I’m currently on holiday with my family in San Antonio, Texas, and I wanted to share what we’ve been up to.

The main attraction here is the Alamo, which is the remains of one of the Spanish Missions in the area. Although it’s smaller than many expect, it’s hugely significant in Texan history. It’s where 200 Texans made a stand against the Mexican army and were all killed. This defeat inspired the Texans to rally with the cry “Remember the Alamo,” leading to their victory at the Battle of San Jacinto and Texas gaining independence from Mexico.

After spending the morning at the Alamo, we rented bikes from Seg City, located behind the San Antonio Visitor’s Information Center. We cycled along the river path, known as Mission Reach, which is an extension of the River Walk. The ride was mostly along the river, with only a short stretch on busy roads. Unfortunately, we didn’t use suncream and got sunburned.

We reached the San Jose Mission, a beautiful old mission with a stone-fronted church under restoration. Due to time constraints and the kids’ limited interest in old churches, we skipped the other missions and cycled back, stopping at the Blue Star Brewing Company for refreshments.

The next day, we visited Picosa Ranch Resort, the former home of Governor John Connally, now a luxury ranch offering activities like hunting, fly fishing, shooting, horseback riding, and hay bale rides. The guest accommodation was ultra-luxurious Texan style. We learned about the family history from Governor Connally’s grandson, Bubba Ammann, who shared stories about his grandparents being in the car with President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated. We even saw the stetson hat meant for JFK and the invitation to the ball that evening.

We returned to our lovely Hotel Valencia in San Antonio, located by the Riverwalk. The hotel has a Hacienda feel outside and a modern boutique style inside, with leather and dark wood. Its central location made it easy to walk to most attractions in San Antonio.

I took many photos, videos, and audio recordings, so I’ll provide a more detailed account once I get home. Next, we’re driving north to Austin, Texas, from where I’ll send another update.