San Antonio Sights

  1. Alamo

    The mission church and a few barrack-wall fragments are all that remain of the Alamo, moved to the present sight as the Mission San Antonio de Valero in 1724. (The well-recognized church façade dates from 1846.) Today the church serves as a shrine to the fallen, including several Wild West luminaries of the day - James Bowie, William Travis and Davy Crockett.

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  2. Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

    The Buckhorn Hall of Horns, Fins & Feathers is one of the best kitsch spots around. The halls of mounted stuffed animals are as disgusting as any such collection, but this one features extra oddities such as a two-headed cow and a nine-legged goat.

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  3. Institute of Texan Cultures

    Explore the 30 cultures, including Native American and Mexican, that made Texas what it is at the museum of the Institute of Texan Cultures.

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  4. Market Square

    If you're not going to make it down to Mexico, a trip to Market Square is necessito. Talavera pottery, paper flowers, authentic Mexican vanilla: booths at this mercado sell all the handicrafts and foods you can find in a border town. Buy a Tecate beer or a pineapple aguas frescas and be prepared to bargain.

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  5. Museo Alameda

    Don't miss the Museo Alameda. Opened in spring 2007, this one-and-only Smithsonian Institute affiliate hosts Latino-related exhibits from the different museums in DC - Air & Space, American History and Natural History. The tourist trolley purple line runs right by the square.

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  7. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    Spain's missionary presence - and the dual purpose of territorial defense and religious conversion for the natives - can probably best be felt at the ruins of the four missions south of town. Together, Missions Concepción (1731), San José (1720), San Juan (1731) and Espada (1745-56) make up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Stop first at San José, the most beautiful, and host to the national park visitor center, where you can learn what life was like here from an informative film and a few exhibits. Free tours are offered at each mission. From the Alamo, take S St Mary's St to Mission Rd. Bus 42 serves some of the Mission Trail from downtown (Navarro and Villita Sts).

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  8. San Antonio Museum Of Art

    The well-established San Antonio Museum of Art has a noteworthy collection of Spanish Colonial, folk-Mexican and pre-Columbian works.

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  9. SeaWorld San Antonio

    Got kids in tow? Take them to SeaWorld San Antonio, off US 90, for tons of fishy fun, or ride the rides at Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park (www.sixflags.com).

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  10. Southtown

    Across S Alamo St to the east is Southtown, a small arts district. The first Friday of every month, galleries stay open late and restaurants host entertainment.

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  11. Witte Museum

    The Witte Museum - it's pronounced 'witty' - is a great place to spend the day with kids. The Science Treehouse, a high-tech activity centre complete with a sky cycle ride, is a marvellous diversion. Kids begin downstairs with lots of cool physical-property displays designed to tire out the little darlings before getting to the more cerebral displays upstairs.

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