In our first blog post Sally recalls a recent trip to Texas...
Texas might not be the first destination that springs to mind when planning a family holiday to the States, however, scratch under the surface of The Lone Star State and you will be pleasantly surprised at what it has to offer.
Five times the size of Florida and almost three times the size of the UK, Texas is the second largest state in America with seven major cities, all offering their own unique mix of exciting urban activities.
Bordering Mexico, with its long and bloody history of battles between the Texan settlers and the Mexican Government, it is not surprising to find that Texas has a strong Spanish influence to its culture with Tex-Mex dining found everywhere.
San Antonio, is the third largest city in Texas – and its most visited - has a wide range of attractions to suit the whole family. As we had only 48 hours to spend in the city, the easiest way to make sure that we visited as many attractions as possible was to purchase a ‘Passport to San Antonio’.
First stop was a scenic cruise along the world-famous San Antonio River Walk. This 35- 40 minute narrative tour meanders gently along the river for 2.5 miles past beautiful buildings, fountains and foliage and past an open-air theatre which puts on cultural shows highlighting San Antonio's hispanic roots. The stage is on one side of the river, the audience on the other. Further along the river you pass lively restaurants, bars and a shopping mall. It is a great way to get your bearings and get a feel for what San Antonio has to offer.
From one water-themed attraction to another, SeaWorld, San Antonio (www.seaworld.com/sanantonio) is a short drive from downtown San Antonio, taking us to a world of whales, dolphins, rides and fantastic shows. We particularly enjoyed the new Azul show which featured beluga whales, dolphins and tropical birds performing with aquatic acrobats and aerialists. My daughter had fun watching the sea lions and otters performing the ‘Cannery Row Caper’, which also featured an enormous walrus who loved having his tummy tickled.
Our first day was completed with a typical Tex-Mex meal in one of the many restaurants in La Villita, which was an original settlement in San Antonio and is now an historic arts village close to Downtown River Walk. This was followed by a terrifying trip to Ripley’s Haunted Adventure!
A word of warning, It’s scary, really scary! Haunted Adventure is a haunted house with live actors and spine-chilling effects and is not for the faint hearted. Luckily the Tomb Raider 3D ride situated next door managed to bring the blood pressure down to a more normal level.
An early start was in order for day two. We had an important history lesson to attend; we wanted to learn about The Alamo.
First, we were off to the Tower of the Americas in Hemisfair Park. This 750-foot tower, built for the 1968 World Fair, offers a panoramic view of San Antonio including an opportunity to try and spot the infamous Alamo. It also houses a revolving restaurant and a 4D theatre ride which took us on a high-flying trip across The Lone Star State.
Once back on the ground it was off to the San Antonio Imax Theatre for a showing of Alamo – The price of Freedom. This gave us a fantastic insight into the heroism of the 189 Texans and settlers who defended the Alamo, an 18th century mission church, for 13 days against the Mexican army and also introduced us to David Crockett, William Butler Travis and James Bowie.
Then, we were off to actually visit the most historic site in Texas, The Alamo. Situated at the heart of the city it has become a world-renowned shrine to Texas independence. The Alamo has been restored to its original condition and has many historical items on show. Guided tours are available and there are lots of informational plaques around, making it very easy to engross yourselves in the gruesome history behind the building. There is also a gift shop and some museum pieces.
With our history lesson well learnt, it was time for some more light-hearted fun so we headed north to Six Flags Texas Fiesta (www.sixflags.com). This park has something for all the family to enjoy, from shows to thrill rides including The Texas Rattler, a tall wooden coaster, built into a ravine. Or, if you fancy getting soaked to your skin, you can try The Gully Washer.
Sally x
Getting there:
Car Hire:
Best time to visit:
Spring and autumn months tend to be the most comfortable although Texas receives its highest visitor numbers during the summer months.
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