When you visit San Antonio, for vacation or even business, you have to visit River Walk. It's the number one tourist attraction in Texas. This public park is one floor below street level along close to five miles of the San Antonio river in downtown. It winds and loops under bridges. With sidewalks on either side of the river canal, River Walk has shops, hotels and restaurants along its banks - everything a vacationer could want.
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Travelers can use River Walk to navigate all over downtown. Walk from your hotel to the Alamo, or perhaps to Rivercenter the large shopping mall near one end.
If you get tired of walking, you can hop one of the river boats that will take on a tour of the river with a guide that will fill you in on all the history. Some of the restaurants will even serve you on the river boats. This could be a highlight for any trip.
For anyone on vacation in San Antonio, one of the best parts about River Walk is all the restaurants that line its edges. Many have outdoor seating, and colorful umbrellas, that lets you take in the fine weather and watch the parade of people as they go by.
There are many local restaurants from pizza places, to high end steak houses to many casual dining spots. A number of the national chains are also represented along the banks of River Walk - places like the Hard Rock Cafe, Joe's Crab Shack and Dick's Last Resort.
River Walk Hotels
Looking to make a reservation at a hotel near River Walk? Not a problem. All along the banks you'll find plenty of hotels. The Marriott Rivercenter has entrances right onto River Walk. As does the Grand Hyatt and the Hilton. Many other hotels are also right on River Walk such as the Holiday Inn and the Embassy Suites. There are also many hotels within just a few blocks.
Also on River Walk is the Rivercenter shopping mall. This mall is filled with restaurants and enough shops to keep even the serious dedicated shopper happy. Places such as Macy's, Sun Glass Hut, Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, Gap, Tony Romas, IMAX Theater, Rivercenter Comedy Club and Hooter's.
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Just off the edge of River Walk is the La Villita Historic Arts Village. It is called San Antonio's first neighborhood. When River Walk was being constructed the city moved to restore and preserve the buildings in the area. Now listed on the National register of Historic Places, it is a thriving arts area with shops and galleries. Also there you'll find the Little Church. It was built in 1879 and has served denominations. It is now non-denominational and a favorite site for weddings.
River Walk was the idea of a man named Robert H. Hugman in 1929. There were efforts to control the flooding along the San Antonio river and Hugman suggested that the bypass channel be built and dams constructed to create a places for sidewalks and a park along the river downtown. It took over a decade for it all to come to fruition but by 1946 restaurants were starting to open along the banks of River Walk. Today River Walk is a must for anyone visiting San Antonio - and for anyone planning a Texas vacation.
