Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 210-226-2828;
www.alamoplazaattractions.com
; 329 Alamo Plaza; adult/4-12yr $26/16; 10am-11pm Sun-
Thu, to midnight Fri & Sat late May-early Sep, to 7pm Sun-Thu,to 10pm Fri & Sat early Sep-late May)
Time to
throw the kids a bone? After touring historical sites all day, you can reward them with a
visit to this teen-friendly trio:
Ripley's Haunted Adventure
,
Guinness World Records Museum
and
Tomb Rider 3D
. It's a little cheesy, and definitely touristy, but a good antidote to slogging
around the missions all day.
One admission price gets you into the haunted house, museum of oddities and theme-
park-style ride, or you can pay a reduced admission if you only have time for one or two
attractions.
RIVERWALK
In 1921, floods destroyed downtown San Antonio when water 10ft deep gushed through the center of the city
from the overflowing San Antonio River, obliterating homes and businesses and drowning as many as 50 people.
As a result, the Olmos Dam was constructed to handle overflow and route the extra water around the downtown
area through a canal called the Oxbow.
The fix was meant to be temporary, and was intended to be submerged and turned into an enormous storm
drain beneath the city. Before this happened though, some locals formed the San Antonio Conservation Society
and dedicated themselves to preserving and developing the canal into an attraction.
In 1938 the Works Progress Administration (WPA) assumed control of the canal's fate, and executed a plan to
develop a central business district of shops and restaurants along a cobbled walk. More than 1000 jobs were cre-
ated during the construction of the Riverwalk, and the project is one of the most beautiful results of the WPA ef-
fort.
TOP OF CHAPTER
1
King William District & Southtown
South of downtown on the banks of the San Antonio River, the charming King William
District (once nicknamed 'Sauerkraut Bend') was built by wealthy German settlers at the
end of the 19th century. The architecture here is mostly Victorian, though there are fine
examples of Italianate, colonial-revival, beaux arts and even art-deco styles. Most of the
district's houses have been renovated and are privately owned or run as B&Bs. Stop by
the
King William Association
(1032 S Alamo St)
or the
San Antonio Conservation Society
( 210-224-6163;
107 King William St)
for self-guided-walking-tour brochures; it's a very pleasant area for a
stroll.
Southtown
NEIGHBORHOOD
