We parked the car and walked down a few steps and I was immediately in my happy place. Oh, it is so beautiful.
The River Walk is one story down from street level. It is a hidden wonderland from traffic above.
First we did the 35 minute River Boat tour to give us an overview of the whole area.
The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks are lined with restaurants, hotels and shops.
It connects many of San Antonio major attractions such as the Alamo, the Rivercenter Mall, the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Pearl Brewery.
In 1921 a disastrous flood along the San Antonio River took 50 lives.
It was decided then that flood control needed to be developed for the river.
Plans were put into place to build an upstream dam, Olmos dam, and that was the beginning of many development projects.
Through the following decades the network was improved and extended.
The first major extension of the River Walk was done in preparation for the 1968 HemisFair.
1968 was also the year the Hilton Palacio del Rio was opened, the first of many downtown hotels that now line the riverfront.
It seems like the hotels are competing for which one can have the most waterfalls, waterways and elaborate landscaping.
Over 20 events take place on the River Walk each year.
The San Antonio Spurs had their five NBA Championship victory parades/cruises along the river. I hope there is another one on the horizon for them.
The water does appear brown and muddy......because it is. The river bottom has silt deposits and is muddy.
Every January the river is drained for cleaning and maintenance. True to San Antonio's love of a party they hold a Mud Festival during this time. They even have a Mud King & Queen.
Every bridge going across the river is unique. Some are just for pedestrians and others are for the traffic on the streets above.
Every twist or turn of the river brought another gorgeous view.
I am so impressed at the plantings, the buildings, the rock work, the iron work. Every small element has been taken into consideration and brought to perfection.
The shop and restaurant fronts are well maintained, and many offer places to sit where you can view the river as you relax or have something to eat or drink.
Imagine Venice in Texas.
The boat ride was the perfect way to start our day on the River Walk.
We did a little shopping. Walt didn't buy a hat in Luckenback but got one on the River Walk. Much cooler under a straw hat.
We went to lunch at the Lone Star Cafe.
We sat out on their patio and had a nice view down to the River Walk.
It is their secret that if you ask for it they have a $5.00 all you can eat lunch. It changes daily. The day we were there it was chicken strips, garlic mashed red potatoes, and green beans with bacon and tomatoes. Oh, and gravy on the side. Really good for the small price of $5.00.
We enjoyed several hours on the downtown River Walk. Besides the short boat trip much of it was spent walking, sitting on benches, browsing the shops and just BEING there.
It felt like being transported to another world. Thank you San Antonio for your incredible planning to make a river that created havoc by flooding into a place that has beauty, peace and a sense of fun.
This duck that lives along the river has "wry neck" so he can't put his head up. I doesn't deter him at all. He can beg for your crumbs with the best of them.