San Antonio is always a great layover city. We stay in a hotel close to the Mercado and everything else is within walking distance or a short "trolley bus" ride. On some trips we would arrive very late, around 2 am then head to "Mi Tierra," the 24 hour Mexican Restaurant located in the Mercado. Their menu is extensive and the place is always crowded. I would get the Carnitas or the Cabrito (which is barbecued goat).
Of course the River Walk is a must for the great bars and restaurants located there or nearby. My favorite place is Boudro's. I always order the guacamole which is prepared from scratch at your table. It is entertaining to see it prepared not to mention delicious. I highly recommend the Prickly Pear Margarita, made with the juice of the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. It is very unique and quite tasty. You can spend a lot of time wandering around the River Walk, shopping, eating or sightseeing. There are tour boats with guides and that can be fun. Many people don't realize that the River Walk was actually a flood control project for the San Antonio river, which at one time took the lives of fifty people when it overflowed its banks. Originally, it was going to be a basic flood control project, with a covered drain tunnel, but because of the vision of an architect, Robert Hugman, it became the attraction it is today. It turned a dangerous, crime-ridden area (off limits to military personnel) into a vibrant city center.
