San Antonio is a one-of-a-kind city with plenty of experiences and inside jokes that make living here amazing. Whether you’re a born and raised San Antonian or a fresh transplant, we’ve gathered the best decisions you can make right here in the Alamo City. So, what are you waiting for?
Taste your way through SA’s taco joints If picking a side in the Puffy Taco War was tough, good luck finding a favorite taco truck and taqueria. Start with popular joints like Taquitos West Ave. and Taqueria Datapoint until you’ve dined at every hole-in-the-wall taco house in the city. Even if you can’t choose a favorite, you’ll have a great time trying to figure it out. Photo via Instagram, thenicolai
Run, jog or bike through Mission Reach 6701 San Jose Dr., (210) 534-8875, nps.gov Spend some time along the river, get active, learn more about the missions and explore San Antonio just by hitting up Mission Reach. Photo via Instagram, louiepreciado
Devote a day (or week) to exploring Brackenridge Park 3910 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 207-7275, brackenridgepark.org Brackenridge Park is a world of its own, home to an impressive golf course, the Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Gardens, San Antonio Zoo, Sunken Garden Theater and Witte Museum. Whether you’re looking for a place to get active, relax or learn in a fun way, Brackenridge Park has it all. Photo via Instagram, eric_espi91
Choose a side in the Puffy Taco War Henry’s Puffy Tacos, multiple locations, henryspuffytacos.com; Ray’s Drive Inn, 822 SW 19th St, (210) 432-7171, facebook.com/RaysDriveInn They’re both delicious, but you’re required to pledge your allegiance to one brother. Are you Team Ray or Team Henry? Photo via Instagram, joemillereats
Drink it up at The VFW Post 76 10 10th St., (210) 223-4581, vfwpost76ontheriverwalk.org With live music and daily happy hour specials, you’ll be toasting to America (and San Antonio, of course) at the oldest post in Texas. Photo via Instagram, montoyaste
Toast your ancestors during El Dia de los Muertos celebrations 418 Villita St., (210) 207-8614, muertosfest.com Bring la cultura to life in honor of the Day of the Dead. Make an altar for your departed loved ones, enjoy live music, dance to the rhythmic tunes, snap your fingers to moving poetry and cheer on the festival’s procession. Photo via Instagram, muertosfest
Spend a day at The Pearl 303 Pearl Pkwy., (210) 212-7260, atpearl.com Stock up on produce at the farmers market, dine at one of the award-winning restaurants, sip on eloquent drink concoctions and attend lively music and dance events. All in one day, all in one place. Photo by i.am.rogerklotz via Instagram, historicpearl
Feliz Tamalidad Sat Dec. 8, The Greenline SA, 2532 Sidney Brooks, facebook.com Back for a second year, Feliz Tamalidad returns with a day all about tamales. Bring the family and celebrate the cultural traditions, music, and of course food that makes San Antonio so special. Photo via Instagram / viedfinder Credit: Photo via Instagram / viedfinder
Going honking after the Spurs win What do Spurs fans outside of SA even do when the team wins a playoff game? Photo via Pinterest / Ruthann Hildebrand
Watch the sunset from Hays Street Bridge 803 N. Cherry St., (210) 207-0970, facebook.com San Antonio’s favorite bridge is a prime spot for yoga and photoshoots, so why wouldn’t you admire the beautiful Texas sky from here? Photo via Instagram, hayleytheyogi
Get yourself a pair of cowboy boots 110 Division Ave., (210) 923-2221, littlesboots.com It doesn’t matter if you’re about that country life or not, every San Antonian should invest in a pair of custom made boots from Little’s. Photo via Instagram, anabelleadkins
Attend the lighting ceremony on the River Walk during the holidays 849 E. Commerce St., (210) 227-4262, thesanantonioriverwalk.com Let your inner romantic run free and take your date to see the beautiful lights on the Riverwalk during the holidays. Bonus points if you attend the magical lighting ceremony at the beginning of the holiday season. Photo via Instagram, dannysanco
Spend some time in the city parks Multiple locations, sanantonio.gov Skate at Normoyle, play volleyball at Rosedale, take the pups to Lady Bird Johnson or get walking at Denman. Whatever park you visit, it’s bound to have plenty to offer. Photo via Instagram, carissaplatt
Check out where Willie Nelson’s career took off 14492 Old Bandera Road, Helotes, (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores.com Pay tribute to the Texas legend and catch a show at Floore’s. Photo via Instagram, tx_mon
Play tourist and take a tour on the River Walk barges 205 N. Presa St. B201, (210) 244-5700, riosanantonio.com Just because you live here doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in some tourist traps. Hey, you might learn a thing or two about the 210. Photo via Instagram, sweetttravels
