“Safety Briefing,” – For those coming to San Antonio for the convention, I would like to explain the highway system and also give you a few tips to make your visit both rewarding and safe.
San Antonio is the seventh most populated city in the US and the second in Texas with a population nearing 1.5 million. It is also the leading tourist destination for the state.
Like many cities of the southwest, it is spread out , in this case over 465 square miles. The downtown, however, is relatively small. The distance from the hotel to the Alamo is about two miles.
Two national highways pass through San Antonio. Interstate 10, which crosses the southern part of the country from Santa Monica, California to Jacksonville, Florida passes right in front of the convention hotel. Interstate 35 runs from Laredo on the Mexican border to Duluth, Minnesota. I-35 travels on the east side of downtown San Antonio and is the main link to Austin, Dallas and Oklahoma City.
The city has three looping highways. The farthest from downtown is 1604 and it is about 20-30 minutes away. You would travel nearly 100 miles if you drove the entire loop. Once beyond the loop, you will be in ranch and farmland. (The fracking industry is southeast of San Antonio)
Loop 410 is about 10-15 minutes from downtown. It is heavily urbanized with shopping and business lining all the travel routes. Locals will give directions by saying the location is inside or outside the loop.
The confluence of highways, provides a looping highway system around the downtown. The key to understanding the signage is that it often gives a distant point that in turn gives you a direction.
For example, if you are heading out of downtown on I-35 you may see a sign for Austin or Laredo. I-10 would give you Houston or El Paso.
Specific directions to the Double-Tree hotel at the corner of Frio and Cesar Chavez.
San Antonio Airport. From the airport to downtown takes about 15 minutes. You will be taking 281 south. As you approach the downtown you will see the city center on the your right and the Alamodome on your left. Take the Commerce street exit. Commerce street is a one way heading west cutting through the center of downtown. Continue on Commerce until you pass under the freeway system (1-10) and reach Frio street. The University of Texas San Antonio (downtown campus) will be on your left. You make a left on Frio, pass the campus and the hotel will be on your left.
I-35 South: If you are coming from Dallas or Austin you transfer from 1-35 to 37-Corpus Christi just after you pass the Fort Sam Houston exit. The proceed as above, taking the Commerce street exit to the hotel.
If you are coming from the west on !-10 you will pass right in front of the hotel. All you have to do is take the Cesar Chavez exit. As you come off the exit you NEED TO GO STRAIGHT to Frio street rather than follow the loop around. You then make a right and you are at the hotel.
If you are coming from the east (Houston etc.) or from the south (Laredo) you will be on 1-10 heading west as you approach the downtown. You want to take the South Alamo street exit. Once you come down to street level, make a left and pass under the freeway and head on Frio to the hotel.
Like any major city, traffic is heavy from 7-9am and 4-7 pm. Interstate is a major logistics link, so you can expect heavy truck traffic at all hours. Also local laws only allow hands free use of cell phones while driving.
Medical Emergencies: Christus Santa Rose Hospital is just five minutes from the hotel on 333 N. Santa Rosa St. For those with military access there is the world famous San Antonio Military Medical Center off 1-35 north. This world class teaching hospital is about 15 minutes from the hotel. The emergency room has a pharmacy, so you could refill needed medicines.
Snacks: If you want to gather up snacks and drinks and don’t want to pay hotel or drug store prices you can go to a local supermarket – HEB – on West Commerce. From the hotel head past the UTSA campus and make a left on Commerce street. Go about a mile and you will find the HEB on your right. (The cross street is 108 N. Rosillo) – HEB is the local supermarket chain with stores throughout the city, south Texas and northern Mexico. The company headquarters is in downtown San Antonio.
For those with military access, Ft. Sam Houston is about 10 minutes away. Take 1-35 north to the Wilson street exit. Cross the highway and continue on Wilson through the guard gate. Once cleared you proceed to Wilson Way. Take a right and you will find the commissary on your left. Across the commissary parking lot is the Exchange. You can take a left on Wilson Way to go to the gas station and snack shop.
Restaurants: Google downtownSanAntonio.org to get a list of restaurants by category along with all current activities.
Near the hotel on the other side of the freeway is Market Square (a major tourist attraction with wares from Mexico) has two restaurants: Mia Tiera, which is open 24 hours a day and La Margarita. Also nearby is Pico De Gallo which is on the same side of the freeway as the hotel. Take Frio pass the UTSA campus and you will see the restaurant off to the your right at. 111 S. Leona St.
Of course, most will want to enjoy the River Walk and its many restaurants, bars and attractions. The River Walk has been extended in many directions and there are now many new hotels and shops that populate the downtown landscape.
If you want a more neighborhood vibe with restaurants, art galleries and small shops head to “Southtown,” which is just east of downtown on South St. Mary’s. (Take Cesar Chavez heading north east from the hotel, go under the expressway and then go about 3/4 mile and then turn right on St. Mary’s). This area also includes the King William District which features homes dating back to the 1900s. A very pleasant walking area with tree lined streets and the San Antonio River meandering through it.
If you want an elevated view, you can dine atop the Tower of the Americas. Built fro the 1968 World’s Fair, the observation deck is 579 feet, the rotating restaurant is below that. Use of the observation deck is included with your meal. (The Chart House restaurant has a reservation desk separate from the ticket window for just visiting the observation deck.) You can reach the Tower of Americas by going through the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Market Street. About a ten or fifteen minute walk from the Alamo.
Miscellaneous Topics: If you want to travel around the downtown by river barge get “Taxi Tickets,” which are good for 24 hours. A much better deal than taking the narrated tour. You can just phone their call center and you be told when a barge is coming to your location (there are marked post throughout the River Walk area). This will also let you explore the full length of the downtown river to include the northern reach which goes to the trendy Pearl Brewery development. This is the center for young adults in San Antonio.
Alamo Trolley – This is a service that has motorized trolleys that stop at tourist sites around the downtown,. Buy a ticket at Market Square or the Alamo) and you can get a narrated tour plus have on and off privileges for two days. (Google Alamo Trolley to see what specials they are offering.)
If you are interested in the “old west,” visit the Briscoe Western Museum at 210 W. Market. Very well done specialty museum featuring many displays and educational videos. You can sit in a deep leather chair and listen to cowboy music and stories.
Shopping: Paris Hatters at 119 Broadway is a Texas tradition dating back to 1917. Claiming the largest inventory in the country, this is a stop for celebrities and common folk looking for the right Stetson or other style chapeau for their noggin.
A retired Air Force Colonel owns Rocket Fizz at 513 Houston. (Minutes from the Alamo) This is a traditional candy store which will bring back a tinge of nostalgia as you sample the candies of your youth.
During the convention weekend, San Antonio will be celebrating the missions being a World Heritage Site. So when you visit the Alamo and perhaps the other missions, you may be able to partake in these special events.
So enjoy your travels, the convention and San Antonio.