Visiting the San Antonio Missions

Today is Travel Tuesday.  A lot of people who visit San Antonio make their way over to the famous Alamo, but what they may not know is if they are in for a short drive, they can see and tour four other Missions.  All of which have their own unique beauty.
Generally most add the Alamo to this tour, I am not showing this part, but if you'd like to read about the Alamo, you can visit this page HERE.

Additionally if you want to hop on bike, you can visit them and get to them via the Mission Riverwalk Hike and Bike Trail.  I wish I could say I toured them this way.  But because I was running a marathon the next day, I actually drove between the Missions.

I love the cactus roof!

This is one of the original wall paintings that have still lasted all these years since the 1700's

However, if you run the Rock & Roll San Antonio Marathon, you'll pass almost all of them on foot:)  Of course, you won't want to stop in and visit them then, so I suggest taking a few hours if your in the area and heading over to see them.

This was one of my favorite photos, I didn't even realize when I took it, but if you look
at all the lines and shadows, its like art, LOL  I love it!

The parks visitor center which is operated by the National Park Service is at the San Jose Mission.  If you want to start your trip there, you can pick up the directions and information on each of the different missions so you will know what to see and do when you get there.

Inside Mission Concepcion

Mission San Jose
This one is the largest missions.  One thing to note a mission although referred to as a church, they were not churches, as much as they were communities for those who lived in them.

Mission Concepcion
This one looks pretty much the same way it did originally.  It is actually the oldest not yet restored church in America.

Mission Espada
This was actually the very first Mission in Texas and very much resembled Spanish villages.

Mission San Juan Capistrano
This Mission was a complete self sustaining community in its time.  Farming, Orchards, Artisans, and even cattle.  Not all missions were this well off during their time.

Sorry, this one was under construction while I was there so that is why the fence

The best part is, you can see them all and tour them all for free, they do not charge you for this:)

I could go into the entire history of the missions, but I'll let you experience that first hand if you are ever in Texas around the San Antonio area.  The buildings are beautiful, and it is quite amazing to learn about these Native American settlers.

Have you been to the San Antonio Missions before?  Did you enjoy the experience?
Is this something you might add to your trip itinerary if ever in San Antonio?

Travel Tuesday - San Antonio Riverwalk

This week for Travel Tuesday I am going to suggest visiting the San Antonio, Texas Riverwalk area.  In the heart of downtown runs a beautiful river, that winds through the heart of the city.

You can stay in a hotel right on the river front.  Spend your day's walking or jogging around the different paths.  Walk to just about any type of restaurant or eatery, or shop until your heart is content.

Most people think of Texas as a dry desert, and they would be right.  But in this area, it is so green and lush and tropical you'd think you were walking down a river in Hawaii.

You may recognize this picture if you like the Miss Congeniality movie.
It was the setting for the talent show.

You can also hop on and take a relaxing river taxi, and see the sights by boat, instead of by foot.

The Riverwalk district is just as beautiful and fun at night.  There are lots of things to do and see no matter the time of day.

I personally recommend getting a hotel on the Riverwalk if possible.  Because if you do, this may just be one of the types of views outside your hotel window as it was for me when I visited:)

Also, they have the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Antonio, which is what I was there for when I took these pictures.  So if you enjoy running and racing, picking this race brings you right into this area.  In fact you even run through parts of it.

Travel Tuesday: Visiting The Alamo

Just about everyone has heard of the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio, TX in 1836.  The heroic stories of the people like Davy Crockett and many others who were at the Mission as they stood their ground and battled in attempt to save the Alamo until their last breaths.

For me, this was one place I had heard the stories and had hoped to visit on day.  Eventually I made that come true and I'd like to take today's Travel Tuesday post and share with you what you can experience if you too take the trip to San Antonio.

First if you are familiar with this part of Texas you are expecting a lot of desert like terrain.  Well you would be correct, except for inside the Riverwalk district of San Antonio, as well as the inside grounds of the Alamo.  You get to see the original Alamo Mission and village in all it's beauty.

But you also get to see the lush beautiful gardens that grow inside the walls.  If you walked by the outside of the Alamo fort walls, you would have no idea what awaits you inside.

All the exhibits and buildings are yours to explore at your own pace.  Inside the round doors what used to be the homes to those in the mission, many are now exhibits so you can get a feel for what it was like for them when they lived there and battled to the end.

Like most historical places that have significance in battles.  The many tourists who visit observe a more peaceful reverence, so you are able to explore and ponder in peace. (At least they were when I was there)

I tool one of the video tours, that allows you to go into one of the rooms that was the last battleground for some of the more affluent individuals of that time.  Before the video, everyone files into a room with bench seats.  No air condition is needed in these stucco type buildings that once inside feel cooler.  Our was a fabulous narrator, who before the video began he spoke of stories he had learned of his own.  Bringing your mind into the place and the battles and bloodshed that happened long ago in this peaceful Mission.  Once he had our attention and had us all in the moment, the lights were turned off and the video played.  This was a reenactment of that time, teaching you to "Remember the Alamo".

There are usually lots of tourists around, but don't let that bother you.  When you go inside the buildings you still have plenty of time to see the actual wall paintings and paper that is still left from those who lived and build the Mission.

Like I said above, you are free to explore at your own pace.  This is one of those places that if you only have a few hours or half a day that is enough to see it all and enjoy it without feeling rushed.

And if your lucky, even on busy day's you can have moments of no one else around.  I love this picture, except one day I'd love to photoshop the car out of it in the background, and the garbage can:)

I purposely took all my pictures to keep the city out of the Alamo, so when I took
my camera shots, I tried hard to leave out the surrounding buildings:) 

IF YOU GO:

*  Admission to the Alamo is Free.
*  Parking is limited and will charge, however I found one only a block away and it only cost me $6 for half a day parking.
*  Bring your camera, it's a beautiful place to visit and there are lots more to take pictures of than I showed you, but if I showed you everything it wouldn't leave much for the imagination:)
*  The Alamo is right in the Riverwalk District of San Antonio, literally if you look behind the picture above you'd see all the tall buildings and skyscrapers.  It's a bit further away from the other surrounding missions that are outside of the city but a very easy walking distance from any hotel in the district.
*  Since its in San Antonio, make sure you give yourself time to enjoy the city itself.  I absolutely loved the Riverwalk District.  It gives you the feeling of tropical Hawaii right in the middle of the desert, its absolutely beautiful!
*  If you love to run, let me recommend the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon.  The race is in November, and mile 3 you run right in front of the Alamo.  Additionally you run past and by all the other Missions in San Antonio.  It's a large race, but quite good, I enjoyed it!


On a completely different side note, I recently found out through the fabulous discovery of Geneology (that another family member did, not I), that I have ties to this place.  Davy Crockett is actually one of my old relatives on my Mom's side of the family.  That must be where we get our love for advanture, animals and guns from, LOL...