More than 2.5 million people a year visit the 4.2 acre complex known worldwide as "The Alamo." Most come to see the old mission where a small band of Texans held out for thirteen days against the centralist army of General Santa Anna. Although the Alamo fell in the early morning hours of March 6, 1836, the death of the Alamo Defenders has come to symbolize courage and sacrifice for the cause of Liberty. The Texan Army under Sam Houston shouted "Remember the Alamo!" as it routed Santa Anna in 18 minutes(!!) at the battle of San Jacinto less than 7 weeks later on April 21, 1836.

Located next to the River Center Mall Alamo Plaza offers ready access to shopping, restaurants and the River Center Lagoon of the San Antonio River Walk. Across the plaza from the Alamo, the Plaza Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It Or Not! allow you to discover one-of-a-kind oddities, curiosities and illusions gathered from all over the world by Robert Ripley. There are over 500 exhibits - one of the largest in the world! There are also the Guinness World Records Museum, Ripley's Haunted Adventure and Davy Crockett's Tall Tales Ride.

The River Walk, or Paseo Del Rio in the heart of downtown San Antonio, is the pride of the city. Lush green foliage lines the banks of this peaceful, historic river. Cobblestone walkways lead visitors to the river-level restaurants and shops. The river bubbles to the surface on the grounds of the University of the Incarnate Word and flows to downtown, threading its way through the city one level below the hustle and bustle of city streets. The river was first called Yanaguana by the Payaya Indians, meaning "place of refreshing waters." Along the horseshoe shaped riverbend, the river is shaded by towering cypresses, oaks and willows and bordered by gardens of flowering ornamental plants. River cruisers travel the River Walk’s three miles past unique retail shops, restaurants and nightclubs.

Four Spanish frontier missions, part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries, are preserved here. They include Missions San Jose, San Juan, Espada, and Concepcion. The park, containing many cultural sites along with some natural areas, was established in 1978. The park covers about 819 acres. This map shows the roads and location of the Old Spanish Missions in San Antonio and the relationship of that area to the Omni Hotel. Roadways connect each site in this mostly urban park. The Mission Trails project, presently under construction, includes a hike and bike trail, and driving route from downtown to Espada, the southernmost mission site in the park. Some sections of the trail and are presently open and parallel the San Antonio River in some places.

The free "Junior Ranger Program" is designed for first to sixth grade children visiting with their parents. It includes activities at all four missions. The Junior Ranger program can be started at any of the four missions.

Winner of the 2002 "Best Attraction" award from the Downtown Alliance, the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum is sure to delight and amaze people of all ages. The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum, at the corner of Houston and Presa, two blocks from the Alamo and 50 yards from the River Walk."

At the Buckhorn, we believe in "edutainment"...the whole family can learn while you're having fun. Get up close to the exhibits in our halls where interactive displays make the experience come alive. Belly up to the bar in our old-fashioned saloon-turned-café, and browse our Curio Store, "The Worlds Oddest Store".

The world famous Buckhorn Saloon and Museum has delighted hundreds of thousands of visitors for over 120 years. Come visit this San Antonio classic and discover a whole new Wild West experience...Texas Style!

Celebrate the cultures of Texas at San Antonio’s cultural experience museum! UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures features interactive exhibits, multicultural family programs, fun activities for children, and colorful special events. Guests are encouraged to bring their cameras, and don’t be afraid to touch—many of our exhibits feature hands-on elements! Immerse yourself inside our 360° Dome Theater, boasting the technology of 22 screens and 38 projectors and featuring Faces and Places of Texas, a multimedia experience showcasing Texans and special events from around the state. Step into the lives of early Texans on the Institute's outdoor exploration area, the Back 40, and see how early Texans lived at our Living Texas demonstration areas. Learn the stories of multinational Texans first hand from our character performers! Guided tours are available for groups. The museum’s retail store offers a broad selection of unique Texas gifts, publications, and international gift items. The museum is a short walk from the Alamo and the River Walk through HemisFair Park.

The newly renovated Tower of the Americas reopened in June 2006. Visitors to the 750-foot free-standing tower are in for a real treat. Glass-walled elevators ascend over 500 feet to the restaurant and observation level. Features include: Skies over Texas, a 4D theatre ride in which visitors take a high flying trip across the Lone Star State, zooming in on sites such as a Friday night high school football game and the space shuttle at NASA: Eyes over Texas, the renovated restaurant features a 360 degree revolving vistas, seating 250 people and 75 more at the bar; Flags over Texas, the Observation Deck includes banquet and meeting space in a state-of-the art facility. Other features include a ground floor cafe as well as a gift shop on the ground floor. Completed in 1968, the Tower was part of HemisFair, the Texas' World's Fair, for which it was the theme structure. The tower is still one of the tallest free-standing structures in the Western Hemisphere. Rising 750 feet to the top of the antenna, the Tower is 87 feet higher than the Seattle Space Needle and 67 feet higher than the Washington Monument.

