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Free Traveling Guides » States » Texas » San AntonioRiverwalk (Paseo del Rio)
The San Antonio River Walk, a major tourist attraction in Texas, is managed and promoted by the Paseo del Rio Association, a non-profit organization established in 1968. Also known as Paseo del Rio in Spanish, the River Walk comprises of a network of walkways around the San Antonio River, connecting a number of major attractions one storey beneath downtown San Antonio. It is an integral part of the city’s urban fabric and is home to a number of bars, restaurants, and shops. This special-case pedestrian street is one level down from the automobile street and it attracts thousands of visitors every year.
The San Antonio River Walk was designed by architect Robert Hugman in 1920s. However, it was in 1939 that a network of 17,000 ft (5181 m) of walkways, 20 bridges, and extensive plantation was actually constructed. The River Walk loops and winds under the bridge, linking the main tourist draws from Alamo Plaza to River center, to HemisFair Park, to the Arneson River Theater, and to the Tower Life Building. The main landmark along the River Walk is the magnificent Casa Rio Restaurant. The main annual cultural event organized here is the Fiesta San Antonio. The River Walk is the jewel of the city and is popular for its nightlife. The major nightclubs in the area include the Hard Rock Café, Las Canarias, On the Half Shell Oyster Bar, V Bar, Dick’s Last Resort, and the Rainforest Café.
A major attraction in the area is Hyatt Regency’s spectacular pedestrian connector, which links the Alamo Plaza to the River Walk with a number of waterways, water falls, and indigenous landscaping. This river extension, popularly known as the Paseo del Alamo, offers an urban park that connects the two largest tourist attractions in the city. Several downtown buildings, such as the Casino Club Building, have street entrances and a river entrance as well. The River Walk in San Antonio was appropriately described as “The American Venice” in Ernie Pyle. It is, in fact, the best relaxing area in Downtown San Antonio.
- Mailing Address: 110 Broadway, Suite 440, San Antonio, TX 78205
- Telephone: (210) 227-4262
- Fax: (210) 212-7602
- Website: www.sanantonioriverwalk.com
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