Spotlight: San Antonio - River Walk

Spotlight: The San Antonio River flows through the heart of San Antonio, providing the life blood for the seventh most populous city in the United States. The most popular section of the San Antonio River is the famous River Walk - a city park located one story below the level of the streets of downtown San Antonio. The park consists of a series of cypress-lined walkways and stone bridges that border and cross the river. The walkways are lined by restaurants, tourist shops and public artwork. If you go beyond the crowded River Bend Section, the River Walk connects five historic missions that were constructed during San Antonio's colonial period as part of the Spanish Empire.

     The River Walk was the brain child of architect Robert Hugman. Following the disastrous flood of 1921, there was a movement to build a dam upstream and pave over the River Bend that flowed through downtown San Antonio in order to put in a storm drain. Although the Olmos Dam was built, and a bypass channel constructed, the River Bend was saved due to the efforts of the San Antonio Conservation Society. In 1929, Hugman provided a solution to the River Bend dilemma when he submitted his plans for a downtown park that would bring in tourists and capitalize on the city's Spanish heritage. The River Walk provides the perfect backdrop to many of San Antonio's most popular restaurants, which allow guests to dine on southwest cuisine while enjoying views of people strolling up and down the river in boats, bicycle or on foot.

Location: The River Walk is a section of the San Antonio River in downtown San Antonio. It generally refers to the Section known as the River Bend.

Cost: Anyone can stroll along the River Walk for free. Narrated tours aboard one of the famous river boats run about $12/adult with discounts for seniors, military, children and local residents. Or you can hop on a Rio Taxi for as little as $5 for a one-way trip or $10 for a 24-hour pass.

Time: The River Walk doesn't close, but Rio Taxi service runs from 9 am - 9 pm. Narrated tours run about 35 minutes.

Description: Ever since I first saw views of the River Walk while watching Spurs games on TV, I wanted to cruise the river on one of the Rio Taxis. When I finally got to experience the River Walk for myself, I was impressed by the simple, natural beauty of the area that encouraged you to slow down and just enjoy the ambiance. Since we went in June, the Rio Taxi was a bit crowded and hot, but it was fun to get the inside scoop on some of the historic buildings along the river.

     Afterwards, we strolled along the River Walk on foot. This was actually more enjoyable, because we were shaded by the cypress trees that lined the route. We ate dinner at the Lone Star Cafe which was delicious. My daughter claimed that her hamburger was the greatest one she'd ever tasted.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - The best time to go is from September to May when the temperatures are much nicer and the crowds a bit more manageable.
- River Taxis can be accessed at several different locations along the River Walk.

Nearby: Briscoe Western Art Museum, La Villita Historic Arts Village, The Alamo, Tower of the Americas