Besides writing, I love traveling and
exploring other worlds. This year, I wanted to do something different: perhaps
with a bit of excitement, relaxation and some time to reflect on my next
inspiration. This yearning led to a four thousand mile road trip to the
southern states! My first destination ended up being San Antonio, Texas. My
itinerary for San Antonio was a highly ambitious one: The River Walk, The
Alamo, Museums, Sightseeing tours, a River Walk Cruise, Botanical Gardens,
Zoos, Caverns, A Water Park, Market Square, Restaurants, Parks, the San Fernando
Cathedral, Sea World, and not to mention the historical and cultural richness
throughout the city.
Being a writer and a
photography enthusiast, I love taking road trips whenever possible. Therefore, without much hesitation, I
ventured from beautiful Southern California on a family road trip at about 2:00
a.m. For some people, this long road trip through most of the U.S. southern
states could be considered a punishment, but to me, it was the opposite. The
solemnity of the desert and the mystery of its living things opened the gates
of our imagination. I’ve always wanted to visit San Antonio, the second largest
city in Texas. Its rich history and cultural diversity, the home style cooking,
and of course its well-known River Walk all appealed to us.
As soon as we arrived, I
immediately sensed a different charm to what I have experienced in other
cities. As I began to explore downtown San Antonio, I could not help to see the
resemblances between the lush waterways of the River Walk and it’s beautifully
assembled architectural buildings to the waterways of Venice, Italy and the
1930’s style buildings of New York. I was also hungry, and the abundance of inviting
restaurants with seating next to the river nearly became overwhelming.
Nonetheless, I chose one of the Tex-Mex restaurants I thought had the greatest
view by the river. We sat there like all the other tourists, slowly savoring a
cold drink while at the same time enjoying a traditional San Antonio Tex-Mex
meal.
I eventually found the
courage to leave the confines of the restaurant to embark on a Rio Cruise that
is another unique San Antonio must-do experience. As I listened to the tour
guide highlighting the historical aspects of the River Walk and the
architecture of the buildings that are complimented by lush and exotic flora, I
became sidetracked by the thriving animal life within the beautiful greenery.
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| The River Walk is a vibrant place at night as well |
From there, we stopped by
another particularly enticing place: The Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. This is
a rare and truly unique drive-in zoo that offers the longest running safari park in
Texas with species from around the world. Upon entering the Zoo, you’re given a
bag of food to feed the animals. It was beautiful to drive slowly, seeing the
animals roam about as they would in their natural habitat. Then, at some point,
my camera lenses detected a Llama preparing to spit into my window-but, not
before I closed it!
By now, I was ready to
attack my itineraries some more! The next morning, we engulfed ourselves into a
45-minute IMAX docudrama entitled “ALAMO-The price of Freedom,” at the San
Antonio IMAX theatre Rivercenter. The docudrama relived the history of the
unforgettable Texan and Tejano defenders fight for independence. It explained
the Alamo and the immense sacrifices that were made. Watching the movie helped
me gain a better understanding of the meaning of the Alamo and the many people
that made the ultimate sacrifice in order for future generations to live on its
land freely. This is a must do attraction!
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| Before you go to the Alamo, the Alamo-The Price of Freedom IMAX docudrama is a must see |
Afterwards, my family and I
headed back to downtown San Antonio, which beckoned us to explore some of its
many other attractions, like the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, that is
located right across from the Alamo. As we visited the Wax Museum, we ended up
having a few moments of fame with Oprah, President Obama and Jay Leno. But
after getting spooked at the haunted house, we ended up paying a visit to the
historical and breathtaking San Fernando Cathedral and the Main Plaza. The San
Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio is said to be the oldest cathedral sanctuary
in the United States. The famous Alamo defender James Bowie was married and
buried there, Santa Ana used it as an observation post and other legends such
as William Travis and Davy Crockett are also buried there! The cathedral is a
spiritual experience to the soul and to the eyes as it has been breathtakingly
designed. Afterwards, we returned to the reprieve of the River Walk for another
Texas-size cold Margarita and the calming waters of the river.
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There is so much to see and
do at San Antonio! There is enough for the young and older who desire from:
nightclubs, bars, zoos, ranches, caverns, eateries, museums, to art galleries
and more. However, what makes it all the more remarkable is its rich history
and memorable southern hospitality. With that being said, I would like to
express my sincere appreciation to the city of San Antonio for providing
valuable tips and resources that made our experience at San Antonio—an unforgettable
one.
Stay tuned for Episode
II—New Orleans and the Swamps!
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