San Antonio - More than the Alamo

Since I wrote about Texas last month, I decided to share some fun facts about
San Antonio this month. Again, I did a little research to add to what I already knew. I included links when good ones were available.

It seemed like a good time for several reasons.
  • because the Final Four finishes up tonight, April 2, here
  • because it's still bluebonnet season (this year)
  • because April is the month San Antonio celebrates Fiesta
  • because San Antonio is home to The Amazing Gracie Trilogy - all three books are set here during the month of April

Final Four weekend was amazing, with lots of free or inexpensive basketball events for the whole family and music in Hemisfair Park every day.
https://www.ksat.com/sports/final-four/san-antonio-final-four-music-festival-lineup-free-events-convention-center

San Antonio is the most visited city in Texas.

The Torch of Friendship is a 65-foot metal sculpture presented to the City of San Antonio by the government of Mexico in 2002. It symbolizes the relationship between Mexico and our city.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Antorcha_de_la_Amistad

Fiesta San Antonio has been held every April since 1891. The original purpose was to honor the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. Today, over 100 separate events around the city are attended by more than three million people every year. The festival lasts for ten days.
https://www.fiesta-sa.org/

El Mercado is the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico. It's a three-block outdoor plaza with more than a hundred shops, stands, and eateries. A lot of festivals take place here throughout the year.

The San Antonio Zoo is the third largest in the U.S.
https://sazoo.org/

San Pedro Park is the oldest park in Texas and the second oldest in the U.S., first designated a public park in 1852.
http://www.sanantonio.gov/ParksAndRec/Parks-Facilities/All-Parks-Facilities/Parks-Facilities-Details/ArtMID/14820/ArticleID/2504/San-Pedro-Springs-Park/Park/216

This year San Antonio celebrates its Tricentennial.

According to Mark Twain, San Antonio is one of only four unique cities in the U.S.: New Orleans, San Antonio, Boston, and San Francisco.

The first five air-conditioned buildings in the U.S. were located in San Antonio. This is a great example of Necessity is the mother of invention.

San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the U.S.

The San Antonio River Walk has a total length of 15.5 miles. The downtown portion, called Downtown Reach, is only a part of the whole system. The other two sections are Museum Reach and Mission Reach.
https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/

All this, and much more, including the Alamo.
http://www.thealamo.org/


Coming up...


IWSG Anthology #3
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Currently Available for Pre-Order here
Order Today - Don't let TIME slip away!



Secrets of Honor will be on sale for 99 cents April 16-22.
Please share this sale event with your friends.


In May, things will be heating up here at the Tiki Hut when I'm joined by contemporary romance author Tara Watson. Plus more! 

Visit again on Wednesday, May 2, for all the juicy details.





Comments

Sounds like a festival all year long!
Natalie Aguirre said…
Thanks for sharing all the info. I've been to San Antonio a few times with my late husband. A beautiful city.
I didn't realize San Antonio was the most-visited city! With everything that's going on there, I can believe it, though!
L. Diane Wolfe said…
AC is a necessity. That's why the settlers kept moving west, looking for a place that wasn't so hot and humid.
Luanne G. Smith said…
My parents visited San Antonio several times. Always recommended it. Loved the riverwalk. (*waves*)
H. R. Sinclair said…
Very cool (that's an AC pun). ;)
Thank you. It sounds a fascinating place, and one that I will probably not experience for myself. Love that Torch of Friendship.
Carol Kilgore said…
Alex - There's nearly always a festival going on in San Antonio or one of the nearby towns. The Poteet Strawberry Festival is coming up in a couple of weeks.

Natalie - San Antonio is beautiful, and the people are friendly.

Elizabeth - People come here from everywhere.

Diane - AC makes San Antonio cool :)

Luanne - Great seeing you here! San Antonio is a fun city.
Wow what an awesome place, so much more to it than The Alamo
Jan Christensen said…
I love San Antonio and have been there more times than I can count, but some of this info was new to me. Thanks for researching and sharing it!
Liza said…
I've always heard good things about San Antonio! On the bucket list...
Carol Kilgore said…
Jo-Anne - For sure.

Jan - My pleasure. I love living here.

Liza - Boston was on my bucket list, and we finally went last fall. Loved it! Everything except the traffic.
Crystal Collier said…
I went to San Antonio a couple years ago and watched 4th of July fireworks. I wasn't going for the tourism, though. My mom was there on a church service mission.

Anyhow, Mark Twain is silly. He obviously didn't visit 90% of the US.
Mark said…
Mark Twain knows his stuff:) I definitely liked visiting the Alamo:)
It sounds like a great place to visit. (As long as the AC's not on the fritz!)
Carol Kilgore said…
Crystal - LOL!

Mark - The Alamo is very interesting.

Susan - Exactly! Especially if you visit in the summer.
Jemi Fraser said…
Love that torch of friendship! Not sure I could handle that heat!
Random fact: there's a Texas here in Queensland. And they have a great steak house there. lol.

A Tricentennial? That's older than Australia.
Carol Kilgore said…
Jemi - Air conditioning. Everywhere.

Lynda - How cool! Have you been to the steakhouse? Yes, San Antonio was established by Spanish explorers in 1718 and was initially called Villa de Bejar.
DMS said…
I have never been to Texas- but have heard it is hot. It makes sense about the first 5 air conditioned buildings. :)

San Antonio sounds beautiful and fun. It must have lots going on to be the most visited city. I learned a lot. Thanks for sharing. :)
~Jess
Carol Kilgore said…
Jess - Only hot like that in the summer. I've been to New England. You'd think our winters were late fall or early spring. And our regular springs and falls are like your high summers. For the most part :)

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