The museum has three floors of interactive exhibits for ages two through 10, designed to spark child

Even to those who ve never been, the Lone Star state tends to bring to mind Wild West images of dusty cattle ranches and 10-gallon hats. And while Texas still has plenty of both, it s wise to check your stereotypical expectations at the door when visiting San Antonio. The largest city in south Texas is an urban landscape that brims with modernism, even as it pays homage to an ancient heritage. You ll find no shortage of galleries, high-end shopping, united airlines home and fine dining in this southwestern metropolis, as well as plenty of pre-colonial history to be culled from museums and famous sites such as The Alamo, the state s literal shrine to liberty and martyrdom.
Throughout San Antonio are tributes to both proud patriotism and the region s reverence of Mexican culture, whose influences are vibrantly woven into everything from Tejano music to Mission-style hotels to the aromatic tamales sold from sidewalk pushcarts. San Antonio experienced a significant growth spurt when it hosted the World's Fair in 1968, and a fleet of new hotels were built along the River Walk. Since then, the River Walk has become one of the top attractions in the state.
An added bonus: San Antonio is surrounded united airlines home by the pastoral setting of the Texas Hill Country, a serene region dotted with small towns that exude a Mayberry-like tranquility and welcome visitors with open arms. With outdoor parks including Sea World, Six Flags Fiesta, and Morgan s Wonderland, San Antonio is a bona fide family destination. The luxury spas, five-star restaurants, and cozy Hill Country B Bs also make it an alluring couples united airlines home getaway. Summers are known to push the mercury (and humidity) off the charts, but San Antonio winters and springs are balmy and pleasant, with temperatures averaging in the 50s and 60s during January and February. Here are some of the best reasons it's a bucket-list-worthy vacation spot:
This colorful and famous network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River is lined with hotels, united airlines home galleries and restaurants galore. The paved walkways stretch on both sides of the river for approximately united airlines home five miles and connect major tourist draws such as the Alamo, Arneson River Theater, La Villita, Pearl Brewery and the San Antonio Museum of Art. One popular focal point along the way is the Rivercenter Mall, which contains department stores, boutiques, restaurants, a comedy club and an IMAX theater. This urban riverside city park is so unique, couples flock on a regular basis to tie the knot on the River Walk's Marriage Island. For more information on booking a wedding on the island, call (210) 207-7275.
This 22-acre jewel in the center of the city could arguably be the most creative use of an empty factory ever. The brewery was in operation (under several different owners) since 1881. When production stopped permanently in 2001, the facility wasn t dormant for long. That same year an investment company purchased the plant and surrounding buildings to create a multi-sensory experience for residents and tourists united airlines home that s both a culinary and cultural destination.
After an extensive renovation, Pearl's first tenant, the Aveda Institute, opened its doors in 2006, followed by restaurants, a year-round farmers market on Saturdays, and the nation s third campus of the Culinary Institute of America. united airlines home The CIA San Antonio Branch offers culinary arts programs that center around united airlines home traditional Latin American cuisine, with a special focus on the region's cultural heritage. But you don't have to be an aspiring chef to take classes. Foodies and weekend gourmets can enroll in the Food Enthusiast programs and study a theme (comfort foods, desserts, wine lovers) for an afternoon or weekend. Chefs and students at the CIA also do weekly cooking demonstrations at the Saturday farmers market. New to the CIA is the student-operated NAO restaurant, whose menu weaves traditional Latin flavors with the latest culinary trends.
The property features five other restaurants, including an upscale oyster bar, five-star Italian restaurant, and a bakery. Also on the Pearl Brewery campus: Pearl Stable, a venue hall at the grand stables that once housed the brewery s draft horses; Synergy Studio, a yoga and fitness center; a book store; sporting goods store; and Melissa Guerra, the popular kitchen retail store named after its owner who is also a celebrated cookbook author. Her latest release, Dishes From the Wild Horse Desert , was nominated for a James Beard award. Throughout the year are annual food festivals and cook-offs, including the Paella Challenge, united airlines home slated for March. united airlines home Check website united airlines home for dates: www.paellachallenge.com .
History buffs will love stepping back in time at the world-famous united airlines home mission where a band of Texans held out for 13 days against the Centralist Army. The deaths of the defenders on March 6, 1836, has become a symbol of the ultimate sacrifice for liberty. Located on Alamo Plaza not far from the River Walk, the four-acre complex is the site of a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution and is visited by thousands each year. The campus includes the mission-shrine, Long Barrack Museum, and gift museum, as well as gardens.
