The Perpetual Tourist

I have to start this post with a confession. I have always harbored a not-so-secret hatred of Texas. When I was in high school, I competed in the Destination Imagination Global Finals my junior and senior years, and even though all fifty states and many countries were represented, the Texans were everywhere, and they really dominated the competition. I’ve harbored resentment ever since, and the fact that our current president is from Texas has done little to improve my views on the state. I admit all this because only now can you truly understand just what it means for me to say that I love it here.

When we arrived on Saturday afternoon in San Antonio, our first order of business was to fill our stomachs. We decided to drive downtown and just pick something that looked good, then spend the afternoon sightseeing. For a big city, traffic in San Antonio was a relatively minor issue. The roads were never too jammed, and there was plenty of parking wherever we went, which was a pleasant surprise after spending the weekend in Traffic Hell, aka Washington, DC.

As we approached downtown, people were lined up on the streets for a parade, and there was some sort of street fair going on. We soon learned that we’d arrived in the middle of Fiesta, an annual city-wide celebration featuring several parades, parties, and other festivities. We parked and wandered through the street vendors peddling cheap souvenirs and classic Texas food and drink, which is mostly meaty Mexican food and daiquiris the size of bird baths. So far, Texas was a lot of fun, but my one complaint was the difficulty finding vegetarian fare.

At 3:30pm, we stopped at a Mexican restaurant along the San Antonio Riverwalk called Casa Rio. Even at 3:30 in the afternoon, the place was packed. In fact, we’ve been eating at odd hours each day that we’ve been here, and no matter when we enter a restaurant, the places are full. Either Texans eat round-the-clock, or we selected all the best restaurants in the city. The latter is quite possible, as Casa Rio had some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had (albeit a limited selection of vegetarian options, which was typical of everywhere we ate), and by far the best margarita I’ve ever tasted.

Whereas getting to tourism hot spots in many cities means lots of driving and searching, the best of San Antonio is all right in one convenient area downtown. The Alamo, the former mission and fortress, and site of the famed 1836 Battle of the Alamo. Tours are offered daily, and admission is free.

After taking in the local (and national) history at the Alamo, the San Antonio River Walk is nearby. Also free, the River Walk is made up of two sidewalks that run along the banks of the San Antonio River one story below street level. Lined with shops, restaurants, and bars, the River Walk will guide you along some of the city’s finest architecture and landscapes. If your feet are too weary for the walk, or if you just want a guide to explain all the sights to you, maybe a boat tour is what you’re looking for. Rio San Antonio has daily tours leaving every 15-20 minutes.

I was in San Antonio for less than one full day, but thanks to the convenience of everything, I was able to take in most of these sights in a single, delicious margarita-fueled afternoon. I had other engagements outside the city for the rest of my trip to Texas, but I’m really looking forward to an opportunity to return here. It’s been a lovely visit, and I’m starting to see why Texans are so proud of this place. If only there were more vegetarian options and fewer Bushes…