Things to Do

September 19 - 21, 2022 | San Antonio, TX

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The great state of Texas boasts "everything is bigger in Texas".  Below are some of San Antonio's biggest treasures ready for you to explore. In between getting great deals, learning the latest trends and discovering technology advancements in the corrugated industry, be sure to include the rich history, beauty and adventure San Antonio has to offer.

 

Natural Bridge Caverns and Bracken Cave Bat Conservation

Explore the largest known commercial caverns in the state. These slowly developing caverns welcome you in grand style with a 60' natural limestone slab bridge at the entrance before taking you 180' below the surface.

Join some 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats at Bracken Cave, the home of the largest bat colony in the world and the largest known concentration of mammals. Consider visiting late in the day to experience the emergence of these millions of bats, as they spiral out of the cave at dusk for their nightly insect hunt.

 

The Alamo

The 1836 battle for the Alamo is remembered as a David vs. Goliath story. A band of badly outnumbered Texans fought against oppression by the Mexico's Santa Anna, holding off the siege long enough for Sam Houston to move the main rebel force east and providing them a rallying cry at the Battle of San Jacinto.

 

 

Go on a Mission:

Spanish Governor Palace, Mission San Juan and Mission San Francisco De La Espada

Explore the comandancia for the captains of the military garrison from 1722 until the early 1800s. This National Historic Landmark represents the last visual remnants of the Presidio San Antonio de Béjar.

Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1731 by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order. Located on the eastern banks of the San Antonio River, the settlement was named for a 15th-century theologian and warrior priest who resided in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Mission San Francisco De La Espada was the first mission in Texas. Founded in 1690, the mission was transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada in 1731.

The River Walk

Navigate the history of San Antonio on the 15-mile urban waterway known as Paseo del Rio. It is a San Antonio treasure and the largest urban ecosystem in the nation. Tucked quietly below street level and only steps away from the Alamo.

 

 
 

HemisFair and Tower of Americas

Home to the 1968 World's Fair, the theme of HemisFair '68, "The Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas," celebrated the many nations which settled the region.

Located in the HemisFair district is the 750' observation tower-restaurant Tower of Americas. The tower was designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford.

 

 

 Japanese Tea Garden, Friedrich Wilderness Park, Comanche Lookout and Mitchell Lake Audubon

The San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden, or Sunken Gardens opened in an abandoned limestone rock quarry in the early 20th century and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Internationally known for bird watching, Friedrich Wilderness Park offers approximately 10 miles of hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty. It is home for rare birds, terrestrial orchids, steep hills and deep canyons, including two federally listed endangered species of birds: the Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

Comanche Lookout Park is a 96-acre public park owned by the City of San Antonio. The site includes the fourth highest point in Bexar County with an elevation of 1,340 feet.

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is a truly unique and beautiful bird haven. It is home to a 1,200-acre natural area consisting of the 600-acre Mitchell Lake, 215 acres of wetlands and ponds and 385 acres of upland habitat.

 

  

 

Institute of Texan Cultures, Ruby City, Briscoe Western Art, Artpace San Antonio and Blue Star Contemporary

Since 1972, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) has been the state's primary center for multicultural education, with exhibits, programs, and events like the Texas Folklife Festival, an annual celebration of the many ethnicities that make up the population of Texas.

Ruby City is a contemporary art center dedicated to San Antonio's thriving creative community to experience works by both local and internationally-acclaimed artists.

Briscoe Western Art Museum inspires and educates the public with engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage.

Artpace is a non-profit residency program bringing in one artist from Texas, one from the United States, and one from around the world, to create an original work of art.

Blue Star Contemporary is the longest running non-profit contemporary art space in the city. It was established in 1986 after the success of the Blue Star Exhibition, a show featuring the work of local contemporary artists in the former Blue Star Ice and Cold Storage warehouse.