People love San Antonio. It's hard not to. This is a city bursting with Texas history and Hispanic culture, as well as good ole, rip-roarin' Lone Star fun. Whether your pockets carry only lint or you're using pesos as pebbles to skip in a stream, you can truly enjoy this top tourist spot in the South. We put on our walking shoes and hunted down terrific restaurants, entertainment, and lodging at three different price points. Pack your sombrero, and get ready to make some memories.

Where To Eat
$: Good grub doesn't need to cost a fortune. Earl Abel's (4210 Broadway) proves that. This legend dates to 1933 and fills you up on comforts such as fried chicken (breast and drumstick with mashed potatoes and a veggie, $6.50) and thick slices of lemon meringue pie ($3). The atmosphere hasn't changed much since it opened, so be prepared for a dose of nostalgia.

Everyone in San Antone has a personal choice on where to find good, spicy taquerías. Try Blanco Cafe (5525 Blanco Road), Piedras Negras de Noche (1312 South Laredo Street), or Taco Haven (1032 South Presa Street). Remember that the setting, in some instances velvet artwork and mismatched chairs, may seem a bit kitschy. Still your tummy will find satisfaction.

For the past decade, Rosario's Mexican Café Y Cantina has been serving locals heaping plates of Tex-Mex offerings in a lively and colorful setting.

Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine (5800 Broadway) also reaps praise from adoring San Antonians. Located in Cambridge Square of Alamo Heights, this place offers outstanding breakfasts on Saturday. Try the Chilaquiles ($4.99), fried corn strips mixed with scrambled eggs and topped with salsa and cheese, for a morning meal that will last you through dinner.

$$$: If you are fortunate enough to eat at Las Canarias Restaurant (La Mansión del Rio, 112 College Street), you'll never forget it. Wonderful memories do come at a price. But here you're paying not only for the amazing food (contemporary dishes using regional ingredients), but also the ambience. Eat in the elegant dining room or on the riverside veranda. The menu, although it changes according to the seasons, always features the unrivaled Scott Cohen's Cheese Experience ($12.50 for five types or $21 for La Grande Dame Cheese Experience). Entrées include Hill Country Quail ($25), Grilled Hill Country Raised Chicken Breast ($19), and Grilled Long Bone Beef Rib Eye ($36).