Take it from a guy who once lived there as a poor, semi-starving student, there’s lots of free stuff to do in San Antonio. Here are a few of this reporter’s favorites:
- Stroll along the Paseo del Rio, the city’s serpentine, sensuous River Walk. It meanders through the heart of the city, flanked by great restaurants, cozy bars, and unique shops. Music abounds down on the Paseo. Some of it emanates from the shore, some from the boats that ply the narrow San Antonio River. In all, it’s a heady, immersive way to drink in the ambiance of what Mark Twain tabbed as “one of America’s four unique cities.”
- Pay homage to valor at the Alamo, the iconic fortress that fell to Santa Ana in March of 1836, the place that became synonymous with Texas independence. You don’t have to take sides in this battle to know that heroes fell on both sides of the wall. When you enter the mission proper’s thick stone walls speak quietly. This is no theme park.
- Visit the magnificent McNay Art Museum. Arrayed in a 1920’s mansion on the near north side of is a wide-ranging collection of superb medieval, post-impressionist and modern art.
- Pack along the kids, plan your visit for the third Thursday of the month and see the San Antonio Children’s Museum for near free. Here’s the deal. As many as a quartet of kids get in gratis – when accompanied by a paying adult. Children can create bubbles they can actually stand in, land an airplane, stage a play or mine for diamonds. The discount admission applies to visits between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- If you want to center yourself retreat to the Japanese Tea Garden, a place suffused with walking paths and perfect, tranquil ponds graded by Koi.
(Image: 熊.陈美芬.Phan Ly)
