SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas and is really not a minor league city, as it is home to the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, 1999 World Champions. Located about 3 hours east of Houston, San Antonio is truly in the heart of Texas, as evidenced by the very hot weather that we experienced during our short stay.

San Antonio is best known as home of the Alamo, the one-time Spanish mission that became a fortress during the Texas revolution. In 1836, as General Santa Anna approached San Antonio, over 200 Texan patriots took refuge here and held off Mexican attacks for nearly two weeks before 188 of them were killed by the 3000-man strong Mexican Army. It was this horrible massacre that led Texans to attack Santa Anna's troops later in 1836, and shouting the now famous phrase "Remember the Alamo" defeat them, earning Texas its independence.

The Alamo is now surrounded by San Antonio's downtown, but the attraction is well-maintained and is well worth a couple of hours. There are history talks, a short film, and an interesting museum that explain the Alamo very well.

San Antonio also has the RiverWalk, a walking path that snakes its way along the San Antonio River. Boat rides are available, and there are a number of restaurants and shops along the way. The River Centre Mall is at one end of the walk and is right next to the Alamo.

The other cool thing is the Tower of the Americas, located in Hemmisfair Park. A quick ride to the top of the 750-foot cylinder provides for views of the city and surrounding area. Of course, there isn't much to see outside of downtown as San Antonio is surrounded by miles of flat land. But at $3, it is worth a few minutes at the top.

Overall, San Antonio is a pretty nice place - there are parks, shopping areas, and a number of interesting museums. The highlight is the Alamo, and this coupled with a nice stadium make this city a good stop on any Texas baseball tour.