San Antonio At a Glance
Best Time to Go
San Antonio, the 8th largest city in the U.S., is most vibrant during the spring. In
April, San Antonio plays host to its largest party - Fiesta. Rooms can be difficult to
find during this time of the year. The weeks preceding Christmas are also very busy,
especially along Riverwalk. There are a number of festivals and celebrations under way,
including posadas (religious re-enactments of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter).
Average Weather/What to Pack
Located in the heart of Texas, San Antonio is no stranger to hot summers. For the most
part, the Alamo City experiences a steady climate -- mild in the winters and steamy all
summer. As for most parts of mid and Southern Texas, snow is rare. In fact, average
temperatures in the winter hover around 60.
Transportation
Cars are important in San Antonio. If you plan to stick around the downtown/Riverwalk
area, you can make it using your feet. However, if you're going to explore other areas of
the city, including the Hill Country and Fiesta Texas, you'll definitely need a car.
The local transit system, the VIA Metropolitan Transit Service, provides service
throughout the city and links all major tourist spots, including the Alamo and Riverwalk.
Passes can be purchased in advance to historic and cultural attractions. If you're
downtown and you want to get to Six Flags and Sea World, the VIA operates express routes
to these destinations.
Don't depend on taxi cabs. The city is quite spread out and unless you're just staying
within a certain section, cab fare becomes expensive.
In-Season Costs
San Antonio is pretty reasonable as far as prices go. There is no time of the year that
prices significantly increase, although you might expect to pay a little more during
Fiesta (April), the city's largest festival/party. Make sure to reserve your room in
advance.
Day Trips
Austin, the state capital, is only 77 miles from San Antonio. It's definitely
worth the trip. The "Live Music Capital of the World" is home to the tallest
state capitol building in the U.S., in addition to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential
Library and the University of Texas.
San Marcos. San Marcos is located about 30 minutes outside of San Antonio. This town is
great for outlet shopping.
