The Top 10 Things to Do in San Antonio, Texas
#10 - Spurs Basketball Game
Witness a fast paced basketball game in the thunderous AT&T Center to kick off your trip to San Antonio. Thanks to the efforts of legendary players like David Robinson and Tim Duncan, the Spurs are one of the most successful NBA franchises. With 5 NBA championships, the Spurs have brought joy to their fans for over 50 years. About 5 miles east of downtown San Antonio, the AT&T Center is close to other attractions like the River Walk, Tower of Americas, and the Alamo, making it easy to knock out 2-3 attractions in a single day.
Sports fan? Be sure to check out our post on cities like New York or Las Vegas!
#9 -
Top Golf, Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, & iFLY Indoor Skydiving
If you’re looking for a variety of entertainment for the entire family, this is the place! With 3 different options for exciting entertainment, everyone is sure to enjoy it! Visit the iFly Indoor Skydiving, TopGolf, and Andretti Indoor Karting and Games all from one shared parking lot! Top Golf offers group areas, complete with clubs, balls, seating, a server for drinks and food, and an online system to track all of your fun! You can choose from a variety of ways to play that work for you. It’s good for beginners and experts alike. Andretti Indoor is a huge complex right next door that offers an arcade, ropes course, go kart riding for all different expertise levels and ages, laser tag, VR, bowling, a bar, food, you name it! In fact, we did both of these places back to back. Both would be great for a birthday or group outing!
#8 - Natural Bridge Caverns & Wildlife Ranch
Located next to one another, these are two separate experiences that both offer unique and fun discoveries that can make your day! The Natural Bridge Cavern is a location like no other. Visitors can travel 180 feet underground to see ancient and breathtaking rock formations. At the ground level (or above!) people can take part in zip rails and rope courses, which are available for all ages. East of the caverns, the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch offers another truly unique experience: driving through an animal safari in your own car! Known to be one of the best safaris in the United States, it features over 40 different species of animals roaming around the 450 acre ranch. The journey covers over 6 miles and takes 60-90 minutes to complete. If the idea of a zebra licking your Toyota frightens you, the park offers guided tours hosted by animal experts. Feeding options are available upon entrance for some up close experiences! Both the caverns and the wildlife ranch offer fun for the whole family at fair prices!
Photo provided by Natural Bridge Caverns.
#7 -
Japanese Tea Garden and Botanical Gardens
These are two beautiful and peaceful gardens you can choose from in the San Antonio area. The tea garden is registered as a Texas Historic Landmark but has been renovated over the years to include a lush year-round garden with stunning floral displays, stone bridges, and shaded walkways. It is open daily and features a 60-foot waterfall and koi ponds. The Botanical Garden rests on 38 acres filled with diverse plant life and nature. It features Texas native plants, a Water Saver Garden, Conservatory, a gorgeous Rose Garden, and an Old Fashioned Garden. Their mission is to enrich people’s lives by helping them connect to nature and serve as educators of nature conservation efforts. Both gardens are tranquil experiences, allowing you to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#6 - Tower of Americas
Offering the best views in downtown San Antonio, this 750- foot tower was built for the 1968 HemisFair and is still standing to provide guests with a thrilling experience. You can visit the Observation Deck for panoramic views of the Alamo City and great picture ops! They also have a 4-D Theater Ride and a revolving Chart House restaurant for dining and viewing at the same time. What a way to see the city!
If you’re a fan of views, be sure to check out our posts for Seattle & Chicago!
#5 - King William Historic District
This is a great area for architecture and history buffs alike. Whether you walk or ride a bike, you will get to enjoy around 25 blocks of 19th-century European-style mansions in this beautiful neighborhood. Notice the German, Victorian, Italian, and Greek influences as you meander up and down the peaceful streets. There are even interactive maps that identify the houses and histories available for download. This area offers great picture opportunities, as well as nearby trendy neighborhoods that boast bars, boutiques, microbreweries, art galleries, parks, and more! The district is very close to the River Walk and Mission Trail and is a great thing to experience for free!
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#4 - San Antonio Zoo
First established in the 1800s, this zoo has been named the best in Texas with more than 8,500 animals and over 700 species that are sure to excite! That’s significant to say as both Houston and Dallas have amazing zoos themselves. With over 50 acres of land, the zoo offers one of the world’s largest bird collections, an eagle train ride, and an aquarium! Some of its more recent attractions include Africa Live!, the Savanna, and the Plains, a wonderful experience through the safari where you can see crocodiles, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, and more. You can also visit Big Cat Valley with the kids or stroll over to Amphibia, which is a rainforest filled with free-flying birds! Great place for a fun, family day!
#3 - Theme Parks
As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, including the theme parks! All of these are within a 30 mile radius of downtown San Antonio and offer entertainment, food, and lots of laughs to make your trip memorable. For roller coasters and thrill, visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas with over 12 coasters and 6 themed areas in the park. Or if you still want the rollercoasters with a few splashes on the side, visit SeaWorld San Antonio. This park offers rides, a water play area, Sesame Street Bay, Discovery Point, and many marine animal shows and attractions. Both parks have holiday themed celebrations and neighboring water parks, White Water Bay and Aquatica, for cooling off on those hot summer days.
For other cities with great theme parks, check out the top 10 things to do in Orlando or Los Angeles
#2 -
Alamo/Mission Trail
Immerse yourself in the history and spirit of the Texas Alamo. This is nestled within the historical mission district right across a narrow street from the infamous River Walk. Admission to the main areas is free and offers self guided, audio, or guided tour options. It is very shaded and cool and offers insight into the history and settlement of the area during the frontier days. There are statues, a church, stunning artifacts, and even hands-on demonstrations and reenactments to help you learn more about Texas history. The Alamo is just the first stop along the historic Mission Trail, so keep going to see the other 4 missions that end at Mission Espada. It is about 10 miles all around and you can walk parts, bike, take a bus, or drive. It is easily accessible and free! These missions are symbolic of the rich heritage that helped shape the state as it is known today.
#1 - River Walk/Boat Cruise
Absolutely loved this charming stroll around the river full of gardens, bridges and stunning architecture. It was very shaded for the hot summer temps and offered many places to stop for a drink as well as many restaurant options. You can hop aboard the Rio Go boat cruise for a guided tour of the river and its history, all while enjoying a margarita in hand and listening to the live music along the banks. The boat runs basically all day and has hop on/hop off options. This is connected to the River Center which is a large mall full of shopping, food, souvenirs, and treats. They even have a ropes course inside for the kiddos. It also encompasses the Lego Discovery Center, Sea Life Aquarium, and the nearby Tower of the Americas, Alamo, and mission district, making it a fabulous place for families to visit! You can even visit the Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the old courthouse, or the stunning San Fernando Cathedral. We highly recommend this area!
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