San Antonio bills itself as “One of America’s Four Unique Cities.” For those keeping score the other three are San Francisco, Boston and New Orleans. It’ no coincidence the quartet attracts voluminous visitors each year.
Here are some reasons why, quick look at what’s transpiring down in San Antone this springtime:
Rarely is Cinco de Mayo celebrated with the unabashed brio it is in San Antonio. This year the city’s Luminaria has been rescheduled to coincide with the Saturday May 5 Hispanic celebration. Luminaria is an outdoor public arts festival, and it’s held in the evening (daytime this time of year in south Texas can get a tad warm). Held in the 90-acre HemisFair Park, just a block form the city’s signature River Walk, Luminaria is dazzling: light installations, glorious galleries, stage performers, and lots of local chefs view for your attention.
At the world-famous San Antonio Zoo, Zunga reigns. The hippo is a prime draw – especially for kids. Parents Magazine rates it a top ten zoo for children, and the expansive collection of animals and flora comprise the third –largest zoo in the United States. Set aside a whole day, and see it right.
Darwin might have been interested in what makes Zunga tick. He certainly was fascinated in what caused the rest of the natural world to evolve. The renowned Witte Museum is the sole Texas stop for the blockbuster exhibit Darwin: How One Man’s Theory Turned the World on its Head. See the planet through his eyes – through specimens, documents, film, fossils, interactive media and exact replicas of his personal effects.
The exhibit goes a superb job of showing you how Darwin arrived at the then startling conclusion that life is anything but static. If you’ve ever wanted to understand the concept of natural selection up close and personal, this is the opportunity. The exhibit runs throughout the spring and summer, all the way through Sept. 3, 2012.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: eschipul)
