San Antonio State of Mind: Things to Do
This year BRMConnect is happenin’ in good ol’ San Antonio, Texas, right on the River Walk! We’d reckon you’d want us to tell ya’ all great places to eat and be entertained.
Never been here before? Well, we’re fixin’ to show you all the fun stuff you can do down on the ol’ River Walk and around San Antonio, Texas!
Oh, the places you’ll go!
Go Rio Cruises (Entertainment)
With a fleet of eco-friendly electric river boats in vibrant colors inspired by Mexican folk art, GO RIO offers an unforgettable experience of the San Antonio River Walk that reflects the sights, wonders and culture of a unique American city. Guests can take narrated or specialty river cruises, chartered excursions or catch a ride on our GO RIO river shuttle from downtown to the Museum Reach to experience the Soul of San Antonio.
San Antonio River Walk (Art, entertainment, dining & shopping)
Robert H. H. Hugman was a young architect with a vision. His concept of winding pathways and bridges flanking the river was his beautiful solution to harnessing the river running through downtown. It also managed heavy seasonal rains, saving both lives and dollars. It wasn’t until much later that the full vision of the Father of the River Walk realized its’ full potential.
The Alamo (History & Entertainment)
Walk in the footsteps of heroes with our one hour guided tour – The Alamo: A Story Bigger Than Texas. An experienced Alamo history interpreter will walk you through Alamo Plaza, revealing the story of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo and taking you to key battlefield locations that are today hidden under San Antonio’s streets.
Want more things to do?
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Escape the Room San Antonio (Entertainment)
Escape the Room San Antonio brings reality entertainment to new heights with puzzles, unique storylines, and escape routes. Bring your friends on an adventure they will never forget while unlocking clues to escape the room. Each escape room has its own theme, setting and series of challenges. That way, you can always play a new adventure!
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Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair (Art & Entertainment)
Open to the public since 2015, Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair is a beautifully landscaped outdoor wonderland for kids and adults of all ages and abilities. Kids dig in the Sand Play area and cool off in the Union Pacific Railroad Splash Pad. Adults play ping pong or cornhole over drinks in the shade. Adaptive play equipment allows wheelchair users and little ones to join in on the playground fun. In the evening, Yanaguana Garden is lit up with artistic colors, inviting diners to stroll toward one of the lively outdoor eateries.
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Towers of the Americas (Entertainment, Dining, & Shopping)
Located in downtown San Antonio, the 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas provides guests the most spectacular view of the Alamo City. Enjoy the gorgeous panorama from the Tower’s revolving Chart House Restaurant, take in the scenery from the Observation Deck or experience the thrilling 4D Theater Ride. For a taste of the best dining and fun that San Antonio Riverwalk restaurants have to offer, come take a flight with the Tower of the Americas.
Off the River Walk
The Mission Trails
Though the concept for creation of the Mission Trails hike-and-bike system was originally developed in 1993, the project was part of a continuous tradition of preserving and improving public access to the San Antonio mission system that has been ongoing for almost a century. San Antonio has always been renowned as the home of “the greatest concentration of Catholic missions in North America,” including Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo), Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano, and Mission San Francisco de la Espada.
The Pearl District (Art, entertainment & dining)
Pearl is a thriving and vibrant community, home to many spirited visionaries who each paint a unique portrait of the South Texas past, present and future. From culture to cuisine, we hope you explore to your heart’s content.
Let’s Chow Down
You won’t find any chain restaurants on this list!
The Republic of Texas Restaurant
The Republic of Texas Restaurant® offers a variety of dining experiences to make your visit to San Antonio, Texas a memorable one. The Republic of Texas Restaurant® is open daily, Monday through Sunday. Enjoy our extensive lunch and dinner menu including such items as the Gigantic El Grande Mexican Plate, Half pound burgers, Sizzlin Fajitas, and our colossal 42 oz. Margarita served in a souvenir take-home glass and much, much more.
Pinkerston’s Barbecue
What started out as a barbecue pit and a dream has grown into one of Texas’ best BBQ joints. Grant Pinkerton prides himself on the quality of his meat and his sides, all made daily from scratch. His restaurant serves variations of his family’s recipes as well as some of his own originals. Pinkerton, with no formal training, relentlessly pursued his dream and has been recognized on Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ Joints list, selected for the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 and won Memphis in May Beef Grand Champion in 2019. Pinkerton’s Barbecue has been featured on the Travel Channel, Food Network and Cooking Channel.
Biga
Bruce Auden, a native North Londoner, is well known for his adventuresome, original and creative menus. Recognized early in his career as one to watch among the new rising stars of regional cuisine, Auden brought a worldly fusion of influences to his brand of nouvelle American cuisine. One reviewer declared Auden’s dishes “extraordinary creations that play havoc with tradition.” His pitch-perfect style brings a lighthearted touch to serious gastronomy, earning his restaurants a loyal fan base of foodies and non-foodies alike for over twenty-five years.
Want to find out more about where the locals go to eat in San Antonio? You’ll wanna track down our very own gal from Texas, Amy Moses. If you’re lucky enough to find her at BRMConnect, make sure to ask her about the handful of locals’ restaurants she keeps tucked in her back pocket!