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Home > Things To Do in San Antonio
Things to do in San Antonio
San Antonio is a very old city (as far as North American cities go). Although Native Americans have been in the area for many hundreds of years before, the first record of a European reaching the area is in 1536, when Spanish Explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked there. To put that into perspective, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was about 30 years old, William Shakespeare would be born in another 28 years, and Ludwig van Beethoven wouldn’t be born for another 234 years!
More than 120 years after Cabeza de Vaca ended up being captured by the natives, another group of Spanish explorers makes its way to the area in 1691 on June 13th, the day of feast of St. Anthony, and decide to name the area “San Antonio”.
Over the span of the next several decades, San Antonio grew, becoming the largest Spanish settlement in Texas. With Mexico’s eventual independence from Spain, San Antonio became part of Mexico. Conflict continued in the area. Mexico and Texas were at war for months during 1835-1836. The eventual result was a Texan victory and the creation of the Republic of Texas.
A lot has changed since those days, but the city retains a lot of this history in its historic buildings and multicultural society. Here’s a look at what’s going on in San Antonio...
Attractions and Sights
The San Antonio Zoo is home to more than 3500 animals and sees more than 850,000 visitors each year.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not in San Antonio houses a collection of strange artifacts from around the world.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park houses a collection of historic mission buildings dating back to the early 1700s.
Landmarks
The Alamo is one of the most famous sites in San Antonio.
The Spanish Governor’s Palace was built to protect the Alamo and the colony there. Today it serves as a museum.
Shopping
Rivercenter is a major shopping center in downtown San Antonio.
Artisan’s Alley in San Antonio is a boutique shopping district featuring art galleries, antiques and arts-and-crafts stores.
Festivals and Events
Fiesta San Antonio is an 11-day cultural and historic celebration featuring parades, live music, great food and more.
King William Fair is an arts and crafts festival that promotes San Antonio's "unique cultural heritage."
Arts and Entertainment
The Majestic Theatre is the oldest and largest grand theatre in San Antonio, and is still host to many performances including ones by the San Antonio Symphony.
The Aztec on the River Theatre is a live entertainment venue, hosting musicals and other performances.
Nightlife
Luna is a popular spot for great live jazz, funk, Spanish guitar music and more.
John T. Floore Country Store has been around since 1942, booking names in country and popular music like Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and more.
Convention Centers
Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center covers 1.3 million square feet, and is located in downtown San Antonio, right by the famous Riverwalk.
Norris Conference Centers in San Antonio is one of several run by Norris Conference Centers, and features a great setting for large and small events.
Arenas and Stadiums
AT&T Center is home to the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA and the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL.
Freeman Coliseum is a major events venue hosting motor sports, trade shows, sports and concerts.
Food and Drink
Boudro’s in San Antonio features a fantastic dining experience right along the riverwalk.
Le Rêve is a fine contemporary French restaurant in San Antonio, overlooking the Riverwalk.