Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/586302
DREAMSCAPES FALL/ WINTER 2015 38 these missions would have felt to residents in the 1700s at Mission San Juan Capistrano. In this large compound, the native people, whom the Spanish missionaries were trying to convert to Catholicism, lived in small dwellings in the perimeter walls, while the missionaries lived in much grander accom- modation near the church. SPECIAL PLEASURES All of this exploring made me quite hungry (and thirsty). Fortunately, San Antonio deliv- ered on that score. The new Alamo Brewery serves up German- and Czech-style craft beers from a site under a historic bridge in an industrial neighbourhood not far from the Alamo. In the historic King William dis- trict, the one-of-a-kind Hot Joy restaurant serves way-out Asian fusion dishes such as smoked brisket ramen and the surprisingly tasty tater tot chaat. And Cured at Pearl fol- lows the nose-to-tail philosophy of cooking; be prepared to try some offbeat meats (the beef shank tacos are delicious). For families, the big new attraction in town is the Do Seum. Formerly the San Antonio Children's Museum, this huge new structure is aimed at kids under 10. With everything from a "spy academy" where kids can learn to crack secret codes to a pond full of tadpoles, it's sure to keep chil- dren fascinated for hours. Adults, on the other hand, may be more entranced by the McNay Art Museum, a bit of a hidden treasure. Did you know that San Antonio was home to an impressive collec- tion of 19 th -century European paintings, post-war American art and theatrical arti- facts? The museum is a lovely spot, partly housed in the one-time mansion of Marion Koogler McNay, who donated the house and her art collection to the city when she died in 1950. The museum is hosting a large Joan Miró exhibition in fall 2015. By the end of my visit, San Antonio and its culture had come much more clearly into focus for me, from its historic ties to Mexico to its one-of-a-kind River Walk. But in the end, it was those avocado fries I couldn't get out of my mind. DS T R A V E L P L A N N E R For more information on visiting San Antonio, go to VisitSanAntonio.com or call 1-800-THE-ALAMO. RIGHT: Re-enactors dressed in buckskin jackets or Mexican battle uniforms remember the Alamo. Laura Byrne Paquet BELOW FROM THE TOP: The McNay Art Museum in San Antonio specializes in 19 th - and 20 th -century European and American art. VisitSanAntonio.com The San Antonio River Walk stretches about eight kilometres along the San Antonio River. VisitSanAntonio.com