San Antonio

Equally hip and historic, San Antonio is big on culture and natural beauty. This south-central Texas city is best known for the Alamo, an 18th-century battleground that’s now a museum. The surrounding River Walk offers 5 miles of artsy bustle: think artisanal shops, cafes overlooking the San Antonio River, and vibrant museums.

The city’s unofficial cuisine is Tex-Mex, which you can enjoy with an ice-cold margarita at a lively riverside restaurant. Just as enticing is the colorful history on show at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which commemorates the area’s 4 Spanish colonial missions.