Day 1: History buffs will want to immediately check out the Alamo. For lunch, head over to the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum to grab an Angus Buckhorn Burger and one of seven Texas brews on tap, including Shiner Bock, Lone Star, and, fittingly, Alamo Beer. Visitors can check out an array of wildlife species and hundreds of historic artifacts at the onsite Texas Ranger Museum. One of the city’s biggest attractions, a meander down the Riverwalk is a feast of sights, sounds, and shopping. For dinner, Tex-Mex is on the menu and Mi Tierra in the Market Center offers some of the best. The cafe is open all night with an amazing bakery, mariachis, and delicious enchiladas. Night owls will enjoy the Blue Star Brewing Company for craft brews and catching some sports on the big screen.
Day 2: Get started with breakfast at Guenther House, the birthplace of Pioneer Flour and choose a delectable stack of pancakes, or biscuits and gravy. Those with a sweet tooth will want to order from the pastry case. If you’re in town during February, you can’t miss a trip to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. In addition to the rodeo—which wins the PRCA’s Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year award nearly every year—there’s also livestock exhibitions, horse shows, chuckwagon cooking demonstrations, a carnival, and an incredible lineup of country singers for the nightly concerts. For folks wanting a quieter trip, take in a bit of the finer aspects of Western culture at the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Market Street, featuring brilliant works of Western art. Texas is cattle country, and for dinner it’s off to Bohanan’s Steakhouse downtown for a slab of Mesquite-grilled prime aged beef.
Day 3: Take a daytrip south to the historic King Ranch, only 150 miles away. With 825,000 acres, the ranch has more land than the state of Rhode Island and has bred some of the most notable Quarter Horses in the nation, including Wimpy, Mr. San Peppy, and San Peppy Badger. Visit the King Ranch Museum or take one of the guided historical or feedlot tours to fully comprehend the ranch’s incredible impact on the West. If you decide to head north, a drive through the beautiful Texas Hill Country is a wonderful way to spend the day. Go caving at Natural Bridge Caverns, one of the largest cave systems in Texas and take a short tour or grab a rappelling rope for a more extreme tour. As night falls, head into the small burgh of Gruene for some grub at the Gristmill River Restaurant. And don’t miss some of Western music’s most impressive up-and-comers at the historic Gruene Hall, where George Strait got his start.