San Antonio is the most visited city in Texas and it is not hard to see

San Antonio is the most visited
city in Texas and it is not hard to see
why. A beautiful and atmospheric
city, San Antonio has no shortage of
wonderful attractions. Sport events,
for example, draw tens of
thousands of visitors every year.
The Alamo was established in 1718
as the city’s first mission. The
chapel is one of the most
photographed facades in the nation.
The museum contains relics and
mementos from the Republic of
Texas and offers narration on the
fall of the Alamo. (www.thealamo.
org)
The San Antonio Conservation
Society, founded in 1924, was
instrumental in saving the beautiful
San Antonio River, which winds
through downtown, from being
paved over for a drain. The Paseo
Concepcion Mission
Page 2, Vitality, March 2004
San Antonio’s Riverwalk is the jewel of the city.
del Rio or “River Walk” is now the shooting gallery and arcade, and the
pride of the city. The river threads world’s only Wax Museum of Texas
its way through the city one level History. (www.buckhornmuseum.
below the city streets. River cruisers com/)
travel the River Walk’s three miles
To bring home the message
past unique retail shops, restaurants of the Alamo, don’t miss “Alamo
and nightclubs. (www.sarivercuise. - The Price of Freedom,” at the
com)
IMAX theater downtown. It shows
The 80-ton Tower Of The there daily. (www.imax-sa.com)
Americas is a remnant of HemisFair, Directly across from the Alamo, the
Texas’ 1968 World’s Fair. It is one Guinness World Records Museum
of the tallest freestanding structures and Ripley’s Haunted Adventure
in the Western Hemisphere, rising are San Antonio’s two newest
750 feet. Glass-walled elevators
attractions (www.hauntedadventure.
(www.plazawaxmuseum.
ascend over 500 feet to the com.)
observation level and the revolving com/)
Tower Restaurant, which provides
The San Antonio Museum of
the most breathtaking view of San Art is the first museum in the United
Antonio. The 35-acre San Antonio States to host Latin American
Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the Masterpieces from the Monterrey
country, with 3,500 animals of 750 FEMSA Collection. This exhibition
species. It includes one of the largest is one of the finest collections of
bird collections in the world and the art from Mexico and other parts
only American zoo to exhibit the of Latin America including Chile,
endangered whooping crane. Also, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay,
don’t miss the very unique “Lory
Colombia, Nicaragua and Cuba.
Landing”, where dozens of The museum also has a remarkable
colorful parrots called “lories”, eat a balance of different types of art
cup of nectar right out of your hand. and sculpture, and has a wonderful
It’s great fun for big as well as little section of traditional American
people. (www.sazoo-aq.org)
paintings. (www.sa-museum.org/)
The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum
The Institute of Texan Cultures
is proud to have been voted “2002 at San Antonio offers a display of
Best Attraction” by the Downtown 27 exhibits featuring the history and
Alliance. It contains one of the most diverse cultures of Texas. (www.
exotic collections you’ve ever seen: texancultures.utsa.edu/public/
the unique horn collection, cowboy index.htm)
memorabilia, a two-headed calf and
You don’t want to miss the
a lamb with eight legs! There’s a chain of missions established along
the San Antonio River in the 18th
century, which now make up the
San Antonio Missions National
Historical Park. Representing both
church and state, these missions
were charged with converting the
local Indians into devout Catholics
and productive members of Spanish
society. The park contains the
historically and architecturally
significant structures of missions
The 750’ Tower of the Americas
Concepción, San José, San Juan
and Espada. (www.nps.gov/saan)
A great way to start your visit
of the missions is to go to the Park
headquarters, located at the San Jose
mission and take in their 20 minute
film “Gentes de Razon” (People of
Reason). And don’t miss the
Mariachi Mass, held in the
300-year-old Mission San Jose
church every Sunday at noon. This
wonderful 35-year-old tradition
features Mariachi music (guitars,
brass and voices) that seems to
come at you from every direction
in the high-ceilinged, stucco-walled
church. It’s quite an experience. You
best arrive early (11am) however, as
there’s limited seating available.
