The San Antonio River Walk is a pedestrian street that encloses a network of walking paths along the San Antonio River, situated one level beneath the motorway of the city of San Antonio, Texas. The River Walk serves as an urban waterway that connects many historical sites, cultural centres and as a natural oasis within overwhelmingly concentrated metropolitan surroundings. Complementary retail and cuisine offerings along the River Walk round off this popular tourist allure.
The River Walk boasts many prominent attractions including the San Antonio Museum of Art, which presents exhibitions from early American history, the landmark Tower Life Building, the Shops at Rivercenter, as well as Hemis Fair Park. Exquisite dining opportunities are highlighted by the popular riverboat restaurants such as Boudro’s, and upscale establishments such as Zocca and Landry’s Seafood.
The River Walk stretches across a large portion of downtown San Antonio and is best explored on foot or by boat. Scooters are an additional transit option. The area is mostly wheelchair accessible and many taxi services provide access to different main attractions throughout the area.
The idea for the River Walk stemmed from the physical need for flood control following the disaster of 1921. What began as a combination dam and bypass channel was transformed into the attractive River Walk of today, hugely due to the persistence of architect Robert Hugman.