Monuments to Spanish mission heritage and the early days of Texas are all over San Antonio—the most famous being the Alamo. Some, like the Alamo-adjacent Menger Hotel, where Teddy Roosevelt recruited the Rough Riders, are still working businesses, not just testaments to the past. Downtown San Antonio's main shopping/dining/entertainment district is centered on the San Antonio River Walk, where several blocks are lined with shops, bars, and restaurants on a pedestrian-only thoroughfare one flight of stairs down from sea level. Dinner cruises on the river are a popular tourist activity.

Other must-sees include SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and some Lone Star State-sized rodeo action at the Tejas Rodeo. Museums range from the McNay Art Museum (the first modern art museum in Texas) to the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. If you're in the city during basketball season, try to catch a San Antonio Spurs game at AT&T Center.