The Watermark Hotel and Spa lies in the heart of San Antonio's Cultural Arts District, around the corner from the magnificently restored Majestic Theatre and within walking distance of the Alamo, Convention Center and Rivercenter Mall.
Watermark Hotel and Spa is staffed with national and international accredited Les Clefs d'Or Concierge. The concierge section provides visitors the opportunity to explore this rich city and all its tradition and diverse attractions.
Be sure to check out the Talk of the Town section for local area events and activities.
The Alamo
This is the most famous spot in Texas where all 189 defenders fell on March 6, 1836, after a 13-day siege by Mexican General Santa Anna's Army. But an undying battle cry was born...REMEMBER THE ALAMO. Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) was established in 1718 as the city's first mission. The chapel, one of the most photographed facades in the nation, is all that remains of the original fort. Near the Chapel is the Long Barracks Museum and Library. The museum contains relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and is highlighted by narrations on the fall of the Alamo. Although the Alamo is located in the heat of the city, inside the beautifully landscaped grounds one hardly notices the busy city outside.
Located in HemisFair Park, the Institute is a museum for the interpretation and assimilation of Texas history and folk culture. A part of the University of Texas at San Antonio, it is an experience of sight, sound and touch where contributions from 28 different ethnic groups are displayed.
At the northwestern edge of Brackenridge Park, winding walkways, stone bridges and tranquil pools highlight this lush year round garden. These gardens are located in an old rock quarry, which produced the limestone that was used to build the State Capitol in Austin and many of the homes in San Antonio.
3800 N. St. Mary's Street, 78212. - (210) 821-3000 or 821-3121.
(A 25-block area near downtown on the south bank of the San Antonio River.) In the late 1800's, the King William District was the most elegant residential area in the city. Prominent German merchants originally settled the area. It was zoned as the state's first historic district, and has once again become a fashionable neighborhood. Many of the stately mansions are still being restored, while many of the other already beautifully restored Victorian homes reveal the grand life of an earlier day. Of particular interest is the Steves Homestead.
A $6.5 million conservatory complex with 90,000 sq. ft. of climatically controlled structures including an exhibition hall, tropical house, desert house, palm house, fern room and a orangery. Visitors enter at ground level and follow a tunnel 16ft. below the surface where architecture separates different environments within a series of tent-like pavilions surrounding a large inner courtyard and pond. Believed to rank among the top 10 botanical centers in the nation.
San Antonio's missions were built to endure as symbols to God and the Spanish crown. They were part of a chain of missions established early in the 18th century by the Franciscan Order of the Catholic Churchduring the period of Spain's greatest colonial power. Their cultural influence on the land and its people was profound. The self-sustaining, multipurpose establishments served as churches,fortifications, Indian pueblos, military barracks, schools and granaries. All four missions located along Mission Trail still serve as parish churches. The San Antonio Missions National Historic Park includes all of the missions except for the Alamo. San Antonio is one of the few urban areas in the United States that hasa National Park within its city limits. The National Park Service has assigned interpretive themes to each of the four missions within the park. The city's Mission Trail begins at the Alamo and winds southward along a nine mile stretch of the San Antonio River.
The Paseo del Rio, in the heart of downtown, is the pride of the city. Lush green subtropical foliage lines the banks of the peaceful jade green river. Cobblestone walkways lead visitors to the river-level restaurants, shops and night-clubs. The river threads its way through the city one level below the busy streets. Here, along the horseshoe-shaped riverbend, the river is shaded by towering cypresses, oaks and willows and bordered by gardens of flowering ornamental plants. River boats ply the Paseo's festive 21 blocks, which are imaginatively lighted at night and studded with sidewalk cafes, gift shops, restaurants, nightclubs and hotels.
Completed in 1749, San Fernando Cathedral has been the city's parish church for nearly 250 years. The cathedral's bells once warned parishioners of Indian attacks.
115 Main Plaza, 78205. - (210) 227-1297 - (210) 829-SAMA
The Tower, which stands 750 feet from the ground to the top of the antenna, offers the visitor a panoramic view of San Antonio and the surrounding area. Glass-walled elevators ascend over five hundred feet to the observation level. The Tower of the Americas was constructed as the theme structure of the 1968 HemisFair and stands as a symbol of the progress made by the confluence of civilizations in the western hemisphere.
