Overview

Built on the banks of its age-old river, San Antonio gains present-day fame from both the water and from the Alamo, that symbol of freedom that is now the city's landmark. A brash, confident representative of the Lone Star State, San Antonio was actually one of the major cities founded before Texas broke from Mexican control. Spanish missionaries arrived there in 1691, discovering and naming the river; in 1718, the Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo's official name) was established, along with a settlement to protect it and to shield subsequent missions from attack.

The city's history is jam-packed with multiple cultural influences, given life by the original Native Americans, the first Spanish explorers, Mexican residents, German immigrants, and Southern transplants. They've all added immeasurably to the melting pot that is today's San Antonio and that has given rise to everything from barbecue to Tejano, architecture to dialect.

There is, perhaps, no more visible emblem of contemporary San Antonio than the River Walk, that 3-mile stretch of picturesque waterside terrain that gives the city a focus and a soul. Richly populated with restaurants, shops, clubs, and sights, it's a model of urban renewal for other cities and a cautionary advisement to make the most of natural resources and beauty. A huge draw and a showpiece of the city, the river was, curiously enough, once cursed for overflowing its banks and was slated to be paved over.

Other attractions are also impressive, whether you browse the vendors at Market Square, marvel at the striking Victorian mansions in the King William District, take in magnificent works at the San Antonio Museum of Art, or delight in wildlife displays at SeaWorld San Antonio. There's certainly no shortage of pursuits in the city, and if you hit the town at the appropriate time, you can revel along with residents in springtime's Fiesta San Antonio! or Remember the Alamo Weekend, which commemorates and relives the hard-fought 1836 battle.

Food, drink, and merriment are easily obtained throughout San Antonio but most especially along the River Walk artery. The well-populated district promises innovative New American fare at Biga on the Banks, fusion cuisine (regional and international) at Boudro's, and more casual Southwestern dishes at Zuni Grill. And of course, views and ambience are part and parcel of the whole downtown experience. If you're in the market for drinks, indulge in a cocktail at Vbar and toss in a few tapas for added flavor; if live music's on the agenda, you'll do no better than catching evening jazz at Jim Cullum's Landing, a mainstay that also provides cold, dizzying margaritas.

While San Antonio has changed drastically from its early days � witness the diminutive Alamo surrounded by a burgeoning downtown for visual proof � it's still an incredibly hospitable town and one that boasts a healthy economy. Major military bases call the area home, providing an interesting counterpoint to the bustling tourism industry. Even so, the juxtaposition is hardly surprising in a town that, from its inception, accepted diversity and incorporated it into everyday life. As Texas's second-most-populated metropolis, the southern city has evidently gotten the mix right, as any visitor or resident would attest.

"Remember the Alamo"? Certainly.

Love San Antonio? Without a doubt.

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