Discover San Antonio
San Antonio Educational Tours
Despite being over 300 years old, San Antonio is more active and vibrant than it was when Spanish explorers first arrived in 1691! Students will find this city brimming with history and eager to share its rich, multicultural story of Spanish, Mexican and European influences.
San Antonio Overview
San Antonio has a thriving visual and performance arts scene that’s immediately perceptible in the many murals, sculptures and colorful public spaces. The city’s performing arts scene includes the Majestic Theatre, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, the AT&T Center, and the Alamodome, which host a range of performances, from classical music and ballet to Broadway shows and concerts. Originally a Spanish colonial settlement in the early 1700s, San Antonio is also a highly historical city and one that proudly embraces its multicultural heritage. One of the city’s most well-known landmarks, The Alamo, features guided tours and exhibits that tell the story of the mission and its role in Texas history.
San Antonio offers many outdoor educational activities for students to enjoy. The San Antonio River Walk is home to numerous attractions, including restaurants, shops, and museums. Students can explore the Natural Bridge Caverns, a series of underground caves that offer guided tours and educational programs on geology and ecology. Visitors will want to make sure to stop at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which includes four other missions that were built in the 18th century. In addition to the beautiful missions, students can view notable examples of Spanish architecture such as the Spanish Governor’s Palace.
Students can enjoy a fantastic view of the city skyline from the 750-foot Tower of the Americas in downtown San Antonio. Another must-visit attraction in San Antonio is the San Antonio Museum of Art, which features an extensive collection of art from around the world, including works by famous artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, and O’Keeffe. For those interested in science and technology, the Witte Museum is a must-visit attraction featuring interactive exhibits on topics like dinosaurs, wildlife, and Texas history.
Enjoy the sights and flavors of old Mexico at Historic Market Square, a favorite of locals and tourists for generations. Explore over 100 locally owned shops and stalls, all at a festive indoor mall famously described as the largest Mexican market outside Mexico. San Antonio is one of only two cities in the US that has been designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Groups traveling together will have an easy time finding something to satisfy everyone!
San Antonio River Walk
Per Visit San Antonio, “Sightseeing, shopping, food, and fun. All on a world-renowned 15-mile urban waterway. The River Walk, or Paseo del Rio, is a San Antonio treasure and the largest urban ecosystem in the nation. Tucked quietly below street level and only steps away from the Alamo, it provides a serene and pleasant way to navigate the city. Explore by foot along the river’s walking path or jump aboard a river barge for a ride and guided tour.”
The Alamo
“Featuring interactive tours, exhibits, and a Living History encampment where you can experience and learn more about frontier life in early Texas, visit the Alamo to watch demonstrations and get your hands on history. Founded in 1718 as the first mission in San Antonio, the Alamo served as a way station between East Texas and Mexico. For 13 days in 1836, close to 200 Texas defenders held the Alamo from approximately 2,500 of General Santa Anna’s troops from Mexico.’Remember the Alamo!’ became a rallying cry for Texans fighting for independence during the Texas Revolution.”
Missions National Historical Site
“San Antonio Missions National Historical Park was named the first World Heritage Site in Texas by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), and includes the city’s four southernmost Spanish colonial missions – Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada. In the 18th century, Spanish priests established these five Catholic missions along the San Antonio River to serve as the center of an ethnically diverse society. Today, the missions – walled compounds encompassing a church and buildings where the priests and local Native Americans lived – represent the largest concentration of Spanish colonial missions in North America.”