SeaWorld San Antonio kicks off
its 2004 season this month (March)
with a lineup of shows, rides, and
animal attractions. (www.seaworld.
com)
Golf: San Antonio is fast
becoming a major national golf
destination. Courses offer a wide
range of greens fees to fit any
budget. Mild temperatures make
San Antonio’s golf among the best.
The Texas Open golf tournament is
held each year at Oak Hills Country
Club, and the R. J. Reynolds PGA
Seniors Tournament is an annual
event at the Dominion.
According to Golf writer Tony
Pioppi, the Palmer Course at La
Cantera Golf Club is a great course,
but difficult with any wind. There
are wide landing areas off the tee,
but very, very small greens.
The Quarry Golf Course is a
tale of two nines. The front side is
situated between a highway and
some housing. The back 9 inside
the old quarry is quite interesting
and lots of fun.
The Pecan Valley Golf Course
is the site of the 1968 PGA where
Palmer’s best chance to win this
major fell just short. He needed to
make birdie on the last hole and
hooked his drive into the right
rough. He hit a 3-wood to 12 feet
but missed the putt. Julius Boros
made up and down for a par a few
groups later to win by one. The
routing on this course is nice but
renovation work done by Bob Cupp
for the 2001 U.S.
Mid Am is not very good.
Seems like every green has a bunker
positioned at four o’clock and seven
o’clock with some wave going
through the back of the green.
Canyon Golf Course at Barton
Creek Resort is just outside of
Austin. This is a wonderful Tom
Fazio design with no housing
to cramp your play. There’s real
separation between holes as well.
Shopping:
Along
with
independent stores, there are 10
major malls to choose from in San
Antonio.
Northstar Mall is a favorite
with the locals. It’s not an
intimating size, but it seems to have
everything, including anchor stores
Diners enjoy Paesano’s cruisine and cafe seating overlooking the Riverwalk
like: Macy’s, Saks, Dillards and
Foley’s. Be sure not to miss eating
at the Cheesecake Factory--possibly
America’s best “chain” restaurant
for lunch or dinner or dessert! Try
the raspberry chocolate torte. (www.
the cheesecakefactory.com)
Market Square, at 514 W.
Commerce, contains 32 shops
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. If you’re hungry,
don’t miss La Margarita.
One stop for serious hat lovers
is Paris Hatters--a San Antonio
company that’s become famous
since its beginning in 1917.
Owner Abe Cortez has an amazing
selection of western, dress, golf
and casual hats or caps, ranging in
price from $20 to $5,800, size 6 1/2
to 8. Plus, they have the molds to
take your hat and actually reshape
it according to your needs, right on
location. It’s one of only a dozen or
so companies
in the whole country that do this.
And if you have an old hat, they
can make it like-new (completely
renovate it) for only $55. Some
of their past customers include:
Johnny Cash, Tommy Lee Jones,
Matt Damon, Paul McCartney, Bob
Hope, Dean Martin, Pope John Paul
II and Presidents, Johnson, Bush,
Eisenhower, and Truman. Check
out their great web page if you’d
like to do business through the mail.
(www.parishatters.com)
Lucchese Boots, in the Quarry
Mall, is a study in an art form. Their
cowboy boots, even if you’re not in
the market, are a feast for the eye-a real art form. And these boots
are famous for their remarkable fit.
Instead of using a standard “last”,
Lucchese uses a “twisted cone”
last, which more-perfectly mimics
the curvature of the foot. So, even
though you’re buying off-the-shelf
boots, the fit is remarkable. As a
result, a pair of these boots range in
price from $500 to $5,000.
Some past Lucchese customers
include: Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Val Kilmer, Lyndon Johnson and
John Wayne. (www.lucchese.com)
A small, custom boot maker
that’s worth a visit, is Little’s Boots.
These boots are built specifically
to an individual’s measurements,
which is especially nice if you have
large calves. The company has been
in business for 80 years. The fancy
designs you see in these boots are
not painted leather, but each color is
a specific dyed leather. Visitors are
welcome to visit the boot factory.
