Many agree that the best way to see San Antonio is by taking a stroll along the River Walk, or Paseo del Rio. San Antonio's most-visited tourist attraction meanders along the banks of the San Antonio River through the center of the city, connecting major attractions like Brackenridge Park and the San Antonio Museum of Art. Flanking the River Walk are dozens of restaurants, boutique hotels and sidewalk cafes shaded by colorful umbrellas, and street performers often fill the air with mariachi music. If you're in San Antonio in January, don't miss the River Walk Mud Festival and Parade, during which the river is drained and the muddy riverbed becomes the prime venue for celebration.

If you want to see the River Walk from a different vantage point, try a boat tour. These 35-minute tours, offered by Rio San Antonio Cruises (one of the best San Antonio tours), take visitors on a leisurely ride down the winding river. Tickets cost $8.25 for adults and $2 for children. Many say the boat rides are a must. You could also opt to catch a Rio Taxi, which costs a bit less and makes continuous stops along the river.

The River Walk stretches from downtown San Antonio north to Alamo Heights, with plenty of parking and quite a few bus stops nearby. For more information, including a calendar of events and a directory of stores and restuarants, visit the River Walk website.