missionaries to lead the congregation in worship and prayer. With the missionaries on one side and the congregation on the other, the prayers led by the missionaries appeared even more solemn and dignified through the window.
The primary purpose of the mission complex was to evangelize and assimilate the Native American indigenous population into the Catholic way of life. Hence, surrounding the complex, you can see some small houses designated for the assimilated Native Americans, known as the Indian quarter. Missionaries resided alongside these inhabitants. Additionally, at the rear, one can observe well-preserved structures such as watermills, gristmills, and water wells that were used by the missionaries and residents during the 18th century, showcasing the living environment of the mission and the missionaries from that era.
Mission Concepcion
Mission Concepción was founded in 1731. Although it is not as large as Mission San Jose, its architecture remains unaltered to this day, making this grand church an authentic representation of its original construction. In fact, it is the oldest unrestored stone church in the United States.
Japanese tea garden
The Japanese Tea Garden, located within Brackenridge Park, was established in 1917 as an Oriental garden. Initially, the design of this Japanese-style garden was formulated by a Mexican-American engineer. Within the garden, there are Japanese torii gates, winding pathways, and arched bridges. Adding to its Japanese ambiance were the contributions of the Japanese-American artists Kimi Eizo Jingu, who moved to this location in 1919. Jingu, an expert in tea, not only tended to the Japanese garden but also constructed a bamboo teahouse, offering tea and snacks. The Jingu family resided here until 1942 when, due to anti-Japanese sentiments during World War II, they were forcibly relocated. The garden was then cared for by the Chinese-American Wu family, and it was briefly renamed the Chinese Garden. The name remained until 1984 when it was officially restored to the Japanese Tea Garden. Despite this, the title "Chinese garden" can still be seen on the main gate to this day.
Pearl District
The Pearl District can be considered San Antonio's hipster neighborhood. After exploring historic sites for a while, you can come here to enjoy a meal and browse around a more modern area. The landmark building in the Pearl District is the former Pearl Brewery, which operated for 118 years before closing down. The brewery building was purchased and transformed into the present-day commercial district. One of the most famous establishments within the brewery is the Hotel Emma.
In the evenings, many people come here with friends to stroll, dine, and relax. They sit on the lawn, listen to music, and enjoy chatting and unwinding together.
Natural bridge cavern
Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the largest caverns in Texas, privately operated and with a rather commercialized feel. There's more to do here than just explore the caverns. Our main purpose for visiting was to see the caverns, so we opted for the Discovery Village Cavern Tours, priced at $34 in 2021. There were quite a few tour options available, and we were able to easily purchase tickets for a tour starting within twenty minutes upon arrival. While waiting, we took a look around at the other facilities nearby. Adjacent to the caverns, there's a wildlife ranch and a playground, making it suitable for family outings. If you're interested in experiencing other attractions, combination tickets are also available.
From the outside, you can already tell that the caverns must be quite large. Just by observing the preserved pathways on the ground, you can tell that beneath lies an expanse of stalactites and stalagmites.
The caverns were discovered in 1960, so they haven't been fully explored yet. Even during our guided tour, we didn't cover the entire cave system. However, the open sections we did explore were already incredibly impressive. Upon entering, we realized how deep the caverns extend, with pathways winding further down. At each stop, there were different guides providing explanations. The sights inside were truly spectacular, and it was my first time seeing stalactites and stalagmites of such grandeur.
I won't go into detail about each formation; the most exquisite ones were captured in photographs for documentation.
San Antonio | Cuisine
San Antonio is a lively and fun place, so it's no surprise that there are many restaurants. During our visit, we found three restaurants that we feel are worth recommending, and we've shared them in this article.
Further reading
- San Antonio, Texas Tourist Attractions - 2 Day Trip Itinerary Traveler's Guide
- Savoring San Antonio: A Food Lover's Guide to Texas' Tastiest Treasures
For more information on Texas travel and cuisine, check out this link!
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