The Alamo was a real ....
Here's a link to the history of the Battle of the Alamo in the "Handbook of Texas" that puts the whole business into a more realistic perspective, BTW. Sam Houston was in favor of abandoning the Alamo, razing the walls to deny it to the advancing troops under Santa Anna as a fortified garrison, and hauling the cannons elsewhere.
My wife is actually there right now for a conference. That being said, we've been there several times. I've been there twice in the last year. As much as Kent is correct about the disappointment about the Alamo, you might want to go by there anyway and look at it, sort of like rubberneckin' at a bad accident on the highway.
Another disappointment was when I first saw the Sewerwalk, I mean Riverwalk. Talk about hype. Yes there are restaurants lining the Sewerwalk, but the better ones are the ones Kent mentions. There's mostly dirty water and tourist traps along there. Some nice old trees to see though.
Don't get me wrong, San Antonio is a very neat town. Kent has done a very nice job of giving you places to see/eat.
> As much as Kent is correct about the disappointment about the Alamo, you might want to go by there anyway and look at it, sort of like rubberneckin' at a bad accident on the highway.
Oh, come-on Glenn, I would have expected no less from Kent or someone from out-of-state but I thought you were a true Texan. It wouldn't matter to me if it was a hole it the ground where the Alamo once stood, I would still want to see the hole! 😉
James
Like everything else, it depends. If you've got kids, Sea World, Schillterbahn, Fiesta Texas are great for the kids. If no kids, then you go a different route. Kent said he doesn't like the Alamo, but it's cool if you've never been nonetheless. Grubers fish market is a great place to get VERY fresh fish and take back to your place. The River Walk is very fun for all ages. Dirty Nelleys piano bar is great fun after hours, but stay away from Dick's Restaurant.
If you want VERY good mexican food, you're in the right town. Yelp is great for getting local knowledge of the area. My favorite is the Blanco Cafe in on Blanco Street. Great food, but don't be there after dark.
If you've got the time, branch out. Take a 1 hour trip North on a Friday or Saturday night to Gruene, Texas and check out Gruene Hall. It's the oldest dance hall in Texas on the Guadalupe River. Very fun and laid back. The town is set up for antiquing as well so your better half may enjoy it better. If you get up that far, and it's later in the evening (no air conditioning) the Grist Mill is a great place to eat and it's right next door.
By ALL means, go and float the river. We've had enough rain that it should be very fun. Very relaxing and one of the top things people do in that area.
Have fun while you're there and drink copious amounts of Shiner Beer. 🙂
> > As much as Kent is correct about the disappointment about the Alamo, you might want to go by there anyway and look at it, sort of like rubberneckin' at a bad accident on the highway.
>
> Oh, come-on Glenn, I would have expected no less from Kent or someone from out-of-state but I thought you were a true Texan. It wouldn't matter to me if it was a hole it the ground where the Alamo once stood, I would still want to see the hole! 😉
>
> James
I should've pressed the sarcasm button, sorry.
Let me clarify what Kris said. When floating down the Guadalupe River, it's not really about the river, it's about the beer and your friends.
This is very true Glenn. 🙂
I KNEW IT!!!
You ARE a true TEXAN.
🙂
> Oh, come-on Glenn, I would have expected no less from Kent or someone from out-of-state but I thought you were a true Texan.
Well, I'm certainly in favor of having as few Tennesseeans in Texas as possible, and the Mexican Army under General Santa Anna was giving good service toward that end in 1836. So I suppose I can see your point that even if there were plenty left over it's still worth seeing the place where hundreds of Mexican soldiers died in that noble cause.
Kent
As for the Lone Star Brewery... who cares?
I had not had a Lone Star in 20 years...drank one last year...and it will be 20 more years before I have another...
Shiner....no I will drink that all day long....
Kent
> As for the Lone Star Brewery... who cares?
Yes, Lone Star isn't really drinkable. I honestly had to look at the beer case at the grocery store the other day to see whether it was even still being sold. It's been over twenty years since I had one. Shiner, which used to be even lower than Lone Star on the potability scale, is doing a pretty good job of turning out some interesting brews. They've come a looong way.
Everyone has brought out the best of San Antonio. Here are a few other facts.
It is the last place I saw an actual Jack Rabbit.
Beware the Grackel, don't park under anything if possible, even a street light or service line.
It is 104°F at my house so it is hotter there.
Beer and being soaked by a lot of water makes it all better.
😉
Kent
MANY years ago, when I lived in Texas, all the "Kickers" drank Lone Star long necks. I much preferred others but everyone's taste is different. Of course there was always Pearl, Jax, and a few others that I was "afraid" of. They were filming "Urban Cowboy" about the time I left Pasadena but I spent several hours in Gilley's before they ruined it. Luckily Pasadena Bayshore hospital was next door to take care of those Saturday night "disagreements" (none of them mine).
Andy
My buddy Pablo did not spend much time in San Antonio
because he was out in the oil field most of the time.
He did take a bunch of pictures of "Historical Markers"
in south Texas. It was amazing how many different European
immigrants came to Texas in the 1800's -- Germans, Irish,
Polish, etc.
> If a person were to go to San Antonio what are some "not to be missed" activities/ venues?
well,,it sounds like the thing to do is drink a lot of beer and send some postcards of the Alamo and maybe pick up a Texas fridge magnet,
Well...yeah....
Add in some good Mexican food and you have a complete holiday!
> If a person were to go to San Antonio what are some "not to be missed" activities/ venues?
How could I have forgotten to mention the really good concrete highway structures to be seen in San Antonio? San Antonio has historically been a center of concrete manufacturing and had several early commercial fabricators of precast concrete components. The variety of decorative finishes on precast retaining walls and cast-in-place structures used in the San Antonio district is probably the best in the State. I'd particularly recommend Loop 410.
gee..I never would have thought of that but a tour of various grafitti and tagging in San Antonio would kill a few hours between beers and tacos.
I was impressed by the work that I have seen in Houston.
Our 3rd grader actually studied 'grafitti art' this year in school. He had a very progressive art teacher.
"I was impressed by the work that I have seen in Houston."
We seem to be a mecca, of sorts, for out-of-state starving artists.
> gee..I never would have thought of that
Yes, highway construction tends not to look as if any consideration was given to it beyond engineering economy. However, some of the stuff in San Antonio is in a different category. Here's a link to one part of Loop 410 as an example.
