The best places in San Antonio to take out-of-towners that aren't the Alamo

Historic Market Square
514 W. Commerce St., (210) 207-8600, marketsquaresa.com
The Historic Market Square dates back to the 1700s, on a plaza that was gifted to settlers by the King of Spain. The square is home to over 100 locally owned shops and an indoor mall that has been called the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico, as well as Mi Tierra restaurant and the Centro de Artes gallery.

Denman Estate Park
7735 Mockingbird Ln., sanantonio.gov
Denman Estate Park features a traditional South Korean pavilion, styled similarly to the Gwangju Democracy Bell in South Korea. Gwangju, South Korea and San Antonio, you may be surprised to learn, are sister cities. Denman Estate Park is a beautiful place to visit, not only for the pavilion, but for the pond and garden as well.

River Walk Public Art Garden
849 E. Commerce St.
This open-air art garden located on the San Antonio River Walk at the intersection where Market and Alamo Streets meet features permanent and rotating sculptures and art pieces by local and international artists. For those that need help finding the entrance, look no further than the colorful "Welcome to the River Walk Public Art Garden" sign by San Antonio artist Gary Sweeney.

Artpace
445 N. Main Ave., (210) 212-4900, artpace.org
Founded by Linda Pace, Artpace was conceived as a “laboratory of dreams.” The nonprofit contemporary art foundation’s International Artist-in-Residence program presents a set of exhibitions created by resident artists each spring, summer and fall. Each IAIR cohort features three artists — one international, one national and one Texas-based — who create a new body of work during the residency, which is then showcased at Artpace for two months. In addition to the IAIR shows, Artpace presents exhibitions in its Hudson Showroom and Main Space throughout the year.

San Fernando Cathedral
115 Main Plaza, sfcathedral.org
The cathedral is considered the historic geographic center of San Antonio and serves as a tourist attraction, community gathering place and a symbol of the role of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The church is one of the oldest in the country, with the cornerstone of the 15-year construction project laid in 1738. Today’s visible landmark, however, is the result of an 1868 renovation in the Gothic Revival style. If you time your visit right, you can also take in a stunning light show of images and music telling the history of the city that’s displayed four nights a week on the façade of the church.

La Villita and the Arneson River Theatre
418 Villita St., (210) 207-8614, lavillitasanantonio.com
La Villita wasn't always a cultural art hub. In fact, it was San Antonio's first neighborhood. It was restored in the mid-20th century to become the cultural landmark it is today. Across the river is the Arneson River Theatre, which was built in 1939. Audiences have enjoyed concerts, folklórico performances, plays, river parades and more at this 800 seat venue over the years.

San Antonio Museum of Art
200 W. Jones St., (210) 978-8100, samuseum.org
Housed in the elegantly repurposed Lone Star Brewery within easy walking distance from the Pearl, the San Antonio Museum of Art is an eclectic treasure trove of works from around the globe. In addition to the many discoveries to be made in galleries dedicated to art from Texas, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the ancient Mediterranean world and elsewhere, the museum boasts a solid contemporary art collection that includes works by notable San Antonio artists.

San Antonio Botanical Garden
555 Funston Pl., (210) 536-1400, sabot.org
Not too far from Fort Sam Houston you’ll get to explore the natural beauty of the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The 38-acre scenic oasis is complete with trails, a pond, roses and plenty of native plants that make for a lovely photo backdrop. The garden regularly hosts events and offers gardening and cooking classes for those looking for a more hands-on experience, There’s also a glass conservatory and Jason Dady's Jardín restaurant, an essential stop once you’re done exploring the grounds.

McNay Art Museum
6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org
The McNay, opened in 1954 in Marion Koogler McNay’s sprawling Spanish Colonial Revival mansion, proudly presents itself as “the first museum of modern art in Texas.” Greatly expanded in 2008 with the addition of the sleek, 45,000-square-foot Jane and Arthur Stieren Center for Exhibitions, the museum complements its impressive permanent collection of Post-Impressionist paintings, medieval and Renaissance treasures, modernist outdoor sculpture, Southwestern folk art and contemporary Latino prints with both touring and homegrown exhibitions.

The San Antonio Missions
Multiple locations, (210) 932-1001, nps.gov/saan
Yes, the headline says not the Alamo, but San Antonio has four other historic missions that are often overshadowed by the famous downtown landmark: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada. Visitors can go to one or more of the Spanish colonial missions directly, or try to see them all by hiking or biking the 8-mile Mission Reach trail.

