Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, the Alamo was founded in 1718, the first in a series of missions along the San Antonio River. But the site is perhaps most famous as the location of a battle in 1836 that helped secure Texas's independence from Mexico, a legacy guarded by Alamo Rangers around the clock.  

The San Antonio River threads a path through the city, curving around downtown's buildings, along which the meandering River Walk invites lovers to stroll arm-in-arm beneath arching cypress trees as flat-bottom barges cruise the channel.  

Tex-Mex cuisine is said to have originated in San Antonio, and the city's dining scene thrives with long-running family establishments like the Treviño family's El Mirador, a place where the line out the door speaks to a legion of fans.  

Along the San Antonio River dozens of restaurants offer a variety of cuisines. French, Italian, seafood, and—of course—Texas-size steaks fill plenty of menus. The riverside ambience is unbeatable.  

Five sites make up the Missions of San Antonio, stretching south from the Alamo. Walk or ride the Mission Hike and Bike Trail 11 miles to the southern end and you'll reach this charmer, the Mission Espada.  

The Mission San José, where the park visitor center is located, is the largest and perhaps the best known of the Texas missions.  

The streets of the King William Historic District are lined with elegant mansions dating to the late 1800s, along with more intimate bungalows such as this quirky abode.  

A festive component of Day of the Dead celebrations, Katrina dolls were designed to show that even the most fashionable in society would eventually succumb to the afterlife, just as everyone else. The dolls are sold at a number of San Antonio shops.  

San Antonio is home to a host of contemporary artisans, and at Garcia Art Glass visitors can watch hand-blown glass bowls and lighting sconces come to life.  

San Antonio's most iconic monument, the Alamo receives 2.5 million visitors a year who stroll through beautiful gardens and hear the story of the fateful 13 days in 1836 when the former mission became a rallying cry to help Texans defeat the Mexican Army.