Come for the wedding, stay for the fun! There's lots to see and do in San Antonio. Some suggestions:
The Alamo (Free, downtown at 300 Alamo Plaza): Of course. It's free and it's a famous piece of Texas history. The deaths of the Alamo defenders gave birth to the rallying cry, "Remember the Alamo!" Takes anywhere from 5 minutes to get your picture taken in front of the Alamo, to an hour or two if you want the full tour.
The River Walk (free, downtown across the street from the Alamo): Almost as famous as the Alamo, this is a bustling and scenic section of the San Antonio River, with shops and plenty of good restaurants along the way. The fullness of eaters' bellies after eating at River Walk restaurants gave birth to the cry, "Remember the River Walk!" Takes an hour or two to walk to River Walk. More if you want to take the 40-minute river boat tours ($6 adults, $1.50 kids), which are a fun way to see the River Walk. For those needing a shopping fix, the River Center Mall is next to the Alamo and on the River Walk. It also has an IMAX theatre.
Market Square (free, downtown at 514 W. Commerce St.): Otherwise known as El Mercado, this market bills itself as the largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico. Along with dozens and dozens of shops selling Mexican goods, there are often mariachis and folklorico dancers. A bit touristy for my taste, but might be good for first-time visitors to San Antonio.
Museums, etc. ($10 to $17, downtown, across from the Alamo): There are several museums in the Alamo area, that might be of interest to our younger wedding guests. They include the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum ($10 adults, $7.50 kids), which features exhibits on wildlife and the Old West; Ripley's Believe It Or Not and Wax Museum ($17 adult, $9 kids). For those inclined to more cultural persuits, the Museum of Art ($6 adults, $1.75 kids) is downtown as well.
Tower of the Americas
($4 adults, $1.50 kids; downtown at HemisFair, walk or take the trolley): Unfortunately, this 750-foot landmark will probably be closed in October for renovations. The tower can be seen all over town and offers nice views of the area. Like all monster towers, S.A.'s tower was built for a World's Fair -- the 1968 HemisFair in this case.
King William historic neighborhood (free; downtown, take the trolley): A great old neighborhood first settled by prominent German merchants in 19th century, designated as Texas' first historic district. A nice place to walk if you enjoy looking at old restored homes and mansions.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas ($37 adults, $23 for kids 48 inches and under plus $6 for parking; 25 minute drive from downtown): Six Flags is open weekends during October and has a Halloween theme. Has the requisite roller coasters and shows. With advance notice, John can buy slightly cheaper tickets at work ($25 adults).
Trolleys (80 cents a ride/$3 day pass): A good way to get around downtown San Antonio cheaply. The streetcars run about every 10 minutes and operate from 7 a.m. to about 9 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. depending on the route. Click on the link for a map and more information.
Fredericksburg and Johnson City
(65 miles north/northwest of San Antonio):
For those wanting a scenic day trip, Fredericksburg is an old German town in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. It's known for it's antique shops and can get packed on a Saturday. Johnson City is the hometown of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Austin (70 miles northeast of San Antonio):Another good day trip possibility is Austin, home of the University of Texas; plenty of live music, bars and clubs on Sixth Street; and 1.5 million bats at the Congress Ave. bridge. Yes, 1.5 million bats, and it's a tourist attraction.
