I'm a New Englander who visited San Antonio for the first time. Here are 9 things that surprised me about the Texas city.

I traveled from Boston to San Antonio, and it was my first time visiting the Southern city.

Rebecca Strong

Ask a New Englander what comes to mind when they think about Texas, and they'll probably mention cowboy hats, tacos, and beer. Truth be told, I'm no exception.However, during one November trip from Boston to San Antonio, I learned that this vibrant, diverse city has so much more to offer.Locals even told me that their motto is, "Keep San Antonio lame," a play on their northern neighbor's slogan, "Keep Austin weird."By keeping the city's charm a secret, maybe San Antonians hope to protect its essence and ward off throngs of tourists. However, once you experience Alamo City's appeal, you'll probably have a hard time resisting the urge to spread the word.These are some of the most surprising things I found during my first trip to San Antonio.

San Antonio never felt crowded despite having one of the largest populations in the US.

The bustling Pearl District on the evening of a Día de Los Muertos celebration still didn't feel unbearably crowded.