Brackenridge Park and the Japanese Tea Garden
3700 N. St. Mary's St., (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov
San Antonians love all 343 acres of Brackenridge Park, and visit it for a variety of reasons. Inside the park is the historic Japanese Tea Garden, which was built in a former quarry and features elaborate pathways and carefully cultivated landscaping, as well as waterways filled with koi. In addition to the park's sprawling green spaces are the adjacent San Antonio Zoo, Sunken Garden Theater and Witte Museum, plus a golf course.

Ruby City
150 Camp St., (210) 227-8400, rubycity.org
Ruby City is the posthumous realization of a dream of the late art collector Linda Pace. The contemporary art center offers a range of exhibitions and is a part of a larger campus that includes Chris Park and the Studio exhibition space. What’s more, it’s housed in an award-winning building designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye OBE.

San Pedro Creek Culture Park
715 Camaron St., (210) 227-1373, spcculturepark.com
Located on the western edge of downtown — adjacent to Ruby City — culture, art and nature come together as a tribute to the birthplace of San Antonio. The San Pedro Creek Culture Park features local artists’ works, created with the story of the diverse cultures drawn to the banks of San Pedro Creek for 12,000 years in mind. Murals, tiled benches, ceramic art, large-scale installations and historical texts and poetry can be seen along with the creek's natural flora and fauna.

Hays Street Bridge
803 N. Cherry St., sanantonio.gov
Originally built to allow vehicular crossing over the tracks of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, the restored Hays Street Bridge, which now accommodates pedestrian traffic, has dual appeal. First, it's a historically significant structure that long served as the chief connector between downtown and the city's predominantly Black East Side. Second, the bridge offers amazing views of the city, which explains why so many runners, cyclists and lovebirds end up there.

Witte Museum
3801 Broadway, (210) 357-1900, wittemuseum.org
Founded in 1926, the Witte Museum is San Antonio’s most-visited museum. Located along the San Antonio River at Brackenridge Park, the Witte’s 10-acre campus features spacious galleries that showcase an extensive collection which includes a variety of specimens, art and artifacts ranging from dinosaur fossils to contemporary art.

San Pedro Springs Park
2200 N. Flores St., (210) 732-5992, sanantonio.gov
The blue, clear waters found in San Pedro Springs Park have been used since hunters and gatherers roamed the land nearby and drank from its springs. As the second oldest public space in America, many San Antonians’ ancestors have swam in the park’s pool. There’s no fee for locals looking to jump in this cold-refreshing water hole in the summer, and its beauty can be enjoyed year round.

Plaza Guadalupe
1327 Guadalupe St., avenida.org
This historic West Side jewel has played host to many dignitaries and visitors including Pope John Paul II in 1987, a Mexican president and several U.S. presidential aspirants, including San Antonio’s own Julián Castro. It’s also the site of a variety of arts and cultural events throughout the year. Also worth note is the nearby La Veladora of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Jesse Treviño), a mixed media mural featuring a 3D votive candle with an eternal flame facing Guadalupe Street.

Contemporary at Blue Star
116 Blue Star, (210) 227-6960, contemporarysa.org
Founded by a group of artists in 1986 following the success of a contemporary arts exhibition in the former Blue Star Ice and Cold Storage warehouse, the Contemporary seeks to inspire and nurture San Antonio’s community of contemporary artists. It is the first and longest-running nonprofit space for contemporary art in San Antonio, and it offers regularly rotating art exhibitions with themes that challenge and inspire.

King William Historic District
Southtown, sanantonio.gov
Southtown is known as a haven for art, flavor, culture and fun — and the entire area revolves around the heart of the King William Historic District. The Victorian-inspired neighborhood is packed with history and charm. Established in the 1800s, the district was home to German immigrants who bought land and built homes. It is named after King Wilhelm I of Prussia and is considered a Cultural Arts District today.

Briscoe Western Art Museum
210 W. Market St., (210) 299-4499, briscoemuseum.org
Located in the heart of downtown, the Briscoe Western Art Museum showcases art and artifacts of the American West. Housed in a building that formerly served as San Antonio’s original public library in the 1930s — and the Hertzberg Circus Collection and Museum in the ‘80s — the Briscoe opened its doors in 2013. The museum grounds also include the McNutt Sculpture Garden, a public courtyard featuring an array of bronze sculptures of historic figures from the American West.