DESTINATIONS THE US | TEXAS
3
OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS
Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia This San Antonio landmark serves breakfast 24 hours a day, with Tex-Mex, Mexican and American classics featuring on the menu. Dishes come in portions that will set you up well for exploring the city.
lafamiliacortez.com/mi-tierra
ABOVE: Boat trip on the San Antonio River PICTURES: Visit San Antonio; 9001 Productions
Casa Hernán The traditional Mexican cantina is in the heart of Southtown, which boasts a large creative community; eye-catching artwork adorns the walls and sprouts from the floor. Chef Johnny Hernandez played a key role in the campaign to have San Antonio’s culinary prowess recognised by Unesco.
casahernan.com
SENSE OF HISTORY A mile’s stroll along Houston Street from Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia is one of Texas’s most significant landmarks. The Alamo is an 18th-century Spanish mission and
fortress, but it is better known for the battle it hosted 188 years ago. The 13-day conflict was a critical engagement in the Texas Revolution and led to the death of about 200 ‘Alamo defenders’ on March 6, 1836, including the famed Davy Crockett. Tour guide Ed Johnson shows us the spot
Boudro’s This riverside bistro combines the traditions of south Texas with the flair found in the world’s top restaurants. Bold flavours are complemented by an extensive wine cellar, while first-time guests will be thrilled by the tableside guacamole preparation.
boudros.com
where Crockett’s body was found, but adds that “history is not just the big names you read about”. This point rings true beyond the entrance to the Alamo church, where a series of flags represent the nations where the defenders hailed from. I linger by the saltire and note the plaque dedicated to the four Scots – John McGregor, David Wilson, Isaac Robinson and Richard Ballentine – and the “many other defenders of Scots ancestry” who gave their lives fighting against dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna and his army.
RIVERSIDE RELAXATION Our hotel, the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, is mightily convenient for taking a city-centre boat trip. And it’s during a 35-minute sailing, knee-to-knee with fellow passengers (all of us cringing at our captain’s cheesy jokes), that I enjoy a spell of inner peace
40 25 APRIL 2024
in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Perhaps it’s the sun shining down, or maybe it’s the soothing notes of the lapping water, or the green of the hanging trees, but as we nudge along the river, learning the stories behind San Antonio’s historic buildings and new developments, I feel completely at ease. A glance either side confirms it’s not just me experiencing this. As well as the smiling faces within the boat, the pedestrians are clearly having a good time too. The whole city seems to have a spring in its step. I feel as if I’ve arrived at a proper understanding of San Antonio. The destination delivers the thrill of a rodeo and the sense of place and history that comes with the Alamo, as well as the tickling of taste buds through its culinary expertise. But equally, there is something to be said for laying down your Stetson, riding helmet or chef’s hat and taking a leisurely trip along the San Antonio River. Better bring your sailor’s cap too.
TW BOOK IT
North America Travel Service offers five nights at Hyatt Regency Riverwalk San Antonio, with Virgin Atlantic flights in February 2025, from £2,185, including a day experience at Rancho Cortez and a Go Rio cruise. Tickets for the 2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo have yet to go on sale.
northamericatravelservice.co.uk
travelweekly.co.uk
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