My first trip to San Antonio was only for a short three days and will not be my last. I see why people fall in love with the city that has a river running through it. River walk is fun during the day but it is especially fun at night when everything is lit up. I wouldn’t recommend using the River Walk as a map. You’ll never see the real city of San Antonio. I suggest moving past the river and searching for authentic shops, restaurants and entertainment. While in San Antonio I had the chance to eat at 9 different restaurants and would only recommend one, Schilo’s Delicatessen. I even felt like one of the high end chain restaurants for steak fell below my standards. Unfortunately, most of the restaurants on the River Walk are too touristy and just serve the food as quickly as possible. I like restaurants that are good enough that you feel like you want to go back again.
Walt Disney sure made a good movie of the Alamo but the real history is more impressive. We sometimes forget that Hollywood is not reality. I’m embarrassed for all the people in Texas who are proud of the Alamo and are forced to have an amusement park and cheap entertainment across from the Alamo. It’s like having an amusement park across from the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. We would never have put up with it. However, inside the Alamo there is a wonderful museum giving the full history of the event and beautiful gardens which definitely were reason enough to visit.
Although the Alamo was not what I expected, I am still happy I saw it. While in San Antonio I especially loved visiting La Villita Historical Arts Village and the Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex. I was only in San Antonio, Texas for a few days and look forward to returning and seeing more of the outskirts of the city. If you find any wonderful restaurants or sites please let me know. Also, check out their tourism site: http://www.visitsanantonio.com/index.aspx.
Guinness Book of World Records
Entertainment of Ripley's Hunted Adventure & Tomb Rider 3D
Plaza Wax Museum
Ripley's Believe It or Not
119 Broadway Street
San Antonio, TX 78205-1903
(210) 223-3453
Map
I was in Paris Hatters and out in 5 minutes with a new hat. I’m a sale person’s nightmare-or not. I know what I’m looking for, I know what I want and if you don’t have it, I’m out the door. You can’t talk me into anything I don’t want. I walked into Paris Hatters, turned left tried on a hat and that was the one! I was out the door.
They have every hat imaginable, leaning towards the West of course. They have some derbys, which I would love to buy, but I know I would probably never wear it. They just don’t fit the clothes these days.
Paris Hatters is right down the street from the Alamo Antique Mall. So go on down and get yourself a hat! You’ll be walking down the street with your head held up high. You’ll feel 10 feet tall.
Paris Hatters
Paris Hatters
Alamo Antique Mall
Tell: (210) 224-4354
125 Broadway St
San Antonio, TX 78205
Map
Alamo Antiques
When I see a junk/antique shop I head fot it. It’s a fun place to find something you’ve always wanted. Just remember you have to get it back home! I picked up a couple of belt buckles and a 1939 World Fair ash tray. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for. Remember you’ll find more fun things to do once you are away from the River Walk. The River Walk is fun but it is very touristy.
Alamo Antiques
Alamo Antiques
112 College Street
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Phone: 210-518-1000, Fax: 210-226-0389
Map
Menger Hotel
Menger Hotel
Menger Hotel
204 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 223-4361
Map
I did not stay at these hotels, but I wish I had. The next time I visit San Antonio I will stay at one of these places. The Menger Hotel is next to the Alamo and the Omni La Mansion del Rio is on the River Walk. The Omni La Mansion del Rio is a perfect place to relax on of it’s many balconies and observe all the action taking place on the River Walk. It would be fun to stay here because they have a nice courtyard swimming pool and at night they show movies on the wall above the swimming pool for children. Its a great hotel for children to stay they always think about children’s needs.
Menger Hotel
Menger Hotel
I would also enjoy staying at the Menger Hotel because it would be nice to walk around the square at night. I think it would be neat to stay at a hotel with such a history of hosting famous guests. They also have a beautiful courtyard where you can relax and have dinner and drinks. The gardens are beautiful. The Menger Hotel is supposed to be haunted it could be Oscar Wilde, Theodore Roosevelt, or Mark Twain-they see them going into the bar a lot! Check it out!
