Welcome to San Antonio! A city known for the historic Alamo, vibrant Riverwalk, and the World Champion Spurs has a truly unique story. Boasting over 300 years of rich culture and fascinating history, “The Alamo City” is older than the very country it calls home. Today, we will explore our Top 5 Places to See in San Antonio.
With all the exciting new developments at Novel Excursion Travel, this is the perfect time to take a travel schooling adventure through our home city. If you want a deeper look into the city, I urge you to stay tuned for our upcoming e-book, “Explore! San Antonio: Your Culture Guide for Educational & Service-Oriented Travel.” You can get all the updates for the official release if you sign up for our mailing list.
All that said, it is time for us to trailblaze through our Top 5 Places to See in San Antonio.
Getting to know the Places to See in San Antonio
San Antonio was founded in 1718, 27 years after it was initially named on the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua. On that fateful day in June, Domingo Teran de los Rios and Father Damian Massanet landed their Spanish expedition at the headwaters of what would become known as the San Antonio River.
Over 300 years later, San Antonio has boomed into a major metropolitan area. Coming in as the 7th largest city in the United States, San Antonio is the second most visited city in Texas. The city is most known for The Alamo, originally named the Mission San Antonio de Valero. The site of a significant battle in the Texas Revolution, The Alamo is now sits in the center of town surrounded by historic hotels. However, there are many more places perfect for the knowledge seeker on this travel schooling adventure than San Antonio’s namesake.
1) San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
We couldn’t mention San Antonio without touching on the famous Spanish missions that played an integral role in the early years of the city. While most visitors only think of The Alamo, the city is home to four other historic missions – Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada.
These four were established further south along the San Antonio River than their more famous counterpart. The Missions National Historical Park, which is comprised of all four of these 18th century relics, was established in 1978 in an effort to protect the cultural sites and natural area. San Antonio’s five Catholic missions represent the largest concentration of Spanish colonial missions in North America.
Fun Fact: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas.
The remarkably well-preserved churches give you a fascinating look at Spanish culture and architecture. The entire park is encircled by remnants of the original walk wall which makes you feel like you took a step back in time when you enter the gate. Much like when you visit The Alamo, visitors are immersed in Texas, Mexican, and Spanish culture and history with engaging period demonstrations, educational shows, and expertly crafted informational labels and signs.
Here, you can learn about the city’s European influence and how settlers interacted with the indigenous people who came before.
2) La Villita
A great place to experience authentic architectural styles of San Antonio’s past, traditional cultural art, and local handmade goods, is the little village just down the street from The Alamo. La Villita is located on the very spot that the city’s first village was established.
The little village originally housed the families of the soldiers stationed at Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo). La Villita now occupies an artsy square block in the heart of downtown. While the original structures were primitive huts and adobe homes, you can now waltz among a range of architectural styles that range from the distant past to later versions of early Victorian and Texas limestone buildings.
This is a wonderful place to learn about the history of this great city and experience its vibrant heritage. You will have the opportunity to taste a magnificent blend of traditional and innovative southwestern flavors, as well.
3) Witte Museum
In terms of museums, there are few better places than the Witte. Located along the old Spanish Acequia Madre de Valero, the irrigation canal that supplied water to The Alamo, this interactive museum is adjacent to Brackenridge Park which makes for a serene escape from the hubbub.
The Witte boasts a wide range of family-friendly exhibits including the Dinosaur Gallery, the Texas Wild Gallery, the People of the Pecos Gallery, the H-E-B Lantern, and the H-E-B Body Adventure. Topics vary from nature and Texas ecosystems to prehistoric creatures to a culturally immersive experience at the Texas Heritage Center.
While learning about dinosaurs, the kiddos will love the opportunity to hunt for fossils in an interactive dig pit. Don’t worry, this is fit for adults too…Amanda and I definitely took our turns helping Sarah practice those paleontologist skills. The H-E-B Body Adventure explores the human body and is full of fun activities that will keep everyone actively engaged.
4) Institute of Texan Cultures
The Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) is the perfect place to experience the multicultural heritage that makes up Texas. Located in the heart of San Antonio, the ITC is just a short walk from The Alamo and La Villita.
The ITC features 65,000 square feet of exhibits where you will find immersive and engaging lessons about the people who shaped the Texas past. The programs bring a voice to a wide array of cultures, traditions, religions, food, and ways of life. The ITC hosts a number of rotating exhibits that will showcase specific aspects of a culture, such as “An Endless Connection,” the 2020 temporary exhibit commemorating Dia de los Muertos.
Every second Sunday of each month the ITC hosts a free family day. These family days are complete with special learning activities that can include crafts, games, special guests, performances, and more. Be on the lookout for the theme of the month!
5) Japanese Tea Garden
In my opinion, San Antonio’s Japanese Tea Garden has one of the most intriguing stories in the city. Its design is steeped in cultural motifs and its very name is a tribute to the culture of its original caretakers. Opened in the early 20th-century, the Japanese Tea Garden was first redesigned into a water lily garden from the remnants of the first cement plant west of the Mississippi River. Eizo “Kimi” Jingu moved to the site with his family in exchange for caring for the garden.
The Jingu family was Japanese, contributing to the initial renaming of the lily garden. However, after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, the city forced the Jingus to leave the garden. It was renamed as the “Chinese Tea Garden” in line with anti-Japanese sentiments during the war. Decades later, the family was invited back for a rededication when the name was changed back to the Japanese Tea Garden.
Fun Fact: The entry sign still reads “Chinese Tea Garden” memorializing a dark moment in history.
This is one of the best places to see in San Antonio for a lesson about the turbulent history of America and the hardships imposed on various cultures throughout the years. You can also explore how the deliberate design draws from Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist philosophies to inspire peaceful contemplation. This tranquil retreat is a fantastic place to experience some Zen in the heart of San Antonio.
NExT Chapter
I hope you enjoyed our Top 5 Places to See in San Antonio. There is much to see in San Antonio. Many more places could have easily made this list. This is why we will post more about San Antonio in the future.
If you are interested in a deeper look at our beautiful city, I hope you purchase our e-book next month. “Explore! San Antonio” will take you on a chronological excursion through the city’s past and present. We will highlight places for you to travel, learn, and serve (give back). Then, we will discuss green and sustainable initiatives that will help the city grow with the next generation. Sign up for our mailing list to find out when we officially release the book.
Go On an Immersive Journey through top Places to See in San Antonio
Also, don’t forget about our inaugural Explore! San Antonio Cultural Excursion, a 5-day immersive event occurring December 13-17, 2021. You can learn more about this awesome event and sign up to receive event updates here. Registration will be opening before the end of August.
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Until next time…
Happy (Mindful) Travels,
Michael
~ Change the world one nameless stranger at a time. ~
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