The Riverwalk in San Antonio is the center of the city’s action. From the road, you barely know it’s there, but descend one story down from street-level and you’ll find yourself along the banks of a winding river, lined with overhanging trees, kitschy souvenir shops and Tex-Mex restaurants.

Riverwalk

After you’ve checked out the Alamo(and realized just how small the remaining structure really is), head down to the picturesque Riverwalk. In addition to a string of restaurants, – each with brightly colored umbrellas on their outdoor patios – bars, hotels, art galleries, museums, and shops, the Riverwalk is also home to several special events throughout the year, like craft fairs, holiday festivals, and wine-tastings.

For the full scoop on the history of the San Antonio River and the creation of the Riverwalk, hop a ride on a Rio San Antonio River Cruise. The cruises are 35-40 minutes long and cover two and a half miles of the Riverwalk. Fees are $8.50 for adults and $2 for children under 5 years old. The cruises depart regularly between 9am and 9pm. Dinner cruises, cocktail cruises, and charters for large groups are also available.

If you plan on hitting several stops along the Riverwalk, it makes sense to buy a day pass on the Riverwalk river taxi. A one-way pass is $5, a 24-hour pass is $10 and a three-day pass is $25. Each pass is good for unlimited rides on the water taxi.

Photo credit: Katie Hammel