Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Calaveras Lake

"The Alamo is a famous complex on Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio, which is the site of a renowned ‘crossroads’ in Texan history, such as the first Spanish colonization, the independence of Mexico, and the place where the Confederacy stood its ground. One of the most popular attractions, particularly with kids, is the hallowed ground where a small band of Texans, including David Crockett, James Bowie, and William B. Travis, who held out for just under two weeks against General Antonio López de Santa Anna during the siege. The three men came to symbolize courage and sacrifice for the cause of liberty."

"OK, bad joke  - but it's definitely a great place to visit when in San Antonio, so don't forget that!. Here's the thing though - it gets incredibly crowded. My first "photo visit" there resulted in so-so shots with folks in them."

"By Liveon001 ©Travis Witt [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and a National Historical Park, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is home to four of San Antonio's five missions: Mission San Jose, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada (the fifth one located at The Alamo which is not part of the park) that served as part of the Spanish colonization of Texas and efforts to spread Christianity nearly 300 years ago. All four of the missions are still active Catholic churches today, so be sure to check the schedule in advance to plan your visit and keep in mind they may be closed to the public for special services, such as weddings and funerals."

"San Antonio Missions National Historical Park preserves the sites of four former Spanish Catholic frontier missions constructed between the 15th and 18th centuries by Spanish colonial settlers. The park was established in 1983 and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site today. Visitors can explore the park's Missions Concepción, Espada, San Jose, and San Juan for free daily, which are all located approximately two to three miles apart along the San Antonio River just past the city's downtown district."

"There are a total of 16 national parks in Texas, but this is the state’s only UNESCO World Heritage site (and a national park to boot!). Of course, that means it’s not your typical green space but rather a dedicated historical site and one of the city’s biggest tourist draws. The park covers quite a large area, so it’s best to make it a full-day or at least a half-day trip so you can be sure to cover everything."

"This historic three-block market square resembles a little slice of Mexico that has somehow been transported to the streets of San Antonio. Boasting more than 100 locally owned stores, restaurants and stalls, the San Antonio Market Square is a fun place to shop for inexpensive souvenirs and also to dine on authentic Mexican dishes. It has often been described as the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico."

"Enjoy the taste, sights and sounds of the rich Mexican culture!. With over 100 locally owned shops, filled with authentic handcrafted pottery and art, couples can spend an entire day marveling and shopping. For a more romantic, sit-down option, La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar serves up perfect margaritas and delicious dishes in an Old World setting."

"The earlier the better is when you should be making your way downtown to find some great photo quality in this downtown San Antonio location. From shots under the papel picado to the various colorful walls-Market Square really lets you get some great photography. Come early for this hotspot."

"The San Fernando Cathedral is a beautiful and historic church that is just a stone's throw away from the Riverwalk, so it is very easy to get to if you are already downtown. I recommend getting there in the evening so that you can catch it all lit up - it's breathtaking!. There are also these great little fountains in the front of it, so be sure and get those in the shot too!"

"With a 60-foot waterfall, gleaming ponds filled with koi, stone bridges, lovely shaded walkways, a Japanese pagoda, and a verdant garden and floral display, the Japanese Tea Garden offers a slice of peace that feels far away from the commotion of the city. It’s a romantic dreamscape (and a great location for a first date, might we add)."

"Gardens3800 N. Saint Mary's St, San Antonio, TX MoreLess Info. Visitors to San Antonio can walk on the shaded paths of the Japanese Tea Garden and feed the Koi fish. The garden also has a 60-foot waterfall, stone bridges, and a Jingu House Cafe."

"What used to be an abandoned limestone rock quarry donated by the 1899 president of the San Antonio Water Works Company was transformed into a charming Oriental garden in 1918."

"With over 160+ years of tradition, this list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention The Guenther House restaurant in Southtown SATX. Located right next to the River Walk, you can make the trip from downtown heading south and end up at The Guenther House 15-20 minutes later. There’s a lot of history to The Guenther House for those that interested, but most importantly, their breakfast is superb. The Guenther House only serves Breakfast and Lunch, and I would recommend Buttermilk Biscuits & Sausage Gravy or the Southern Sweet Cream Waffle Platter."

"The genteel Victorian manor called The Guenther House next to Pioneer Flour Mills along the River Walk is a museum and a gift shop. But it’s also a restaurant celebrating Pioneer flour and the great things that come from it — like pancakes. The Pioneer Pancake Platter comes with two cake-crumble pancakes, sausage and fruit ($10.95) for a breakfast both satisfying and picturesque, served under the patio’s shaded pergola."

