Making Time for Texas

In 1836, Col. William Travis called his band of exhausted men together inside the Alamo walls and drew a line in the dirt with his sword.

Their situation was hopeless, he said. They were fewer than 200 Texans against 4,000 well-equipped Mexican soldiers. Their choice: flee the old mission or cross the line and stay to fight for the freedom of Texas.

Only one man, a mercenary, left. Three days later, the 182 men fought until none were left alive. Davy Crockett died in the Alamo. So did Jim Bowie.

“Remember the Alamo” became the battle cry of the Texas army and one repeated by those fighting daunting odds ever since. The Texans had held out for 13 days. Later, commanded by Gen. Sam Houston, the Texas troops won their long-fought independence.

In 1845, Texas joined the United States, but even today many Texans (including my husband) consider their home a separate and special country.

San Antonio was first choice for giving our kids an introduction to their Texas heritage. It’s also a kid-friendly city, home to an interactive science museum, the H-E-B Science Treehouse of the Witte Museum, as well as Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World and all the nachos and tacos you and your kids can eat. There’s also the year-old San Antonio Children’s Museum, the gargantuan Downtown All-Around Playground that was built by volunteers, and a first-rate zoo.

While enjoying themselves, the kids will get a chance to learn more about a unique part of the country and the many cultures--cowboy, German, Mexican and Native American--that helped shape it. Here’s the place for the kids to get cowboy boots and hats and, at the Market Square, Mexican shirts and pin~atas, or to learn what Tex-Mex really means. (Aventura’s three-day, two-night vacation packages for a family of four start at $399, not including air fare but covering admission to Sea World and Six Flags. Call [800] 501-1851. This could be an option for those who couldn’t get cruise reservations or plane tickets to Florida.)

On April 18, San Antonio’s annual 10-day bash, Fiesta San Antonio, which was started in 1891 to honor Texas heroes, will celebrate the city’s diverse cultures. There will be a downtown Fiesta Carnival, an oyster bake (with more than 90,000 oysters served, along with other Tex-Mex treats), fireworks and an arts fair. Along the way, there will be special activities for kids, from a children’s craft-making spot at the arts fair, to Clown Alley and a giant Twister game. (For information, call the Fiesta Commission at [210] 227-5191.)

Also during the fiesta will be the Festival de Animales at the San Antonio Zoo, celebrating Latin culture with singing, dancing and food. And at the University of Texas’ Institute of Texan Cultures, a Texas Children’s Festival will offer kids the opportunity to visit a frontier dentist’s office, a tepee and an old barbershop, among other exhibits designed to show children how different people, from Native Americans to Mexicans and Europeans, helped build Texas.

For more information on attractions for families, ask for a copy of the “Just for Kids” guide. (Call the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau at [800] 447-3372 and also ask for the SAVE brochure of discount coupons.)

The city also serves as a gateway to Texas hill country, birthplace and boyhood home of President Lyndon B. Johnson and site of the LBJ Ranch, as well as small towns such as New Braunfels, known for its German heritage and restaurants, and dude ranches, such as the Bald Eagle Ranch or Flying L Ranch in Bandera. (Call Old Dude Ranch Vacations at [800] 444-DUDE.) For those seeking a luxury getaway, there’s the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. (Call [800] 233-1234 and ask about the half-price, second-room option for kids.)

Getting the kids out of San Antonio may be your only problem. After they’ve spent five minutes at the Alamo and slightly longer running or taking a boat ride along the 2 1/2-mile San Antonio River Walk--a pretty walkway lined with stores, restaurants and trees--they may want to head for:

Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Between the rides, point out the areas that recognize Texas’ heritage. New this year are the Road Runner Express coaster and the Super Heroes Live Show. Call (210) 697-5050.

The Alamodome. Take a tour of the home of the San Antonio Spurs. Call (210) 207-3663.

Sea World of Texas. It just introduced the Great White, the only inverted steel roller coaster in Texas. This Sea World is not only a marine animal park but an amusement and water park complete with a five-story water slide. You can eat with Shamu the whale and take a picture with his trainers. Just don’t make the mistake of hitting Sea World on a hot summer day, as we did. Wait until evening. Call (800) 4ADVENTURE.

Another San Antonio attraction, the H-E-B Science Treehouse, is one museum the kids won’t beg to leave. The 15,000-square-foot building has four levels of hands-on science. Check out the city from the rooftop telescopes or see if you can make it through the maze. Call (210) 357-1900.

The Magik Theatre is San Antonio’s professional repertory theater for families. Located near River Walk, the theater produces original plays such as “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and “Huck Finn’s Story.” Even better, tickets average $2.50.

When the kids have tired of sightseeing, take them to the Downtown All-Around Playground at HemisFair Park and let them burn off some energy in the tire tunnel or castle. They might also want to head for Brackenridge Park, the San Antonio Zoo and the Eagle Miniature Train that runs around Brackenridge park.

Taking the Kids appears the first and third week of every month.