2013 National Youth Gathering Information

San Antonio Facts

• Thriving: The seventh largest U.S. city.
• Popular: More than 26 million people visit San Antonio each year. The city is centrally located between the east and west coasts.
• Venerable: One of the American West’s oldest cities settled in 1731 by sixteen Spanish families from the Canary Islands. San Antonio’s rich history surfaces in its architecture, neighborhoods, food, culture and traditions. The King William neighborhood is one of the oldest historical districts in Texas.
• Urban: Hundreds of hotels, restaurants, night spots and shops line the city’s urban core including the magical River Walk below street level.
• Green: Sixty-eight miles of urban hike and bike trails and over 11,000 acres of urban parks. The U.S.’s second oldest park, San Pedro Park, is in San Antonio.
• Downtown Bike-Share Program: B-cycle, Texas' first bike-share program and a green alternative to traditional public transit.
• Sunny: Three hundred days of sunshine annually and an average temperature of 70 degrees.
• Affordable: The most affordable city in America, for both those who live here and those who visit.
• Safe: One of America’s safest and best “walking” cities.
• Artsy: One of the top 25 cities in the country for the arts, according to American Style magazine. Travel Smart magazine ranks San Antonio as one of the most culturally fascinating cities in the U.S.
• Kid Friendly: SeaWorld® San Antonio is the world’s largest marine life adventure park, Schlitterbahn, nearby, is the world’s best water park according to the Travel Channel, and Six Flags® Fiesta Texas® is one of the most visited attractions in the state.
• Top Visitor City: Travel + Leisure named San Antonio as one of America’s favorite cities. San Antonio has some of the state’s most visited attractions and festivals: The Alamo (1), The River Walk (2), SeaWorld® San Antonio (4), Six Flags® Fiesta Texas® (13); San Antonio Zoo (14); Fiesta San Antonio (23).
• Top Spa: The Mokara Hotel and Spa was rated #2 in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler readers and Travel & Leisure's 2010.
  Top Golf:  More than 40 public and private golf coursesThe new TPC San Antonio is the highest standard in golf course design. TPC San Antonio boasts two PGF Tour courses. The AT&T Oaks was designed by Greg Norman and the AT&T Canyons is the creation of Pet Dye and Tour player consultant Bruce Lietzke.
• Top Basketball: The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Championship in 2007, 2005, 2003, and 1999.
• Top Zoo: Seventh largest zoo in the U.S. with over 3,500 animals. the San Antonio Zoo also shelters more than 750 species. The zoo has one of the world's largest bird collection in the world.
• Top Shopping: San Antonio’s El Mercado shopping district is the largest Mexican market outside Mexico. The nearby San Marcos Outlet Mall was ranked 3rd best shopping mall in the world by ABC’s "The View."