Frommer's Texas by Janis Turk

Author:Janis Turk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FrommerMedia
Published: 2017-07-05T04:00:00+00:00

Mission Concepción, 807 Mission Rd. at Felisa, built in 1731, is the oldest unrestored Texas mission—it looks much as it did 286+ years ago. San José , 6701 San José Dr. at Mission Rd. (established in 1720) is the largest, most remarkable, and most beautiful of the five missions, and examines what life was like for native peoples in a mission community. Popular mariachi Masses are held here every Sunday at 12:30pm (come early if you want a seat). Moved from an earlier site in East Texas to its present location in 1731, mission San Juan Capistrano , 9101 Graf at Ashley, isn’t quite as grand as the other missions, but its simple chapel and more rural setting make it feel peacefully anachronistic. The southernmost mission in the San Antonio chain, San Francisco de la Espada , 10040 Espada Rd., is also arresting, with an iconic three-bell tower facade on its church.

Headquarters: 2202 Roosevelt Ave. Visitor Center: 6701 San José Dr. at Mission Rd. www.nps.gov/saan. 210/932-1001. Free admission (donations accepted). All missions daily 9am–5pm. National Park Ranger tours daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25, and Jan 1. Bus: 42 stops at Mission San José (and near Concepción).

Far West/Northwest

SeaWorld San Antonio , 10500 SeaWorld Dr. (www.seaworld.com; 800/700-7786), one of the largest marine life adventure parks in the world, is full of thrill rides, wet-’n’-wild fun (a Lost Lagoon, an enormous wave pool, flume rides), and lively shows and attractions. But the deaths of scores of orca whales and dolphins (not to mention four of its trainers in orca attacks) in recent years has put SeaWorld under increased scrutiny from many who feel that keeping these large, wild animals in confined quarters is inhumane. Animal lovers will be happy to know that in 2016, SeaWorld announced a partnership with the Humane Society that included an end to the company’s orca breeding program and is making animal protection a bigger part of its mission, investing millions of dollars in ocean conservation efforts. Learn more by seeing the documentary Blackfish. The park is 16 miles northwest of downtown.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas In celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2017, this popular 200-acre theme and water park is introducing America’s first rocket-blast water coaster, Thunder Rapids. This thrilling water coaster, set in Fiesta Texas’s new waterpark, White Water Bay, shoots riders uphill at lightning speeds and then thrills them with sudden high drops. Other exhilarating rides include the Superman Krypton Coaster, with nearly a mile of twists and turns and two big inversions; the Iron Rattler, a wooden coaster with modern steel rails and track; the 60+-mph Poltergeist roller coaster; and Scream! a 20-story “space shot and turbo drop,” to name just a few. Virtual-reality simulators and laser games keep the theme park just tech-y enough to thrill millennials. And in summer, other wet-’n’-wild attractions include the Lone Star Lagoon, the state’s largest wave pool; and the Texas Treehouse, a five-story “drenchfest” with a 1,000-gallon cowboy hat that tips over to pour water on unsuspecting passersby. There’s also the Bugs’ White Water Rapids.

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