{"id":17520,"date":"2010-11-17T11:27:01","date_gmt":"2010-11-17T16:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=17520"},"modified":"2016-10-06T09:33:52","modified_gmt":"2016-10-06T14:33:52","slug":"things-to-do-in-san-antonio-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/world\/17520\/things-to-do-in-san-antonio-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Do in San Antonio: Southwest City With a Bright Green Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ah, Texas. Your name conjures visions of cowboy hats, twangs of country music, and tastes of barbecue (with a hint of cilantro). But as a general rule it does not glow in big green letters. Not, that is, until you meet San Antonio. This vibrant southwest city is high-kicking its way into a green future, all while holding tight to its fascinating roots.<\/p>\n

Texas\u2019s second largest city somehow manages a small town feel. But, lest you forget you\u2019re in that enormous state where everything seems bigger, \u201csmall town\u201d San Antonio hits you big with everything else\u2014from scrumptious cuisine to southern hospitality. During my recent visit, I set out to sample a little bit of everything. Read on for oM’s favorite\u00a0things to do in San Antonio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Pulse<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today the San Antonio River, zig-zagged with pretty bridges, is so picturesque it looks as though it was plucked out of Disneyland and dropped at the base of Texas Hill Country. But one can\u2019t forget it\u2019s the bloodline of the city\u2019s past, present, and future. In the late 17th century, the Spanish established Mission San Antonio de Valero on its shore, the very mission that would solidify the city\u2019s place in history when it became forever remembered as the Alamo.<\/p>\n

Frederick Law Olmsted once quipped that only San Antonio rivals New Orleans in \u201codd and antiquated foreignness.\u201d This nearly a century before the River Walk\u2014itself reminiscent of something the Central Park architect might have dreamed up\u2014came to life. The statement still holds true. Lined with colorful umbrellas and wrought-iron balconies, the River Walk is a fetching stretch of scenery. Peppered with the sounds of mariachis serenading and the dizzying flurry of life well-lived, the River Walk is the heart of the city.<\/p>\n

Today everything\u2019s coming up green along the river, and not just the ancient bald cypress trees that shade its sidewalks. In what is our nation\u2019s largest urban ecosystem restoration, San Antonio is expanding the River Walk<\/a> from 1.3 to a whopping 13 miles, preserving history (and making it) along the way. In addition to the planting of trees and native landscape, the first segment, completed in 2009, added flashy character: Museum Reach<\/a> is adorned with incredible public art installations, including an ethereal grotto, an intriguing urban soundscape, and a restored Works Progress Administration mural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"La<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

5 Signature San Antonio Experiences<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Create your own flavor at a weekend cooking class<\/a> (or longer bootcamp<\/a>) with the experts at CIA.<\/p>\n

2. Celebrate art in all its forms at Southtown Arts District<\/a>, a hub of art galleries, restaurants, and music venues.<\/p>\n

3. Bike back in time along the lush Mission Trail<\/a>, with stops at each of the four gorgeous missions it connects.<\/p>\n

4. Embark on a sensory journey with Mokara Spa\u2019s signature treatment<\/a> that exfoliates, circulates, and renews, all before a luxurious massage.<\/p>\n

5. Shop for stained glass, handwoven rugs, and festive pottery at the La Villita Historic Arts Village<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Movement<\/strong><\/p>\n

All this means more spaces to enjoy on foot, but the city isn\u2019t stopping there. An entire bicycle and pedestrian program<\/a> is in the works: Come early 2011, San Antonio will be home to the first bike share in Texas, and one of too few in the country<\/a>. Already miles of bike routes link missions, cultural attractions, and parks, and soon bikers will have 14 docking stations at which to pick up and drop off bikes. (Until then, rent your wheels, for $28 a day, at Alamo Bike Rentals<\/a>. They\u2019ll even deliver to your hotel.)<\/p>\n