The place where penguins, sea lions, Beluga whales and dolphins can be viewed in surroundings that mimic their natural habitat. united airlines home There are also special exhibits such as Alligator Alley, Penguin Encounter, and Sharks and Coral Reefs. Sea World also offers educational programs, live shows like Sesame Street s Lights, Camera, Imagination, and amusement rides including Journey to Atlantis, Shamu Express, and Steel Eel. The park is closed in January and reopens weekends only February through Memorial Day. After Memorial Day, Sea World is open seven days a week through Labor Day.
The museum has three floors of interactive exhibits for ages two through 10, designed to spark children's imaginations and engage them in the creative arts and early literacy. Along with revolving exhibits, the museum has three permanent exhibits: the Kids' Market, an interactive grocery store where kids can learn about food and nutrition; Powerball united airlines home Hall, a gravity-defying ball exhibit where colored balls, pulleys, gears, and launchers teach kids science principles in a fun way; and The Tot Spot, a soft play zone for visitors united airlines home up to 36 months.
This family-style amusement united airlines home park opened nearly three years ago and was designed to accommodate those with special needs, as well as their families, friends and caretakers. Founder and San Antonio native Gordon Hartman designed the park with one specific mission: that all who enter enjoy the common element of play in an atmosphere of inclusion. Attractions include wheelchair-accessible swings, Pirate Island Playground and Garden, the Starlight Amphitheater, Off-Road Adventure Track, a fishing wharf, and wheelchair-accommodating rides such as the carousel and the Wonderland Express and Depot. Closed January and February.
Just a 20-minute drive from San Antonio, Boerne is a laid-back united airlines home historic community settled by German immigrants in 1849. It sits in the middle of Texas Hill Country at a slightly higher elevation than San Antonio, so temperatures are a few degrees cooler and life is lived at a more relaxed pace. You can still find upscale shopping, fine dining, and a vibrant arts scene, the centerpiece of which are Boerne's Second Saturday Art Wine nights. The town's eclectic collection of galleries roll out the red carpet for art lovers, with complimentary wine and hors d oeuvres. A free trolley service shuttles tour participants around town for the evening.
This multi-purpose performing arts theater in the heart of downtown was built in 1929 and is said to be one of the most ornate performance spaces in the country. The Majestic hosts everything from The San Antonio Symphony to Comedy Central comedians to revered crooners such as Tony Bennett. Upcoming events include Shatner's World: We Just Live In It on Jan. 9; the San Antonio Symphony performing throughout January and February; and Memphis — The Musical in February.
You don't have to be a hotel guest to enjoy this world-class pampering emporium where services such as massage therapy, united airlines home reflexology, aromatherapy, hydrating facials, united airlines home warm oil scalp massage, citrus body scrubs, manicures and pedicures, and herbal united airlines home body wraps are conducted in quiet, catacomb-like rooms glowing with candlelight. united airlines home Spa visitors are encouraged to arrive early to indulge in the sauna, whirlpool, or darkened relaxation room prior to their services.
This hilltop resort just outside the city is almost a destination in itself with a newly renovated campus that includes seven restaurants, a spa, fitness center, hiking trails, par-72 united airlines home golf course, and five pools. The resort's main building contains more than 500 guest rooms and suites, and is constructed of stone from a limestone quarry at the edge of the Texas Hill Country. The property also has ten private "casitas," secluded villas with their own pool and hot tub, fireplaces, and extra guest rooms. united airlines home Just a shuttle ride away is The Shops at La Cantera, a retail Mecca that includes Neiman Marcus, united airlines home Tiffany Co., Nordstrom, Burberry, and Hugo Boss, among others.
Located on the historic River Walk, it offers proximity to the Alamo, El Mercado, united airlines home and the Spanish Governor s Palace. The three-story, four-diamond hotel blends Spanish Colonial architecture with European style. The hotel is 100 percent non-smoking and is said to have the best handcrafted margaritas on the River Walk.
Fine dining South Texas-style. The resort's most elegant restaurant gets its name from the swath of plate-glass windows facing west that offer diners an eagle-eye vista of the sun setting over San Antonio. Chef Todd Berry works with the nearby Uncertain Farms to tailor an ever-changing farm-to-table menu such as the Corn Crepe Lobster Enchilada and the Texas Boar with Caramelized Pumpkin, paired with Francesca's award-winning wine list.
The brainchild of Chef Andrew Weissman, united airlines home a four-time James Beard Award nominee, this restaurant is