There's something about summer time that makes me want to travel, despite the heat and high gas prices. The road calls. If you're like me, you are living on a student's budget and cannot afford to take that european vacation, or even that overnight vacation because a hotel room would cost too much. Luckily, there are many day trip options in Texas, and if you live in Austin, San Antonio is a great destination.
People usually think of the Riverwalk when they think of San Antonio. While that's a good place to go, it can be claustrophobic and hot. Sure, there are many restaurants and shops, but the sidewalks surrounding the river are small and crowded, and I have yet to eat good Mexican food from a Riverwalk restaurant. Maybe the non-vegan Mexican food is good, but the vegan selections are limited and often bland. I'm not saying you should avoid the Riverwalk, but you should know what to expect.
You can't go to San Antonio without visiting the Alamo, which is close to the Riverwalk. Inside are artifacts from the battle and a gift shop. Be sure to visit the basement! Just kidding. I'm sure the Alamo staff members don't think it's funny when people ask to see the basement. Behind the Alamo is a beautiful, lush area with trees, soft green grass, and benches for you to sit and rest.
To escape the heat--or cold, depending on the season--San Antonio has some excellent museums: The McNay Art Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Witte Museum (which I haven't yet visited). The McNay is in what looks like an old mansion. The grounds are beautiful, and you will likely see many photographers taking bridal and quinceanera pictures. I've only been once, so I can't remember if the museum has a permanent collection. I know they have a non-permanent collection--they had an Andy Warhol exhibit when I was there. The San Antonio Museum of Art has an impressive collection of artifacts from around the world. It is located in the old Lone Star brewing building. There is so much stuff that you could easily spend an afternoon looking at all of it. The most impressive things I remember seeing were the Samurai uniform, the Buddhist shrine, and the items that are thousands of years old. There is a non-permanent collection, but you have to pay extra to see that.
There is so much to do and write about that I'm going to have to make this a two part entry. The last thing I will say is that it is a good idea to invest in a map of San Antonio. Many of the streets change names multiple times, making it easy to lose your bearings.
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