7 Things to See in San Antonio This Weekend

Exploring the San Antonio Botanical Garden

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a massive 38-acre oasis that proves the city has certainly made its nature and education priorities clear. Home to many different types of plants from all over the world, it’s a great place to be if you want to get lost in beauty. In addition to being beautiful and serene, the gardens also teach visitors about the plants they’re surrounded by. With sections like the sensory garden and Texas native plant area, you’ll not only learn something new but have fun doing it.

They take advantage of every season too with their special exhibits that transform the park into something you’ve never seen before. And because they think so highly of their teachings they offer programs for everyone! So no matter how old or young your brain is one of them will fit you.

Japanese Tea Garden

A beautiful green garden turned an abandoned quarry into a lively sanctuary. Paths winding through gardens made up of stone connects various stone bridges laid across quiet waters colored blue.

This place used to be a rock quarry before it was given over to the city of San Antonio. In the early 20th century, city officials redeveloped this part into lily pond and garden whereby they had sought help from Japanese families known for their expertise in designing gardens. While serving tea and light refreshments inside premises that consists meandering paths, stone bridges as well as huge pagodas, they transformed it into beautiful former quarry collaborating with people representing local authority.

However, Pearl Harbor bombing led to displacement of their family like many other Japanese-Americans who were accused on mass level. This time around the name changed again temporarily but now it was referred to as Chinese tea garden during that era. Its original name “the Japanese Tea Garden” was returned after World War II ended.

World’s Largest Cowboy Boots

In 1979, just three blocks away from the White House, Bob “Daddy-O” Wade initiated the creation of a striking pair of 40-foot-tall cowboy boots, crafted from concrete and fiberglass but designed to mimic the texture of ostrich skin. He believed this unique texture endowed the sculptures with an authentic Texan flair.

Bob Wade’s art has been exhibited at great places around the world such as in the Whitney Museum of American Art and he participated in exhibiting with other leading artists such as Marina Abramović at the Paris Biennale in 1977. When his large iguana sculpture called Iggy was placed on top of LoneStar Café it attracted a lot of attention in art circles eventually leading to New York arts non-profit commissioning him for a public art installation in Washington D.C.

Eventually, because they were too high, too wide and too long to fit down any road or highway not built expressly for them, the cowboy boots moved off to Northstar Mall on flatbed trucks; this trip inspired one of his songs titled ‘Too High Too Wide Too Long’.

Bracken Cave

During every summer twilight over Bracken Cave, millions of bats ascend into the sky from ancient sinkholes.

March to October, an estimated 20 million of these tiny flying beings call Bracken Cave home, which is the largest known bat colony in the world and potentially the largest congregation of mammals anywhere on earth. These small bats travel more than 1000 miles from Mexico to this summer paradise where they breed and raise young ones.

The Mexican free-tailed bat is a prominent North American species that is also the official state bat for Texas State. The best known place to observe them in Texas is under Congress Street Bridge in Austin; yet, this species still occurs throughout much of Central America and Mexico.

Hot Wells Hotel and Spa

In its heyday as a luxurious retreat for stars such as Rudolph Valentino, Theodore Roosevelt, Cecil B. DeMille, Tom Mix, Will Rogers, Charlie Chaplin and Sarah Bernhardt among others Hot Wells Hotel & Spa in San Antonio is nothing but a shadow of itself now. The derelict site has become popular with urban explorers who like to see the remains of what was once a great resort.

This spa boasted healing hot sulfur water derived from an Edwards well long time ago and also featured health-boosting baths as well as swimming pools. It rapidly grew during late 19th century until early 20th century when it had almost two hundred rooms.

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

At seventeen years old Albert Friedrich made a bold move in purchasing a building across from his hotel where he worked part-time as a bellhop making it into his own bar in 1881. To be different then he decided that customers could pay him with antlers or any other kinds of trophies from hunting.

Albert, who was also good at making furniture out of animal parts, made chairs out of unique tables which attracted Kaiser Wilhelm himself among others. Eventually they began covering every square inch on walls, ceilings and even seats in his tavern by doing this amazing act. Mrs Emile also contributed to this unique decor by making folk art of the rattlesnake rattles she collected.

Mission San Jose

Built in 1720 by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, San José Mission rapidly rose to prominence and housed well over 300 residents at its height. It was the biggest mission among Texas missions and therefore earned a nickname, “the Queen of Missions.” These were different from regular churches because, in essence, Spanish missions were complete towns with the church as their center.

By 1782 those who lived there had already finished building it besides working on site. Although it closed down in 1824 and more than two thousand Native Americans were christened there, the mission’s legacy is still alive.

Presently Mission San Jose functions as an active parish that holds open mass every Sunday. The National Park Service has maintained its original appearance for over 250 years, allowing visitors to see what it looked like when this group occupied it.

While there are plenty of other things to do in San Antonio, what makes it a popular destination is the fact that people of all ages and interests will find something here for themselves. Just think about the serene San Antonio Botanical Garden, historic missions, dynamic San Antonio Zoo or colorful River Walk – you will see only the tip of the iceberg. Furthermore, these different sites have attracted not only tourists but also those searching for a second home.

According to movers in Cedar Hills, numerous individuals are moving to the Castle Hills neighborhood which is known for serene living and proximity to city center. This tendency shows how appealing this city has become due its fusion of cultural, historical and contemporary lifestyles that form an interesting environment for everyone in it. Thus, if you’re interested in exploring numerous attractions offered by San Antonio or desire to move here forever; then be sure that this vibrant community life with charm has been attracting a diverse population.