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Imagine a relaxing evening stroll underneath the streets of the city where gondolas and tour boats glide effortlessly down the river just beside you. The temperature is a balmy 70 degrees; but if it weren't for the sparking holiday lights strung festively in the stately palms, towering cypress, and spreading live oaks, you wouldn't know it was December.

No, this isn't Paris; it's the San Antonio Riverwalk. Located in south central Texas, the Riverwalk is about as close as you can get to the ambiance of fine European canal-side cuisine under glimmering lights; romantic gondola rides; and enchanting strolls underneath flowing Spanish moss, grape vines, and stone bridges. Your ears may catch the merry maracas of a mariachi band, or the melodious notes of a classical guitar.

Though festive the year round, San Antonio really lights up during the holiday season. Get your tickets for the FORD Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony held on Friday, November 28 at 7:00 PM. Enjoy colorful illuminated floats featuring bands and celebrities as they merrily glide down the river. Reserved seating at the Arneson River Theater on the east side of the Riverwalk is available; for more information, call 210-227-4262.

Just across from the River Theater is the quaint historic arts village of La Villita, San Antonio's first neighborhood. Stroll cobblestone streets and browse a unique collection of cultural and artistic artifacts. Note the evolution of architecture from early Palisado to the Victorian era. If you visit La Villita during the morning hours, be sure to grab a delicious (and very authentic) breakfast burrito at the Bolivar Cafe.

When you're done exploring the enchanting La Villita neighborhood, head across the Villita Walkway up to the corner of South Alamo for riverside terrace dining at the simplistically elegant Fig Tree Restaurant. There really is a bona fide fig tree growing beside the front door; but should you be tempted beyond reason to remove a tasty fruit from its branches and put it to your lips, you're likely to receive a visit from the owner of the restaurant who, thankfully, is as forgiving as he is affable.

After your meal, walk across the street to HemisFair Park, home of the first World's Fair held in the American southwest in 1968. Watch San Antonio's buildings shrink as you sail to the top of the 750 foot-tall Tower of the Americas in a glass elevator. Grab a tasty desert at the Chart House Restaurant while you take in the 360-degree rotating view. When you're done with your sweet treat, enjoy a romantic presentation of Puccini's La Boheme at the adjacent Lila Cockrell Theater.

Become a part of history at the southwest's most famous landmark, the Alamo, just a few blocks west of HemisFair Park. When you're done exploring the various exhibits inside the adobe structure, exit the rear of the building and stroll peaceful gardens bordered by East Houston, Bonham, and Crockett Streets.

At the end of a fun-filled day in the perpetually festive city of San Antonio, refresh your body, mind, and soul at any number of luxurious hotels in and around the Riverwalk. Whether you choose a room with a scenic river view or a standard street-facing suite, San Antonio offers one of the most vibrant and romantic vacation spots this side of the Atlantic.

Learn more about this author, Daniel J. Gansle.
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