The resort is 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio and sits in the Texas Hill Country and Cibolo Canyon. Accommodations include 1,002 rooms (85 suites) which feature spacious areas, custom designed furniture and luxury bathrooms. Staying in the room at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort might feel like a good idea, but guests can’t seem to resist what the resort has to offer.

The spa offers 30 treatment rooms, two outdoor private treatment rooms, a complete fitness center and a private, lagoon-type pool. If a calming pool is not your thing, the resort offers a 650-foot rapid river ride, slides and a 1,100 foot long lazy river. Children’s pools, an adult pool and an activity pool provide a variety of water experiences. All-in-all, the River Bluff Water Experience offers six acres of pools, fountains, waterfalls, rivers and poolside lounges with food and drink services available.

The resort also offers comprehensive dining with seven different restaurants. Cibolo Moon and 18 Oaks, two of the dining selections, offer creative menus featuring fresh, organic ingredients. Authentic Texas cuisine can also be found on the premises, along with Texas hospitality

For those choosing the resort as a meeting place, the grounds provide over 140,000 square feet of customizable indoor space. The event and convention space includes a Grand Ballroom, Exhibit Hall and Junior Ballroom with large lobby space. Three outdoor venues provide ideal space for events with the gorgeous Hill Country as a backdrop.

If you are looking for some outdoor adventure, visit the Texas Hill Country, which starts north of San Antonio and provides miles of lush landscape and rivers. The terrain is mountainous and provides year-round recreation including river tubing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, leisurely driving, cycling and antique shopping.

The Japanese Tea Gardens is also an outdoor must-see. The garden features beautiful floral displays, an impressive waterfall and a pond for Koi and aquatic plants, and while you are there you can visit the Tower of the Americas for a panoramic view of the city.

Photo courtesy of Docnoriega @Flickr

For a true look at Texas, visit the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum and the display of 128 years of history in exotic collections that feature oddities like a two-headed calf and a lamb with eight legs.

The Mission San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo, was originally established as a mission in 1718 and now sits as a reminder for 189 defenders who fell there on March 6, 1836 after repeated attacks by Mexican General Santa Anna’s army. The Alamo chapel and the Long Barracks are all that remain of the original fort, but the museum contains relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and offers a factual narration on the fall of the Alamo.

And, of course, no visitor to San Antonio should miss some time on the San Antonio River Walk. The River Walk is the country’s oldest and most extensive Spanish-colonial water system. What once supplied water to San Antonio’s five historic missions now serves as a three-mile winding walkway featuring a variety in dining, art, shopping and entertainment.

HemisFair Park, where the 750-foot tall Tower of the Americas provides breathtaking views, contains lush landscaped areas complete with cascading waterfalls. The park was built in 1968 to host the 1968 World’s Fair and still houses several historic buildings as well as the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Instituto Cultural Mexicano.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a 33-acre park featuring seasonal floral displays and exotic plants from around the world. An authentic log cabin and a native forest walk bring an ambiance of calm in the midst of a thriving city and floral gardens bring beauty to the eyes and nose. Gardens in the park include a rose, perennial, sacred and Japanese gardens as well as a garden for the blind.

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, located on 1200-acres of natural brush land, grassland mud flats, shallow ponds, deep ponds and a deep water lake, is a bird-watchers paradise. The area includes a 600 acre lake positioned on a natural migratory bird route, bringing 300 species of birds including pelicans, egrets, roseate spoonbills, wild ducks and hawks. The area also contains miles of walking trails and natural areas perfect for picnics or site seeing.

Photo courtesy of Charles & Clint

Spend the day walking along the San Antonio River Walk, the country’s oldest and most extensive Spanish-colonial water system. What once supplied water to San Antonio’s five historic missions now serves as a three-mile winding walkway featuring a variety in dining, art, shopping and entertainment.

History buffs will not want to miss out on the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which was created in 1718 as Franciscan and Spanish council established the first of five historical missions brought to life along the San Antonio River. The five missions were created to turn the Native American population into Spanish citizens, but ultimately became educational centers increasing economic enterprise in the area, leading up to the current thriving River Walk.

Photo courtesy of jdtornow @Flickr

For a panoramic view of San Antonio, visit the Tower of the Americas. At 750 feet above the city, viewers can walk along an observation deck at the Flags Over Texas Observatory or dine in the rotating restaurant, the Chart House, in a tower built in 1968 for the World’s Fair.

