San Antonio, Texas
A trip to this gem in south Texas unearths myriad possibilities for entertainment, from family-centered activities to more sophisticated destinations. The heart of San Antonio’s entertainment district, the River Walk is a great place for enjoying the summer days. River Walk’s 15 miles of walking paths lead to shopping, dining, lodging and historic and cultural sites.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, SeaWorld San Antonio offers visitors a chance to get up-close and personal with some of the world’s most exotic sea life. Watch sea lions perform comedy routines and beluga whales, dolphins and birds take part in a perfectly synchronized show. There’s also Aquatica, SeaWorld’s waterpark, which allows visitors to cool off in pools, on waterslides and in unique attractions. Stingray Falls gives visitors an opportunity to float through an underwater grotto while stingrays swim overhead.
In addition to housing several important permanent collections, the McNay Art Museum regularly hosts important traveling exhibits. Among the permanent collections, a large collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century European and American art has contributed to McNay’s world-class status. Located on a Spanish Colonial Revival estate, the McNay has expanded many times to house its ever-growing collections, which now include nearly 20,000 works representing a wide variety of periods and media.
The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures celebrates the diverse heritage and many cultures that make up the state. The annual Texas Folklife Festival, June 7-8, is a tremendous celebration of this heritage with music, dance, food and crafts. Other attractions at the Institute of Texan Cultures include temporary exhibits honoring Texas’ past and present, as well as a permanent collection of artifacts.
No visit to San Antonio is complete without a tour of the Alamo. Originally established in 1718 as a Catholic mission by Franciscan priests from Spain, the small-but-mighty building played an important role in the Texas revolution. Learn the history of the Alamo through an audio tour, and don’t miss the Alamo battlefield tour.
