Texas Frontiers

For most Brits, San Antonio is a place that flies under the radar. But the seventh biggest city in the USA has a lot to offer the visitor, starting with history. It was already a well-established town by the time George Washington said bye bye to the Brits in the late 1700s. San Antonio’s roots are Native American, Spanish and Mexican, and, after the battles of the Texas Revolution, it became part of the United States in 1845.

Here you’ll find the famous Alamo, as well as other Spanish missions that show San Antonio’s colonial heritage and proudly demonstrate Texas’ vibrantly mixed cultures. Nowhere is that more on show than through food – no one goes hungry in San Antonio.

Locals and visitors all flock to the River Walk to eat, drink, catch up and stroll. Meander one way, then catch a boat back in the other direction while you think about your next great day of adventure in Texas’ original frontier town.

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THE HISTORY FRONTIER

Few cities in the USA have as distinct a history as San Antonio, which is proudly on display today. Visit the world-famous Alamo, which many Texans consider to be a shrine to liberty and freedom. First established by the Spanish in 1718, its pivotal role in the nation’s story was assured when it was besieged in 1836 as Texas fought for its independence from Mexico. Along with the Alamo, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park was named the first World Heritage Site in Texas by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), and includes the city’s four southernmost Spanish colonial missions – Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada.

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THE FOOD FRONTIER

San Antonio is one of only two places in the US to be designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and we nurture fantastic home-grown talent at our Culinary Institute of America campus. There are more than 4,000 restaurants here with everything from food trucks to fine dining, and despite the issues that every city world-wide has experienced over the last two years, more than 50 new restaurants have opened since 2020. In addition, we have fun events to look out for including the Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival, Culinaria Food and Wine Festival and the Paella Challenge. Join us for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience! Visit San Antonio has teamed up with the prestigious James Beard Foundation and culinary powerhouse Culinaria to bring a culinary event unlike any other to the Alamo City!

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THE CULTURE FRONTIER

There’s something exciting happening in San Antonio every day of the year. Spend time in the historic Pearl district with its community of artisan shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars. And Hemisphere Park – originally created for the 1968 World’s Fair – is a beguiling spot where you’ll find landscaped activities for adults and children that include culinary festivals, live music, community celebrations and more. And The Museum Reach includes four-miles of walking paths north of downtown and includes art installations, gardens, paths to museums and theaters and connects to a culinary neighborhood called the Pearl.

Our town brims with public art (more than 500 pieces across the city) and with the San Antonio Street Art Initiative, the aim is to have the largest outdoor gallery in Texas. When the sun goes down, catch a band at the Aztec Theater on the River Walk or a live show at the numerous theatres and arts centres with amazing productions right throughout the year.

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THE OUTDOORS FRONTIER

The great outdoors is definitely pretty great in and around San Antonio, whether you’re kayaking alongside the River Walk or exploring almost 100 miles of hiking and biking paths that make up the Howard W Peak Greenway Trail System. We’ve got everything from authentic rodeos, guided Harley Davidson rides to local vineyards, the world’s largest concentration of Mexican Free Tailed Bats and awesome bird-watching opportunities at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Our Botanical Garden is growing even larger – it’s just the place for a relaxing time out among its wildflowers - and we’ve got the largest cave for visitors in Texas at the awesome Natural Bridge Caverns. Mission Reach, which includes 400 acres of restored ecosystems, an eight-mile linear park and 16 miles of hiking and biking paths, should definitely be on your to-do list.

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THE SPORT FRONTIER

In San Antonio, we love our basketball team, the Spurs, which plays in the NBA at the AT&T Center. The whole city stops to cheer them on when they’re up against an old rival such as the Los Angeles Lakers or the Phoenix Suns. Even if you can’t get a ticket, being in a sports bar when they’re playing will win you new friends. If you enjoy cycling, we’re even pushing the frontiers of the Tour de France, with our own event in the Spring, L’Etape San Antonio, where budding Chris Froomes can register to take part with different courses up to 100 miles in length.

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