Animal lovers will want to stop by the San Antonio Zoo, named the third largest zoo in the United States. Opened in the 1800s, the San Antonio Zoo features 3,500 animals representing 600 species of animals.

Photo courtesy of Eddy

The Mission San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo, was originally established as a mission in 1718 and now sits as a reminder for 189 defenders who fell there on March 6, 1836 after repeated attacks by Mexican General Santa Anna’s army. The Alamo chapel and the Long Barracks are all that remain of the original fort, but the museum contains relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and offers a factual narration on the fall of the Alamo.

The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum displays 128 years of history in exotic collections that feature oddities like a two-headed calf and a lamb with eight legs as well as an authentic shooting gallery. Located two blocks from the Alamo and 50 feet from the River Walk, this museum is about as Texas as you can get.

Photo courtesy of eschipul @ Flickr

The Museo Alameda sits on the historic Market Square and combines art and culture to describe the Latino experience in America through live performances, exhibitions and educational programs. The fact that the Museo Alameda was the first organization in the nation to sign an affiliation agreement with the Smithsonian Institute shows the importance of the museum and that partnership allows visitors to San Antonio the chance to see popular exhibits that otherwise might not make it to the area.

Photo courtesy of ydhsu @ Flickr

The San Antonio Museum of Art’s diverse permanent collections include Asian, Latin American, European, American, Oceanic, Contemporary and Western Antiquities collections. The museum itself is located in the historic Lone Star Brewery originally built in 1884. When the brewery buildings were purchased in the 1970s, a $7.3 million renovation created one of the most well-known museums in the nation. Visitor’s to the museum have an opportunity to view one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of ancient Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek and Roman art in the southern United States; Stone, ceramic and metal objects from the Olmec of Mesoamerica and Chavin of the Andean region and works by pioneering abstract artists of the 20th century, among many other pieces. The museum conducts a wide range of informational guided tours and offers educational programs including lectures, concerts, films, children’s workshops, scholarly symposia, family art activities and special exhibitions. The San Antonio Museum of Art also provides the Gloria Galt River Landing at the River Walk’s riverfront with a shaded pavilion, walkway and terrace along the museum’s north side.

The Texas Hill Country starts north of San Antonio and provides miles of lush landscape and rivers. As the name details, the terrain is mountainous and provides year-round recreation including river tubing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, leisurely driving, cycling and antique shopping.

The Japanese Tea Gardens, adjacent to the Sunken Garden Theater in Brackenridge Park, features beautiful floral displays, an impressive waterfall and a pond for Koi and aquatic plants. The garden architecture is known world-wide, bringing visitors to tour the landscaped grounds and quarried rock architecture. The site is designated as a Texas Civil Engineering Landmark, a Registered Texas Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sunken Garden Theater is an open-air amphitheater used for visiting artists and city events. Seating includes 872 installed seats and room for 4,800 spectators.

Photo courtesy of Sean Loyless

The King William National Historic District is a 25-block area near downtown San Antonio along the south bank of the San Antonio River. The area began as rich farmland watered through aquifers from the San Antonio River until the rich and famous of the late 1800s were attracted by the surrounding beauty, when it became the most elegant residential area in the city. Prominent German merchants originally settled the area and built up gorgeous mansions and entertainment venues. Even after those who built it up left and the area began to deteriorate, a resurgence of interest in the 1980s reclaimed the area and it was once again built up with historical sophistication. The area was zoned as the state’s first historic district, and now offers a look into the past for anyone walking by the grand and gorgeous homes.

Photo Courtesy of ChicagoGeek

The Hotel Valencia is a 2010 AAA Four Diamond award winning hotel located on the El Paseo del Rio, better known as the San Antonio River Walk. Whether taking a leisurely walk along the river, stopping along the way at a wide variety of shops, restaurants and bars, or catching a riverboat water taxi on the river side of the hotel, the River Walk itself has a lot to offer any traveler.

Photo courtesy of Corey Leopold

The Hotel Valencia also offers close proximity to many San Antonio favorites and historical points of interest. The hotel sits just six blocks from the San Antonio Convention Center and 15 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport. The infamous Alamo, Texas Adventure Park and historic Market Square are all just four blocks from the Hotel Valencia. For those with more time and a fondness for discovery, the San Antonio Zoo and San Antonio Botanical Gardens sit within five miles of the hotel and Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld sit within 18 miles.

