Things to do in San Antonio

San Antonio has a lot to offer tourists, with attractions in many categories including fun theme parks for the family, lots of history and striking architecture. San Antonios biggest draw is the Alamo; built by the Spanish, defended by the Texans and taken with a vengeance by the Mexicans. Other niceties in this southern city include Americas oldest cathedral, the worlds biggest land-based marine theme park and some quality museums.

Alamo

Built as a Spanish colonial mission in the early 18th century, along with four other such complexes in the region, the Alamo, also known as San Antonio de Valero, is best known for the famous battle between Mexican troops and Texan defenders which took place here. Today, the Alamo is a museum run by the Daughters of the Texas Revolution. Tours are available along with a 17-minute introductory film.

Texan troops captured San Antonio and fortified the Alamo in late 1835 before 2,500 Mexican soldiers stormed the fort in February 1836, led by General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna. It took the Mexicans nearly two weeks to take the fort, where they executed most of the remaining defenders including Davy Crockett, James Bowie and William Travis.

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

This kitsch museum is one of the best examples of its kind in the state of Texas, with all sorts of weird and wonderful exhibits, some of which will leave you in awe or perhaps slightly queasy. The halls of mounted stuffed animals include some startling collections, of which the two-headed cow and the nine-legged goat are favourites. Also, dont miss the rattlesnake rattle maps of Texas and the Lone Star Beer paraphernalia exhibit. The wax museum is perhaps the biggest draw to the museum however, with its many famous faces including Teddy Roosevelt and Tom Selleck.

El Mercado de San Antonio

San Antonio Market Square is the biggest of its kind in the world outside of Mexico and apart from its plethora of shops selling everything from authentic crafts to ceramics and clothing; it also offers some great eateries and live entertainment.

San Antonio Botanical Gardens

These beautiful city gardens feature an array of exotic plants and flowers from Texas and throughout the world respective of their environment. The highlight of the gardens is the wonderfully designed conservatory, which contains some rare specimens from the tropics. The gift shop and restaurant provide a place of respite.

San Antonio Museum of Art

The San Antonio Museum of Art is curiously situated inside the Lone Star Brewery building, which is an attraction in itself and features many examples of fine art from many genres. In addition to the Latin American, folk, Asian and American art is a fine collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. If you happen to be in San Antonio when the museum hosts one of its special events, including concerts and special exhibitions, you will not be disappointed.

San Fernando Cathedral

Eleven years in the making, San Fernando Cathedral is America's oldest cathedral building and one of the city's most important buildings. The cathedral was actually conceived as far back as the late 1730s - decades before the Declaration of Independence - and it has a rich history. Perhaps the most important relic discovered at the church is a marble sarcophagus which is believed to hold the remains of the defenders of the Alamo. There is also a gift shop at the Cathedral Center and popular services are held regularly at the church.

Seaworld San Antonio

Seaworld San Antonio is massive and incorporates four parks over 250 acres to make it the biggest marine life theme park in the world. The park features the usual animal shows as well as some quality rides, arcade games and a whole host of other family-type attractions.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

This popular seasonal park is nearly as massive as Seaworld San Antonio, covering more than 200 acres in all, and it has some superb rides and attractions. The entire family is catered for, with rides for infants right up to the white-knuckle variety for the adventurous, including gravity-defying roller coasters, log flumes, train rides, electric cars and more sedate river adventures and cartoon theme rides. The park is only open from May to October.