For centuries San Antonio has mingled and merged sounds and flavors of Native Americans, Old Mexico, Germans, African-Americans, the Wild West and the Deep South. Thus, here it stands today, a Mecca for history buffs, urban masterpieces and picture-perfect amusement parks and attractions.
To start a San Antonio vacation with visiting all historic sites is the best idea. A tour of downtown San Antonio gives a review of century-old history and events. The Alamo, today's shrine and museum, was the place where one hundred and eighty nine defenders held the mission against some four thousand Mexican troops for thirteen days. The Alamo stores relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and narration of the fall of the Alamo (Mission San Antonio de Valero).
La Villita, one of the original settlements, housed Spanish soldiers and their families once in the history. Today, La Villita is a unique arts and crafts community with shops, working artists and restaurants. The Old San Antonio Exhibit features a collection of art objects, artifacts and symbols, important to the city's history.
The Jose Antonio Navarro State Historical Park is home to Jose Antonio Navarro, a central figure in the formation of Texas, a Texas legislator under Mexico. The narration of Navarro's life and also his furnished house, first residence and store, reveal the Texas' rich history and heritage.
King William Historic District comprises a twenty five-block area near downtown on the southern bank of the San Antonio River. In the late 1800's, the King William District was the most elegant and fashionable residential area in San Antonio, and when designated as a historic district, it became a stylish neighborhood again.
Along with numerous historic sites, San Antonio provides a wonderful setting for great family vacations! The San Antonio Children's Museum offers kids to explore a miniature copy of the city. The Tower of the Americas gives its visitors a three hundred and sixty degree panoramic view of San Antonio from seven hundred and fifty feet degree above the ground. The Plaza Theatre of Wax houses more than two hundred and twenty five life-like characters in four themed sections - Hollywood, Horror, History and Religion. The Guinness World Records museum has more than five hundred unique curiosities from around the world. The Ripley's Haunted House is a haunted house, guaranteeing to bring horror to even the bravest. Moreover, the San Antonio Zoo with a collection of more than three thousand animals is ranked as one of the best in the country and the Brackenridge Park, a four hundred and thirty three-acre recreational and amusement area, right in the heart of the city, presents family fun from early morning through late evening.
San Antonio offers diverse accommodation options, but travelers rate Marriott River Center as number one place to stay. The San Antonio Marriott River Center is a full-service convention hotel in downtown San Antonio on the famous River walk. The hotel features a wide variety of recreational facilities, including an indoor and outdoor heating pool, a health club with modern equipment and a sauna, a whirlpool, golf and tennis options. What concerns eating, the Marriott River Center comprises four distinct dining options. The Garden Cafe offers casual family dining for all meals. The JW Steakhouse serves prime steaks and fresh seafood. The Hanatai Sushi Bar has a menu of various sushi entrees. The Lobby Bar suggests lighter meals and a large drink menu.
If you want to take a deeper insight into the extravagant and modern Texas culture (indeed San Antonio features the most), plan a Corpus Christi vacation. This cozy resort town has several sites, created in honor of a famous twenty three-year-old singer Selena, who was shot dead in a motel in 1995, being on the verge of becoming the first major crossover star of Tejano music. In general, Corpus Christi is a nice resort town, great for fishing, sailing and water sports, easily reachable from San Antonio.