San Antonio, beyond ‘shopping’

Let's think a second about something ... If at this moment they tell us to define San Antonio, Texas, in a word, most likely it comes to mind Shopping!

Of course we would not be far from reality, but this city has much, much more to offer.So if you want to take a vacation, but you may have a few days and in addition to taking an extra suitcase to put all your purchases, we give you great options to discover it.Preparing passport ...

Como se trata de un viaje de placer y para consentirnos, lo primero que debemos pensar es en elegir un lindo hotel que nos deje maravilladas durante nuestra estancia, y una gran opción es La Cantera Resort & Spa, inspirado en el mundialmente famoso King Ranch, en el sur de Texas, en donde la decoración del vestíbulo es un guiño a la «Gran Casa» del rancho.Rustic furniture, warm colors and the spirit of hospitality are related to the legacy of the "great house".

If you go in a romantic plan or want more privacy, the resort has an exclusive adult floor with a perfect space to go for a snack or go to take something.

From the hotel frequently leave shuttles that go to The Shops at La Cantera, a huge shopping center with four department stores and more than 160 specialties stores, as well as large entertainment options and the best restaurants.One day it will not be enough to travel it completely and in detail.

Además, en La Cantera Resort & Spa, la sofisticación también se encuentra con la relajación desde el Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness, hasta en dos increíbles campos de golf de campeonato.

Sin duda, el Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness es una joya enclavada en apartado e inmerso santuario en la naturaleza y situado en uno de los puntos más altos de San Antonio con impresionantes vistas del cielo texano.There they can be enjoyed from the traditional offers of SPA (massages, facial treatments) to indigenous exclusive experiences of the area and services oriented to results that integrate technology and nature to create a true sensation of balanced well -being.

¡A pasear!

To put comfortable shoes to spend a day knowing the city.

The tour can start in The Pearl, an abandoned beer neighborhood that today is one of the most trendy areas of San Antio, where you could find a wide variety of restaurants, bars, boutiques and galleries.

Here is also the Culinary Institute of America, which houses a diverse community of food lovers interested especially in Latin American gastonomy.

Those who get here are looking for a culinary career, entrepreneurs in the food and chefs area in search of expanding their knowledge.

You want a relaxed walk and with a beautiful view?The River Walk is one of the classic and unmissable places in the city.

Along this walk on the banks of the San Antonio River there is a great offer of restaurants, hotels, boutiques and entertainment places.

At night it is ideal to fall in love with the thousands of lights that illuminate the tour.

You can also hire the service of the small boats in which in a very enjoyable way they explain the history of some of the most iconic points of San Antonio.

San Antonio, más allá del ‘shopping’

And if you grab you the night in the area, make a stop in The Saga, a perfect and quiet alugar to know more about the history of San Antonio in a dynamic way.

Here what you will see will be a captivating 24 -minute video art that is projected in the Fachada of the Cathedral of San Fernando and that was created by the renowned French artist Xavier de Richemont.

A game of lights, music and imbusable images.The projection is free and can be seen on Tuesday nights, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 22:00.Sit in one of the tables that are around, take a coffee or what inspires you to eat or drink and enjoy the show!

Culturales

If you are art lover, you must visit the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), hosted in a building dating from 1884 and that was once the historic Lonestar Brewery brewery.The museum protects an invariable collection of antiques, as well as one of the largest collections of Latin American art in the United States.

On the other hand, to learn about this Tejana City thorough.These are: History of San Antonio, Geology and Paleontology of San Antonio, archeology of the central coast, wildlife and wetlands, and the Chilean Sea room.

And if you prefer contemporary art, you must visit Ruby City, a new contemporary art center that opened its doors in October 2019.It was designed by the renowned architect Sir David Adjaye Obe and this gallery offers many opportunities to appreciate the work of local and international artists.

The concept of Ruby City was born in 2007 as the concept of the late collector, philanthropist and artist Linda Pace, whose works are also here through the beautiful Pace Foundation Collection with more than 900 paintings, sculptures and video work.

Gastronomía

San Antonio is a city with a great gastronomic offer and practically all cravings can be satisfied and discover new flavors and trends.

For example, if you are a flesh lover, the J-First Steakhouse offers magnificent cuts.In addition to these, it also offers a wide variety of seafood.And desserts, an entertainment.

Otra gran opción es el Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery, en The Pearl, dirigido por el chef Jeff Balfour, y que ofrece una versión moderna de la cocina intercultural de Texas, cuenta con un menú detalladamente elegido que cambia según la temporada del año y refleja el espíritu innovador de su chef.Other of its specialties are artisanal beers.

