The City of San Antonio and #NASPA17

Everything is bigger in Texas. We bet you have heard that phrase once or twice, and in some ways it is true.

From the big skies to the stars at night, Texas is a great place to visit, learn and explore. San Antonio, nestled in the south central region of the state, is home to rich history and vibrant culture full of artistic influences. It is a wonderful city to explore as you think BIG for NASPA 2017.

Here are just a few of the reasons that make San Antonio a great place to visit and learn.

Big City with a Rich History
San Antonio is home to approximately 1.4 million people with population numbers growing each year. In 2018, San Antonio will celebrate its Tricentennial. NASPA’s 99th annual conference will take place in the 299th year of the city’s founding.

The Alamo and Historic Missions
History is preserved through the Alamo and the other historic missions throughout the city. The Alamo and four additional Spanish missions in San Antonio were named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO). It is the first designation of its kind in the state of Texas.

A River Runs Through It
The legendary Riverwalk includes approximately 5 miles of river running through downtown San Antonio. There are restaurants, shopping and live music venues with every twist and turn. You can even lounge on the museum reach portion of the river that features quiet, lush green landscapes.

Cultural and Artistic Influences
The cultural influences of San Antonio are unmistakable. From La Villita, San Antonio’s first neighborhood, to Sunset Station, a restored 1920 train depot, San Antonio has preserved history while embracing the arts, architecture and modern transportation. Check out the live video installation at the San Fernando Cathedral at Main Plaza that dresses the entire building in color, music and images for just one of the many immersive art experiences throughout the city.

A Foodie’s Paradise
For those of us who love food, San Antonio will not disappoint. Whether you are interested in elegant cuisine, riverfront casual dining, stellar Tex-Mex Cuisine or interesting fusions, San Antonio has it all. Like the simple things? You can get sweets 24 hours a day at legendary Mi Tierra or have the best breakfast taco of your life at many locations throughout the city.

Historic Districts and Neighborhoods
There are many historic districts and neighborhoods throughout San Antonio each with its own vibrant atmosphere. For example, King William district boasts colonial architecture and Southtown is a place where locals enjoy sidewalk art showings and outdoor restaurants. All of this plus many more areas to explore make the city an interesting place for everyone.

Tower of the Americas
You can capture panoramic views of the city from the Tower of the Americas. At 750 feet tall, it is taller than Seattle’s Space Needle. You can ride to the top for the extraordinary view, dine in the rotating restaurant and experience a 4D Theater ride featuring the history of the city.

Theme Parks Abound
Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World and Morgan’s Wonderland call San Antonio home. At Six Flags, you can ride Goliath, the Iron Rattler, Batman roller coaster, see legendary shows and stay for fireworks. Sea World San Antonio boasts animal encounters, rides, shows and more. The water park, Aquatica and dolphin interaction, Discovery Cove, share the property. Morgan’s Wonderland is a fully accessible, 25-acre family recreation theme park for those with and without special needs. The park is designed to be free of physical and economic barriers that supports an atmosphere of inclusion.

Military City USA
San Antonio is home to one of the nation’s largest active and retired military populations. It also hosts the Department of Defense’s largest medical training facility at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston. San Antonio proudly hosts the families of over 100,000 military training graduates each year, earning its name as Military City USA.

Café College and Vision for 2020
San Antonio is focused on education. Created by the city of San Antonio, Café College is a one-stop shop for college access advice and guidance. The city’s vision for 2020 included an education target among the eleven cause areas fostering collaboration among the many higher education institutions.

The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas and we can’t wait to see you there.

Written by NASPA Local Arrangements Chair, Jan McKinney, The University of Texas at San Antonio