Recently in San Antonio Category

San Antonio, Texas has long been popular with visitors who appreciate its perfect mix of history, culture, food, and fun. And as the Louisville Courier-Journal points out, the city's most popular tourist landmark now has plenty of competition. The Alamo has been San Antonio's top tourist spot for years. Many of the city's 21.3 million yearly visitors drop by to see the place where, in 1836, rebel Texian forces held off an assault by the army of the Republic of Mexico, led by General Santa Anna, for 13 days. Built as a mission in 1744, the Alamo is one of San Antonio's oldest landmarks. The newest is the Museo Alameda, a Smithsonian affiliate that chronicles the contributions of Latin Americans to this great city and country. Its 11 galleries house 20,000 square feet of exhibition space, and include galleries for both classic and contemporary art by Latin American artists as well as the country's finest collection of items of Latino historical significance. The museum wouldn't have been possible without a $1 million donation by Jorge Cortez (pictured), who is a part owner of the festive Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery across the square. The Alameda isn't the only museum in town, though. The Witte Museum turns 80 this year, and has exhibits featuring, among other things, gems, dinosaurs, and 20th century fashions. The article makes a mighty fine recommendation for San Antonio accomodations as well, noting that the Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio is located in beautiful hill country, and boasts championship golf courses, a spa, and fine dining.

[image via the Courier-Journal]

Although we just covered 2007's new thrill rides, there's more. The Washington Post teamed up with Mark Cole, president of American Coaster Enthusiasts, to rate the new breed of roller coasters. The best part? They're all convenient to Starwood properties. Over at Dollywood in Tennessee, the 1811 ft. long Mystery Mine is one of the most eagerly awaited coasters of the year—and less than 30 miles away from the Four Points by Sheraton Knoxville Cumberland House. But we have to admit that we're excited about Tony Hawk's Big Spin. The skateboarder-inspired ride is designed for the family to ride together at the Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, not too far away from the Westin Riverwalk.

You might be interested to know that the largest museum in the United States devoted to Latin American art and culture opened last week in San Antonio, Texas. An AP item in Yahoo! News points out that the Museo Alameda, which opened its doors to the public on April 13, has items that range from artifacts from the Aztec period (14th to 16th centuries) to digital art created by contemporary Latino artists. The museum is the product of a partnership between the Alameda National Center for Latino Arts and the Smithsonian Institution, and is an attempt to showcase the unique blend of Latino culture with American culture. The $12 million museum, housed in a hot pink building, includes pre-Columbian vessels from Peru and an emerald ring that belonged to Austrian-born Mexican Emperor Maximilian, who was executed in 1867. One of the more interesting 20th century exhibits is a perfect recreation of a botanica, a corner store that sells everything from medicinal herbs and candles to religious icons. The museum will utilize its 39,000 square feet of space to tell the story of the Latino experience in America and beyond to an estimated 400,000 visitors every year. Guests at the the Westin Riverwalk with an interest in Latin American history will enjoy a stroll through this fascinating new museum.

[image via Museo Alameda]

San Antonio has one of the more unique civic histories in the US, blending elements of Mexican and German culture with a little bit of the Deep South thrown in. And while certain sites in the city are obvious must-sees (such as the Alamo, of course), there are also plenty of lesser-known but just as interesting places to explore. The Southtown neighborhood is perfectly bohemian. Well, almost - there are galleries and shops full of local goods, but also some of the city's best barbecue joints! There are also quite a few still-active mission churches, including one that offers a Mariachi mass, complete with square dancing. You won't find that in many US cities. Starwood has three properties in San Antonio to choose from: the classic Sheraton Gunter Hotel, the luxurious Westin La Cantera Resort, and the modern Westin Riverwalk.