About San Antonio
Explore Texas
Overview
There are also stunning examples of nature waiting to be explored all across San Antonio, such as the Natural Bridge Caverns 180 feet beneath the earth. Above ground, the Natural Wildlife Ranch features close-up encounters with around 750 different species, including bears, birds, hippos and exotic komodo dragons. It feels a bit like Africa, by way of Texas, with large expanses of land where visitors can ride in cars and observe some of the park’s friendlier animals roam free.
What To Do
Ride a popular water taxi along the relaxing waters of the San Antonio River. Take an enlightening River Walk boat tour past unique art installations, colorful landscapes and charming cafes.
Visit the intriguing San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) along the River Walk.
Explore down under the ground at the half-mile long Natural Bridge Caverns. Then peer out above the city from 750 feet up in the air at the Tower of the Americas.
Try some authentic Tex-Mex barbeque and become one with the fans at a San Antonio Spurs basketball game at the renowned Alamo Dome.
Events
San Antonio is a city with a full calendar of festivals and events: any time of the year you arrive there's bound to be something going on. The San Antonio Mud Festival is held on the first Saturday of January. The event is celebrated with live music, and the annual crowning of the Mud King and Queen. Mid-February brings the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo to the Freeman Coliseum. Beginning five days before Ash Wednesday, Carnaval del Rio fills the riverfront with local musicians.
On the weekend closest to St Patrick's Day (17 March), the city dyes the river green and celebrates their feat by tossing back downright Irish quantities of beer. Fiesta San Antonio, a 10-day series of events in late April, is the city's biggest celebration, with fairs, feeds, rodeos, races and a whole lot of music and dancing. A few weeks later on Cinco de Mayo (5 May), similar activities celebrate Mexico's victory over French troops at the 1862 Battle of Puebla. Also in May, don't miss the Tejano Conjunto Festival, five days of the world's best conjunto musicianship and Tex-Mex cooking.
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Fiesta Noche del Rio brings Latino music to the Ameson River Theater in a series of concerts and dance performances. From June through August, the same venue hosts the Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio on Sundays.
The Texas Folklife Festival in June is the main arts and crafts fair, held at the Institute of Texan Cultures. On the weekend closest to September 16, Mexican Independence Day is celebrated all across the city with food, music and theater. December, of course, is full of festive gatherings. The most colourful are the traditional Mexican festivals: the December feast of the Virgin de Guadalupe and the celebrations of Las Luminarias and Las Posadas on the two weekends preceding Christmas.
Health and Safety
In 1995, Texas passed a state law granting a permit to carry a concealed weapon to any Texan who has never been convicted of a felony and who passes a course in handgun use and safety. It's likely you won't notice anything at all, since public offices and private businesses are permitted to ban the carrying of concealed weapons on their premises. But you should still avoid stepping into the line of fire. Never argue with or make rude gestures at other motorists. If pulled over by a police car, keep both your hands in plain sight at all times (preferably atop the steering wheel) so the officer doesn't mistake your movements for a 'reach' (as in reaching for a weapon).
Weather
San Antonio has a semi-tropical climate that rarely strays from the agreeable. Mid-summer through September is the most humid period, but even the August heat spells aren't half as bad as you'd think. Humidity levels follow a year-round pattern of high in the mornings and low in the afternoons. The hottest summer's day seldom tops 95°F (35°C), and winter temperatures usually drop no lower than 40°F (5°C). Autumn and spring are the optimum times to visit.
When to Go
San Antonio's climate is quite pleasant all year round, though spring (from April to early June) and autumn (from September to November) are the most salubrious times of year. Bluebonnets and other wildflowers blanket Hill Country in April, and twinkly Christmas lights illuminate the Riverwalk in December. In winter, temperatures may still dip below freezing at night, even though they stay rather moderate during the day. This is definitely the off-season for tourism, and some of the larger theme parks are closed. Peak summer season - late June through August - can be stiflingly hot, even though there's air-conditioning everywhere. It's also when the region is most crowded.
Getting Around
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) 16km (10mi) north of downtown, has flights from within Texas and from many destinations across the rest of the US and Mexico.
Amtrak trains link San Antonio to Los Angeles, Tucson, Palm Springs, El Paso and New Orleans on the Sunset Limited and to Chicago via Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, St Louis and more on the Texas Eagle.
Greyhound Buses arrive just north of downtown, with regular daily services to and from Austin, Dallas, Galveston, Houston and New Orleans.
VIA is San Antonio's public bus and tourist-oriented streetcar network. There are also several coach tour operators, with itineraries ranging from basic city orientation to full day outings both in and out of town.
Downtown is a complex maze if you're driving. Taxis wait at most major downtown hotels, the Greyhound and Amtrak stations and the airport. Bikes are readily available to rent downtown.
Fast Facts
The Northstar Mall displays the largest pair of cowboy boots on the planet at an impressive 40 feet high. Those are some big shoes to fill.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum includes a miniature display of the Alamo.
Travel Tips & Tools
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