Try not to let your confusion overwhelm you upon arrival in San Antonio. You might be taken aback by the mall in the shape of lit-up cowboy boots next to the old Spanish-style bridge built by Mexican missionaries. You could find it strange that proud-to-be-American Texans are ordering in Spanish at the tastiest Tex-Mex joints in the country. You’ll strollpast world-renowned art galleries and posh boutiques 15 minutes away from flyfishing locals. The clash between old and new, highbrow and lowbrow, between two distinct cultures, has the potential to be a battleground – and in fact it was, in 1836 during the infamous Battle of the Alamo, now the city’s most recognized tourist attraction. Now, almost two centuries later, San Antonio has thrown aside the pistols and embraces its colorful history to create a vibrant mix of culture teeming with excitement for newlyweds.
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The Lay of the Land
San Antonio gets its dynamic and
rebellious attitude from its turbulent
history, a past jam-packed with battles
and power struggles where fact and
legend are difficult to tell apart. The city
has roots as early as 9000 B.C., when it
was inhabited by Native Americans. In the
1700s Mexican Franciscans came north to
Christianize the tribes and built missions
along the San Antonio River, which now
are broken into the five main parts of the
city and are popular tourist attractions.
The already diverse city welcomed
European immigrants started at the turn
of the 19th century, and in the next 50
years the parent government changed
five times. The most memorable was in
the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 where
Texans were fighting for independence
from Mexico. Nine years later they finally
won that independence and became
a permanent structure in the United States. Since then, the city has done an excellent job preserving the old Spanish style architecture and Victorian buildings,
along with the diverse feel to the city,
which makes San Antonio a must on any
history-loving couples honeymoon. |
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MUST SEE'S / MUST DO'S
The Riverwalk or El Paseo del Rio
Twenty feet below San Antonio’s historic downtown streets, every honeymooning couple must get lost along the twisting sidewalks that line the San Antonio River. Cypress trees and oldfashioned bridges are found between the city’s main hub of restaurants, shops bars and hotels. Whether you’d like to rent bikes and take in the Spanish-style architecture along the way or share a romantic moonlit dinner on a river cruise, you’ll be able to do it in this true heart of the city.
Brackenridge Park
There’s something for every couple at
this green oasis just north of downtown.
Pack a picnic lunch to eat in one of the
expansive Japanese Tea Gardens, visit
the San Antonio Zoo & Aquarium or hit
the links on San Antonio’s oldest 18-hole
course.
Hill Country
For a respite from the vibrant city, take
just 20 minutes to get out to Texas Hill
Country, the serene valleys just outside
San Antonio. Honeymooners can relax
in the natural beauty of the rolling hills
or partake in some of the many outdoor
activities offered such as fly-fishing,
horseback riding or rafting.
King William Historic District
San Antonio is teeming with South of the Border influence, but don’t forget to stop and see what the Germans left behind
in the King William Historic District.
The tree-lined streets are brimming with
ornate mansions, art galleries, restaurants
and quirky bed and breakfasts. The San
Antonio Conservation Society or your
hotel will have information on a self-guided walking or bike tour to view some of the most posh and historic mansions in the state.
boudro’s
Treat yourselves to a savory meal at
boudros’s, an upscale restaurant right on
the Riverwalk that prepares southwestern
specialties such as smoked crab straight
from the Gulf or the guacamole that’s
made to your liking right at your table!
SeaWorld
This is obviously the place to go if
you want to take in a spectacular show
featuring trained dolphins and other
marine life, but the world’s largest marine
life adventure park has a lot more to offer,
too. Hope on one of the fish-inspired
roller coasters, wave pools or flumes for
one wet and wild afternoon.
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For the Sports-Minded Couple
With the natural diversity and yearround
sunshine of San Antonio, the city
and surrounding areas have plenty of
outdoor recreation options. Canyon Lake,
about 45 minutes north of downtown,
offers endless opportunities for outdoor
fun. Activities include parasailing, jetskiing
and tubing down the Guadalupe
River. Outside the lake the park offers
a romantic horseback ride through the
wild expanse of cedar forests or daytime
excursions of hunting and fishing. Back
in San Antonio, the city alone has over
40 golf courses and driving ranges for couples who’d like to practice their swing.
One afternoon, baseball-loving couples
can take in some double-A ball with the
San Antonio Missions.
For the Laid-Back Couple
San Antonio offers plenty of carefree escapes from the bustling city.
Honeymooners would enjoy a day trip
to nearby Fredericksburg to one of the
many vineyards for a leisurely day of
sipping wine and savoring the Texas
countryside. For a peaceful day in the
city, enjoy a stroll through some of the
city’s art displays. Whether in the world-renowned McNay Art Museum or one of
the city’s many art galleries, the art to be
found matches the city’s rebellious and
diverse attitude. San Antonio also boasts
plenty of theater options, both big and
small productions. An added bonus to the
theater in San Antonio are the buildings
themselves – because the city has done
such a wonderful job of preservation,
many of the theaters are old Spanish-style
or Victorian buildings so beautiful that it’s
difficult to keep your eyes on the action.
For the Adventurous Couple
Just like for the sports-minded, if you’re looking for adventure in San Antonio it is most likely going to be outdoors. The Guadalupe River in Hill Country offers a 10-mile paddling trail or whitewater kayaking daytrips, where the couple could then stay at a small hotel right on the river or even rent camping gear and pitch your tent along the banks.The untouched natural landscapes of cedar forests, green valleys and blue lakes also make San Antonio an ideal view for a skydiving jump, and there are several local affordable outfitters.
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