(www.davelittleboots.com)
For more information on
shopping in San Antonio or a free San
Antonio visitor information packet,
call the San Antonio Convention &
Visitors Bureau (SACVB) toll-free
at 1-800-ALAMO-07, or (210) 2076700. (www.SanAntonioVisit.com)
Restaurants in San Antonio
are wonderful, varied and not
overpriced. One of the most unique
is Biga On The Banks, which
features the culinary artistry of
Chef Bruce Auden and a view of
the River Walk. Don’t have dinner
without saving room for one of their
amazing desserts. Also, their $32
Sunday Brunch was voted “Best”
by the San Antonio Express-News.
They have several entrees to choose
from, plus an appetizer, salad, and
dessert buffet that’s extraordinary-plus complementary champagne.
(www.biga.com)
Azuka’s Restaurant, located in
the King William district, offers the
Nuevo Latin cuisine of Chef Rene
Fernandez, and was voted “Best
The magnificent chandeliers in the St. Anthony Hotel
Page 3, Vitality, March 2004
Musicians serenade diners at La Margarita, in Market Square
New Restaurant in San Antonio”
-- San Antonio Express & News.
Open for lunch and dinner, the bar
also features Flamenco dancers and
wonderful, live Latin music Thurs.Saturday nights. (http://www.azuca.
net)
Paesano’s, either on the River
Walk, or at the Quarry, is a great
dinner hit. Order either the Shrimp
Paesano or the Snapper Paesano.
The snapper is the best fish dish
you’ve ever tasted! (www.joesfood.
com)
Just down the River Walk is
Boudro’s Bistro -- a great lunch or
dinner stop. (www.boudros.com).
For ribs, and also on the River Walk,
is the always-busy County Line
Restaurant. Bring an appetite; The
rib portions are amazing! (www.
airribs.com)
The dining experience locals
say is the best in town is Le Reve,
which is located at 152 E. Pecan
on the River Walk. Chef Andrew
Boots as art at Lucchese Boots, in Quarry Mall
Page 4, Vitality, March 2004
Weissman has the whole town raving
about this cozy little restaurant.
Very expensive, very French, very,
very good!
If you are looking for a Mexican
breakfast or lunch, and you want to
eat where the locals go, check out
Blanco Cafe on St. Mary’s St., or try
El Mirador on St. Mary’s St., which
also serves an excellent dinner.
Accommodations: Some of the
more desirable are right downtown,
and especially in proximity to the
River Walk area. Prices vary widely
between hotels and seasons, so
check the web for details. (www.
sanantoniovisit.com/visitors/acc_
bookaroom.asp)
St.Anthony (Wyndham) Historic
Hotel has been recognized with the
AAA Four Diamond Award for
2004. Built in 1909, this beautifully
restored downtown hotel features
authentic French Empire antiques,
lavish carpets, bronzes and artwork
from around the world. (www.
wyndham.com/hotels/SATST/
main.wnt).
For a totally unique, moderatelypriced boutique hotel, try the Hotel
Valencia. Rooms are lit dramatically
so that upon entering, room features
are sculpted in silhouette. (www.
hotelvalencia.com) Also,
they will open a second
River Walk restaurant - Ácenar
(pronounced ah-sen-ar), this spring
that promises to be outstanding.
(www.acenar.com)
The Hyatt, not surprisingly, is
one of the most visually-pleasing
accommodations in San Antonio.
Overlooking the River Walk, it is
also home of the nations best jazz
bars, “The Landing.”
To take advantage of San
Antonio hotel and entertainment
packages, check out http://www.
sanantoniocvb.com/packages/
index.asp.
From May through October, the
average high temperature exceeds
80 degrees. San Antonio offers
300 days of sunshine a year. The
two rainiest months are May and
September.
Several major airlines fly into
San Antonio including Delta, which
appears to have the best prices.
For more information about
visiting San Antonio, go to www.
sanantoniovisit.com, where you can
request a free information guide or
area coupons.
And thanks for traveling.
Lory Landing is a hit with birds at the San Antonio Zoo