River Walk aka (Paseo del Rio)The
River Walk is an approximately 2½
mile cobblestone and flagstone path, bordered on both sides by
the San Antonio River. It winds through the business district
of the city and is filled with European-style sidewalk cafes,
specialty boutiques, nightclubs and hotels. Cruise on the river
and enjoy a unique way to see the town and scenery of San Antonio.
Green, lush foliage of towering cypresses, oaks and willows line
the banks of the river, as well as gardens of flowers and ornamental
plants. River taxis can deliver visitors to the Rivercenter,
a dazzling shopping and entertainment complex for some more of
San Antonio's fabulous shopping and dining.
Admiral Nimitz State Historic
Site - The 
National` Museum of the Pacific War The only institution
in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling
the story of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and World War II
in the Pacific Theater. Located on a nine-acre site, the complex
includes The National Museum of the Pacific War-George Bush Gallery,
the Nimitz Hotel museum, the Japanese Garden of Peace, the Pacific
Combat Zone, the Plaza of the Presidents, the Surface Warfare
Plaza, the Memorial Wall, the Veterans Walk of Honor and the
Center for Pacific War Studies. In addition to nearly 45,000
square feet of indoor exhibit space, the museum boasts an impressive
display of Allied and Japanese aircraft, tanks, guns and other
large artifacts made famous during the Pacific War campaigns.
Fredericksburg, TX 
Welcome
to Fredericksburg, located in the very heart of the beautiful
Texas Hill Country! We've been blending German heritage and Texan
hospitality for over 150 years, creating the kind of place that
you will want to discover again and again. Stop by our Visitor
Information Center. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will
make sure that you have all the info you need to make the most
of your visit! For a quick overview of the fun awaiting you,
watch the 9-minute DVD presentation on Fredericksburg shown throughout
the day in our Visitor Information Center theater. The city is
filled with historic shops and fine traditional German food,
restaurants and bakeries. Shop for unique items along Main Street.
Use this link to read about the history of this unique town:
Shopping - With over 150 shops, galleries, boutiques and emporiums, shopping remains one of the primary reasons visitors come to Fredericksburg. Many of the shops are concentrated on or near Main Street. However, other shopping opportunities can be discovered around every corner in town and along major highways leading into Fredericksburg. From antiques to wines, Fredericksburg is your Hill Country shopping paradise.
Dining - Fredericksburg has an amazing array
of restaurants from biergarten casual to fine dining and gourmet
cuisine. Enjoy authentic German fare or regional favorites like
Tex-Mex and barbecue. From bistros specializing in wines, to
dinner and drinks while betting on the ponies, the cuisine of
Fredericksburg is part of your cultural experience in the heart
of the Texas Hill Country! To Name a few
The “Rio Cibolo Ranch” is a working Longhorn cattle Ranch and Pecan Orchard
located just 25 minutes northeast of downtown San Antonio. The
Ranch is situated about a mile south of Interstate 10 and along
the route the Spanish Conquistadors took as they made westward
during the sixteenth century. This route was later designated
“The Old Spanish Trail” and stretches from Florida
to California. This Trail was also used by the early pioneers
before the days of the Texas Revolution.
These same Spaniards had their first encounter with a strange-looking animal they gave the name “Cibolo”. Today, we call this animal the “Buffalo” The river that runs through the Ranch was also named Cibolo, thus the name of the Ranch. Prior to the settlement of the area by the pioneers from Spain and Germany, the land was inhabited by Apache and Comanche Indians. The Indians’ mainstay was the buffalo that numbered in the thousands and was necessary for their survival, providing food, clothing, and shelter.
The “Rio Cibolo Ranch” is a working Longhorn cattle Ranch and Pecan Orchard located 25 minutes northeast of downtown San Antonio. The Spaniards made major contributions to the development of this new land. Two of the most important were the introduction of cattle and horses. The horses provided a new means of transportation for the Indians as well as the early settlers. The cattle were called Longhorns and were a very hardy breed. They multiplied so rapidly they became wild. The Longhorn were the mainstay of early Texas ranchers. Many of these ranchers were what we call cowboys. These “Cowboys” rounded up the cattle and drove them through the desert, across uncharted rivers and over mountains to the markets in Kansas and Nebraska. There are no more cattle drives, but there are still plenty of Cowboys — just look around.
