Welcome to San Antonio
From its lively urban nucleus to placid rural satellites, here’s what makes San Antonio a dynamic luxury destination.
San Antonio has grown from humble beginnings into one of the most sprawling, colorful, and successful cities in the U.S.
Its more densely plotted neighborhoods, like Tobin Hill, Five Points, and Dignowity, attract residents from all professional and cultural backgrounds. Young professionals and students like San Antonio city life for its inclusiveness and surplus of networking opportunities. The neighborhoods adjacent to downtown are bursting with boutiques, shops, cafes, and restaurants.
For homebuyers who want old world charm, San Antonio has beautifully preserved historic neighborhoods such as the walkable King William just south of downtown with beautiful plantations style mansions that line the river. Monte Vista, centered around Trinity University, is one of the largest residential historic districts in the United States. Other smaller historic district in western San Antonio, such as the Monticello Park and Keystone Park neighborhoods showcase signature Tudor and Spanish-style homes, as well as early 1900’s rock cottages designed and built by famous San Antonio developer H.C. Thorman.
Outside Loop 1604, North and Northwest San Antonio have seen population increases as more buyers (including celebrities musician George Strait and NBA great David Robinson) seek luxury homes, some of them in planned communities, with spacious lots and lush natural scenery like The Dominion. That enthusiasm extends to the rural communities at the margins of Greater San Antonio especially northwest to Boerne, North to Bulverde and Spring Branch, and Northeast to New Braunfels.
Read on to learn how San Antonio and the David Abrahams team can best accommodate you.
What to Love
- The famed River Walk and historic Pearl District
- VIDA, the $250 million renovation project in southside San Antonio
- Glorious backdrop of San Antonio Hill Country
- Master-planned communities and farms outside the metro area
- Convenient and unobtrusive San Antonio International Airport
- Strong U.S. military backbone (both active duty and veterans)
Local Lifestyle
Residents of San Antonio enjoy a diverse city whose three main characteristics are its rich history, military backbone, and flourishing arts scene. When in San Antonio, you must stop at the historic Alamo - a landmark for Texas independence.
As you travel through the streets, you'll see many properties that give glimpses into the past.
For example, the historic Uptown Theatre, built in 1928, was so named because its location was then considered part of Uptown. As San Antonio expanded, so did its residents’ conception of where Uptown was; the theater closed and now houses a parish center. Nearby, the Olmos Park neighborhood features historic mansions and borders an expansive park with green fields and picnic space. Along with Olmos Park, Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills are neighboring independent municipalities completely inside San Antonio’s boundaries that round out an area known as the ‘tri-cities.’ All are known for great local amenities, beautiful homes with mature landscaping on tree-lines streets, and convenient location to all of San Antonio.
Any explanation of San Antonio’s military presence begins with Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) — the largest and most varied joint base in the Department of Defense. Altogether, JBSA supports four main bases and about 70,000 individual members. Some of the bases feature breathtaking Spanish colonial architecture, and you’ll sometimes hear the roar of military flights demonstrating what the military refers to as “air superiority.”
Much of the creative talent in metro San Antonio has bled its way into the residential landscape — see, for example, the historic murals that line the streets of The Deco District. Here, the iconic Art Deco architecture has the vibrancy of Miami's famous Art Deco District, all while emphasizing the cultural significance of the community. You’ll find the Woodlawn Theater, where John Wayne debuted his movie “The Alamo” in 1960, as an architectural anchor of the Deco District, now operating as a non-profit community theater.
Lastly, many of Greater San Antonio's outermost homes belong to either meticulously developed master-planned communities or rural townships. While diametrically opposed, each type of residence appeals to families who prioritize space and nature but also live within a short drive of San Antonio proper.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
San Antonio has several districts where residents and visitors can find shopping, entertainment and dining all together. Arguably the newest and most popular such district in San Antonio is The Historic Pearl District. Popular restaurants worth exploring in the Pearl District include Southerleigh’s Fine Food and Brewery, Supper, Cured, and La Gloria. The Pearl District is also home to The Culinary Institute of America. Here, residents can get a first-hand experience of where the area’s great local flavor comes from. The area around the Pearl District is home to great music venues as well, Sam’s Burger Joint and Jazz Texas are popular spots. For shopping at Historic Pearl check out Twig Book Shop, Dos Carolinas, and Niche at Pearl.
Head downtown near the riverwalk, and you will find dozens of eateries lining the beautiful river. Be sure to check out Land Race for a fine dining experience or the Hard Rock Cafe if you are looking for a more laid back spot to grab a bite.
Another popular district is the King William area located in San Antonio. Blue Star Arts Gallery is a great place to check out local artists.You can browse a large selection of records at Southtown Vinyl or shop for vintage clothing at Divine Sunshine Collective. Don’t miss a great meal at one of the iconic eateries in King William like Liberty Bar or Guenther House.
Things to Do
San Antonio’s iconic downtown River Walk begins at the Pearl District. This enchanting pathway is lined by cafes, charming boutiques, and mom-and-pop shops. On your walk along the river from Historic Pearl, check out the San Antonio Museum of Art – or make a day of it and visit one of the five historic missions where the riverwalk extends south of San Antonio and becomes the Missions Trail and winds through Missions National Park the only UNESCO world heritage site in Texas.
San Antonians set their calendars by Fiesta and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, two annual city-wide celebrations of local culture. But there are dozens of other smaller festivals and street fairs to enjoy during the year.
Throughout the city there are several parks worth exploring. San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Tea Garden are a couple of popular public spaces inside Midtown. Also known as the Sunken Gardens, the Tea Garden is noteworthy for being located in an abandoned limestone quarry. Throughout the city nature lovers will appreciate the beauty found in green spaces like McAllister Park, Breckenridge Park Conservancy, Salado Creek Greenway, O.P. Schnabel Park, and Leon Creek Greenway.
Life in San Antonio is unparalleled for Live, Work, Play space – and there is something to do near you wherever you choose to call home in the greater San Antonio Area!
Schools
Altogether, there are 20 independent school districts in Bexar County, plus more serving adjacent communities. Notable districts serving San Antonio City Limits include:
- Alamo Heights Independent School District (Uptown)
- North East Independent School District (north San Antonio)
- Northside Independent School District (Northwest San Antonio)
- San Antonio Independent School District (Midtown)
- Harlandale Independent School District (southside San Antonio)
- South San Antonio Independent School District (southside San Antonio)
- Edgewood Independent School District (west side San Antonio)
