San Antonio Community Guide

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About The Alamo City

The Alamo City is famous for its River Walk! With many restaurants, bars & clubs close by, you will enjoy the scenic stroll down the river and find choices galore for dining and nightlife. Riverboat tours operate from morning till night and some restaurants offer to dine aboard these boats for larger groups. Less than 45 minutes from downtown you can enjoy Sea World, Six Flags Fiesta Texas or Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort. San Antonio has fantastic weather all year round with green golf courses and beautiful driving ranges. Come visit one of our golf resorts and play a round or watch a golf tournament. Enjoy daily tours through the historic district, see the missions, visit the botanical gardens, or treat the kids to a day at the zoo.

San Antonio has acted as a crossroads and meeting place between western civilization and the rest of the nation since its beginnings. The sounds, flavors, histories, and cultures of the Native Americans, Old Mexico, Wild West, African-Americans, Germans, and the Deep South have merged together to create the diversified melting pot that creates San Antonio. All of these backgrounds have put their stamp on the city, its culture, and its architecture, joining together to make San Antonio one of America’s “four most unique cities”.

San Antonio Vacation Guide
San Antonio Riverwalk; courtesy of San Antonio Travel Guide

San Antonio is located in the southern region’s beautiful Hill Country of the “Lone Star State”. It is the second-largest city in Texas and the eighth-largest city in the United States. It is the seat of Bexar County and all of the amenities it offers makes San Antonio an excellent city to visit or live in.

San Antonio History

San Antonio is a very historical town, with one of the most famous battles ever taking place at the Alamo. Many of the original Catholic missions that were constructed centuries before are still standing and available for viewing. Some of these include the Mission Concepcion, Mission San Franciso de la Espada, Mission San Jose, and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Skyline San Antonio Texas TX linen Postcard | San antonio texas, Vintage postcard, Postcard

 

San Antonio has produced its fair share of famous stars such as NFL players Kyle Rote, Keith Cash, and Priest Holmes and NBA player Shaquille O’Neal and Spurs head coach Greg Popovich. Actors hailing from San Antonio include Ann Prentiss, Joan Crawford, Henry Thomas, Ricardo Chavira, and Carol Burnett. Many actors and superstars who are not originally from San Antonio but have made their home there are Tommy Lee Jones, Madeleine Stow, Patrick Swayze, and George Strait. Max Lucado, a best-selling Christian author, is the minister of Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio.

Things to do in San Antonio

San Antonio has excellent entertainment venues and a happening nightlife. Scenes of interest downtown include the franchise Coyote Ugly bar and the River Center comedy club. The Riverwalk features many happening venues such as the Hard Rock Café, several night clubs, DANCEPLEX, Dick’s Last Resort, and Club RIVE/TABU.

San Antonio is a central hub of transportation serviceable by train, bus, or air. The San Antonio International Airport has two terminals and is served by 12 airlines serving over 25 destinations. The inner-city metropolitan transit uses a bus and trolley system with over 78 regular bus routes and four trolley systems. San Antonio is the southern terminal for Amtrak’s Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited connects the city with Los Angeles and Orlando.

There are many things to do in San Antonio, depending on the time of year you visit here. We have a lot going on in our city. Below is an overview. However, some events are not set in stone and can vary from one month to another, year by year so check the official calendar for each year.

San Antonio tourism is quite high in March for spring break and for remembering the Alamo, San Antonio Mud Festival, in April for Fiesta, in the summer for summer vacation, and in December for Christmas on the Riverwalk and for the Alamo Bowl.

Expect large crowds because that is truly what you will get! Locals and tons of visitors pour into our city for every major event we have. When we tell the rest of Texas, there are tons of things to do in San Antonio, they listen.

Just remember that some things vary from day to day and month to month so check for official dates for the current year when planning things to do in San Antonio.

