A Tourist's Guide To San Antonio

While you're in town for GAWDA's Convention, here are a few of the many San Antonio sites worth seeing. You'll find plenty more at the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site, visitsanantonio.com.

The Alamo
The Alamo was made famous by the legendary actions of its defenders—among them Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie—who, in 1836, held off a siege by a large Mexican army for 13 days. The Alamo today is part museum, part tribute to the frontier Americans who died there. The actions of its defenders went a long way toward creating the larger-than-life mystique that Texas holds today.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas
San Antonio's Six Flags Fiesta Texas has been one of the state's top attractions since its inception. This massive theme park offers the only “floorless” roller coaster in the Southwest, plus more than 100 rides, shows, a water park and more.

The River Walk
The Grand Hyatt San Antonio is located along the famed River Walk, a picturesque swath of 2-1/2 paved miles of winding riverbank shaded by cypress, oak and willow trees. The River Square and South Bank sections—filled with sidewalk cafes, tony restaurants, bustling bars, high-rise hotels and a huge shopping mall—have a festive feel. Tour boats, water taxis and floating picnic barges cruise the river, and local festivals and other events regularly fill its banks. The River Walk's downtown stretch is home to The Landing, a historic jazz club where the Jim Cullum Jazz Band regularly performs on the program “Riverwalk Jazz” for Public Radio International.

SeaWorld
SeaWorld has long been known as a leader in marine exhibitions and water park entertainment. SeaWorld San Antonio is no exception, featuring marine life shows and displays, adventure camps, thrilling rides and a water park.

Market Square
It may not be quite as colorful as it was when live chickens squawked around overflowing, makeshift vegetable stands, but Market Square will still transport you south of the border. Stalls in the indoor El Mercado sell everything from onyx paperweights and manufactured serapes to high-quality crafts from the interior of Mexico.

Missions National Historical Park
Four Spanish frontier missions—San Jose, San Juan, Espada and Concepcion—part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries—are preserved in this scenic, 819-acre park.