Inside San Antonio Real Estate

Located just down the road in San Antonio is a little hidden wonder called Natural Bridge Caverns. If caverns and caves are your thing, then this is the one you want. Natural Bridge Caverns is located just 30 miles north of San Antonio, just a few miles west of IH-35. Take exit #175 to Natural Bridge Caverns Road/ FM 3009.

The cavern was discovered back in 1960 when a few college students were exploring the surrounding area. The cavern was actually formed by an underground river that moves slowly cutting through the limestone. Over time the limestone broke down and the cavern was formed. There are many passages through the cavern and it is a very beautiful and interesting place to visit.

The most popular tour is the "Discovery Tour." Visitors go about 180 feet below the ground in this awesome tour, which is about a half mile long. On the tour you will see many beautiful and wondrous things that formed millions of years ago and are still forming. You can take pictures, so be sure to take a camera.

Another popular tour at Natural Bridge Caverns is the "Illuminations Tour." On this tour, the staff uses lights to light up certain parts of the cavern. At one part of the tour, all lights are turned completely off and you are in total darkness, 180 feet under the earth.

One of the favorite spots on the tour is the mining company and rock shop. Here you get to pan for precious rocks and fossils, even arrowheads. The best part is you get to keep whatever it is you find! If you are not sure what kind of treasure you have found, the have charts available so you can see just what you found.

For the more adventurous spelunkers, you can take the "Adventure Tours," where you climb, rappel, hike and explore the cavern just like the explorers did when they found the cavern. All you have to rely on is the guides, ropes and gear. Plan for the tour to take about 3-4 hours, it is meant for the more serious cave goers.

When you are done plunging 160 feet into a dark cave, why not head to the Watch tower. It is a 50 foot tower that you can climb and use a zip line to get down. Plunging at 25 miles per hour back towards the earth, this is definitely a ride you will not forget.

Natural Bridge Caverns is a nice place for a one day trip. The cavern stays a cool 70 degrees year round, with relative humidity at 99%. Some of the other attractions hours depend upon Mother Nature, so you may want to call or visit their website before you head out.

There is something for the entire family to enjoy at Natural Bridge Caverns. If you really love the caverns, you can take a group there. The Natural Bridge caverns is interesting in that its a good place to have some fun and learn about the environment.

Jill works with inside real estate. They have sites that cover the San Antonio real estate and Dallas real estate markets. They also have a San Antonio real estate blog that covers trends and statistics.

San Antonio has seen declining sales since May 2007. The largest one year decline occurred in November 2008. The number of homes sold dropped to 1064 from 1591 in November 2007, or 33.12 percent. November was also the largest drop looking at two-year differences. November 2008 saw 44.55 percent less sales than November 2006. Every month was at least 9.4 percent lower than its 2006 counterpart, though the average loss was 24.72 percent (more at San Antonio Real Estate Blog)

From Inside San Antonio Real Estate

If you've ever been to San Antonio, then you have probably been to the famous and beautiful river walk in down town San Antonio. The San Antonio River runs right through down town and it's a great place to visit and relax.

On November 28th, 2008, the Christmas season officially begins on the river walk. At 7:00 pm. all 122,000 lights will go on! There will be a parade on the river with colorful and beautiful boats. When the parade ends, it's the perfect opportunity to hop into a boat, and take a ride down the river, with the sun down and the lights twinkling and reflecting from the water below, it makes the perfect romantic get a way!

Christmas time is also the time for caroling and the river walk has that too! On November 29th- December 21st the river walk will be lined with more than 185 schools, churches and other groups singing their hearts out to the cruising boats. It's the perfect ending to a long day of shopping!

Along with the Christmas carols and beautiful lights twinkling above the river, the banks will be glowing beginning December 5th until December 21st with what's called "Fiesta de las Luminarias." There will be sand bags with glowing candles inside lighting the walk ways. It's a beautiful site and a long tradition of the river walk. For hundreds of years this has been going on and it is truly a site to see. It begins at dusk each night, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, during the fiesta.

If you just can't stand the site of another mall this holiday season, why not try shopping at the Holiday Arts & Crafts Show that goes on along the river walk each holiday season beginning December 12th and running through December 14th. The venders all have different and unique gifts ranging from handmade jewelry to furniture. You are sure to find something special for that hard to buy for person.

Want to make a weekend get away at the river walk? There are many beautiful hotels over looking the river and wonderful dinning experiences.

For those who don't mind shopping at the mall, The San Antonio River Mall is the place to shop! Built right on the river, it hosts many shops and restaurants, all with a beautiful view. The river walk also has a good night life for those who don't mind staying up late and enjoying live music and drinks. Take a boat ride right up to your favorite bar or restaurant.

The San Antonio River Walk has something for every member of the family, young or old. Why not celebrate the holiday season on the river.

For more information on the river walk you can find them on the internet. They have maps available as well as prices for all the boat rides and lists of all the events they have planned for the season ahead. You can also check out some of the hotels available as well as restaurants and bars in the area.

Inside Realty operates in the Texas real estate market. They have a site covering San Antonio Texas real estate and Corpus Christi Texas real estate. They also have a site on Dallas Texas real estate.