[Published in the July/August issue of PSC magazine]
By Tina Chaffin, Glenda Olivier and Shannon Parker
Located in south-central Texas, where Interstate 10 meets Interstate 35, San Antonio is a city of 1.5 million, rich with history and culture. The popular tourist destination in Bexar (pronounced “bear”) County offers various restaurants, shops, amusement parks, live music, theater and outdoor activities.
HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO
Spanish expeditions to the San Antonio area in the late 1600s encountered a small Native American community. In 1718, Mission San Antonio de Valero was established as the first Spanish settlement in Texas. It would be the first of multiple Spanish missions built in the area. In 1773 San Antonio de Béxar was named the capital of Spanish Texas. In 1795 San Antonio de Valero was converted to a military barracks and would come to be known as the Alamo.
After years of conflict, Texas engaged in numerous battles to gain independence from Mexico. Many of the battles occurred in or around San Antonio. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a 13-day siege between Santa Anna’s Mexican Army and the Texians. Before it was over, Santa Anna and his troops killed every man fighting for Texas and lost many soldiers of their own. The fatalities included Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and William B. Travis. Determined to avenge the Alamo, the Texians and Tejanos joined forces to defeat Santa Anna and his men at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Troops at this battle rallied with the cry “Remember the Alamo.” Texas claimed independence and formed the Republic of Texas. In December 1836, the Republic of Texas created Bexar County, naming San Antonio as the county seat. San Antonio would continue to grow with the help of the Chisholm Trail and railroads.
CLOSE TO THE CONFERENCE VENUE
Today, visitors can take a photo in front of the Alamo near the “line in the sand.” Texas legend says William Travis drew a line in the sand and told his men they could surrender to Santa Anna or cross the line and fight for the compound. Afterward, visitors can walk through the buildings and grounds of the Alamo, review historical documents and artifacts, and dive into the area’s history. Admission to the Alamo is free, and guided tours are available for a fee. Reservations are required for both types of admission and can be made online. The Alamo is a 10-minute walk from the convention center and most
conference hotels.
After a visit to the Alamo, conference attendees who walk across the street and down the stairs will find themselves on the San Antonio River Walk. The River Walk is a cement walkway lined with restaurants, shops, hotels and even a mall. Diners will find a vast array of restaurants, from fine dining to quick bites. The San Antonio River runs between the walkways, ranging from 2 to 24 feet deep. The River Walk is 15 miles long, but most restaurants and shops can be
found near the conference site.
There is no cost to walk along the River Walk, but there is a small fee for a narrated boat tour. A Museum Reach section of the River Walk leads visitors to family-friendly museums, the San Antonio Zoo, a golf course and the Japanese Tea Gardens. A water taxi is available to this section of the River Walk.
The area above the River Walk is filled with theaters, restaurants, attractions and souvenir shops. Some of the highlights include The Majestic Theater, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Howl at the Moon Piano Bar and Escape the Room.
Looking into the sky south of the convention center, attendees will see the Tower of Americas. The 750-foot tower was built for the 1968 HemisFair World’s Fair, celebrating San Antonio’s 250th Anniversary. Visitors can go to the observation deck for a 360-degree view of San Antonio, watch a 4D film, or have dinner and drinks in one of the restaurants.
AROUND SAN ANTONIO
Outside the conference area, San Antonio has restaurants guaranteed to please any appetite. Many restaurants in the San Antonio area have been featured on the Food Network or the Travel Channel. A trip to San Antonio wouldn’t be complete without a breakfast taco, which locals insist were created here, not in Austin, as a newspaper article once tried to claim. There is an ongoing rivalry between Austin and San Antonio for the best breakfast taco and, according to San Antonio diners, San Antonio definitely holds the title.
Historic Market Square is a unique shopping venue about 10 minutes by car from the convention center. Filled with booths celebrating the cultural and ethnic influences of the area, shoppers can find jewelry, clothes, candles, pottery, artwork and locally made treats. The shops are closed Tuesday and Wednesday but are open the rest of the week.
Approximately 3 miles south of downtown, visitors will find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The missions have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The missions were established in the late 1600s and early 1700s to spread religion through the area. Each of the four missions is separated by about 2.5 miles from the next. The best option to visit the missions is to drive. Sea World offers thrill rides, marine life shows and interactive animal experiences. It is 30 minutes west of downtown San Antonio. Sea World visitors can purchase a combination ticket for access to the waterpark Aquatica.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is 30 minutes north of downtown. Fiesta Texas is unique because it is an amusement park with roller coasters and thrill rides and a water park with a large selection of water rides and water features. The admission covers both the amusement park and the water park.
BEFORE OR AFTER THE CONFERENCE
If time permits, take a short drive just north of San Antonio to an area known as Hill Country. With cool rivers, spectacular scenery and live music venues, there is something for everyone.
