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The Football Fans’ Guide to

By TexasTripper.com Bienvenidos to San Antonio! Will Rogers called it “one of America’s four unique cities.” Wake up in the Alamo City with the aroma of huevos rancheros in the air, the sound of mariachis filling the streets, and the sight of barges winding down the , and you know you're someplace special.

Travelers call this South city the number one tourist destination in the Lone Star State, a place with south of the border excitement combined with a Texas style. Whether your team wins or loses, come out victorious with a few days’ vacation in the Alamo City!

Whether you make your home base at one of the many downtown hotels along the Paseo del Rio or the River Walk or elsewhere in San Antonio, you have to save time for an extended visit to the River Walk, the heart of the tourist area. Located 20 feet below street level along the banks of the San Antonio River, away from street noise, the River Walk is home to high-rise hotels, shops and European-style al fresco cafes.

The best way to get an overview of the River Walk is aboard a river cruise. Cruises offers narrated river tours for just a few dollars; a ride on these open- air barges is a must for any first-time visitor. Ticket booths are found at the Rivercenter Mall and across from the Hilton Palacio del Rio.

After a tour, stop for lunch at one of the sidewalk restaurants. San Antonio is known for its spicy Tex-Mex food, and restaurants like Casa Rio offer tables along the river's edge so you can watch the activity.

From the River Walk, it's a short stroll over to Texas's best known symbol: the Alamo. (To reach the Alamo, you can go through the Hyatt at the river level then go upstairs. This will put you by the San Antonio Visitors’ Center and directly across from the Alamo.)

The Alamo—the “Cradle of Texas Liberty”—plunged into history on March 6, 1836 when 188 Texas defenders died in a battle against a large Mexican army led by General Santa Anna during the Texas Revolution. Today it maintains a church-like atmosphere and photography is prohibited inside the Shrine. After visiting the former mission, walk around the grounds to see the Long Barrack and other buildings (including a large gift shop). Admission is free.

To celebrate your first evening in San Antonio, look to one of the city’s most elegant eateries: the River Walk’s Pesca. Located on the river level at the Watermark Hotel (just across the river from the Omni La Mansión), this stylish restaurant features fresh seafood from around the world. Start the experience with a tequila tasting then move on to fresh oysters or sea scallops (a must), followed by entrees ranging from blackened swordfish to wild Pacific salmon as well as several steaks (this is Texas, after all!)

Start your day on the River Walk with breakfast at a sidewalk café if the weather allows. One of our favorites is Las Canarias at the Omni La Mansión; named for the Canary Islanders that settled in the region, the restaurant offers an excellent breakfast and an eclectic menu for other meals.

Stroll to the oldest section of the River Walk: . The "little village," nestled on the east bank of the River Walk, emphasizes history and art. Dating back to the days when the Alamo served as a military outpost, La Villita developed as a temporary village of people without land title. Today La Villita (pronounce “la ve-yee-ta”), a National Historic District, bustles with shoppers in search of one-of-a-kind items ranging from watercolors to glass creations to handmade jewelry. If there’s time before the game, walk from La Villita over to HemisFair Plaza, home of the newly renovated . This soaring reminder of the 1968 World HemisFair today serves as a symbol of San Antonio. A one-minute elevator ride whisks you up to the at 579 feet for a great view of the city through high- powered telescopes. You’ll find a restaurant and lounge up there as well. From the Tower of the America, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the , just blocks away.

After the game, it’s time to celebrate with a return to the River Walk, which really comes to life in the evening hours. Whatever your musical tastes (or drink tastes), you’ll find a good option here. At the Hyatt Regency, grab a riverside table at Jim Cullum's Landing to enjoy the sounds of Jim Cullum and his jazz band; they play New Orleans--style Dixieland several nights a week. At the Hilton Palacio Del Rio, trade in the sombreros for tam o' shanters and sing along at Durty Nelly's Irish Pub, modeled after the famous Durty Nelly's Irish Pub in Ireland. Sip Irish ale and munch peanuts, then toss the shells on the floor. This lively joint goes through a ton of goobers every three weeks.

In the mood for something a little more historic? Next door to the Alamo at the , the Menger Bar just might have you feeling like you've stepped in an English pub—and there's a jolly good reason. The establishment is a replica of London's House of Lords Pub. Paneled in dark woods, this historic bar was built in 1887 and is best known as the place where Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders in 1898.

