Which Mission?

My fiance and I are going to San Antonio for our honeymoon in April. We%26#39;re definitely doing the Riverwalk, and the Alamo, but other than that, we%26#39;re kind of at a loss. I think the missions would be great to visit. How long would it take to visit all four of them (San Juan, San Jose, Conception, and Espada)? If we only visit one or two, which would you recommend?

Which Mission?

Visiting all four of the Missions could take take you an entire morning or an afternoon, depending on how long you stay at each one. Each is unique, but most people will spend the most time at San Jose.

San Jose is the largest restored mission and is where the main Visitor%26#39;s Center is located. It offers a 20 minute film presentation which provides a very good introduction to the historic background and forces that led to the establishment of the missions. It also has many interpretive displays and boosts the most completely restored complex.

Mission Concepcion is the closest mission to downtown and is the only one that did not have to have its roof and bell tower restored. It also has some interesting restored frescos.

Mission San Juan is a smaller mission with many of the surrounding walls of the complex left unrestored. There is a short paved/boardwalk nature trail behind the mission that leads to the original banks of the San Antonio River.

Along the way to Mission Espada, you should stop briefly to view the Aqueduct, which carries water to the mission over Peidras Creek. This is the only remaining functioning spanish colonial aqueduct in North America.

Mission Espada is the smallest mission, but has a charm of its own.

Touring Concepcion, San Juan, and Espada probably will take no more than 20 minutes each unless you really become charmed with their picturesque aspectes. San Jose can take an hour or two.

If you have all day and are in fairly good shape, you might consider renting bicycles at the Blue Star Complex just south of downtown and riding to each of the missions on the Mission Trail. The route is pretty flat, and it%26#39;s only a couple of miles between each mission, so it really isn%26#39;t as challenging as it might seem. On good weather weekends, I%26#39;ve seen dozens of rental bikes along the hike/bike path or parked at tthe missions.

Which Mission?

SARider is spot on!

Thank you so much for the great advice!!! I love the idea of renting bikes and biking the trails.

Here%26#39;s some info on bike rental:

Abel%26#39;s Bicycle Repair %26amp; Rental. 1119 Ada St, San Antonio, Texas 78223-1429. Phone: 210-533-9927

Blue Star Bike Rental. 1414 S Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210. Phone: 210-212-5506.

Charles A James Bicycle Company . 329 N Main Ave., San Antonio, TX 78205-1413. Phone: 210-226-7812.

Abel%26#39;s has been renting bikes for more than 15 years, I believe that he will even deliver to your door.

Charles James is downtown and the oldest bike shop in town, and is about 6 to ten blocks from most of the downtown hotels.

Blue Star is the new kid on the block (open only about 2 years) but right on the southern fringe of downtown and easily accessible by the downtown trolley system. It’s as close to the beginning of the Mission Trail as you can get. I%26#39;ve seen dozens of their bikes on the Trail when the weekend weather is good.