This was an exceptional value combining multiple attractions. We loved the River Cruise so much we took a second one before we left. Parking downtown can get very expensive if you aren't staying close by and have access to hotel parking. The hop on hop off bus is a great way to get to those outer edge sites if you don't mind waiting for it to loop back at regular times. The bus ticket is also good for 3 days!! You will get history and commentary on the bus, the ride may take a little longer than you expect due to traffic and the fact this is a tour but it still beats walking to the furthest hot spots on the fringes of downtown. I particularly enjoyed the Tower of The America's. The elevator ride to the top is super fast and the car is glass so you get an almost floating feeling as you ascend. At the top you will find a very thoughtful indoor observation area with a corresponding map of the city that shows you exactly what you are looking at below. There is also an outside observation area that protects you with glass and fencing. I would recommend taking the bus tour in its entirety on your first day and getting off at the Tower (it is near the end of the loop). Between the bus and Tower you will get a good lay of the land and a good orientation to the city streets for planning the rest of your stay. My final advice is to take the river cruise at night, preferably on a weeknight if possible. Our first excursion was on a Thursday during the Christmas light season. Our guide was excellent and the cruise lasted almost an hour. The second excursion was on a Friday, there were long waits at some of the starting points, the boat moved markedly faster and the entire experience barely lasted 30 minutes. I can't complain because it is advertised as a half hour and there were hundreds of visitors wanting to participate so they have to do what they have to do....but the weeknight tours are much more relaxed. All of the guides we met on these tours were knowledgeable about San Antonio history and made excellent recommendations when asked about other 'not to miss' spots and restaurants.