SAN ANTONIO captures the spirit of Texas. Now the eighth largest city in the United States, the city has retained its sense of history and tradition, while carefully blending in cosmopolitan progress. The cry "Remember the Alamo" became the rallying point of the Texan revolution against Mexico. Located in the heart of downtown, today The Alamo is a shrine and museum. La Villita, one of the original settlements, is a unique arts and crafts community with shops, working artists, restaurants and a post office. This beautifully landscaped historic district offers leisurely shopping and dining. Amidst the daily hubbub of the busy metropolitan downtown, sequestered 20 feet below street level, lies one of San Antonio's jewels - the Paseo del Rio. Better known as the "River Walk," these cobblestone and flagstone paths border both sides of the San Antonio River as it winds its way through the middle of the business district. The River Walk has multiple personalities - quiet and park-like in some stretches, while other areas are full of activity with European-style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, nightclubs and gleaming high-rise hotels. The river's floating transportation system provides a novel method of sightseeing and people-watching in downtown San Antonio. Groups can also dine aboard open-air, candle-lit cruisers as they wind their way along the scenic waterway. River taxis deliver visitors to Rivercenter, a dazzling three-level glass shopping, dining and entertainment complex. San Antonio provides the picture-perfect setting for great family vacations, beginning with the San Antonio children's museum, where kids can explore a miniature version of the city. Children of all ages will experience the excitement of the big top at the Hertzberg Circus Museum. The Tower of the Americas offers a spectacular view of San Antonio from 579 feet above the ground. The Plaza Theatre of Wax houses more than 225 life-like characters in four themed sections -- Hollywood, Horror, History and Religion. Ripley's Believe it Or Not! has more than 500 unique curiosities from around the world. Another popular stop is the Cowboy Museum on Alamo Plaza. Brackenridge Park, a 433-acre refuge in the heart of the city, offers a full day of family fun. The Japanese Tea Garden, the Brackenridge Eagle Miniature Train, Brackenridge Stables, the carousel, the skyride and Kiddie Park will round out a day of fun and education. San Antonio is home to two major theme parks - Sea World of Texas, the world's largest marine life park, and Six Flags Fiesta, Texas, the town built just for fun! Six Flags Fiesta, Texas Theme Park is a non-stop celebration of San Antonio and South Texas. It's created around four themed areas: the Mexican town of Los Festivales, the German village of Spassburg, the 1920 cowboy boom town of Crackaxle Canyon, and the small Texas town of Rockville during the golden age of rock'n'roll, which includes Fiesta Bay Boardwalk, a '50s-'60s seaside boardwalk complete with a 90-foot ferris wheel. San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium is ranked as one of the best zoos in the nation. The zoo encompasses 25 landscaped acres including one of the largest bird collections in the world and the only American zoo to exhibit the endangered whooping crane. Rare endangered crocodilians are featured in the wetlands exhibit.