Though it's tempting to while away your entire San Antonio vacation strolling, cruising and dining along the renowned River Walk, this destination has a fascinating history that includes the sites of five missions established along the San Antonio River in the early 1700s. Start your tour downtown with the Alamo, then pack a picnic lunch and venture out to San Antonio Missions National Historical Park for a scenic trip back in time to the area’s Spanish Colonial period.
The Alamo
300 Alamo Plaza
Mission San Antonio de Valero, more commonly known as the Alamo, was established in 1718 and was the first mission on the San Antonio River. Originally built by the Spanish to educated Native Americans who had been converted to Christianity, it later became a fortress and the site of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. Today visitors can relive the historic battle through regularly scheduled talks and guided tours. Along with the mission-era church and barracks, the complex includes a gift shop, museum, gardens, the Calvary Courtyard, a living-history encampment and a film.