AERA is pleased to offer all Meeting attendees a wonderful selection of tours. Make the most of your visit to San Antonio and take one of the tours!
How to Register:
Space is limited for these tours, and interested attendees are encouraged to register in advance. Registered participants wishing to add courses, off-site visits, or tours can log in to add events to your registration.
King William District Tour
Tour 1: King William District Tour
Day: Friday, April 28
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Fee: $65
The day will start with a stop at Garcia Art Glass Gallery where you will experience the art of
blown glass. It is a an exquisite art – blown glass. Feel free to pick up a fantastic piece of art
to take home with you. We will then take you back in time as we visit the King William
District. Here you will visit the Guenther House and Pioneer Mill.
This district is located in downtown San Antonio, 25 blocks of Texas’ first historic
neighborhood with residences from the 19th century. The area was the most elegant
residential area in the city in the late 1800s, when many German merchants developed a
community of their own. Each house features a unique architectural style and history, restored
and preserved by the San Antonio Conservation Society. The final stop of the day, is San Fernando Cathedral, one of the oldest and most beautiful cathedrals in the US. Here, guests will see the Tomb of the Alamo, which holds the remains of many of the men slain in the famous battle.
*Tours subject to cancellation if registration numbers low
The Best of San Antonio Tour
Tour 2: The Best of San Antonio Tour
Day: Friday, April 28
Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Fee: $65
Today, guests will have the opportunity to visit two of the most memorable and truly Texan
attractions that San Antonio has to offer. They will see The Alamo and Riverwalk, where the
vivid sights and sounds of Native America, Old Mexico and the Wild West harmoniously converge with the hustle and bustle of a modern city!
The tour will begin at the site of the famous 1836 battle where guests will be met by an expert Alamo tour guide. The guide will lead them through the Alamo Plaza, which was the Alamo Battlefield, while giving them the history of the battle and sharing little known historical anecdotes. From there it is on to San Antonio’s bustling Riverwalk, offering visitors a chance to access cultural hot spots, historic sites, restaurants, shopping and more! The tour guide will provide a historic and current day overview of the exciting area as well as distribute maps and allow guests some time to explore on their own.
*Tours subject to cancellation if registration numbers low
Stepping Back to the 1700s Tour
Tour 3: Stepping Back to the 1700s Tour
Day: Saturday, April 29
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Fee: $65
Guests will travel back in time to experience the rich culture and history of San Antonio
Missions National Park. A tour guide, well-versed in the history of the national park and it’s
first inhabitants, will guide guests along all four missions, offering historical insight and
unique known facts about each.
Guests will visit Mission Concepcion, standing proudly as the oldest, unrestored stone
church in America with original frescos that are still visible in several of the rooms. Then it is
on to Mission San Jose, which is referred to as the "Queen of the Missions”, and is the
largest of the missions. Next, they will visit Mission San Juan, a self-sustaining community.
Within the compound, Indian artisans produced iron tools, cloth, and prepared hides. In
1756, the stone church, a friary, and a granary were completed, but were abandoned when
the population declined. Finally, guests will visit Mission Espada, the first mission in Texas.
Here, they will learn about the history of the Franciscan missionaries who sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages. This is a historically rich and captivating tour for anyone curious about the origins of our country’s rich culture and unique identity.
*Tours subject to cancellation if registration numbers low
The Best of San Antonio Tour
Tour 4: The Best of San Antonio Tour
Day: Sunday, April 30
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Fee: $65
Today, guests will have the opportunity to visit two of the most memorable and truly Texan
attractions that San Antonio has to offer. They will see The Alamo and Riverwalk, where the
vivid sights and sounds of Native America, Old Mexico and the Wild West harmoniously converge with the hustle and bustle of a modern city!
The tour will begin at the site of the famous 1836 battle where guests will be met by an expert Alamo tour guide. The guide will lead them through the Alamo Plaza, which was the Alamo Battlefield, while giving them the history of the battle and sharing little known historical anecdotes. From there it is on to San Antonio’s bustling Riverwalk, offering visitors a chance to access cultural hot spots, historic sites, restaurants, shopping and more! The tour guide will provide a historic and current day overview of the exciting area as well as distribute maps and allow guests some time to explore on their own.
*Tours subject to cancellation if registration numbers low