San Antonio, Texas

Shop, dine and stroll along the River Walk (or Paseo del Rio), a 15-mile waterway that is the largest urban ecosystem in the nation. The narrow canal-like river rests below street level and is lined with shops, galleries, restaurants and bars showcasing the city's Tex Mex culture and flair. Guided river cruises give visitors a lay of the land, as well as the history of the seventh-most populated city in the U.S., which was once a Spanish colonial outpost and provincial capital within the Mexican Republic. Next … remember the Alamo! The former Franciscan mission is the site of the famed Battle of the Alamo during Texas' war for independence from Mexico. Watch a reenactment of the revolution and step back in time with the site's most famous defenders, James Bowie, William Travis and, of course, Davy Crockett. The 4.2-acre complex includes its gardens, church and the two-story convent where members of the Alamo's garrison withdrew and made a last stand against Santa Anna's soldiers. Due to the Alamo's status as the shrine of Texas liberty, visitors must adhere to its Rules of Reverence, which include no hats inside the church, no obscene or offensive language on clothing and no cell phone use inside the structures. Nearby, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park includes four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio (the fifth being the Alamo). The park embodies 300 years of history and culture, yet still contains active Catholic parishes, which hold regular church services. The World UNESCO Heritage Site is the largest concentration of Spanish colonial missions in North America. Lastly, explore Natural Bridge Caverns, one of the premier show caves in the world. The underground passages, hidden below a 60-foot limestone bridge, were discovered in 1960 by four students from St. Mary's University in San Antonio who felt a cool draft from a crawlway and kept exploring. Tour the caverns 180 feet below the earth, then head outside for more adventure. The site features a 5,000-square-foot maze, as well as a 60-foot-high ropes course with zip lines that take you through the treetops with views of the Texas Hill country.