See the Best of the San Antonio River Walk
Make your way to the river in San Antonio and step back in time with a splash of history, a hot feast of classic Mexican dishes, a cold brew in an old bar, a glittering holiday boat parade or a rowdy annual canoe race.
The San Antonio River Walk is family-friendly and serves up tasty delights, fun and entertainment and a really nice walk. It's free, it's open 365 days a year, and stairs from all major street crossings descend the 30 feet from street-level to a magical world, half-hidden from the city.
A Little History
"Paseo del rio" means river walk in Spanish. The winding Yanaguana River was rechristened the San Antonio in 1691, but it took a series of deadly floods in the early 20th century for the city to redesign and tame it. The river you visit today is a walk-lined magnet for locals and tourists—its banks paved, its historic buildings restored and filled with charming shops, casual and gourmet restaurants and a lively calendar of family-friendly events. River Walk is still writing its history. A 21st-century renovation of the ornate 1926 Meso-Aztec movie palace, the Aztec Theater, created a multi-use, live performance, music and retail center.
Get Wet—Rolling on the River
You can't paddle down the river yourself unless you enter the annual Ford Canoe Challenge—90 teams battling it out in heats right past your umbrella-shaded table. Open to the public every August and it’s just as much fun to watch and cheer on your favorite team. Cooler weather brings the Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony—more than two dozen elaborate floats, live music, costumes and celebrities. Pre-purchase seating online at the San Antonio River Walk website, book a riverside seat in a restaurant meal-and-parade package or bring your own chair. Cruise up and down the river on an open barge and gawk at the tourists watching you from the riverbanks—narrated tours are 35 minutes. Rio Taxi tickets can be purchased online or at a river station.
The Pearl
Hop off the Rio Taxi at Museum Reach to take in The Pearl. The old Pearl Brewery, an 1881 Victorian-industrial brick structure and grounds, is 23 acres of mixed-use eating and greeting places that include some of San Antonio's finest restaurants. The Culinary Institute of America has a branch here that specializes in Latin cuisines. There's a craft brewpub, celebrity chef eateries—for special occasion splurges, vegetarian and organic restaurants and lots to snack on. Try fresh everything and locally grown goodies at the busy Saturday morning Farmer's Market. The Twig independent bookstore schedules evening author readings and Twiglet Story Time on summer Fridays.
Eats and Treats
Use historical research as an excuse to stop in for a cold brew at Esquire Tavern, San Antonio's oldest bar, opened on the day Prohibition ended. The meticulously restored vintage building has legendary fried pickles, chili fries, mashed potato tacos and a full moderately priced restaurant menu—kids are served until 10 p.m. Casa Rio is Mexico right on the river. Bright umbrellas, Tex-Mex and as close to the water as you can get without falling in it. The Rivercenter Mall, a Rio Taxi stop, has an IMAX theater where you can see the 48-minute Alamo movie after getting a quick slice of pizza or an ice cream cone. Five & Dime General Store also has loads of T-shirts and souvenirs, right on the River Walk.
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