the inside scoop

THE INSIDE SCOOP
WHILE VISITING SAN ANTONIO
Get the inside information on budget
busting meals, must–do activities, and
other local favorites!
Also visit:
visitsanantonio.com/english/Explore-San-Antonio or
http://visitsanantonio.com/San-Antonio-Mobile-Apps
Created especially for the NCCYM Attendees
by the Archdiocese of San Antonio
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On-The-Go/On a Budget:
Rivercenter Mall Food Court
Location: 849 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205 (River Level)
Starbucks
Hours of Operation
Options include:
Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm IHOP Express
Little Tokyo
Sunday 12pm-6pm
Louisiana Fried Chicken Gourmet Kabob House
Dairy Queen
Side Wok Cafe
This is a very convenient option for a quick meal, but be weary of lines at lunchtime.
PizzaRita’s on the Riverwalk
Location: 245 E. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation
Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm
Delivery pizza only a click away!
Place your order online: www.pizzaritas.com/
or call (210) 293-7482 for pickup. Downtown hotels please select ZIP Code 78205 (Downtown Central)
Whataburger
Location: 412 E. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation:
Open 24 hours
Looking for breakfast burritos or a good burger? This is the place.
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q
Location: 101 West Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 6:00am - 4:30pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Try a San Antonio BBQ favorite.
Available for breakfast and To-Go Orders at: 210-229-9519
Other Options:
McDonald’s: 101 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Jimmy Johns Gourmet Sandwiches: 518 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Subway: 109 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
La Jalisco: 130 E Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
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Casa Rio Mexican Food
Location: 430 E. Commerce St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation:
Sunday-Thursday 11 am-9pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm
Casa Rio was the first San Antonio business to open its doors to the River and take
advantage of the River's setting. Canoes, gondolas, and paddle boats, evolving into tour
and dinner boats, began here and helped create the Riverwalk of today. Try the Casa
Rio Deluxe Dinner which includes: Cheese Enchilada, Tamale, Crispy Beef Taco, Chili
Con Carne, Guacamole Salad, Chili Con Queso, Mexican Rice, and Refried Beans. Very
reasonable priced, seating is outside on the bank of the river, and environment usually
includes live Mariachis.
Paesanos Mediterranean Cuisine
Location: 111 W. Crockett St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation:
Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm
A San Antonio icon, Paesanos Riverwalk is where locals
and visitors alike come to kick back, celebrate and
enjoy a hearty, Mediterranean-inspired meal. No visit is
complete without savoring Shrimp Paesano, our
signature dish. Pasaeno’s has daily lunch specials.
Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia
Location: Inside Market Square, 218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207
Hours of Operation:
Open 24 hours
This San Antonio landmark looks like Christmas year-round. Photographs of longtime
customers hang in the lobby of this Tex-Mex café, which opened in 1941. Be prepared
to try the juicy fajitas or have a piece vanilla flan cake; a vanilla custard with a hint
of Grand Marnier and Presidente Brandy, coated with caramel.
Durty Nelly's Irish Pub
Location: 200 S. Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation: Sunday 12:00pm-2:00am
11:30am-2:00am, Piano Entertainment-Monday-Thursday starting at 4pm
World Famous Durty Nelly’s is one of a kind featuring nightly sing-a-longs and all you
can eat peanuts. Serving lunch, dinner and late-night treats.
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On a Budget:
The Alamo
More than 2.5 million people a year visit the 4.2 acre complex known worldwide as
"The Alamo." For over 300 years, the Alamo has been a crossroads for Texas
history. Here the Spanish colonization first took hold, Mexico armed its
independence and even the Confederacy stood its ground. Yet most come to see the
place where a small band of Texans held out for thirteen days against General
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The Alamo houses exhibits on the Texas Revolution and
Texas History.
Location: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas 78205
Hours of Operation: Daily from 9:00am-5:30pm
Cost: Free Admission
Tips: The Alamo has a unique set of rules befitting
its status as the Shrine of Texas Liberty and
hallowed ground such as no hats, no open containers,
no food or drinks, no photography, no cell phone
use.
San Antonio Missions Trail
A profound part of San Antonio's history is found in the San Antonio Missions. There
are five including The Alamo, Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San
Juan Capistrano, and Mission San Francisco de la Espada. All are designated
as national parks open to the public free of charge. You can go on a Hike and Bike
on a Mission Portal Trail. Mission Portals connect San Antonio's four historic
missions–Mission Concepción, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada
–to the San Antonio River. From Mission Concepción to Mission Espada, eight miles
of dedicated paved pathways are reserved for the hiker and biker. However, walkers
and bikers can start at any of the four missions and travel to the next mission,
making the round trip only six miles. Water is available at each mission. Food is
available near Missions Concepción and San José, but not near Missions San Juan and
Espada, so plan accordingly.
Location: Mission Concepción, 807 Mission Road, San Antonio, Texas 78210
Hours of Operation: Daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm
Cost: Free Admission
Tips: Rita and Tom Minkley of the Archdiocese of San Antonio have developed a free
resource for a self-guided retreat that includes reflections for each of the missions.
San Fernando Cathedral
The beautiful old San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio, Texas, traces its
origins to 1731 when 55 settlers arrived in San Antonio to expand the community as
a bulwark against French incursion. Inside the church today can be found a small
coffin that most believe holds the remains of the men who died at the Alamo. Santa
Anna had the bodies burned in giant pyres outside the fallen fort after the battle, and
the ashes were reported to have later been collected and buried at San Fernando.