San Antonio Events

  • Some years Easter is in March and other years it is in April.
  • The Air Show is always held here in the fall. Sometimes it is in October and other years it is in November.
  • Every March, the Battle of the Alamo is reenacted to commemorate the fall of the Alamo and this brings in visitors from all over Texas.
  • Spring break in Texas means Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio open to huge crowds. It also means San Antonio tourism dollars for the Riverwalk, plus a lot of other area attractions, hotels, and restaurants.
  • April means Fiesta, a huge city-wide 10-day party with a variety of celebrations and food. Visitors from all over pour into the city.
  • June, July, and August bring summer vacationers eager to play and swim in our theme parks and water parks. While here, they visit the Alamo and the Riverwalk, which, by the way, are our number one and number two tourist attractions and both are free to the public.
  • The Dallas Cowboys sometimes have training camp at the Alamodome in June and this is open to the public free of charge.
  • One weekend every August that brings in a lot of tourists is our tax-free weekend. The state of Texas designates a three-day-period of time as being tax-free for all purchases of clothing and other items if the purchase is under $100 for back-to-school. This brings in tourists from all over, including tourists from Mexico, for this tax-free holiday. Stores are overcrowded but it is a good way to save $8 for every $100 you spend.
  • Fall means basketball time here in San Antonio. We love our San Antonio Spurs and home games are always packed. If you can’t make it to the AT&T; Center, you can usually watch it on TV!
  • Every December, visitors from all over the state come to the San Antonio River to see the Christmas lights hung all over the river trees.
  • Then at the end of December, visitors from all over the United States fly into San Antonio to watch their favorite college teams compete in the Alamo Bowl. During this time, crowds flood the Riverwalk and lines are very long to get into the Alamo.

No matter what time of year you visit, there are always fun and interesting things to do in San Antonio.

Update: The Alamo City Music Hall shuttered in 2019 after more than 10 years of serving San Antonio music fans.

Community Support

The greater San Antonio community provides many services for its residents to improve the quality of living for the entire population, including programs like the San Antonio food bank, San Antonio Water System, and the VIA Metro Transit. Programs like the Texas Fiesta Educativa is an organization that educates, trains, and sees to the needs of Hispanic families with disabled children. The San Antonio Independent Living Services finds employment for people with disabilities and their families.

San Antonio Economy

The San Antonio economy is a growing one, in fact, it has grown more rapidly in the last two decades than any other city in the state and has had job growth for twelve quarters straight. San Antonio’s economy is very diverse, the largest sectors being their medical research, aerospace manufacturing, a million lawyers, dentists, roofers, attorneys, plastic surgeons, and thriving tourism trade. Many telecommunications systems also have their headquarters located within the city.

As easy-going as the city is, San Antonio cannot cover up the fact that it’s a major trade zone, sitting right in between the east and west coasts. It is nationally known as a college town and has large reserves of petroleum, livestock, and beer. San Antonio is an ever-growing and caring community that has accurately captured the laid-back feeling and friendly, down-home atmosphere of Texas. It is the gateway city to southern Texas and is as much vaquero as it is ‘cowboy’. It is where Tex meets Mex and is truly is the “Most Happenin’ Town” in Texas!

Fast Facts

  • Population: 1,144,646
  • Metro Surrounding Area: 1,820,719
  • County: Bexar County
  • State Nickname: “The Lone Star State”
  • City Nickname: “Alamo City”
  • Area: 412.07 miles (1,067.3 km)
  • Water Area: 4.51 miles (11.7 km) 1.09%
  • Median Household Income: 36,214
  • Average Annual Rainfall: 28 inches
  • Average Annual Snowfall: 0 inches (Measurable snow only falls every 3-4 years)
  • Average Temperature in January: 50 degrees
  • Average Temperature in July: 93 degrees

Historic Preservation of San Antonio

Plans are afoot to preserve houses and commercial buildings which are of historic interest in San Antonio. The City Council hopes to survey all historic properties in this popular destination city and create an early warning system for those at risk of demolition. One of the plan’s initiatives is to identify landmarks and historically significant areas in River North, where preservationists recently lost two battles to save properties. A 1949 car dealership at 1130 Broadway and three houses in the 600 block of Camden Street, including Audry’s Mexican Restaurant now await demolition.

Hill Country Attractions

Take a side trip to the hill country or a jaunt to Mexico for shopping or San Marcos to the outlet malls. Catch a Spurs basketball game at the AT&T Center or see exciting motocross, monster trucks, and concerts at the Alamo Dome. Take in the Symphony at the elegant Majestic Theatre, a play at one of many theaters, or a concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Remember the Alamo! Yes, the Alamo is an old mission not far from the riverwalk, and it is Texas’ most popular tourist attraction. Explore the links below for more things to do.