Just across the road from the plantation house
is a private airfield know to the locals as Zuehl International
Airport where people are "Just Plane Crazy" and is
actually the home of some well-known stunt flyers. Some
years ago a movie,
“The Great Waldo Pepper” starring Robert Redford, was
filmed on this site. The community of Zuehl is still alive and
supports one tavern, a renowned pottist, and two nine-pin bowling
societies established in the late 1800's. In 1864, Carl Christian
Zuehl, an immigrant from Prussia (Germany) settled near the Ranch
and established a community that bears his name. Before the turn
of the century, Zuehl was a thriving cotton town with two cotton
gins. The Main Street was called Gin Road with a gin at each
end. This is the road to the Ranch and runs by the original plantation
house which was built in the German (gingerbread) style. The
house is still standing in good condition and can be seen on
the south side of Gin Road as you approach the Ranch.
The Ranch has set aside an area along the
river for Western-Style Entertainment for groups wishing to celebrate
an event in the 
surroundings
of horses, cattle, wild game, wide open pastures interrupted
only by three miles of winding river and century-old pecan trees
— not to mention a host of fun-loving people! A 20,000 square
foot, all-weather pavilion we call the “R.C.R. Corral”
can accommodate from 100 to 2,000 guests with plenty of room
to dance and a Texas-size stage for a band or a show. The Lazy
Lily River House accommodates smaller groups from 50-200 guests.
There are numerous outdoor activities such as a hay wagon ride,
a barge ride on the river where you will surely see our Longhorn
cattle and possibly wild deer, turkey and our resident blue heron.
Two huge fire pits are a popular hang out where a hind quarter
might be cooking on an open spigot or marshmallows roasting or
guests enjoying some of our famous trail driver chili served
from the Dutch kettle. Fun and games might include our Cowboy
Olympics, a pig scramble, armadillo races, a cow-chip toss or
any number of pre-planned activities. When the Wranglers get
hungry, we’ll pile their plates with mesquite smoked beef,
pork, chicken, beans, salad or all sorts, homemade breads and
condiments galore. For the sweet tooth, how about some fresh
baked pies, cakes and cobblers? Please see our bill of fare for
the menu, appetizers, dessert and drink suggestions.
“The Rio Cibolo Ranch” and the surrounding area is steeped in early American History and Tradition. The Ranch was home to several Indian Tribes for centuries and in the past two hundred years, there have been six flags fly over this land. First came the Spanish, then the French, the Spanish conquered the French, the Mexicans drove out the Spaniards, the Texans defeated the Mexicans, the U.S. annexed Texas, then Texas became part of the Confederacy and finally, after the Civil War, Texas was back in the fold of the United States.
Most importantly, Rio Cibolo Ranch specializes
in providing western-style entertainment and Texas hospitality
for any special event. Your visit to the Rio Cibolo Ranch, “...a
little bit of Texas”, will engulf you in the history and
excitement of all these dominate forces. It will be a visit you
will remember for a lifetime.
Fort Sam Houston Fort Sam Houston
is an active military base as well as
a National Historic Landmark. It serves as headquarters for the
Fifth Army and is home to the Army Medical Command and the Brooke
Army Medical Center. Its history includes the service of Generals
John J. "Black Jack" Pershing and Dwight Eisenhower
and visits by Geronimo and Teddy Roosevelt. It also lays claim
to being the birthplace of military aviation. Visitors may browse
through the Fort Sam Houston Museum, which focuses on the history
of the fort with displays of uniforms, firearms, artillery, photos
and other items. The U.S. Army Medical Department Museum features
army medical equipment as well as memorabilia form American prisoners
of war. The original fort at Sam Houston, the Quadrangle, is
also open for visitors
LBJ Ranch - A National Historic Park Lyndon B.
Johnson National Historical Park tells
the story of our 36th President in a unique and encompassing
way. The story begins with Lyndon Johnson's ancestors, tracing
the influences his family and his beloved Texas Hill Country
had
on the boy and the man. In Johnson City, the visitor can see
how LBJ influenced his home town by bringing the resources of
the U.S. Government to bear on improving the lives of his friends
and neighbors. The park also affords a special opportunity to
visit a working cattle ranch, preserved in the late 1960s time
period. On the LBJ Ranch it is possible to experience the serenity
and beauty from which the former president drew his strength
and comfort. It is here that his final resting place is located.
This entire "circle of life" gives the visitor a unique
perspective into one of America's most noteworthy citizens by
providing the most complete picture of an American president.
We will travel through the Texas Hill country to Johnson City,
TX. This is the town LBJ grew up in and where his boyhood home
and museum is located. We can tour the "Texas White House"
LBJ's ranch. See first hand his school house, ranch house, present
cattle operations and the Johnson Cemetery.