La Mansion
La Mansion
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78210
Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex
Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex is a wonderful center of artists and galleries, but if you’re planning on catching a taxi, good luck! The first cab I got in had no idea where the art center was and when I showed him my map he asked for the exact address. I thought it was unbelievable because the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center is downtown and on the map. I asked him if he knew where the Alamo was and he said of course but he didn’t know that address either. Make sure you know the exact address because they may not know where it is. I took a second cab and the driver need an exact address as well. It’s at the corner of Alamo & Blue Star…but he needed an exact address! I think I may have finally met the stupidest cab drivers in America! I finally got fed-up with the cab drivers in San Antonio and decided to take the StreetCar. I took the blue line to the Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex which dropped me off at the front door. I suggest taking all three rail lines to see the city. It’s $1.10 to ride or you can buy a 1 or 2 day pass.
Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex
San Antonio StreetCar Map
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78210
Now back to the Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex, I recommend going to the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center which is in the back of the complex. They have some very good exhibits both nationally & internationally and of course Texas. I think Texas has some of the best regional artists because they are corky and seem to think outside of the box. I’ve always liked Texas artists.
While you’re walking around the galleries stop by the Blue Start Brewing Company.
Blue Star Brewing Company
nonprofit artist gallery & studio for handmade prints
1420 S. Alamom Ste. #104
San Antonio, TX 78210
Tel: 210-227-0312
This is a wonderful print studio within the Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex run by Glenn D. Faulk. He gave me a tour and showed me the gallery they also teach and have studio artists. They do beautiful work. Definitely check it out.
110 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX
78204
San Angel has great Pan-American styles of art, clothing and jewelry. This is my third favorite place in San Antonio. It’s a tourist attraction in itself. You’ll definitely walk out with something. This places makes people smile!
Schilo’s Delicatessen
424 East Commerce Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 223-6692
Map
Schilo's
I have told people what my last meal would be on earth: It would be lobster, probably three of them, a great hamburger with fried onions on a toasted bun, and then a great apple pie with vanilla ice crem….then…take me. I know where I’d find a great apple pie and vanilla ice cream. It would be at Schilo’s in San Antonio, Texas.
Schilo's Apple Pie
They’ve been around since 1917. It’s not the original location but it sure looks old enough. it feels like John Wayne. could walk into the room at any minute, walk up to the bar and say, “Give me a root beer.” They have one of those old wooden root beer keg dispensers. It’s basically a german restaurant/deli that has really good potato pancakes with home made apple sauce and Wienerschnitzel which is basically a breaded and pounded pork chop. They also have very friendly staff.
Schilo's Root Beer keg
This restaurant along with my favorite shop found are the two places you need to see before you leave San Antonio.
Schilo's
La Villita Historical Arts Village
La Villita is a wonderful group of shops within walking distance from The Alamo.
View Larger Map
It was difficult to find fun shops of items unique to San Antonio but then I came across La Villita.
Some of my favorite places in the village:
- found is a gallery of art, antiques & eclectic objects. They don’t have a website, which is a shame, but found turned out to be my favorite shop of all that I’ve come cross traveling the world. To describe this place is like revisiting childhood. found is like when I was young and found items on the street or in the garbage, and then put them into my treasure chest under my bed. It’s a memory box. found takes items that they have found and turns them into sculpture, pictures, clocks, boxes and other creative items. For example, on one wall there are small cellophane bags with several items in it. You could call them keep sake memory bags but this wall is a wall of art in itself. These items could be an old beautifully made doorknob, alabaster fruit, old charms, or old postcards and photographs. Each item is selected for a reason, to tell a story or to provoke memories. If your into nostalgia, love antiques and what feelings come from them then you’re going to love found.
found
found
found
Tel: 210-224-2484
foundart24@sbcglobal.net
Mailing address- 418 Villitam suite 2400
San Antonio, TX 78205
Casa Clasal / Copper Gallery
I found some very unusual large copper vases that are very attractive along with other unique copper items. I would recommend checking out this gallery.
Susan Carlin Portraits
Nueva Street Gallery
507 E. Nueva St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
Susan Carlin’s Portraits are in the Nueva Street Gallery and she is very talented in portraits. She was working on one while I was there. She said many of her clients just send photographs in and she never meets them. I find her prices are very reasonable. If you want a portrait done, Susan is the way to go. There are other artists in the gallery that are very talented as well.
