Region: South Texas Plains
In 1718, at an Indian village along the southern edge of the Texas Hill Country, Spain established Mission San Antonio de Valero (later called the Alamo). A customary accompanying presidio (fort), San Antonio de Bexar (Bay-her), protected mission endeavors. Today's city and county names derive from those 18th-century Spanish beginnings that predate founding of the United States by more than half-a-century.
Institutions of higher learning include the University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake Univ., St. Mary's Univ., National Univ. of Mexico, Trinity Univ., San Antonio College, Palo Alto College, St. Philip's College, Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the Univ. of Texas at San Antonio.
Some popular events include the Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony in December, the Texas Folklife Festival in June, the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo in mid-February, the Starving Artists Show held at La Villita and along the River Walk each Easter, and the San Antonio New World Wine and Food Festival each fall.
Fiesta San Antonio spans 10 days the third and fourth weeks of April. This major event includes art exhibitions, coronation of King Antonio, Pilgrimage to the Alamo, concerts, parades, "Night in Old San Antonio" festival and more.
The Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Baseball Stadium is the home for the San Antonio Missions. The beautiful facility is at Callaghan Rd. and U.S. 90 West. 210/675-7275.
San Antonio is noted for excellent golf courses. For golfing information, call the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau at 210/207-6748 or 800/ALAMO-07.