Indulging in barbacoa and Big Red on a Sunday morning Multiple locations, (210) 433-1367, facebook.com Pop into your favorite taqueria and order up some barbacoa tacos, or get it by the pound at Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa. Photo via Instagram, puropinchesa
Drink (or eat) your way through the “4” in Southtown Take a map (when you’re sober) and look where Alamo, Pereida, Presa and St. Mary’s streets generally meet up. Behold the shape of the number 4, and a convenient trail for your next night of bar- and restaurant-hopping. You’ll hit up The Friendly Spot, Liberty Bar, Feast and Tito’s, just to name a few. Photo via Instagram, unionwinecompany
Treat yourself to a guayabera or a pueblo dress Penners, 311 W. Commerce St., (210) 226-2487, pennersinc.com; Nativa, 5124 Broadway St., (210) 829-5555, nativashop.com What else would you wear during Fiesta? Photo via Instagram, shopnativa
Start your day off with tacos from The Original Donut Shop 3307 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 734-5661, facebook.com/theoriginaldonutshop Arguably the best breakfast tacos in the city to many, TODS is a must-try for those who haven’t already devoured these tacos. Trust us, you won’t be sorry. Photo via Instagram, jacobsmyboy
Have dinner at the Tower of the Americas 739 E. César E. Chávez Blvd., (210) 223-3101, toweroftheamericas.com The next time you can’t decide where to eat for date night, knock this off your unofficial San Antonio bucket list. Photo via Instagram, redtoffee_
Catch a show at the Majestic 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com Be entertained by the play or concert while in awe at the theater’s detailed architecture. The Majestic is proof that Old San Antonio is gorgeous af. Photo via Instagram, arussellactor
Hit up the museums off the beaten track 12500 NW Military Hwy., (210) 302-6807, hmmsa.org; 3898 Stanley Road, (210) 221-6358, ameddmuseum.amedd.army.mil; 11731 Wetmore Road, (210) 490-3554, txtransportationmuseum.org Museums like the Witte, DoSeum and McNay, interesting as they may be, are major tourist traps. The next time you’re looking for a new experience without the crowds, pay a visit to one of these hidden gems: the Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Army Medical Department Museum or the Texas Transportation Museum. Photo via Instagram, hazalgumus
Play “name that Latino” at Pico de Gallo 111 S. Leona St., (210) 225-6060, picodegallo.com Test your San Antonio trivia and see if you know all big shots in the community. Photo via Instagram, nerdygirlmo
Splurge on courtside seats at a Spurs game 1 AT&T Center Pkwy., (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com Watching the game at The Friendly Spot is always a good time, and even sitting in the nosebleeds at the AT&T Center is super fun. Go all out on floor seats for the chance to get the player’s sweat on you. GSG, amirite? Photo via Instagram, thetxstatebobcat
Take a ghost tour of SA lleyendas We’re not talking the cheesy haunted house type of ghost tours. Hit up the sites of the Donkey Lady, La Llorona and the famous railroad tracks. Or maybe you’re more of a Midget Mansion, devil in the dance hall or Menger Hotel type of thrillseeker. Either way, explore the “spooky” side of SA. Photo via Instagram, jeanrwestcott
Score some selfies with some of SA’s treasured celebrities You’re not truly living in SA if you don’t have at least one photo with a local celebrity. Whether it’s Spurs *position* Kawhi Leonard (extra points if you can make him smile), news anchor Randy Beamer or one of the Castro brothers, you gotta catch ‘em all. Photo via Instagram, spursjesus
With the ring tied to a chicken-on-a-stick Or somehow hide it inside the jalapeño? Just make sure they don’t choke. Photo via Instagram / devicedoctor
Go all out at First Friday Southtown, visitsanantonio.com Can you truly experience the best of Southtown if you haven’t gone to First Friday? Appreciate some art, eat good, drink a lot and live it up. Photo via , theelijahzane
Enjoy a few rounds at the Menger Hotel bar 204 Alamo Plaza, (210) 223-4361, mengerhotel.com History buffs and liquor lovers alike can enjoy a drink at this historic bar, where Theodore Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Photo via Instagram, jimdilloway
Volunteer at the annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner 900 E. Market St., (210) 207-8500, rauljimenezdinner.com A rite of passage for anybody needing service hours, the Jimenez Thanksgiving dinner is the perfect chance to give back to those in need right here in SA. Photo via Instagram, kinyacano

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