The San Antonio River Walk is a Texas landmark that is a bucket list visit for all self-respecting Texans. Recently, USA Today heralded the vibrant, business-lined canal as sixth best river walk in the country.
According to our research, Texas is home to exactly three official river walks. Lesser known to the public are the river walks located in Glen Rose and Irving, Texas. While those two locations provide a quaint look into rural Texas, the famous San Antonio River Walk is an urban delight.
Known as the heart of the city, the San Antonio River Walk has been a cultural mainstay since 1937. Located around the corner from the Alamo, the area buzzes with elevated bars, eateries, museums, and more.
“The iconic San Antonio River Walk has a history dating back to 1937 when the Texas Legislature created the San Antonio River Authority,” the article reads.
“Since then, this vibrant downtown attraction keeps getting better and better. Restaurants, bars, hotels and an outdoor amphitheater line the canal, with pedestrian paths to either side and a series of picturesque stone footbridges spanning the water. Water taxis shuttle visitors along the canal, and everything’s in walking distance of other attractions, including the Alamo.”
The number one riverwalk in the country, according to USA Today, is the Detroit International RiverWalk in Detroit, Michigan.
Otherwise, Texas made an appearance on a separate but related USA Today 10best list; Lady Bird Lake in Austin was ranked as the No. 8 Best Urban Kayaking Spot in the US.
“This human-made reservoir on the Colorado River sits in downtown Austin, attracting paddlers nearly every day of the week,” the article reads.
“Eight access points make it easy to put in or take out, and the city skyline is visible from just about anywhere. During the summer, it’s possible to kayak to Congress Avenue Bridge to see Austin’s bat colony take flight as the sun sets.”