It’s tough to appreciate everything Downtown has to offer in the middle of the day. Whether you’re inching through traffic, accidentally turning down one-way streets or trying to cut through herds of people looking for the Alamo (“Do ya’ know where I could get my hands on a coonskin cap?”), just existing in the city’s urban core during peak human activity time can be rough.
Here’s a solution: Enjoy the look and feel of Downtown first thing in the morning with a brisk walk or a bike ride. Experiencing some degree of serenity in the center city can be a little unsettling at first, but tooling through Downtown with no one else around is a perfect way to start the day. If you don’t have your own wheels, stop by one of the B-Cycle stations that are in and around Downtown. And if you’re out way early, wearing some bright clothing is useful. Zig-zag across the city from the Alamodome to City Hall, or take a north-south route from Travis Park to Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair Park.
This article appears in Cinefestival 2016 and City Guide (2016).