Tower Of The Americas In San Antonio

The Tower of the Americas is the tall structure in downtown San Antonio, specifically in Hemisfair Park. For more than 11 years, I had looked at it and wondered about it, until the night earlier this month (November 2010) that we were in Hemisfair Park for Diwali.

We decided to actually go up the elevator to the top of the tower. Tickets are $10 a piece but I think it was money well spent. We bought our tickets and went inside the structure to stand in line at the elevator.

On the ground floor, there is a cafe, restrooms, a 4-D theater that you can go in as part of the admission price, and a souvenir shop. We stood in line for about 10 minutes and then got on one of the elevators.

Up to the top we shot. According to the elevator attendant, it was moving at 200 miles per hour. Not sure if that is true but that is what he said. There is a window so you can see the outside as you go up, but it was crowded so we could not see much. The attendant told us that the Tower of the Americas was built in 1986. I said 1986? He said yes. I said, you mean 1968 as I knew it was built the year my sister was born! He then acknowledged his mistake and we arrived at the top.

First we walked around inside the top, looking out the windows that go all the way around the circle. You cannot go all the way around inside because there is a very expensive restaurant that is closed with black curtains to the public unless you are eating there. Of course, I stuck my camera in there anyway...There is also a small cafe with a few tables and chairs and some restrooms.

Go down a few stairs and out a door and there is an enclosed breezeway all the way around that is not blocked off. The view of San Antonio, especially at night is breathtaking. It was cold and very breezy that high up. My hair got messed up very quickly, but it was exhilarating.

You will notice that the outside at the top is fenced in because after it was first built, there were several suicides...Folks who wanted to kill themselves could guarantee death from jumping off of a tower that high....

That night, because of Diwali, there were fireworks while we were at the top so we watched. They were incredible, spectacular, beautiful...

After the fireworks were over, we had to wait about 30 more minutes before they allowed the elevators to start taking us down again. Of course, there was a long line so we were up there for quite a while. Once we got downstairs, we went to the 4-D theater to wait for the next show.

After we got inside, we were given large 4-D glasses and a movie about Texas came on. It was really cool, a lot of fun to watch and experience. I would like to go again. It was a good night.

If you are visiting San Antonio, be sure that you visit the Tower of the Americas. It is great fun, especially at night. Go early so you have time to watch the 4-D movie downstairs and then spend an awesome evening up in the tower, eating delicious (but expensive!) food and checking out the incredible view of San Antonio, Texas from The Tower of the Americas! There are restrooms and a coffee shop at the top if you do not want to eat in the restaurant. Restrooms and a coffee shop are at the bottom as well if you are chicken.....Don't be....You will love it.