Spending a day in Alamo Heights is easy — it’s knowing exactly where to go to get the full experience that can be a challenge. Here are a few hot spots for the seasoned San Antonio resident or adventurous tourist to explore.

Chela’s Tacos
Start the day by visiting the award-winning mobile food truck, which opened a central location in Alamo Heights last October. Offering fresh handmade tortillas, meats, and sauces, stop by for breakfast tacos served from 7 am to 1 pm. The barbacoa machacado for $2.50, among many others, is a must try. Popular selections served throughout the day include the chicken cilantro taco and carne deshebrada.

The Toilet Seat Art Museum
For those people looking for a unique experience and a great conversation with a longtime resident of Alamo Heights, visit Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum.

The museum is actually Smith’s garage and is filled with individually themed toilet seats decorated in memorabilia he has collected over the years, including a piece of the Berlin Wall. Smith said that every toilet seat in the museum has its own exhibit number and that he recently completed number 1,227. He welcomes all visitors by appointment and can be reached by calling 210-824-7791.

San Antonio Botanical Garden
It’s the perfect time of year for a pleasant walk through the garden, particularly early in the morning. Tour the formal gardens to see red spread lantana, mealy blue sage, roses, and begonias, or visit the conservatory to glimpse white bird of paradise and pomegranate in bloom. As always, the Texas Native Trail, cactus and succulent garden, and WaterSaver Lane are open for visitors to peruse.

The garden is currently presenting “Wings of the City,” an exhibition by renowned Mexican artist Jorge Marín. Eight monumental sculptures are on display through June 5, so be sure to visit and have your picture taken next to a pair of bronze wings. Or, bring your little one to “Storybook Houses,” an exhibit showcasing five unique interpretations on themes from five popular children’s stories, through July 10.

Bird Bakery
Nestled in a quaint shopping mall across from Cambridge Elementary School, Bike World, and Local Coffee, this adorable enclave is a great place to stop for a delicious afternoon cupcake or pastry baked onsite, from scratch, using the finest ingredients. Try the Bird Blue Vanilla, sea salt caramel, or carrot cake, among many other scrumptious options.

The Spotted Mule
This shop offers T-shirts, hats, camp items, and other gear sporting the Alamo Heights mascot — the mule — but it’s also a great shop for anyone looking for a gift from Alamo Heights.

Hondondo Creek Trails
If you’re in the mood for a peaceful stroll through nature, begin at the Judson Nature Trails next to the Alamo Heights Pool and follow trail legs northeast to Acacia Avenue and northwest toward Jones Maltsberger Road. The Olmos Basin Greenway Trail, part of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail, now offers cyclists, walkers, and joggers a wide paved path from the Alamo Quarry Market south of Basse Road to Dick Friedrich Drive in Olmos Basin Park.

The Witte Museum
While the museum is undergoing a major renovation, that’s no reason not to make your way down Broadway Street and into Brackenridge Park for a visit.

Witte is now offering “Splendor on the Range: American Indians and the Horse,” exploring how life changed for American Indians after the Spanish brought the horse to North America in the 1500s. Guests will see an array of artifacts, from clothing to crossbows and weapons, beads, and pottery. Ride a Comanche saddle, touch and feel bison furs on the travois and animal hides by the tipi, or attend the Tools and Trade: Before and After the Horse presentation at 11 am and 3 pm. The exhibit is open through August 21. Cost is $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers, plus general museum admission of $10 for adults and $7 for children.

“Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed,” a traveling exhibit exploring one of the most powerful and sophisticated civilizations of all time, will make its Texas premiere at the Witte Museum from May 14 through September 5 at the Mays Family Center. Attend The Mind of the Maya Series from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Wednesdays, join Mayan scholars and Witte curators for a special series of presentations complementing the exhibit. Tickets are now on sale.

A third exhibit, “Mapping Texas,” opened Friday, April 29, in the South Texas Heritage Center, showing visitors historic maps of Texas. Ongoing events at the Witte include the H-E-B Body Adventure, historic outdoor log cabin, Onderdonk studio, and Will Smith Amphitheater.

Brackenridge Park Conservancy
Situated along the San Antonio River right in the Witte Museum’s backyard, the park is a great place to walk, hike, bike, picnic, or enjoy some fine attractions, including The DoSeum, San Antonio’s unique children’s museum. Meander the nature trails running throughout the park to see ornate cement benches, tables, and more of famed San Antonio artist Dionicio Rodriguez’s faux bois sculptures. Visit the historic site of Lambert Beach for a photo op or walk along the bridge to read about the Miraflores private garden.

From here, you can also take the San Antonio Eagle train, formerly known as the Brackenridge Park Eagle, to the San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum, Kiddie Park, and Japanese Tea Garden.

After, ride or walk along Avenue B to visit a variety of shops, including the Broadway Pinups boutique, W D Deli, and the Antiquarian Book Mart.

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It's the perfect time of year for a pleasant walk through the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

  

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden

It's the perfect time of year for a pleasant walk through the San Antonio Botanical Garden.