Enjoying the Culture of San Antonio

Every month, residents in participating affiliated communities will learn about a different city or country through fun facts, activities, and cuisine through our Port of Call program. During March, the Port of Call theme is San Antonio, Texas! Learn more about San Antonio, its history, attractions, food, and all that makes this fantastic destination a great port city!

About San Antonio

San Antonio is a southern city located in south-central Texas. The San Antonio River flows in central San Antonio, while the Gulf of Mexico coastline is about two and a half hours away.¹ Settlers began to arrive in what is now San Antonio in 1718. The King of Spain encouraged his citizens to settle along the river in San Antonio, or “New Spain” as it was referred to. San Antonio officially became the city’s name in 1837.²

Today, San Antonio has approximately 1.5 million citizens. About 58 percent of San Antonians speak English only, and around 38 percent speak Spanish.³ Overall, San Antonio has a warm climate. Winter temperatures range from 64 to 75 degrees, and summer temperatures range from 92 to 95 degrees on average.⁴

Attractions in San Antonio

San Antonio has a variety of fun and interesting attractions to explore. One of San Antonio’s top attractions is the Alamo. In the 1800s, the Alamo served as a military fortress and the site of the Battle of the Alamo. Today, you can take a guided or self-guided tour of the Alamo and learn about the landmark’s rich history. Additionally, you could explore the Alamo Exhibit located in the Collections Center.⁵

If you want to explore San Antonio’s riverfront, you could go on the Go Rio River Cruise. The Go Rio narrated cruise teaches tourists about San Antonio’s culture and history while looking at the beautiful architecture along the river. If you would like a unique dining experience, you could enjoy a meal and the view on the Go Rio Dinner Cruise.⁶

Another attraction you could visit is the Tower of the Americas. The Tower of the Americas allows visitors to see San Antonio’s landmarks from the observation deck located at the top of the tower. Additionally, visitors can view San Antonio landmarks through the Skies over Texas 4D Theater Ride. After you are done, you could eat at one of the three restaurants at the Tower.⁷

If you are looking for an adventure in San Antonio, you could visit Natural Bridge Caverns. Natural Bridge Caverns offers tours of the beautiful underground caves. You could also have fun above ground at the zip rails and ropes course. If you do not like heights, you could walk through the AMAZEn’ Ranch Maze. After all of the fun, you could grab a bite to eat at their restaurant.⁸

San Antonio Cuisine

San Antonian cuisine is mainly influenced by the food of the Spanish soldiers of the 1800s. Many staples have also been influenced by the Mexican settlers who brought many of their own recipes from home. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, a group of women known as the Chili Queens introduced what is now known as Tex-Mex cuisine. The Chili Queens set up food stands around the city and cooked and sold chili con carne, tamales, and more.⁹ Today, Tex-Mex cuisine remains a San Antonio cuisine staple.¹⁰

Here are some examples of popular San Antonian dishes:

Chicken on a Stick: Chicken on a stick is a popular dish served at parties and during Fiesta de San Antonio. Chicken on a stick is fried chicken on a skewer with a jalapeño at the top.¹¹
Fideo: Fideo is a dry soup and pasta dish that can be served at lunch or dinner. It is made from broken thin pasta covered in oil and cooked in a tomato-based broth.¹²
Puffy Tacos: Puffy tacos are a San Antonio original made with masa, a dough made with dried field corn and lime. Once the dough starts frying, it becomes puffy. You can customize your tacos with whatever toppings you would like. You can serve puffy tacos as an appetizer or for lunch or dinner.¹³
Paletas: Paletas are frozen bar desserts that can be made with fruit, water and sugar, milk and chocolate, or a bunch of other flavor combinations. You can eat paletas as a snack or dessert.¹⁴

Saber Healthcare

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Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long-term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

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