Charred bones and other items were found in a box beneath the sanctuary railing
during a renovation project in 1936. They are now enshrined in the cathedral.
Location: 115 West Main Plaza San Antonio, TX 78205 Phone: 210.
Hours for visitation: Daily from 8:00am-5:00pm
Cost: Free Admission
San Antonio’s “THE SAGA”
Original And Unique Video Narration which takes place
at Historic Main Plaza. The Saga project unveiled Friday,
June 13, 2014 and is a video art projection. The show is
7,000 sq. ft. of light, color and visual narration
projected onto the majestic facade of San Fernando
Cathedral. It is presented in a 24 minute journey
through the historical discovery, settlement and
development of San Antonio, the Lone Star state, and
other United States History.
Location: 115 West Main Plaza San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours for visitation: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday at 9:00pm, 9:30pm,
Cost: Free Admission
Seating: Lawn Chairs And Blankets (Optional).
Ford Fiesta de Luminarias
Experience the Holiday serenity of the River
Walk as you stroll along the lush banks of the
San Antonio River guided by more than 6,000
luminarias. Warmly glowing candles in sandfilled bags line the walkways to symbolically
mark the "lighting of the way" for the Holy
Family. This century’s old tradition begins at
dusk Friday, Saturday & Sunday only.
Location: Banks of the Riverwalk
Date: December 5-December 7
Time: 7:00pm-10:00pm
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San Antonio River Barge
Take a tour with entertaining narratives of the rich history of the San Antonio
River and helpful information to assist you and your family during your visit to the
River Walk. Cruises are 35 to 40 minutes long and cover two and a half miles of
the beautiful San Antonio River Walk.
Location: 245 E. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation: Open Daily from 9:00 am–no earlier than 9:00pm
Cost: General Admission: $8.25, Bexar County Residents: $6.00,
Senior Citizens (60 & older) & United States Military: $6.00
All prices are tax inclusive. Discount prices require picture ID
Tower of the Americas
A visit to the Tower of the Americas wouldn't be
complete without a stop at the Flags Over Texas
Observation Deck, which offers mesmerizing views of the
city below. Photographs on the deck's floor pinpoint
landmarks to help visitors identify their surroundings, and
historic photos provide wonderful discussion points to
enhance your experience. Here, you can also learn about
the history of the six flags that once flew over Texas
from captivating murals that line the walls. Read about
Mexico's attack at the Alamo, French explorer Louis St.
Denis' mapping of the Camino Real Trail, Spain's
domination of Texas for more than 300 years and much
more!
Location: 739 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., San Antonio, TX
78205 Phone: 210.223.3101
Hours of Operation for Flags Over Texas: Observation Deck: Sun-Thu 10am-10pm,
Fri-Sat 10am-11pm
Cost: Adults: $10.95/Seniors & Military: $9.95
Market Square
Enjoy the sights and flavors of old Mexico at Historic Market Square, a favorite of
locals and tourists for generations. Explore over 100 locally owned shops and stalls,
all at a festive indoor mall famously described as the largest Mexican market
outside Mexico. Find authentic Talavera pottery, exotic curios and handcrafted
works of art. Stay for the gourmet Mexican cuisine at Mi Tierra and La Margarita,
or kick back at the Farmers Market Food Court and enjoy the show on the stage.
Location: 514 W. Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation: Daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Cost: Free Admission
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VIA Downtown Streetcars:
VIA streetcars are more than just historic. They’re a fun way to see the sights all
around downtown. Streetcars run from early morning until late evening, and there’s
one along about every 10 minutes with stops located throughout downtown. All
streetcars are propane powered, air-conditioned, and equipped with wheelchair lifts.
On VIA Streetcars you can go from Alamo Plaza to just about anywhere in downtown
San Antonio within 10 minutes.
PAY AS YOU GO-$1.20 PER RIDE-Or just half that ($.60) for seniors and students with
a VIA Reduced Fare ID, Please have correct fare ready. Change is not available on the
streetcars.
DAY PASS FOR $4.00-Plan to go lots of places? Buy a VIA Day Pass for only $4 –
then hop on and off streetcars or buses all you want, all day long. Simply pick up
your Day Pass in advance online or at any of these locations: VIA Downtown
Information Center - 211 W. Commerce or San Antonio Visitor Center - 317 Alamo
Plaza. Visit viainfo.net for additional sites.
Taxi’s Information
San Antonio has multiple taxi companies to choose from including:
Yellow Cab: Download the Hail a Cab App (via IPhone or Android)
San Antonio Taxi: Download the San Antonio Taxi App (available on Android)
Rio Taxi Service
Looking for a cool ride along the River Walk? Try a Rio Taxi service which stops
continuously at over 39 stops along the River Walk. The taxi gives you the
opportunity to relax on your way to your favorite restaurant or River Walk hotspot.
The Rio Taxi drivers have tickets on board that you may purchase. Rio Taxi Service
operates daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm.
City Sightseeing Tour
Sightseeing on an open-top, double-decker bus
with City Sightseeing is a great way to discover
all the things to do on your visit and is a
remarkable way to see San Antonio for the first
time. Tour begins at 204 Alamo Plaza, San
Antonio, 78205 and runs between 9:30am5:30pm and takes approximately 45-50 minutes
in you remain on-board.
Visit city-sightseeing.com for more information.
(downtown[[_[maps)
RIVERWALK DINING
SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL
MARKET SQUARE