San Antonio named top Texas destination

The readers of Texas Highways magazine have voted, and San Antonio is their favorite destination in the Lone Star State.

“San Antonio is not only a favorite Texas destination, but also a city that garners worldwide recognition,” Texas Transportation Commissioner Jeff Austin III said at a presentation announcing the accolade. “We are blessed to have so many culturally rich and diverse destinations across the great state of Texas, and San Antonio certainly qualifies as one of our shining stars.”

The designation was announced during the annual meeting of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and coincides with the 40 th anniversary of Texas Highways magazine.

The Alamo
“One of the reasons we are a favorite for so many travelers is that there is always something new to experience in San Antonio,” Casandra Matej, CEO of the CBV, said in accepting the honor. “Spanish colonial missions, eclectic neighborhoods, theme parks and rich cultural experiences evoke a distinct sense of place. This is a big part of why we welcome more than 31 million visitors every year, and 70 percent of them are from within Texas.”

Magazine readers noted San Antonio’s many world-class attractions, including Sea World, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Phillips Entertainment, the Alamo and the San Antonio Missions Trail as cherished experiences. Voters also mentioned the importance of great restaurants and events such as Fiesta San Antonio and the Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony, as well as the famed Paseo del Rio, or River Walk.

I’ve visited San Antonio several times over the years, most recently in February of this year, and have written about several of the area’s hotels including, most recently, the Hilton Paseo del Rio, the J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort, the Omni Hotel at the Colonnade and the Marriott San Antonio Northwest.

The area around the River Walk is indeed delightful and close to the famed Alamo, though it can be a bit crowded during conventions and tourist season. While I can’t say it is my absolute favorite destination in Texas, as I have yet to visit Corpus Cristi, South Padre Island, and other notable destinations, I certainly agree with the general spirit: San Antonio is well worth a visit.  

Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.



Photo by Carl Dombek
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