The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas

I never expected the Alamo to be smack dab in the middle of downtown San Antonio. I always pictured it being in the middle of a large field where a battle of such epic proportions should be fought. But there it was, about a block from the San Antonio Riverwalk and the Casa Rio right in the middle of the city.

Of-course a visit to the Alamo is an essential part of your visit to the city, but it may be difficult to plan.

The hours of operation aren’t really business travel friendly, with normal hours of operation of 9:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. on Sunday. But if you have the chance to visit in the summer months (between June and August) the hours are extended until 7:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday.

Admission is FREE, which is always a bonus.

But really, it’s SO close to downtown, you could easily make the trip on your lunch break or between meetings. Or visit in the afternoon then head over to the Riverwalk for cocktails on the banks at an number of great bars and restaurants.

Individual tours are…individual. That scene where Pee Wee Herman joins up with the tour group to ask to see the basement was evidently an embellishment. That actually works great for me; I like going at my own pace.

For the official website including details on the history of the site, visit Alamo.org.