Guests to the Hotel Valencia can return to the hotel and relax following event-filled days by dining at the hotel’s sophisticated Citrus Restaurant or grabbing drinks and tapas at the Vbar overlooking the River Walk.

Of course, staying in is always an option with rooms featuring 8-foot ebony solid wood credenzas, leather down-wrapped club chairs with ottomans and bathrooms feature Italian white virgin marble, stainless steel vanity sinks and bath amenities by California modern apothecary Lather.

One thing to be aware of as you’re planning your trip to San Antonio is the hotel tax you’ll have to pay. More expensive the most cities around the world, you’ll be paying a $17 a night hotel tax. You’ll also be paying a more expensive sales tax, which is 8%. These aren’t horrendous, as there are many tourist destinations that charge more, but it’s important to keep it in mind while you’re planning your trip.

San Antonio is one of the few U.S. cities that’s best to visit during the winter. Summer is extremely hot and humid and hard to bear even during the evenings. Winter days are pleasant, with temperatures often in the 60s. If you still like it somewhat warmer, late fall and early sprint are also nice.

Because of its size, you’re not exactly just going to be walking to and from everywhere in San Antonio. Unless you rent a car, you’ll probably be relying predominantly on taxi service. The public bus system is a possibility, however, it requires exact change and who has that anymore? For bumming around downtown and going from attraction to attraction, consider hopping a street car or even better, a river taxi. The open air street cars breeze through downtown, offering a unique view of the city, although it’s a hot alternative during the summer. A one-day pass is $4. Even if you’re not exactly using it to conveniently get around San Antonio, the river taxi is just a fun way to see the city. One way tickets are $5 or get a 24-hour pass for $10.

[photo courtesy of ihana aika]

As the name suggests, Swig Martini Bar in San Antonio is no place just for a round of bud lights. You’re going for the good stuff at Swig Martini Bar, with an extensive liquor list that will keep you coming back from more. It also features the largest humidor on the riverwalk.

Casbeers, not to be confused with Casper, certainly is nothing to look at or write home about, but once inside it comes alive. One of the better area venues for local and regional music acts, you’ll find live entertainment throughout the week. Though Swig Martini Bar may not be so, Casbeers is that bar you’ll go for your classic brews.

San Antonio nightlife is often know for its Midwest flair, yet you’ll find a touch of elegance as well, such is the case with Club Rio. If you like the velvet rope and the ambiance of a Los Angeles club, then this is the place you’ll want to be. This is where you’ll find the upper elite of San Antonio.

The Bonham Exchange is a little different than your typical San Antonio bar or lounge. First of all, it’s primarily a contemporary dance club, so you’ll find loud music and plenty of moves being busted on one of the most well-known dance floors in San Antonio. Although it still caters to all people, it primarily attracts the gay and lesbian crowd. The club features three different dance floors, plus an outdoor patio that’s popular for gathering in-between dancing.

You’ll find a little something of everything at Graham Central Station. Each night at the San Antonio nightclub typically features something different, ranging from college night to ladies night to business night. Graham Central Station often features live music and is renowned for their karaoke.

[photo courtesy of wickenden]

If you don’t mind eating in a renovated Exxon station, you won’t mind dining in a casual restaurant that focuses on good BBQ and friendly staff. The Barbeque Station offers wood-smoked barbeque and sides made from scratch daily.

MadHatter’s Tea House and Café has been featured in National Graphic Traveler, New York Times and Texas Monthly as well as on Rachael Ray’s Vacation 2009, and they stand behind the fame. Specialties include Grilled Artichoke Benedict, smoked jalapeno tuna salad and, of course, a wide variety of tea.

Photo courtesy of Naama @ Flickr

Blanco Café opened in 1974 and is run by the same family that has been serving San Antonio for over 35 years. Traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex foods created by founder Alejandro San Miguel still cover the large menu and the staff always work to make visitors feel like they are a part of the family.

Photo courtesy of lucianvenutian @ Flickr

Housed in a building originally built in 1874, the Cadillac Bar Restaurant in San Antonio is one of those local hangouts even the tourists hear about. The menu is extensive and the building is historic. Located in Stumberg Square near the River Walk.