San Antonio, Texas, Family Vacation

Like many cities whose history has attracted booming tourist industries, San Antonio is a place with a split personality. Submerged in history, most notably for its fabled Alamo, it's also a thriving commercial center, where the aforementioned mission sits across the street from a Ripley's Believe it or Not. The balance of fact and kitsch makes it a perfect destination for families, where you can meet thrills on a roller coaster one day and enjoy history a la Davy Crockett the next.

Busy festival seasons in April and June are lively but crowded. December brings fans of the lights on the river. If you're looking for a quiet time, go in September and October or early winter. The only downside: many attractions trim their hours, some to weekends only.

Pleasant temperatures here average year-round in the 60s, with most of the rain falling in the late spring and mid fall. The most extreme weather arrives in summer, when humidity is high and temps can soar into the mid 90s and up. Get more weather info.

The area is served primarily by San Antonio Airport (SAT), but at only 90 minutes away, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is also accessible.

Foot power on the River Walk is a preferred mode of transportation. Rio San Antonio provides water taxi service from several stops on the river. Via Metropolitan Transit serves the area with buses and street cars.

• Remember the Alamo (Mar.)
• Kite Festival (Mar.)
• Fiesta San Antonio (April)
• Museums Day (Sept.)
• Texas Folklife Festival (June)
• Contemporary Art Month (July)
• El Dia de los Muertas (Nov.)
• Wurstfest (Nov.)
• Holiday Parade and Lighting Ceremony (Nov.)
• Fiesta de las Liminarias (Dec.)

Check out the San Antonio Convention and Visitors' Bureau website.

Theme parks frequently have discounts posted on their websites. Bring museum/zoo membership cards; some will net you benefits away from home. Check the S.A.V.E. icon on the Convention and Visitors' Bureau website.

• It takes a lot of candles to light the River Walk. During the Fiesta de las Luminarias, the length of the pathway is lit with 2,500 luminaries.