If you've never been to San Antonio, you don't know what you're missing!
The Riverwalk stands at the center of attention, this is where all the action is.
If you're fortunate enough to secure a reservation at a hotel on the Riverwalk, you'll be sitting pretty, overlooking the river, the lights and the romantic ambiance.
Pamper yourself and choose a beautiful hotel at Riverwalk, such as the Riverwalk Plaza Hotel, Hotel Contessa, or Grand Hyatt San Antonio.
All the wonder and awe will be right out your front door, and with the best shopping in the area, you won't have to travel far to experience a magical journey.
There are so many restaurants on the river to choose from, you won't know where to eat first.
Biga on the Banks was named one of the five best restaurants in Texas, and they offer seafood and lamb, among other delights.
If you're hungry for Mexican, try Acenar or Casa Rio restaurants, and you'll be saying 'ole!' like a pro.
Everything's close by when you stay at a hotel near the Riverwalk. Even the Alamo is in walking distance. So the next time you're wondering where to go for a fun filled adventure or a romantic get away, think San Antonio!
San Antonio (pronounced /sænæntonio/) is the second-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States of America. Located in the northern part of South Texas, the city is a cultural gateway into the American Southwest.
San Antonio is the seat of Bexar County with a population just under 1.3 million as of the 2006 U.S. Census estimate, as well as the 4th fastest growing large city in the nation from 2000-2006 in terms of percentage.
Its metropolitan area has a population of over 1.9 million and is the 29th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S.
San Antonio was named for the Italian Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day it was (June 13) when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691.
The city has a strong military presence—it is home to Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, and Brooks City-Base, with Camp Bullis and Camp Stanley right outside the city.
San Antonio is home to the South Texas Medical Center, the only medical research and care provider in the South Texas region.
Famous for its River Walk, the Alamo, Tejano culture, and home to the SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks, the city is visited by 20 million tourists per year.
San Antonio is also home to the first museum of modern art in Texas—the Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum, as well as one of the most successful National Basketball Association teams in league history, the San Antonio Spurs.
History
Native Americans originally lived in the San Antonio River valley in the San Pedro Springs area, calling the vicinity Yanaguana, meaning "refreshing waters."
In 1691, a group of Spanish explorers and missionaries came upon the river and Native American settlement (located in the area of present-day "La Villita") on June 13, the feast day of St. Anthony, and named the place and river "San Antonio" in his honor.
(** NOTE: There are sometimes fictitious references to a saint by the name of Valero; however, in the history of mankind, there was never any saint by the name of Valero. Further, the official archives document the 13 June 1691 naming of the place as San Antonio. )
On eleven o'clock on the morning of March 9th, 1731, sixteen families (56 people) from the Canary Islands arrived at the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar in the Province of Texas.
By royal decree of the King of Spain, they founded La Villa de San Fernando and established the first civil government in Texas.
The Battle of the Alamo took place nearby in 1836, and eventually the town would grow to encompass the mission where the battle took place, a mile to the east.
This was where 189 defenders comprised of both Mexicans and settlers, held the old mission against some 4,000 Mexican troops led by Antonio López de Santa Anna for 13 days. The defenders were all killed in the final assault on the garrison.
Some recent evidence suggests there might have been a few prisoners, Colonel Davy Crocket perhaps among them, that were executed after the battle had ended.
The cry "Remember the Alamo" became the rallying point of the Texas Revolution. Texas independence was finally attained at the subsequent Battle of San Jacinto the following April.
Like many municipalities in the American Southwest, San Antonio experiences a steady population growth.
The city's population has nearly doubled in 35 years, from just over 650,000 in the 1970 census to an estimated 1.2 million in 2005.
The city has also grown substantially in area. Unlike most large cities in the U.S., San Antonio is not completely surrounded by independent suburban cities, and under Texas law exercises extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) over much of the surrounding unincorporated land, including directing growth and zoning. It pursues an aggressive annexation policy and opposes the creation of other municipalities within its ETJ.
This is the reason the city is the 7th largest in the U.S. but its metropolitan area is just 29th largest. Nearly three-fourths of its current land area has been annexed since 1960.
In recent years, the city has annexed several long narrow corridors along major thoroughfares to facilitate eventual annexation of growth developing along the routes. The city plans to annex nearly forty additional square miles by 2009.
As of 2007, the Alamo is a shrine and museum located in the heart of downtown, and is surrounded by many hotels and tourist attractions. It is clearly San Antonio's most well-known landmark, and is featured in its flag and seal and in the city's nickname, "Alamo City".
Also right by the Alamo is the world famous Crockett Hotel. It is named after the legendary pioneer Davy Crockett.