New Braunfels is 45 minutes north of San Antonio on Interstate 35. Settled by German immigrants in the 1800s, the city embraces its heritage with festivals, restaurants and bakeries. New Braunfels is also a tubing access point to the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers, a
favorite Texas summer activity.
The Comal River is spring-fed with a steady temperature of 70 to 72 degrees year round, a sure way to beat the Texas heat. Tubing the Comal is a family-friendly experi
ence, and other than the Chute (which can be bypassed), the river flow is calm and steady. The Guadalupe River is fed from Canyon Lake and is a favorite of college-aged tubers. Both the water and the tubers tend to be a little rowdier than the Comal. On summer weekends, the Guadalupe is sometimes packed tube-to-tube. It’s great fun for some, but families may prefer the Comal.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark is a must for waterpark lovers. Consistently voted the No. 1 waterpark in the world, it has rides suitable for all ages. The Torrent Wave River is a unique lazy river/wave pool, keeping kids occupied for hours. Guests can bring their own picnic lunch or grab a snack at one of the many food shacks. In-park lodging is also available.
A trip to New Braunfels wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Bucee’s, which touts itself as the largest convenience store in the world. Buc-ee’s is filled with snacks, Texas BBQ, gifts and souvenirs, and their staple product “Beaver Nuggets.” You can even buy a float for the river.
Gruene (pronounced “green”) is about 10 minutes from downtown New Braunfels and is home to the oldest dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall. The venue has hosted concerts from some of the biggest names in country music and is a bucket-list must for live music fans. The historic area is home to several restaurants, some with breathtaking river views, and many shops and antique stores. Between San Antonio and New Braunfels, tourists will find Natural Bridge Caverns. A short drive off Interstate 35, the caverns are an educational but fun adventure. For those unafraid of heights, there is a 60-foot-high rope and zip rail course outside. The course provides a thrilling ride with views of the beautiful Hill Country. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch sits across the street from the caverns. Filled with over 500 exotic animals, visitors drive through this Texas-style safari with feed for the animals. Afterward, children can enjoy the petting zoo and other animals on a short “walk-about.” Recent reviews suggest arriving early to beat the crowds.
GETTING AROUND THE AREA
The best option to get around the San Antonio area is to use a ride-sharing service. To get outside of San Antonio, it’s best to have a rental car and a good mapping app. Unfortunately, Texas has more vehicles than roadways, and traffic can sometimes gridlock. Give yourself extra time to get to and from your destinations.
PREPARING FOR THE CLIMATE
If you’ve never been to Texas in the summer before, it is hot! The average temperature in August in San Antonio is 94 to 98 degrees, and it is not uncommon to see 3-digit temperatures well into the fall. The heat index, how hot the air feels, is an average of 117 degrees in August.
Here are some tips to prepare for the extreme Texas heat:
- Hydrate. Even if you don’t plan to be outside very much, start drinking a lot of water a couple days before you arrive and continue to drink water throughout your stay.
- If you plan to exercise outside, try to go out in the early morning or just before dusk when the temperatures are slightly lower.
- Use sunscreen if you plan to be outside for any amount of time. This is especially important if you plan to visit a water park or the rivers.
- Wear loose, light-colored clothing while outside. Consider wearing a hat, and bring a couple of pairs of sunglasses. If you go on the river, you will lose at least one pair of sunglasses.
- Bring allergy medicine because Texas allergy season is essentially year-round. If you have any outdoor allergies, bring allergy meds, inhalers, eye drops and other helpful medicines. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the pollen count is no exception.
At the time of this writing, most venues are open, though some may have restrictions. It is highly recommended to purchase tickets online when available and research social distancing requirements and regulations before planning outings. Face masks are still strongly encouraged in Bexar County.
We can’t wait to see you in San Antonio! APCO 2021 promises to have great speakers, fun events and excellent networking opportunities. If you are attending alone, look for a Texas attendee; we’d be glad to show you some southern hospitality! We want to be sure our visitors “Remember APCO 2021!”
INTERESTING FACTS
Each year San Antonio holds Fiesta®. The event started in 1891 with the Battle of Flowers parade honoring heroes of the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto. Today, the event is a 10-day celebration with over 100 activities in San Antonio and surrounding cities.
Six different flags have flown over the State of Texas. The flags are of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States and the Confederacy. When the first Six Flags over Texas park opened, the park was divided by areas named after each f lag.
The state has such an extensive history that Texas Junior High students spend their entire seventh-grade year learning state’s history.
Tina Chaffin is a Castle Hills (Texas) Police Department Public Safety Telecommunicator, Glenda Olivier is a Castle Hills Police Department Public Safety Telecommunicator, and Shannon Parker is a Castle Hills Police Department Communications Supervisor.
