San Antonio is known mostly for its history. The famous Alamo was located in San Antonio. Its remains can still be visited today. There is also San Antonio Missions National Park. It covers more than 800 acres and features four historic missions dating back more than 200 years.
Despite its size (population within the city limits is 1.3 million, 7th largest city in the US), San Antonio still has a small town feel. Local residents are laid-back and friendly. There is a cosmopolitan side to the city, but, for the most part, visitors will find San Antonio more welcoming than most other cities of its size.
That does not mean that San Antonio is without urban charms. River Walk is a strip of restaurants and nightlife venues located one level below the street on the banks of the Rio San Antonio. This is the place to be at night if you want to be where the action is. During the day, however, the river is quite pleasant. Tour companies offer boat trips up and down the length of the waterway.
San Antonio is home to many museums and art galleries. The Institute of Texan Culture hosts exhibits about the different ethnic groups that have called Texas home of the years. The multi-faceted Witte Museum has dinosaur bones, a textile exhibit and numerous hands-on activities for kids.
On the first Friday of every month, the city's art galleries open their doors to the public. Though some people walk the downtown gallery area solely for the art, many are simply there to hang out and enjoy the party as well as whatever is hanging on the walls.