Stroll The Alamo
On the east side of Alamo Plaza is the most famous spot in Texas
where 189 defenders fell on March 6, 1836, after repeated attacks
by Mexican General Santa Anna's army. Mission San Antonio de
Valero (The Alamo) was established in 1718 as the city's first
mission. The chapel, one of the most photographed facades in
the nation, and the Long Barracks are all that remain of the
original fort. Long Barracks Museum and Library are near the
chapel. The museum contains relics and mementos from the Republic
of Texas and offers narration on the fall of the Alamo. The Alamo
is located in the heart of the city, inside
Casa Navarro State Historical
Park
Casa Navarro State Historic Site, in downtown San
Antonio, is the restored home of Tejano patriot José Antonio
Navarro. Navarro was an influential figure in Texas during the
momentous fifty-five year period (1810-1865) when the state's
destiny was forged. A leading advocate of Tejano rights, he is
best known as "The Strongest Defender of the Rights of His
People." Today, visitors tour Navarro's adobe home furnished
with period antiques, read copies of his writing and discuss
questions of history with informed park interpreters
The Buckhorn Saloon &
Museum 
The
Buckhorn Saloon & Museum is proud to have been voted "2002
Best Attraction" by the Downtown Alliance/San Antonio. Discover
more than 120 years of history.... Texas style. Marvel at two
stories of the most exotic collections you've ever seen, from
our unique horn collection, to cowboy memorabilia and fish from
the Seven Seas. See a two headed calf and a lamb with eight legs!
Test your hand in our authentic shooting gallery and arcade.
Don't miss the world's only Wax Museum of Texas History. And,
don't forget to swing by the Buckhorn Curio Store, where you'll
find extraordinary Texas collectibles and authentic Buckhorn
souvenirs for the entire family. Located a short two blocks from
the Alamo and 50 feet from the River Walk.
San Antonio Botanical Gardens, Lucile Halsell Conservatory Enjoy seasonal floral
displays, a native forest walk, exotic plants, glass pyramids
and an authentic log cabin, all in this beautiful 33-acre garden.
Gardens of different varieties include the Old Fashioned Perennial
Garden, Rose Garden, Sacred Garden, Garden for the Blind, Kuamoto
(Japanese Garden) and collections representing different areas
in Texas. Also on site is the
Lucile Halsell Conservatory featuring plants from around the world. Displays include the Exhibit Room, Desert Pavilion, Tropical Forest Room, Palm House, and Fern Grotto. Each of these displays is housed in individual glass buildings tucked into the earth and surround a sunken courtyard and tropical lagoon filled with aquatic plants. The garden and conservatory are a wonderful attraction often overlooked by visitors to San Antonio.
SAS Shoemakers Factory
This San Antonio footwear store is such an institution
that the website for the VIA bus line lists it among the city's
attractions. Men and women have been coming here to buy comfortable,
sturdy, and well-made shoes and sandals since 1976. The factory
store, on the south side of town, is the one to visit; you can
even take one of three daily tours Monday through Thursday.
El Mercado 
From early morning until late at night, Market Square
is alive with activity. 
Visitors browse through the 32 shops at "El Mercado,"
an area patterned after an authentic Mexican market. In addition,
there are 80 specialty shops in Farmers Market Plaza. Market
Square is also the scene of many Hispanic festivals where food
and beverage booths spring up alongside the Guadalajara lamps
and the strains of mariachi music blend with the excitement of
Mexican dances.
La Villita A unique arts and crafts community with shops, working artists, restaurants and a post office. The Old San Antonio Exhibit (located in Bolivar Hall) houses a collection of art objects, artifacts and symbols relevant to the history. This beautifully landscaped historic district offers leisurely shopping, dining and five rental venues for special events. La Villita is a San Antonio village located in the beautifully landscaped historic district. La Villita is Spanish for "Little Village". Filled with shops, working artists, and restaurants, you will find everything from jewelry to hand-woven clothing on display.
Mission San Juan Capistrano This stone church was built in 1756 along with a friary
and a granary. San Juan was a self-sustaining community with
Indian artisans producing iron tools, cloth and prepared hides.
The rich farmlands made cultivating many crops possible for the
Indian farmers. The buildings of the mission standing today have
no sculpturing, but the walls are thick and the rooms large.
Most of the original 
square
remains within the walls, offering an authentic picture of the
mission plan. During the 1960s the chapel, priests' quarters,
and other structures were rebuilt.
