Stanley Visits Texas Hill Country

San Antonio is at the southern edge of a popular area in Texas and the U.S. known as the Texas Hill Country. The Hill Country has lots of scenic landscape including rugged hills, limestone ridges and caverns, and winding rivers like the Blanco, Medina and Guadalupe rivers. This is a popular outdoor area for Texans and tourists alike for hiking, camping, and floating the river.

Here's a map of where Texas Hill Country is, and an example of what it looks like:

Stanley decided to take a drive through a part of the Hill Country known as the Devil's Backbone. This is section straight north of San Antonio, with a pretty loop to drive between the towns of Blanco and Wimberly. It is a very historic area, with spots to stop and read about Texas and even some ghost stories!

Along the way Stanley stopped off at the Fischer Store. Fischer is a very small town originally settled in the 1850's as a trading post for settlers in the area. It's a popular spot to stretch your legs along this drive.

Stanley Visits the Alamo

The Alamo is the first of five Spanish missions in the San Antonio area. It was established in 1718 and was originally known as San Antonio de Valero. It played a big part in the history of Texas, so of course, Stanley had to go check it out.

Stanley entering the chapel at the Alamo.

Stanley with Aunt Beth at the Alamo.

Here is an excerpt from "The Alamo from A to Z", by William R. Chemerka:

The most famous landmark in Texas, the Alamo, is a symbol of patriotic sacrifice. In 1836, the structure was an old mission caught in the middle of the Texas Revolution. Providing shelter for 189 defenders and nearly two dozen noncombatants, it was a haven against General Santa Anna and his Mexican army until March 6th. The defenders, determined to fight for Texas's freedom, guarded the Alamo against thousands of Mexican troops.

You can read an overview of the battle here: http://www.thealamo.org/history/the-1836-battle/index.html 

Ultimately, after 13 days of fighting, nearly everyone defending the Alamo died. Some women and children inside the chapel survived. Some of the famous defenders who perished at the Alamo were James "Jim" Bowie, David "Davy" Crockett and the commander of the battle, William B. Travis.

Flat Stanley in San Antonio, TX

Flat Stanley arrived  in San Antonio, Texas where Ava's Aunt Beth and Uncle Tony live. Texas is the 2nd largest state in the United States of America. Its southern border is separated from the country of Mexico by the Rio Grande River.

Texas is called the Lone Star State, and has a lot of Longhorns too!

San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the U.S.A. and has a population of 1.3 million. It is possibly most famous for the Alamo - one of the 5 Spanish missions of the San Antonio area - as well as the River Walk. During his time in San Antonio, Stanley got to visit both of these!

First things first! Texas is the land of cattle and cowboys! The first thing Stanley did when he arrived in town was buy himself some new digs. Check out his cowboy hat and cowboy boots!