Spring in San Antonio
by Elizabeth Sommer Spratt

Jump into spring a little early with a trip to San Antonio, Texas. This city blends historic, romantic and contemporary settings within a ten-blockradius.

Begin your visit with a trip to the Alamo. The Alamo is smaller than legend would lead you to believe. A tour will take under an hour and you will have plenty of time to read the historic markers and envision the violent battlethat occurred here for 12 days in 1836.

Aviation buffs will appreciate Alamo Aviation Art, a shop just across the street from the Alamo. They offer a fine selection of black and white, and color prints of aircraft from the Wright flyer to the Stealth Bomber. The prices are much lower than those found at other aviation art specialty shops like the Virginia Baeder Gallery on King Street in Old Town Alexandria,Virginia, primarily because most of the artwork is not original. However signed and numbered copies are available.

Three blocks from the Alamo at the corner of Nueva and Presa is La Villita, San Antonio's first settlement. This charming area offers restaurants, artisans' shops and galleries. The Arneson River Theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre on the river, is right nearby. Make plans to view a musical performance in this unique setting, followed by a stroll down the famous,romantic Riverwalk.

San Antonio's Riverwalk is Texas' answer to Venice. Water taxis cruise up and down the river between beautifully landscaped walkways. Restaurants and a variety of shops invite you in to sample their products. Stop in the Naked Iguana for Nachos and have a drink while you plan the rest of your evening. After dinner be sure to stop by Kangaroo Court, the locals love the cheesecake.

Another point of interest in San Antonio is Market Square, an authentic Mexican market. The shops feature Mexican blankets, pinatas, sombreros, and other colorful traditional wares. La Margarita Restaurant offers outdoor and indoor seating, a wide selection of excellent Mexican cuisine, and of course, great Margaritas. HemisFair Park, the site of the 1968 World's Fair is nearby. Its Tower of the Americas offers a great view of the city.

San Antonio can easily be toured on foot, so take your best walking shoes. The city has trolley's which run throughout downtown, and each ride is only 25 cents.

In late April is the kick-off of San Antonio's Fiesta Week. The Fiesta starts with the "Taste of New Orleans", and is followed by a week of parades and multicultural events in the downtown area. It's a great way to get ready for the coming spring, with a little site seeing, celebrating and romance, too..