Like other Sunbelt cities, San Antonio has a relatively compact downtown nucleus, encircled by old neighborhoods and commercial areas, which then give way to wide stretches of suburbia. Most visitors will have an easy time finding their way around the downtown area. For the rest of the city, they need only a general understanding of the freeway system and the locations of the major attractions that lie outside the center of town. The rest can be gleaned upon arrival. North of downtown, and not very far away, are the airport, several museums, and many of the best dining spots. To the southeast are the old Spanish missions. SeaWorld is on the far west side, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park is in the far northwest.
I find that the freeways are laid out in a fairly reasonable pattern, and they're easy to use so long as you have a map. But, you can also avoid the freeways by using the main avenues and streets that crisscross the area. A map would be absolutely essential for this, and you should be aware that there are a few large, enclosed areas of town occupied by military installations, which you have to drive around. San Antonio and the military have a long relationship. Among members of the Army and Air Force, San Antonio is often referred to as Military City, and it is a favorite location for retired military personnel.
Vistor Information -- The main office of the City of San Antonio Visitor Information Center is across the street from the Alamo, at 317 Alamo Plaza (tel. 210/207-6748). Hours are daily 9am to 5pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, when the center is closed.
The center offers visitors a free copy of the magazine San Antonio Travel and Leisure Guide, published semiannually by the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau (SACVB). It has maps and listings and is something you can pour over during an idle moment. Also at the center are racks and racks of brochures that you can look through and some free magazines heavy on advertisements, such as Fiesta, with interesting articles about the city, and Rio, a tabloid focusing on the River Walk. You can find these last two publications at many of the downtown hotels and shops. Both list sights, restaurants, shops, cultural events, and some nightlife, though there's an obvious bias toward advertisers.
Also free -- but more objective -- is San Antonio's alternative paper, the Current. Though skimpy, it is a good source for nightlife listings; just don't depend on it for movie schedules. The San Antonio Express-News is the local newspaper. It's got a good arts/entertainment section called "The Weekender," which comes out on Friday and is available around town.
Arguably the best state-oriented magazine in the country, Texas Monthly contains short reviews of restaurants in San Antonio, among other cities, and its incisive articles about local politics, people, and events are a great way to get acquainted with Lone Star territory in general. You can buy a copy at almost any city bookstore, grocery, or newsstand.
