I’m not sure we would ever visit San Antonio in the middle of the summer, but in the fall, winter, and spring…well that is a different story. This is a great place to take a break from cooler weather in the winter; and there will be plenty of things you can do to keep busy.
Proof of Dallas snow – makes it a perfect time to head south to San Antonio
San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas and is about an hour and a half southwest of Austin, about four and a half hours south of Dallas. The most obvious tourist attractions are the Alamo and the River Walk. In the San Antonio area January temperatures usually hover in the low to mid sixties, this alone should make you want to visit and spend some time visiting their local attractions. Make sure you have a full tank of propane though because the nights can get a little chilly.
Hannah and Kendra in San Antonio
There are at least three campgrounds in or near San Antonio. We picked the San Antonio KOA primarily due to the location. They are close to the River Walk and Alamo, and they are directly across the street from the a bus stop that can get you to those locations in about 10 minutes. The campground itself is located in an industrial area but once you enter the gates and get to your spot, you really don’t feel like you are inside the city. We found it to be a quiet campground when we were there, and the owners were very nice.
The bus fare is $1.30 per adult and you need to have exact change. We took the bus twice and found it to be the ideal way to get down to the tourist attractions we wanted to see. The San Antonio bus system has a web site where you can plan your trip and view there fares etc..
Bus Stop and the KOA
San Antonio is known for its Riverwalk which is right on the bus route. The river walk is one story beneath the roadways and is a series of sidewalks that run along both sides of the river. Each side has numerous shops and restaurants, and there is something for everyone, albeit a bit pricey.
One of the many restaurants on the Riverwalk
As you walk along the pathways you will see tour boats cruising back and forth along the river. There are a few different operations along the river where you can buy tickets for these excursions. The boat trips last about 35 minutes.
Riverwalk “Rio Taxi” boat excursions
Another thing you will notice is that even though most of the leaves have fallen, there is still plenty of lush plant life along the river.
Riverwalk San Antonio
There are several sites online where you can view the Riverwalk map. The Riverwalk branches out in several different directions, and is over two miles long. So it may be easy to get confused on where you are located as you walk along the trail. Therefore it is a good idea to print a copy of the map or pull it up on your smartphone. That way you can keep a bearing on where you are located in relation to where you started; since exits from the Riverwalk are somewhat spread out.
After we stopped for lunch it was back to see the girls at the campground.
Kendra and Hannah in San Antonio
The next day we took the bus back to the downtown area to see the Alamo. Keep in mind that you can combine the Alamo and Riverwalk if you like as they are very close together. I would estimate that the Alamo is no more than three blocks from one of the Riverwalk entrances.
The Alamo in San Antonio
The Alamo is the most visited historic site in the entire state of Texas. Although the Alamo was originally constructed as a Spanish Mission Church, it is best known for the historic 13 day battle in 1836; when General Santa Anna led his army of thousands against a small fighting force of 200. James Bowie, William Travis and Davy Crockett were a few of the men that fought and died during those 13 days before the Mexican Army overpowered them. Only a few people in the Alamo survived after the battle. The Mexican army lost between 600 to 1600 men.
The inside of the Alamo still looks like a Spanish Mission Church with rooms off of the main sanctuary area. If you look closely at the walls you can still see bullet holes from the 1836 battle.
In addition to the structure itself, they have done a very nice job making it an educational experience. There are displays throughout the building giving you a historic perspective on the battle and those that fought there as well as a model of the battle itself.
Outside the building you will see beautiful grounds and other out buildings. The Alamo is a must see if you are in Texas. Tammy and I are planning another trip back to San Antonio in the near future so look for an update as there have been some changes in the last year.
Admission to the Alamo is free, as well as the grounds, but they do not allow you to take pictures in the Alamo or the Long Barracks. Service dogs are welcome…but just service dogs, so leave the pets back at the trailer or in day care.
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