America's Coolest River Walks - San Antonio River Walk (Paseo del Rio), San Antonio, Texas

America's Coolest River Walks - San Antonio River Walk (Paseo del Rio), San Antonio, Texas

This granddaddy of river walks charms with four miles of cypress-lined cobble- and-flagstone paths along both sides of the narrow San Antonio River. Locals and visitors cool off on the horseshoe-shaped loop downtown, meandering past trendy shops and stopping at hot spots like Boudro’s for a prickly-pear margarita and guacamole prepared table-side.

Don’t Miss: The Museum Reach river walk section, which opened last year and stretches 1.7 miles north, passes the San Antonio Museum of Art. Landscaped with native plants and small water cascades, the route features art installations under every bridge.

Fun, yet touristy, The River Walk in San Antonio has an impressive network of venues, offering tons of entertainment and party places — but the bars tend to close at 2 a.m. Surprisingly, hip restaurants regularly host breakthrough bands, open-mic nights, DJs and dancing, while North St. Mary's, between Josephine and Magnolia Streets, is where the hard-core clubbers congregate.

Plan Your Next Vacation - Discover San Antonio, Texas