What greater stage for one of college football’s most popular bowl games than one ofthe country’s most popular vacation destinations, San Antonio.

The Alamo City benefits from a wealth of experience hosting major conventions and sporting events, including Big 12 Football Championships, NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours as well as the NBA Finals and the NBA All-Star Game.

San Antonio also provides unparalleled entertainment in what is the seventh largest city in the United States.

What makes San Antonio ideal for the eight million visitors enjoying world class shopping, golf, restaurants and the always romantic River Walk, is that it’s all at your fingertips.

The 65,000 seat Alamodome, home to the Valero Alamo Bowl, is within walking distance of downtown, major tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and other events surrounding this year’s game. So as winter blankets the rest of the country during bowl season, San Antonio will be busy greeting thousands of football fans with weather as warm and enjoyable as its people.

What makes San Antonio ideal for the eight million visitors enjoying world class shopping, golf, restaurants and the always romantic River Walk, is that it’s all at your fingertips.

The 65,000 seat Alamodome, home to the Valero Alamo Bowl, is within walking distance of downtown, major tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and other events surrounding this year’s game. So as winter blankets the rest of the country during bowl season, San Antonio will be busy greeting thousands of football fans with weather as warm and enjoyable as its people.

Pure San Antonio

Visitors will see that San Antonio has retained its sense of history and tradition, amid cosmopolitan progress. Flavors and sounds of Native Americans, Old Mexico, The Republic of Texas, Germans, the Wild West, African-Americans and the Deep South converge. For visitors interested in gallant deeds of days gone by, Pure San Antonio is history. The citywas founded in 1718 by Father Antonio Olivares when he established the Mission San Antonio de Valero, which became permanently etched in the annals of history in 1836 as The Alamo, where 168 defenders held the old mission against some 4,000 Mexican troops for 13 days. Located in the heart of downtown, The Alamo is still a major landmark and a shrineof Texas liberty.

With more than 300 daysof sunshine annually and an average year round temperature of 68.8 degrees, visitors will also find an abundance of outdoor sports and recreation, including SilverHorn Golf Club, ranked among “The Top 25 Courses in Texas” by the Dallas Morning News.

The River Walk

Formost visitors their journey starts with the Paseo Del Rio. Better known as theRiver Walk, these cobblestone and flagstone paths border both sides of the San Antonio River, 20 feet below street level, as itwinds its way through the middle of the business district.

The Riverwalk has multiple personalities—quite park-like in some stretches, while other areas are full of activity with European-style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, art galleries, nightclubs and gleaming high-rise hotels.

Rio San Antonio Cruises, the river’s floating transportation system, provides a novel method of sightseeing and people-watching in downtown San Antonio. Groups can dine aboard open-air river cruisers while river taxis deliver visitors to the Rivercenter, a three-level glass shopping, dining and entertainment complex, and to the newly expanded Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Family Adventures

For family adventures, visitors may want to explore the San Antonio Children's Museum or the Witte Museum. HemisFair Park offers a refreshing retreat from city streets with a playground located near the Alamo Street entrance.

To get a feel for the rich history of San Antonio, fans should visit the historic King William district just south of Downtown. Or try exploring the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum featuring a massive collection of more than 3,500 specimens of horned game animal trophies from all over the world.

Perhaps you could visit the San Antonio Zoo, which is located in Brackenridge Parkand features over 3,000 animals.

San Antonio is also a shopper’s paradise. Eleven malls are scattered throughout the city, including the Shops at La Cantera. Three major outlet malls are within anhour’s drive of San Antonio. No serious shopper would miss historic Market Square where you can enjoy patio dining, cold margaritas, strolling mariachis, authentic arts and crafts, original paintings, southwest treasures and a whole lot more.

Food and Fun

While known for its Tex-Mex, dining options in San Antonio range from French cuisine to Chinese to Texas steaks and barbecue to Soul Food and Cajun. After sun-down, the San Antonio night life begins. Visitors can two-step to a country-western tune or sway to a Tejano super group.

There’s also traditional jazz and piano bars along with the latest hit dance music on the River Walk. What about a steak at Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar or a concert at Sunset Station?

What’s the best thing about San Antonio? The answer is as varied as the people who live in and visit this great city. It’s the Alamo, the River Walk, conjunto music, friendly people, Tex-Mex cuisine, Fiesta Texas, Sea World and more.

Thank you for coming to San Antonio to experience her natural beauty, her history, her people, her music and her cuisine. 

For future visits, make sure to log on to www.visitsanantonio.com for a visitors guide.