Looking for some souvenirs to take back home? Check out Market Square, a shopping area that dates back to the early 1800s. The market's real claim to fame lies in the fact that it was the birthplace of chili con carne, the spicy meat and bean mixture that's now the state dish of Texas. Once young girls known as "chili queens" sold the concoction from small stands in the market.

Today the south of the border flavor of Market Square is seen in its shops and restaurants. Shop El Mercado for the same goods found in Mexico's mercados but without the bargaining. You’ll find silver jewelry, serapes, onyx chess sets, piñatas—just about everything you’d find in a south of the border mercado.

When you're ready for a break, stop by Market Square’s Mi Tierra, the 24-hour restaurant that's popular with locals and travelers and festive with Christmas decorations year around. While you wait for your Tex-Mex order, strolling troubadours take requests for Mexican ballads. Just as authentic is the adjacent panaderia, a Mexican bakery exuding its own tasty aromas: fresh tortillas and polvorones, cookies topped with cinnamon and sugar.

They’ll be a sweet reminder of your days in the Alamo City.

The Alamo Alamo Plaza between Houston and Crockett Sts. http://www.thealamo.org This “Cradle of Texas Liberty,” situated on the east side of Alamo Plaza, is probably the most famous spot in Texas. Established in 1718 as the Mission San Antonio de Valero, it plunged into history on March 6, 1836, when 188 men died after being attacked by the Mexican forces of General Santa Anna. Among the most famous defenders were Jim Bowie, William B. Travis, and Davy Crockett.

IMAX Theater Rivercenter Mall http://www.imax-sa.com This theater features The Price of Freedom, a 45-minute movie about the battle of the Alamo. The six-story screen and six-channel sound immerses you in the glory of the struggle, and it's a good thing to see before visiting the historic site. The theater alternates this movie with other IMAX features, so check for show times.

Tower of the Americas HemisFair Park http://www.toweroftheamericas.com This 750-foot tower is topped by a rotating restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. An observation deck offers an unbeatable view of the city. The tower is also home to the Skies Over Texas 4D Theatre Ride, a Texas-themed, multisensory ride that has you zooming in on Texas scenes and feeling like part of the action. Open daily.

Brackenridge Park 2800 block of North Broadway is a fine place for a picnic or a stroll, but for many visitors it's also a major destination because of the many attractions found there. Families should budget at least half a day, for example, to visit the zoo. Garden lovers, too, will find a wealth of sites to explore. Brackenridge Park is home to the Japanese Tea Gardens, and nearby San Antonio Botanical Gardens and the Halsell Conservatory display plants from the Lone Star State and from around the globe. Park activities include a carousel, railroad, and skyride. Rivercenter Mall 849 E. Commerce http://www.shoprivercenter.com/ This airy mall contains over 150 specialty shops and big-name department stores, as well as many restaurants. One of the most attractive shopping malls in the nation, Rivercenter stretches out over one million square feet encased in aqua-colored glass, giving shoppers a lovely view of the River Walk. Although the shopping is nice, the real attraction of the Rivercenter Mall is the river. A new arm of the San Antonio River was trenched out and extended into the U-shaped mall to bring the River Walk into the shopping center. The two sides of the mall are connected by the Bridge Market. Patterned after Italy's Ponte Vecchio, this area of the structure is filled with artisans selling their work. Entertainment takes place throughout the day at the mall's outdoor performance island. As river taxis lazily cruise past, singers and dancers entertain shoppers and diners. On weekends, visitors can look forward to anything from lively mariachi music to singers performing rousing Texas tunes.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park South of Downtown http://www.nps.gov/saan This national park stretches for nine miles along the San Antonio River and is comprised of four remaining missions (outside of the Alamo) constructed by the Franciscan friars in the 18th century. The missions are active parish churches today, and all are open to the public. Each of the four illustrates a different concept of mission life. Mission San Jose (6539 San Jose Dr.), the most complete structure in the tour, was built in 1720. It has beautiful carvings, 84 rooms that once housed Indians, a restored mill with waterwheel, and what may be the only complete mission fort in existence. Mission Concepcion (807 Mission Rd.), built in 1731, holds the title as the oldest unrestored stone church in the country. Mission San Juan Capistrano (9102 Graff Rd.) was relocated here from East Texas in 1731 but never completed. Mission San Francisco de la Espada (10040 Espada) was established in 1731. Its original chapel was in ruins by 1778 and the building was reconstructed around 1868. Open daily. 3903 N. St. Mary's St. This world-class zoo features barless “habitat cages” for many of its animals. The cliffs of an abandoned quarry house over 3,000 birds, fish, mammals, and other fauna, making the zoo the third largest animal collection in North America. There's a children's petting area, a reptile house, and an aquarium. Open daily year-round.