As far as shopping malls go, this one is beautiful. Set right on the River Walk this mall is a dining, shopping and entertainment mecca. With over 125 stores including popular men's and women's apparel stores, fine jewelry, numerous shoe stores, department stores, specialty stores, accessories, health and beauty, home, music, electronics stores and more, Rivercenter Mall San Antonio shoppers are sure to find great deals on everything they are looking for.

Although anchored by Foley's, Dillard's and an AMC movie theater, the mall offers scores of specialty shops and gift stores, as well as one of the largest parking garages downtown. Musical groups and dance troupes perform nightly during the summer months at the lagoon in the middle of the mall. Visitors can also board barges for tours of the River Walk from the lower level.

Market Square plays an important role in the "uniqueness" of San Antonio. It is a favorite place for visitors and natives alike. Market Square truly reflects the flavor that has always been San Antonio. This most colorful area is located between Dolorosa, Santa Rosa, and Commerce Streets with IH-35 serving as its western boundary. A variety of shops and restaurants line the pedestrian plazas within the three-square block area. We especially like the 24/7 Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery.

La Villita - A Historic Arts Village: Art in the heart of San Antonio. Located on the south bank of the San Antonio River, La Villita was San Antonio's first neighborhood. It was originally a settlement of primitive huts for the Spanish soldiers stationed at the Mission San Antonio Valero (the Alamo). After a flood in 1819, brick, stone and adobe houses replaced the earlier structures. In 1836, La Villita was the site of General Santa Ana's cannon line in the Battle of the Alamo and a map from early that year showed the village to be of considerable size.

The first part of the 20th century saw La Villita decline into a slum area. In 1939, as ground broke on the San Antonio River Walk development, city fathers led by Mayor Maury Maverick acted to preserve this colorful part of San Antonio's history. Today La Villita is a thriving art community (map) that stands as a monument to San Antonio's past.

Home to over 3,500 animals of 750 different species, including the endangered whooping crane, the San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium is ranked as one of the top zoos in the nation. Located at the top of the great San Antonio River in San Antonio's Brackenridge Park, the zoo spreads over 35 acres of land and has many different exhibits to explore while you are visiting. It has one of the largest bird collections in the world that features a simulated tropical rain forest and free-flying birds. From the semi-arid African Hill Area that houses zebras, giraffes and antelopes to the tropical Amazonia Area that encompasses the emerald green waters of the San Antonio River, this park stresses conservation and education.

The Conservatory opened to the public on February 29, 1988. Plants from alpine regions to equatorial rainforests are housed in these individual glass buildings tucked into the earth. These buildings surround a sunken courtyard and tropical lagoon filled with aquatic plants. Specialty collections include alpine plants, epiphytic plants display, desert cacti and succulents, equatorial tropicals, palms and cycads, tropical fruits, ferns and aroids, insectivores, and aquatic plants. Each group is housed in its own climate-controlled environment. These environments range from the 65-foot tall fog-enshrouded forest of palms to the wardian style alpine display. Past the Alpine Exhibit, the hall opens up into the Epiphyte Display. Other venues include the Aquatic Garden, the Desert Pavilion, the Hot Tropical Room, the Palm House, the Orangerie and the Fern Grotto.

Although all of the rooms are sunken into the ground, they have glass roofs beginning at about 18 feet above the floor level and going as high as 65 feet above the courtyard level. The fern room is actually 28 feet below the surface. This design is possible due to the quality and quantity of sunlight in San Antonio.

Approximately 33 road miles from the conference hotel is Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest cavern in Texas. There are several tours or one might participate in some mining activities. The Jaremy Room is a stunning 120' deep chamber. Discovered in 1967 while drilling exploratory shafts, this room was not open to the public until July of 2002. Flashlights are given to the guests and tours are kept small.

Travel I-10 east to I-410 east to I-35 North to exit 175 from the conference site. Go west on FM 3009 (Natural Bridge Caverns Rd) aproximately 6 miles to 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd.

Just 22 road miles west of the conference hotel is Cascade Cavern, the only cavern in Texas with a 100' waterfall! Probably formed during the Pliestocene epoch by the underground passage of the Cibolo river, this cavern presents an interesting mix of geological, archeological and historical features. It exhibits a combination of the joint and the dip and strike types of caverns, and is home to a number of unusual creatures, including cliff and leopard frogs, Mexican brown bats and Cascade Cavern salamanders. Archeological evidence uncovered near the cave indicates the presence of two Indian sites. It is probable that the Indians used the cave for shelter, and soot found on the sides of a natural chimney suggests that they had fires. This cavern was made a state historical site in 1932.

Travel I-10 west from the conference site to exit 543. On the access road to the north of I-10, approximately 100 yds west of the underpass, Cascade Cavern Rd is to the right. Follow this road and the "Cascade Cavern" signs 2.8 miles to the parking lot. Tours are M-F, 1000-1600 and S-S, 0900-1700.

San Antonio and surrounding environs are home to a variety of award-winning theme parks. Seaworld, Fiesta Texas (Six Flags), Schlitterbahn and Splashtown provide something for almost anyone! Click on the logos, below, to see their web sites!