When living and driving in San Antonio, you will find yourself driving along the 1604 Loop.

This is a LOOP that circles around the city, so it is a circular road. If you want, you can drive around in circles.

It is officially called the Charles W. Anderson Loop (I just heard that for the first time...) but it is simply referred to as 'Loop 1604'.

This road takes you around San Antonio, connecting various areas of the city, and along the way, you can see a variety of sights including upscale neighborhoods, military bases, shopping malls, and still underdeveloped rural landscapes, so there is no chance of getting bored.

Especially in the northern section, there are still construction sites... The nearby areas are developing quickly, so if you visit after a few years, you will be surprised to see new apartments and shopping centers popping up.

Interestingly, driving around the 1604 Loop reveals the character of San Antonio itself.

Heading west, you can see wide farms and ranches, still exuding the unique pastoral atmosphere of Texas. Conversely, as you head north or east, traffic congestion increases, and large supermarkets, malls, and restaurants line the streets, giving a strong urban feel. Particularly, the area where 1604 meets I-10 is always crowded, indicating it is a busy intersection for people and cars.

Another point is the connection to military bases. San Antonio is known as 'Military City USA' due to the many military facilities, and while driving around Loop 1604, you will find roads leading to major bases like Randolph Air Force Base. If you drive in that direction, you might occasionally see military vehicles.

The reason this loop is important to the people of San Antonio is that it has expanded their living area.

Before this circular road was built, development was centered around downtown, but with the expansion of 1604, new residential and commercial areas have emerged to the north and west. As a result, many young families are buying homes in the suburbs and commuting via the loop. Of course, it can get a bit congested during rush hour, but compared to the severe traffic in LA or NYC, it is quite manageable.

It is also quite an attractive drive, especially in the evening when you drive along the northwestern section, the sky opens up, and the sunset unfolds, making you want to turn up the music and roll down the windows.

Seeing the old Texas ranch landscapes coexist with newly established modern shopping malls on the same road shows how San Antonio embraces both its past and present. So if you have started living in San Antonio, I think it would be an interesting experience to take a drive along Loop 1604 and get a glimpse of the local characteristics of San Antonio.