Casa Rio 430 Commerce http://www.casa-rio.com Since 1946, this restaurant has been best known as a tourist stop catering to folks eager to try some traditional Tex-Mex right on the banks of the river. There’s a real reason behind Casa Rio's long-running popularity. The green chicken and the cheese enchiladas are especially tasty, both served with sides of good ol' cholesterol-laden beans, rice, chips, and tortillas.

The County Line 111 Crockett St. http://www.countyline.com The County Line is an institution among Texas barbecue lovers. Have your table order the all-you-can-eat extravaganza and you’ll feast on beef ribs, brisket, and sausage served family style, with huge bowls of sour cream potato salad, crunchy coleslaw, and tasty pintos. The side dishes are made from scratch daily. There's even homemade bread that rises twice before baking. Dick's Last Resort 406 Navarro St. One of the rowdiest restaurants on the River Walk, this is the sort of place where the waiters and waitresses like to crack jokes and toss out matchbooks decorated with old photos of topless women, plus the ladies' room is decorated with photos of scantily clad hunks and vending machines offering fluorescent condoms. The restaurant offers both inside and outside seating. If you dine inside, plan to sit at huge communal tables and enjoy an earful of good blues played by some of the area's finest musicians. The menu here leans toward barbecue, but includes choices from burgers to chicken to shrimp. Everything is served in small tin buckets on a tablecloth of white butcher paper. Main dishes arrive with a bucket of french fries and bread.

The Fig Tree 515 Paseo De La Villita http://www.figtreerestaurant.com/ Continental cuisine is the order of the day at this elegant eatery. The prix fixe menu features beef Wellington, lobster, and rack of lamb, as well as buffalo ribeye, venison and antelope tenderloins, and quail. This restaurant is open for dinner only, and reservations are recommended.

Hard Rock Cafe 111 Crockett St. Part of the South Bank development project, the Hard Rock Cafe is filled with rock 'n roll memorabilia, good old American food, and, of course, the popular Hard Rock Cafe gift shop selling the requisite T-shirts.

Little Rhein Steakhouse 231 S. Alamo http://www.littlerheinsteakhouse.com/ Located where La Villita meets the River Walk near the Arneson River Theatre, this restaurant offers an excellent selection of fine steaks served on terraces overlooking the river. On less pleasant days, you may choose to dine inside the historic steak house, built in 1847, that witnessed the development of San Antonio under six flags. The stone building also survived the battle of the Alamo only a few blocks away. From the extensive menu here you can choose anything from T-bones to ribeye to porterhouse steak, all served with Texas caviar, a mixture of black-eyed peas and chopped onion. Reservations are recommended.

Zuni Bar and Grill 511 River Walk http://www.zunigrill.com/ This popular eatery serves Southwestern cuisine to River Walk diners, with selections that start with blue corn nachos and andouille and brie quesadillas and then progress to specials such as roasted poblano pepper filled with shrimp and mozzarella and spicy fajitas served with black beans.

If you can stay an extra day after the Alamo Bowl, this Texas-sized festival welcomes you. One of the country's largest New Year's Eve parties, the festivities culminate with the annual Celebrate San Antonio street bash, beginning at 6 p.m. in the heart of downtown and throughout historic La Villita.

About Celebrate San Antonio: Celebrate San Antonio counts down to 2007, ending with a fireworks display at midnight. Participants enjoy live music on six stages as well as children’s activities, strolling street performers and over 50 food and beverage booths. The event is free and open to the public. December 2006 Festivities

December 31 Kids’ Countdown. A 10:AM -2:00 PM New Year’s party for kids at the San Antonio Children’s Museum. Admission. 210-212-4453.

December 31 Celebrate San Antonio. New Year’s Eve celebration with live music, food, beverage booths and spectacular fireworks display. This year there will be six stages of entertainment that include: regional, pop and rock, international, international pop, a family stage for the kids and the main stage at HemisFair Park. Locations are at S. Alamo Street between Market and Durango streets, La Villita and HemisFair Park. City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation, San Antonio Parks Foundation. Free. 210-207-3078 or 210-212-8423.

For More San Antonio Information:

• see TexasTripper.com's San Antonio section • call 1-800-447-3372 (TTY 210-207-6706) • visit www.SanAntonioVisit.com