Mission San Jose Founded in 1720, San Jose was the largest mission in the area. At its height of activity, its community consisted of about 300 Native Americans who subsisted on the harvest of its fields and livestock herds. It was known as the "Queen of Missions" with its imposing complex of stone walls, bastions, granary, and magnificent church completed in 1782. Restoration to its original state include the carved doors at the church's entrance, the image of Saint Anne holding the infant Mary on the facade of the church, and the rose window of the sacristy. The cedar door panel of the sacristy is the original door and may be one of the very few items of wood that survived from the colonial period.
Mission San Francisco de
la Espada
Founded
in 1690, near present-day Weches, Texas, this was the first mission
in Texas. First named San Francisco de los Tejas, the mission
was transferred to San Antonio in 1731 and given the name that
it is known by today. The Spanish missions taught vocational
skills to Native Americans in an attempt to help them become
productive inhabitants. Among the vocations taught were blacksmithing,
weaving, masonry, carpentry and farming. Irrigation already used
by the Puebloan Native Americans was enhanced by construction
of ditches, dams and a 15-mile network of aqueducts. The legacy
of these Native American artisans is still evident throughout
city of San Antonio today.
Mission Concepcion 
This
church was named in honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Originally founded in 1716 in what is now Eastern Texas, the
mission was transferred to its present site in 1731. It was dedicated
in 1755 and appears very much as it did over 200 years ago. The
church is an excellent example of Spanish Colonial architecture,
with colorful Moorish designs mixed with images showing heavy
Native American influences. Mission Concepcion served for many
years as the residence of the Father President, a missionary
elected from among his Franciscan brothers. Friars held religious
festivals here in an attempt to replace traditional Native American
rituals by demonstrating Christian ideals through, among other
things, morality plays and processionals such as Las Posadas.
Frescos covered the front of the church and possibly most of
the church interior. Today only three of the mission's rooms
clearly show remnants of the colorful designs painted over 250
years ago.
Sunset Station, nestled
in the historic St. Paul district, offers you a unique experience
in downtown San Antonio. Visit our venue to enjoy dining at Aldaco’s
fine Mexican Cuisine or Ruth’s Chris Steak House or experience
a self paced walking tour to marvel at the turn of the century
architecture; or catch a concert of a nationally recognized touring
act which range from blues to country to alternative to rock.
Free evening shuttle service is available, just ask your concierge
or we are also a stop on the yellow trolley line. Planning a
meeting or bringing a convention to San Antonio? Sunset Station
blends the romance of the Hispanic culture with the charm of
South Texas to be your prime destination in downtown San Antonio
to create your own historic event. Please call or visit the website
for more information on our banquet space, catering, or concert
series.
On the east side
of Alamo Plaza is the most famous spot in Texas where 189 defenders
fell on March 6, 1836, after repeated attacks by Mexican General
Santa Anna’s army. Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo)
was established in 1718 as the city’s first mission. The
chapel, one of the most photographed facades in the nation, and
the Long Barracks are all that remain of the original fort. Long
Barracks Museum and Library are near the chapel. The museum contains
relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and offers narration
on the fall of the Alamo. The Alamo is located in the heart of
the city, inside beautifully landscaped grounds. Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30
p.m., Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Closed December
24 and 25. Admission Free: donations accepted. Call for more
information
Paseo Del Rio in
the heart of downtown, is the pride of the city. Lush green foliage
lines the banks of this peaceful, historic river. Cobblestone
walkways lead visitors to the river-level restaurants and shops.
The river bubbles to the surface on the grounds of the University
of the Incarnate Word and flows to downtown, threading its way
through the city one level below the hustle and bustle of city
streets. First called Yanaguana by the Payaya Indians, meaning
"place of refreshing waters." Along the horseshoe shaped
riverbend, the river is shaded by towering cypresses, oaks and
willows and bordered by gardens of flowering ornamental plants.
River cruisers travel the River Walk’s three miles past
unique retail shops, restaurants and nightclubs. See Rio San
Antonio Cruises, listed alphabetically.
The Aztec On The
River™ is the RiverWalk’s newest, most exciting attraction.
This historic 1926 movie palace has been meticulously restored,
complete with a Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ. Modern enhancements
have been added to create an incredible experience: a FREE multi-million
dollar special effects show in the Grand Lobby every 90 minutes,
a giant screen theatre with incredible surround-sound, plus unique
shopping and dining. Open daily - call for showtimes. Group,
senior and military discounts available. On the RiverWalk at
the corner of E. Commerce
The Tower, 750 ft.
tall, offers a panoramic view of San Antonio and the surrounding
area. Glass-walled elevators ascend over 500 feet to the restaurant
and observation level. It was the theme structure for HemisFair
in 1968, and symbolizes the progress made by the confluence of
civilizations in the Western Hemisphere.