GO RIO, Go Cruising

GO RIO

GO CRUISING!

A VIBRANT FIXTURE ON THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK, THE BRIGHTLY COLORED, ECO-FRIENDLY ELECTRIC GO RIO RIVER BOATS PROVIDE AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE WITH NARRATED TOURS, SPECIALTY CRUISES AND CHARTERED EXCURSIONS. IT IS ALSO THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL BETWEEN DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIONS WITH A GO RIO SHUTTLE!

Manned by knowledgeable narrators, each GO RIO voyage introduces passengers to the sights, history and culture of San Antonio from the unique river level vantage point. Guests can even purchase frozen margaritas, pina coladas, beer, sodas and water to enjoy on their cruise, all available at the GO RIO Beverage Bar and Retail location near the Rivercenter ticket booth. Specialty cruises include dinners on-board from your favorite River Walk restaurant, along with seasonal events such as Ghost Tours and Octoberfest beginning in September. Or create your own River Walk experience with a GO RIO private charter excursion, ideal for corporate gatherings and special occasions.

Just trying to get from place to place as you explore downtown San Antonio attractions? GO RIO provides shuttle service for sightseeing, and is now offering Local Resident Shuttle passes for a fun way to get to and from work or play in the downtown area. Shuttles run along the river from downtown to the historic Pearl district with designated stops along the way to hop on and off. The Downtown Reach encompasses the center of San Antonio (downtown) with a wide variety of restaurants, theatres and the beautiful San Antonio River Walk. The Museum Reach is north of downtown, ending at Pearl. This stretch is pedestrian friendly and a great way to explore a quieter side of the river.

Passes allow passengers to get off and on the GO RIO Shuttle at their pace—available for unlimited rides in 1-day passes for $19.50 or 3-day passes for $28.50. Passes are available for purchase at any GO RIO Ticket Booth, on the GO RIO website and on the shuttle. Simply look for the GO RIO Shuttle signs located along the River Walk and on the Museum Reach. Boats are labeled with GO RIO Shuttle signs and run approximately every hour from 10:00am to 8:00pm.

The Monthly Local Resident Pass is for Bexar County residents, allowing locals unlimited access to the GO RIO Shuttles throughout both the Downtown and Museum Reaches for only $28.50 per month. There are even VIP Appreciation Days when locals can bring a friend along for the ride! For more information and to purchase a Monthly Local Resident Pass, contact the sales office at 210-227-4746 or grsales@goriocruises.com.

Wanting to traverse the river on your own selfguided tour? GO RIO has partnered with Mission Adventure Tours for special opportunities to kayak along the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River. This flat-water four-mile/two-hour kayak trip begins and ends in the same location, with numerous art installations to view along the way. Single kayaks can be rented for $60 and $120 for doubles, and kayaks, paddles and life vests are included in the rental fee.

24 48 72 By Crystal Henry HOURS in town

on day one...

WARM UP Warm up to the city with a tour of the town through Amigo Walking Tours. This local tour company offers both free public tours and paid private tours of the Alamo City. The downtown free tour route is perfect for San Antonio first-timers who want to explore all the touristy spots with a local who knows where to go. The paid tour of King William District offers a totally different perspective on San Antonio history and culture for those who have been to San Antonio and want a new view.

Azuca Nuevo Latino The Cove Amigo Walking Tours

HOT WINGS  It is time for hot wings at Hot Joy. There are tons of hot grub options like hot Italian beef fried rice, hot fried chicken and hot pot. But if you are there on Wednesday, go for the hot wings. They are not a traditional buffalo, but the lemon pepper curry wings are served piping hot with a cilantro crema to cool you down.

SPICY SALSA  Spice things up with a little dancing and dinner at Azuca Nuevo Latino. Sip on a refreshing Caipirinha at happy hour, then stay late for a mouth-watering blend of Caribbean, Central and Latin American cuisine. But do not dip out before you have a chance to salsa. As the night goes on, the dance floor comes alive with salsa dancing and music so you can burn the candle at both ends.

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As summer starts to heat up, we are feeling hot, hot, hot in River City. We will find cool new ways to tour the town, feel the burn on the dance floor and stop for breakfast on the river’s edge.

The River's Edge

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Pizzeria Vesuvio

on day two...

BREAKFAST TOAST

Today we are starting with a warm breakfast at The River’s Edge. Fuel up for the day with the braised short rib Caliente Hot Glass hash, which starts with a bed of potatoes topped with runny sunny-sideup eggs, grilled peppers and onions, a Oaxaca cheese blend and a mountain of shredded birria. Or spice it up with the smoked chorizo benedict served on a jalapeno cheddar biscuit with chipotle lime hollandaise.

HOT GLASS  At Caliente Hot Glass we can channel our inner creativity with upgraded handmade art projects. This month, Caliente is hosting a Grill Masters Night with an outdoor evening artisan market on June 11. Or catch one of the blow-your-own beer mug classes on the weekends. The classes are intentionally small to give guests the full artistic experience, so be sure to book ahead.

WARM PIES  Mama Mia, head to Pizzeria Vesuvio for some grub. Their legendary Vesuvio pie includes pepperoni, mushrooms, mozzarella and of course—jalapenos. Or try the Bianco, slathered in their signature white sauce and loaded with seasoned ricotta, parmigiana, Romano and shredded Bacio cheeses. If you are not into pizza, their handmade meatballs and marinara polpette is a hot item as well.

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San Antonio SiDeCaRs

on day three...

HOT WELLS  Today we are going to explore Hot Wells. Directly across the river from Mission San Jose, which is part of Texas’ only UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hot Wells is a cultural historical park in San Antonio. What was once a hot sulfuric well became a bustling bath house in the 19th and 20th centuries until it burned to the ground. It was resurrected as a stylish hotel—which also burned to the ground at the onset of Prohibition. What is left is the site of some of the hottest ruins in the city that are open to tour.

HOT AND STEAMY One of the coolest things to do before summer really gets rolling is to book a session in the Mokara Spa. This awardwinning spa has a complete menu of body treatments including hot stone massages and custom facials. But the cedar sauna and eucalyptus steam room are where it is at.

HOT LUNCH They have got the pit fired up at The County Line BBQ and we are chowing down on some hot ribs and cool margaritas. If you are really famished, go for the all-you-caneat platter with all the meats, sides, homemade bread and ice cream you can handle.

Mokara Spa

HOT NIGHT Tonight, we are taking a quirky booze cruise with San Antonio SiDeCaRs. Riding shotgun in the sidecar of a motorbike is one of the most responsible ways to bar hop around town. With this crew, you will be zipped around to three or four different bars by a designated driver, and the first round is on them!

WRITER’S BIO:

Crystal Henry is a loyal Texan and an award-winning author, writer and columnist. She is fluent in both sarcasm and English, and she showcases those bilingual skills on FB + IG @ crystalhenrywrites and on Twitter @ chenrywrites.

click on this:

AMIGO WALKING TOURS www.AmigoSA.com

AZUCA

www.Azuca.net

CALIENTE HOT GLASS

www.CalienteHotGlass.com

HOT JOY

www.HotJoySA.com

The Country Line BBQ

PIZZERIA VESUVIO

www.VesuvioTruck.com

SAN ANTONIO SIDECAR TOUR

www.SanAntonioSideCars.com

THE COUNTY LINE BBQ www.CountyLine.com

THE RIVER’S EDGE

www.RiversEdgeCafeSA.com