San Antonio Riverwalk

  Running through the heart of downtown San Antonio is a 2.5 mile network of walkways along part of the San Antonio river. Known as the "Riverwalk" (Paseo del Rio), it is "...one of the most visited places in all of Texas." Following a 1921 flood that devastated the downtown area, architect Robert Hugman submitted plans for a "...below street level..." flood control system that would also serve as a tourist attraction. This beautiful development of two parallel sidewalks, which wind and loop under several bridges (each unique from the others), connects many of the major attractions in downtown San Antonio, and is lined with a plethora of restaurants and pubs. Perhaps one of the unique features we discovered while exploring the Riverwalk is that an annual "Mud Festival" is held during which this diversion of the San Antonio river is drained and the whole system is cleaned out.

  The Riverwalk along the Savannah river was 1/4 mile wide and deep enough to accommodate full-sized cargo ships. The one here in San Antonio is about fifty feet wide and can only accommodate flat-bottomed tourist boats (a forty minute non-stop ride) and commuter water taxis.

  The stonework of each of the bridges along the Riverwalk reflect the architecture of the surrounding neighborhoods. We spent two days walking and exploring all that the Riverwalk had to offer. It was time well spent.

Part of the San Antonio Riverwalk with its tourist and commuter taxi boats.

There were many ducks inhabiting the river.

Many decorative fountains pulled water from the river and then fed it back in again.

It seemed that every few steps along the Riverwalk there was another restaurant...

...and some provided entertainment.

One of the curved steps leading up to street level.

Monument to Robert Hugman, architect of the Riverwalk.

The foliage around the walkway was beautiful.

Vaquero and longhorn steers sculpture outside the Briscoe Western Art museum along the river's edge.

This waterfall is also located next to the Briscoe Art Museum.

This one was outside the St. Mary's Institute.

Each bridge over the river was unique from the others.

There were even mission bells decorating part of the Riverwalk.

These tiled steps led up to La Villita (The Village), one of the neighborhoods along the river.

There were plain bridges...

...and fancy, elaborate ones.