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Historic San Antonio

Description:

This is a great short trip for those of you who don't have much time, really want to stay downtown and experience the history of San Antonio, and still see a few places off the beaten path. No rental car is needed. You will feel like a native Texan after all you have learned on this trip!

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Author: Jennifer

Day 1 - San Antonio

This is really a half-day Friday, assuming you have to work Friday and will fly in to San Antonio in the evening. You will want to take it easy tonight. Check in to the Menger Hotel, which is right next door to the Alamo. Walk outside your hotel and take a picture in front of the Alamo at night, its beautiful. Go down to the River Walk and enjoy dinner at Casa Rio, the oldest restaurant on the River Walk . Get a table outside so you can watch the barges go by and hear the strolling mariachis, who you can hire to play you a song for about $5. If you are brave, go out to Durty Nelly's and listen to the piano man, or maybe to Zinc for some wine or champagne. Get a good night's sleep for a long day of sightseeing tomorrow!

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River Walk

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Location:

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454 Losoya
(runs through downtown)
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

(210) 227 4262

Casa Rio Mexican Foods Restaurant

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Location:

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430 East Commerce St
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

210 226 6718

Zinc Champagne & Wine Bar

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Location:

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207 North Presa Street
(between Commerce & Market Streets)
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

210 224 2900 / 210 224 1313

Durty Nelly's Irish Pub

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Location:

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715 River Road
San Antonio, TX 78212

Phone:

210 222 1400

Menger Hotel

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Location:

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204 Alamo Plaza
At Crockett St
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

+1 210 223 4361

Day 2 - San Antonio

This day should probably start out by 9am at the latest. You will see a lot today if you can fit everything in. Start the day by stepping right outside your hotel onto Alamo Street and taking the Blue Route South on the Via Transit Downtown Streetcars to get to the King William Historic District. A one day pass on the downtown streetcar is $3.75 or individual one-way rides are only $1. Read more at http://www.viainfo.net/BusService/Streetcar.aspx. You can get a Streetcar map from your hotel concierge. You can also print out a walking map of the King William Historic District by visiting http://www.saconservation.org/tours/sitevisits_kingwilliam.htm . You can disembark at the King William stop at Sheridan and Alamo and walk through the neighborhood, looking at the houses, then go to breakfast at the Guenther House, or you may want to get off at the streetcar stop immediately after the Sheridan stop and walk to the Guenther House from there, touring the historic district after breakfast. Either way is nice. You will need to take a taxi to get to Mission San Jose from the King William District. It is approximately 5 miles south of downtown. You can easily spend anywhere from 30-90 minutes at the Mission, the largest (and most beautiful) of the San Antonio Missions . There is a lot of walking involved there as well, so bring a water bottle and a camera because the architecture is beautiful. Call a taxi to pick you up at the Mission and take you back to the King William District to lunch at Rosario's for some great Mexican food. From the King William area you can hop back onto the Streetcar's Blue Route to take you to the Alamo. You can spend anywhere from 30-90min at the Alamo depending on what you want to see. They have a great 20 minute movie that you should see if you have time. After the Alamo walk over to the La Villita Historic Arts Village. Visit the Little Church (if there isn't a wedding going on) and the Villita Museum. As the late afternoon arrives, you should not miss the 45 minute narrated River Barge tour on the San Antonio River. You can buy tickets and board the barges across from the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel. Relax and enjoy the barge cruise then head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner! Walk along the River Walk to Biga on the Banks for a special Saturday night dinner. After dinner, if you still have the energy to explore the San Antonio nightlife, Howl at the Moon is where you can sing your heart out to dueling pianos or if you want something more low-key, Swig Martini bar is a great option. Sweet dreams!

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Guenther House (The)

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Location:

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205 East Guenther
(enter on South Alamo St)
San Antonio, TX 78204

Phone:

210 227 1061

King William Historic District

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Location:

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1032 South Alamo Street
East bank of the river, just south of downtown
San Antonio, TX 78210

Phone:

210-227-8786

Mission San Jose & Visitor Center

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Location:

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6701 San Jose Drive
San Antonio, TX 78214

Phone:

210-932-1001 / 210-534-8833 (Visitor Center)

Rosario's

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Location:

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910 S Alamo St
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

210 223 1806

Alamo (The)

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Location:

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300 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

(210) 225 1391

Villita Historic Arts Village (La)

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Location:

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South Alamo at Nueva
Nueva
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

210-207-8610

Villita Museum/Post Office (La)

Location:

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418 Villita Building No.900
La Villita
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

(210) 207 8610

Little Church (The)

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Location:

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418 Villita Street
La Villita Historic Arts Village
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

(210) 226 3593

Biga on the Banks

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Location:

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203 S. St. Mary's St.
River Walk, International Center
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

210 225-0722

Howl at the Moon

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Location:

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111 West Crockett Street #201
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

210 212 4770

Swig Martini Bar

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Location:

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111 West Crockett Street #205
(between Presa and Navarro streets)
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone:

+1 210 476 0005

Day 3 - San Antonio

This half day is based on an afternoon departure from San Antonio. Here are a few additional historic places to see and a suggestion for breakfast and lunch and then you are off to the airport! To see these two must-see attractions, you can walk approximately 1/2 mile- 1 mile, or you can hop onto the Streetcar again! This time take the Purple Route or walk west on Commerce to the San Fernando Cathedral. After seeing the oldest Catholic Cathedral in the U.S. walk two blocks further west to the Market Square. Have breakfast or brunch at Mi Tierra, then tour the handicrafts from Mexico in the air-conditioned mall. After you are finished at the Market, hop back onto the Purple Route or walk east on Market Street and get off at the stop at Market and Alamo. If you need a place for lunch, or to pick up a snack for the plane ride home, Bill Miller's Bar-B-Q is across the street from the San Fernando Cathedral and is a great place for a barbecue brisket sandwich. Check out of your hotel and you are on your way to the airport!

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