San Antonio

Home to the historic Alamo, the ever-charming Riverwalk entertainment district, and an overall lively Tex-Mex culture, San Antonio is a popular destination on the Texas tourist trail. As the second largest city in the state of Texas, San Antonio is home to over one million residents in its urban core and over two million in the Greater San Antonio metropolitan area. The city is located in the heart of Texas, in the state's southern half. The city attracts families for its many theme parks and kid-friendly attractions including SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. History buffs won't want to miss a trip to the significant Alamo site. Year-round, San Antonio plays host for a number of events and festivals and is home to the NBA championship team the San Antonio Spurs.

The best seasons to visit San Antonio are fall and spring. In those two seasons it will be cooler than other times, and less crowded than summer, making it perfect for walking and exploring the downtown. Some of the best yearly events include Fiesta in April (especially the Battle of Flowers Parade), The Tejano and Conjunto Festival in May, the International Accordion Festival in October and the holiday season from Thanksgiving through the first of January.

Many travelers want Mexican food when they visit San Antonio; it's the predominant choice. Most places serve Tex-Mex, which, while using some Mexican ingredients, often deviates greatly from what's authentically served in Mexico. At breakfast, Mexican salsa, either green or red, chunky or smooth, hot or mild, is almost always offered either in a side dish or squirt jar for the eggs, or mixed in. Breakfast tacos are a tradition in many combinations. Puffy tacos are another San Antonio staple. Corn tortillas are fried till they puff up, then stuffed with ingredients of the diner's choice. Even when dining in a sophisticated restaurant with fusion, or European preparations, Mexican ingredients creep in.

San Antonio is a multicultural city welcoming people from all countries. The city is 60 percent Hispanic in population. Though almost everyone speaks English, Spanish is still commonly spoken. And menus, even in non-Mexican restaurants, will frequently have Spanish words or ingredients that an outsider will need translated. Experiencing the way cultures blend in San Antonio is part of the pleasure of a visit.