If you are looking for local and organic ingredients, Pharm Table is a great choice.Your chef Johnson offers an experience "from the farm to the table" focused on ayurvedic kitchen.Its mission is to eliminate in large part those foods that produce inflammations (such as dairy, wheat or processed sugar).Here you can find a wonderful combination of, for example, seasonal spices with superfoods to create delicious dishes.

Are you looking for a romantic or more formal night?Biga on The Banks is an elegant option located in the upper part of River Walk.The restaurant is directed by the chef and owner Bruce Auden together with Perny Shea, who have created a high -level concept of the new American cuisine and in whose menu they can be found from meats, fish, shellfish, pasta and succulent desserts, as well asA wide variety of drinks.

For a relaxed breakfast, but delicious, there is the classic Bakery Lorraine, where you can enjoy household bakers.One of its slogans is to treat each of the ingredients they use with the respect they deserve, from flour to local farm eggs or butter.

Now, if you want something classic, but with a turn that will leave you amazed, one of the recommended stops is the burgeroteca, where chef Johnny Hernández has transformed the classic American hamburger to give him some Mexican touches.Some examples?Oaxaca hamburger, which in addition to meat, is complemented with black mole, black beans, purple onion, avocado and fresh cheese.That of Chilaquiles, which contains this Mexican classic based on omelette.Among the companions, the French potatoes stand out with Mole, would you have imagined it?Desserts and drinks also have that delicious Mexican touch.

For those who wish to relax with a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail, the bars options are very wide.For example, Jet-setter, located in the 229 E Houston St #10, is a modern international lounge from the middle of the century with a cozy style with tables, armchairs or the bar, from where you can see how the cocktails of the cocktails of thedrinks that will be served.

And for the great pleasures there is always space and time.For chocolate lovers there is a magnificent place called Chocolazo, whose owner, Mary Collazo, prepares chocolates of interesting flavors and forms.An example is the truffles of Balsamic fig, those of Chile in the form of a pyramid, those of lemon with white chocolate, pink chocolate ... but, in addition, there are desserts such as crepes, cakes, chocolate strawberries, delicious covered apples, s'mores, Toffes, gift boxes with gourmet chocolates.Catas and classes are also organized where chocolate is the main protagonist.

Imperdibles

To learn more about the history of San Antonio, there are iconic places that should not be visited, such as missions, which are included in the Unesco World Heritage Sites list and are the largest collection of Spanish colonial architecture in America in America from North.

These missions, which are five, in only 13 years were established throughout the San Antonio River and its purpose was to offer an acculturation process and Christianize the American Indians of the community and, eventually, make them Spanish citizens.

It should be noted that the Spanish missions were not churches, but communities with the church as a center.

What are these missions?

Perhaps the best known by name is El Alamo, the mission established in this Texan city founded to make Christianity to the local American Indians, and which finally became a community of Spaniards, Mexicans and Catholic American Indians.

Today, Alamo is a national historical monument, located in the heart of San Antonio and it is very goodIts gardens, which have maps and some sculptures.So for all its corners you can learn something new.

El Alamo is open every day, except for December 24 and 25.

In addition to El Alamo, there are four others that deserve to know them well.

The San José mission is the greatest of all and also known as the "Queen of Missions" and that, for many, owns the most beautiful church of all.On Sundays at noon masses are held with Mariachi.

Concepción mission, which has the most original church of all thanks to its colorful fresh and convent.

San Juan Capistrano mission, still surrounded by its old lands for cultivation limited by the ditches and the San Antonio River, Sword Mission, which has the smallest church.

San Francisco de la Espada mission was the first mission in Texas and was founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas.What is visited today as a church, is actually what at the time was the sacristy, since construction did not survive the passage of time.

It is well worth taking a full morning to learn about these missions, which are currently joined by a walk along the San Antonio River and a network of paths that connects the history of the city with the main hotels, restaurants, theaters and entertainment sites.This route can be done walking or by bicycle, and even in kayak through certain sections of the river, so it is advisable to wear comfortable clothes this day.

Para disfrutar de la naturaleza

If you like nature, the botanical garden will be of your favorite routes, since within its 15 hectares you can see a wide variety of species of plants and birds, and if you like photography you will find a lot of good shots.

In this space there are permanent gardens and others that change according to the season of the year.

It also has a culinary garden and a kitchen school that uses products that are grown in the place.

As you can see, San Antonio is a city that has everything, so in addition to returning to your home with a suitcase full of purchases, you will return with great experiences.

Por: Marjorie Daphnis