The Alamo & the Downtown Riverwalk

I've always wanted to see The Alamo and today I finally was able to do it!  Our RV park is located just 4 miles away and so we drove in.  There is a bus service that will take you right there with a stop right in front of the RV park, but it only goes on the hour and I didn't want to wait on a bus.

What an impressive site after hearing all the stories about it.  It was also interesting since it's nestled in the heart of downtown.  All the San Antonio missions were at one time on the same road just a mile or two from each other.

Scott and I at The Alamo

Outside The Alamo is a very large statue to pay homage to the many men who lost their lives in this great battle in order to keep Texas away from the Mexicans including Davy Crockett, 49 and Colonel Jim Bowie, 39 on March 6, 1836.  This battle is very significant for Texans because they held off the Mexicans long enough for the regular army to arrive soon after and claim Texas as a part of the United States.

Scott waiting in line to pay for parking

Across the street from The Alamo

Statue Remembering The Alamo fallen

In Memory of those Heroes who sacrificed their lives at The Alamo, March 6, 1836 in the defense of Texas.

Cierra was reading the names of the fallen...many who were related.

Finally, we crossed the street and I took a couple pictures of the kids in front of The Alamo and then Scott showed up from paying for parking and Cierra took a photo of us.

Cierra and Hunter at The Alamo

While waiting in line, I told Cierra she was shedding.  She had one of those clear straps that you wrap around your hanger that had broken loose so I grab it, tore it off of her and she was so shocked, she started laughing...I guess you'd have to be there.

I love it when this girl laughs and smiles.

"Stop it Grandma!"

We entered the inside of the Alamo and found out that we couldn't take photos so I only got 1-2 shots before I had to put away the cell phone...I have been regretting that I didn't bring our nice Nikon for our trips.  I guess I'll have to do that when we get back home.

The Baptistry

Inside The Alamo

We then went to the mission store where Scott bought the kids whatever they wanted.  Hunter bought a gun and Cierra bought a corn husk doll to make.

After we finished the inside tour, we then toured the grounds.

Hunter and some real-life Texas Rangers!

They had the hugest koi I have ever seen in the pond.

The kids were amazed with the koi.

Huge cactus at The Alamo

Hunter with an Alamoan soldier

Back side of The Alamo chapel

Side section of The Alamo

SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK

After we left The Alamo we crossed the street to the visitor's center and got directions to the Riverwalk.  It was just down some stairs through a beautiful water area to a shopping area and miraculously, you were down on the river.

The waterfalls really cooled us off from a hot walk around The Alamo

Me by the Riverwalk

Cierra loved the architecture here.

The Riverwalk is full of shops, restaurants and historical building.  We bought tickets to board a boat for a river cruise with Rio San Antonio Cruises for $10 each...

Paying for our ride

Our tickets

Everyone ready for the ride

Traveling under one of many arched bridges connecting the river.

...and learned so much about the San Antonio area with historic downtown buildings and massive storm that caused a horrible flood from by a hurricane back on September 7, 1921 that resulted in the entire area to be under water. Since that time, the people created lochs to hold in the water and a gate to let the water out in 45 minutes in case of another storm and then refill the river in 8 hours.

I loved the architecture and the beautiful foliage.

The Briscoe Museum

Bullet Courthouse

Cierra was checking out all the cool buildings.

This is the loch gate...it manages the height of the water along the river lochs.

Train Track right over the river

American and Texan flags

This building is an optical illusion as if it was just a piece of paper.

More pretty plants

We also saw some very creative buildings - "the Lego building" aka the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel  - one that was 21 stories high and made room-by-room then assembled and completed in just a few day compared to years.  It was done as modular construction. Very cool. 

Hilton Palacio del Rio (Web photo)

After the river cruise, we ate at Casa Rio Mexican Restaurant that has been there on the river since 1946. It was pretty good.  Hunter ate a cheese enchilada, Cierra had a green chicken enchilada, Scott had enchiladas (a common theme) and I broke the trend with the deluxe platter consisting of a cheese enchilada, tamale (yummy, too!), beef crunchy taco, chili con carne, chili con queso, Mexican rice and refried beans with a guacamole salad.  Yummy meal.  Cierra also had a virgin pina colada which she really loved.

A great spot on the river by two bridges. Boats came and went the entire time.

The kids loved watching the fish and the birds

Cierra LOVED that Pina Colada!

We had a fun time.  If  you're wanting a fun, historical day trip, this is a great destination...just go when it's not 94 degrees outside with 50% humidity!

It was HOT and MUGGY today!