‘TIS THE SEASON in San Antonio

ADMIRE THE HISTORIC CITY AGLOW WITH CHRISTMAS BEAUTY

BY CHRISTINA GARCIA PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO

Whether it is with family or friends, San Antonio is the perfect pilgrimage to celebrate the holidays.

River Walk

STROLL

The River Walk shines with thousands of twinkling lights picturesquely dangling from the towering bald cypress trees and reflecting on the water’s surface. This magical, even romantic display continues from sundown to sunrise through January 9 at dawn.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between December 2 and 18, the Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias sets the River Walk aglow with more than 2,000 luminarias, celebrating the centuries-old tradition of symbolically lighting the way to Bethlehem for the Holy Family.

While out, listen for the evening boats of Christmas carolers. Should the thought of belting Christmas carols fill your heart with joy, consider renting a boat from Ford Holiday Boat Caroling to do just that. Festively decorated with lights, the boats come with a driver, Christmas music, and printed lyrics.

EAT

One of only two UNESCO “Creative Cities of Gastronomy” in America, San Antonio has a lot of hype to live up to. The holidays are a perfect time to judge for yourself, starting with the city’s Mexican holiday season culinary staples: tamales and atole. Tellez Tamales is a well-known local purveyor with long lines promising a quality product. While you’re at it, order a warm, fragrant cup of atole, a traditional Mexican drink of the holidays, at Market Square’s Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia.

Natural Bridge Caverns

EXPLORE

Natural Bridge Caverns is an underground cave with incredible formations. Small rooms shimmer with glowing pools of water, while others are almost as big as a football field. During Christmas, the caverns echo with the addition of carolers singing in the caves. The singers fill a few of the amazing chambers with mellifluous voices as an added feature of an already spectacular tour. Outside the cavern, a Christmas market, outdoor fires for roasting smores, and more holiday fun await.

Mission San José

BEHOLD

Everyone knows about the Alamo, but four lesser-known San Antonio missions, built in the 1700s and still in use today, are an impressive, even stately sight to behold. To work in outdoor fitness, consider biking the 14-mile loop connecting these Spanish relics in the relatively temperate early winter.

If you’d rather drive, explore these architecturally stunning structures from sunrise to sunset or 9 to 5 at Mission San José. Visit Mission Concepción’s English-language mariachi mass on Sundays at noon or experience Mission San José’s performance of matachines dances — re-enactments of prayer dances created by the indigenous populations converting to Catholicism — on December 12, the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, directly after the morning mass. Take part in a traditional Mexican re-enactment of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter by joining in on Las Posadas at Mission San José, where piñatas, food, and snacks will be available.

Visit nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit for more events during the very popular month of celebrations.