"This was the first mission in Texas and the smallest of the 5 churches. But although it is not a large mission it sure is pretty, with a beautiful garden that provides nice shade in the hot San Antonio sun. If you like unique architecture and doors then you must check out the beautiful and a bit unusual door here as well as the stone archways."

"There are four more missions, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada, located just south of the San Antonio city center. These four missions make up the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015."

"A post shared by San Antonio Adventures (@instasatx) on Mar 10, 2019 at 10:19am PDT. Want to spend the day exploring a quaint, rural spot?. Head to Mission Espada to bask in the peace and tranquility of this modest community."

"A relatively unknown natural oasis on San Antonio’s South Side, the 511-acre Medina River Natural Area offers a truly stunning diversity of plants and animals. There are birds like the green kingfisher and painted bunting, along with pecan and bald cypress trees, and cactus and honey mesquite shrubs. Combine the 2.2-mile Rio Medina Trail with the 6.5-mile Chaparral Trail to get good look into what the area has to offer."

"When visitors come to San Antonio, the first thing many think about is the RiverWalk. This natural area is a different type of riverwalk–while the one downtown is partially man-made, this one is nature made!. This area has 7 miles worth of hiking trails in San Antonio, including some interactive features."

"Inspired by their rich French heritage, Parisian natives Sylvain and Sylvie Nykiel established Saveurs 209 in San Antonio to share their passion for French cuisine with everyone and bring a little slice of France to Texas. Saveurs 209 boasts a menu of contemporary French cuisine with dishes such as starters of fig and mushrooms carpaccio with bucheron goat cheese and hazelnuts and warm toasted foie gras set in a black and red berries coulis with dry meringue with juniper. Entrées (mains) range from roasted monkfish, clams, and shellfish served with fingerling potatoes and leeks in a kaffir lime emulsion, roasted Maine lobster served with sautéed fennel and anise star, and Angus beef tenderloin with butternut squash pureé, shaved mushrooms, and pumpkin seed jus."

"La Boulangerie is a charming family-owned French bakery that specializes in freshly baked pastries, croissants, bread, and made-from-scratch confectionary. The bakery is open for breakfast and lunch, seven days a week, and offers a menu of light French-inspired fare such as gourmet sandwiches and baguettes with a variety of fillings from Comté cheese and chicken to ham and tomato and fresh basil. Other delights on the menu include chocolate croissants, French omelets, raisin rolls, scrambled eggs, croque monsieur and croquet madames, and quiche Lorraine, along with freshly brewed house-roasted coffee."

"Treat yourself to a housemade croissant and chocolate macarons, or place an order for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The bakery has everything from croque madames and monsieurs to quiche. Call 210-639-3165 to place an order for pickup."

"Small-scale caterer Blanca’s Cakes & Catering specializes in cakes for events. In addition to making traditional wedding cakes and quinceañera cakes in San Antonio, they also make cool custom layer cakes— like the above Corona cake– for birthdays. Above all, Blanca’s is known for its great customer service and affordable prices."

"Cosmic Cakery is many San Antonio parents’ go-to for eccentric, adorable kids’ birthday cakes. But this bespoke custom cake maker is exceptionally good at rendering any creative 3-D design, including those that appeal to adults. In addition to custom birthday cakes, this San Antonio bakery also specializes in super-creative cake pops."

"Cosmic Cakery is owned by Brittney who has years of experience in making, sculpting, and decorating cakes. She uses a wide variation of edible ingredients to make a unique cake. Furthermore, she ensures that the envisioned cake is fully replicated with her creations."

"Then check out the snack bar – you’ll find the most creative and delicious snacks. While this could be considered a dessert food truck, we’ll let it slide because every creation is photo-worthy. Where: 8701 FM-1560, San Antonio, TX, TX 78254"

"This happening nightspot in San Antonio plays live country music and features an indoor rodeo arena, a mechanical bull, and also offers dance lessons. The DJ plays melodious country western tunes while a huge dance floor will allure you to join other couples on the floor. There is an in-house band and you will simply have a blast irrespective of being old or young, single or married, or have come here with a group of friends."

"Go to Cowboys Dancehall for some boot-stomping fun and authentic live Texas music!. They are located on the northeast side of San Antonio and are probably the largest and most impressive music venue in the city. Besides great music and country dancing, Cowboys sports an indoor rodeo arena where you can see live events, such as professional bull riding."

"The Brass Monkey is a club that seems to appeal to all types, from young, old, hipsters, former ravers, the bike culture, clubbers; in other words anyone and everyone. Located on the popular St. Mary's strip, this mid-sized dance club is a fantastic place to go to with friends or even on a date. They have a nice patio section with a bar and the main room, complete with bar and sizable dance floor."