Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Back on the ground, you'll soon discover that San Antonio bridges history as well as
geography. The Alamo—the little Spanish mission where Texas, in a symbolic sense, was
born—is just steps away from the elegant hotels and restaurants that line the River Walk
(or Paseo del Río), an immensely popular series of flagstone and cobblestone paths beside
the San Antonio River.
In the midst of this thoroughly modern metropolis, reminders of a proud and diverse
heritage endure: the Victorian mansions of the King William District; the arts community
at La Villita, where adobe and limestone buildings recall one of the city's original settle-
ments; and the venerable churches of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, in-
cluding Mission Concepción, Mission San José, and several others.
2.
Bandera
Pushing northwest on Rte. 16, the drive glides through San Antonio's suburbs and enters
the Hill Country, where the terrain ranges from gently rolling to rugged but is always a
delight for the eye. This distinctive landscape was formed in stages: first, a thick layer of
limestone (originally sediment deposited on an ancient seabed) was lifted high above the
Coastal Plain, creating what geologists call the Edwards Plateau. Rivers and streams then
etched deep valleys into the rocky upland, leaving the erosion-resistant hills we see today.
The little town of Bandera, once a center for cattle drives, now celebrates its past by
claiming to be the Cowboy Capital of the World. Each year the numerous dude ranches in
Bandera and its environs are visited by thousands of city slickers, who, after a few days on
horseback, leave saddle-sore but mellow, having sampled fresh air, hearty campfire cook-
ing, and the robust flavor of the cowboy life.
3.
Utopia
The drive continues west on Rte. FM470, winding among grassy hillsides dotted with ju-
nipers and live oaks. Whitetailed deer graze near the highway, and in spring and summer,
wildflowers decorate the hills and meadows along the way.
Set in the picturesque Sabinal River valley, Utopia is a historic ranching and farming
community dating from 1852. In a grove of pecan trees behind the Methodist Church,
the town has held outdoor dinners, church revivals, games, and camp meetings since the
1890s—all with a style that can fairly be called utopian.
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