San Antonio
Why Go: San Antonio is only 78 miles from Austin and is one of Texas' main tourist destinations. It's home to
The Alamo, the
River Walk, Spanish, Mexican, Texas history, amusement parks and more. A gateway to the Texas Hill Country, San Antonio is an intersection of culture. You can sense this by the food, architecture and activities. Go for the day and choose a few of the many attractions.
What you can do: The Alamo and the San Antonio River Walk are San Antonio's downtown main attractions. Here you can experience the culture and ambiance of the city. There is
Mission Trail with four Spanish Missions off the River Walk. Also off the River, you can stroll through
La Villita, the oldest part of town and
El Mercado, just west of the River.
Another option is to visit the headwaters of the San Antonio River, in
Breckenridge Park, home to the
San Antonio Zoo and the
Sunken Gardens, a traditional Japanese tea garden. You'll enjoy either option. From there, you could visit the
San Antonio Botanical Gardens and
Lucile Halsell Conservatory, and get a taste of the diverse landscape of the Texas Hill Country.
Finally, San Antonio is home to
Sea World San Antonio and
Fiesta Texas. This will be entertaining, especially if you're travelling with kids.
Travel portion: Traveling to San Antonio from Austin is easy, since there is an Interstate Highway from city center to city center.
Directions: From downtown Austin, take I-35 South about 76 miles, then I-37 South to the downtown exits.
Food options: Breakfast in Austin. Lunch on the River Walk at Schilo's Delicatessen,
Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery or
La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar. Before heading back to Austin, have dinner at the
Fig Tree Restaurant or
Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine.