Up at the end of Museum Reach, biking is only part of the eco-revolution. Iconic Pearl Brewery, an 1881 landmark, is fast becoming a lively urban village\u2014and the biggest little solar power project in Texas. Here you\u2019ll find an Aveda Institute<\/a> and yoga studio<\/a> in what was once a Can Recycling Building, plus a former warehouse now home to a nature conservancy<\/a>, an architecture institute<\/a> with regular exhibits, and unique shopping experiences. This latter building, with its beer filter chandelier-cum-cooling-system, is the \u201clearning laboratory\u201d for environmental initiatives, but all buildings in the complex are doing their part, with solar energy resources, water collection systems, and more.<\/p>\n

The Sabor<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can\u2019t be much of a coincidence that the Spanish word for \u201cflavor\u201d looks so much like \u201csavor.\u201d Pearl has much in the way of savoring: Its restaurants include a seafood haven<\/a> and an Italian “dream”<\/a>. Then there\u2019s the glorious La Gloria<\/a>, a fresh, spicy, and flavorful homage to authentic Mexican street food. But the star of the show is the new Culinary Institute of America<\/a> campus, with its Latin focus and specialized outdoor kitchen. That\u2019s to say nothing of the Saturday Farmer\u2019s Market and Wednesday food marketplaces.<\/p>\n

Pearl is not the only place that\u2019s changing the way San Antonio thinks of food, though. Back downtown, new restaurants are popping up, and the local food movement is, well, on the move. Inside Mokara Hotel, the sleek, modern Ostra opens onto the Riverwalk in perfect earshot of a rushing waterfall, which, incidentally, is an ideal setting for enjoying the delicious, seafood-heavy (ostra is Spanish for \u201coyster\u201d) menu of chef John Brand, who sources locally whenever possible and has plans for a garden atop the Mokara.<\/p>\n

The Exceptional<\/strong><\/p>\n

Formerly the Watermark Hotel, the Mokara Hotel & Spa<\/a> recently brought its own decadent brand of luxury to San Antonio. Named for a rare orchid with healing properties, Mokara\u2019s motto is \u201cexceptional included,\u201d and the property does not disappoint. This is southern hospitality on a whole new level. The folks at Mokara know it\u2019s the little touches that count. That\u2019s why there are \u201clittle\u201d touches throughout their sumptuous property. From the jug of yummy Mexican fruit juice in its gorgeous lobby to the linens spritzed with soothing lavender at nightly turndown, this hotel leaves no detail forgotten. (From $269 for weekend rates, $250 for midweek rates.)<\/p>\n

All this before you get to the Mokara Spa<\/a>, a soothing oasis with an array of signature treatments that will send you to nirvana with just their descriptions. But the Mokara is very precise in its terminology: Guests come for an \u201cexperience\u201d rather than a \u201ctreatment,\u201d meaning you\u2019re not only invited but encouraged to steam out your toxins in the sauna, luxuriate in the whirlpool, or simply take a nap in the tranquil relaxation room. All spa visits include access to the heated rooftop pool (with its stunning views), and day packages throw in lunch in the rooftop cafe, a happy excuse to dine in one of the spa\u2019s plush robes. Talk about tasting Nirvana.<\/p>\n

How to get there: <\/strong>Most of the major airlines fly from New York to San Antonio, though it\u2019s not uncommon that you\u2019ll have to transfer somewhere in between. Air Tran<\/a> and Southwest<\/a> often have some of the best rates, and Delta<\/a> recently added nonstop flights between JFK and San Antonio International (SAT). Once in San Antonio, many hotels have airport shuttle services, or you can hop on the Airport Express, a shared shuttle service, for $18 one-way ($32 round-trip). For less expensive hotel rates with the same amount of southwest charm, check out the Oge House<\/a>, Inn on the Riverwalk, from $199 or the Bonner Garden Bed and Breakfast<\/a>, from $119. <\/em><\/p>\n

Photo: elmas156<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

KPICASA_GALLERY(AGetawayToGreenSanAntonio)<\/p>\n

Weekend Getaway to San Antonio, Texas<\/strong><\/p>\n