When you are looking for fun things to do in San Antonio, Texas; you literally don’t even have to try hard at all! This entire city is filled with so much! This city is filled with art, delicious food, exotic animal shows, SO much history, gorgeous cathedrals, so many shops, and so much more. I mean San Antonio is home to one of the wonders of Texas, The Alamo. Yeah remember that one! So San Antonio is a pretty big deal.
If I were to honestly think about my favorite places to visit in the state of Texas, San Antonio would be in the top 5! This city is fun for solo travelers, the romantic couples, foodies, a girls weekend, and for families! It literally has something for everyone.
Tips For Visiting San Antonio, Texas:
- Bring whatever you need to keep yourself cool. It is HOT! I mean 100 degrees hot in the summer with humidity! So you will always want water on you no matter what you are doing. Sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen; bring on everything you need to cool yourself down and protect yourself from the sun.
- Use the Parkopedia to find cheap parking for downtown. Parking around the riverwalk in particular can be a real nightmare! I’m talking like $30 for parking! Parkopedia will help you find the closest parking for the best prices and what is available.
- There are rental scooters and bikes all over if you don’t want to drive. For as big of a city as San Antonio is driving isn’t that awful around town, but parking…….ugh parking can be ridiculous! Parking is hard to find and expensive. That is why all over town you will find electric scooters and bikes to rent! If you can travel this way it will be a lot easier and less frustrating. Obviously though if you have little kids this may not be an option for you.
- Book in advance! San Antonio is a bigger city so anywhere you will go you will have to wait in some sort of line. Booking in advance gets you through lines quicker and also less lines. For instance, when going to SeaWorld if you don’t book in advance you have to wait in the line to get a parking ticket, wait in line to buy your ticket to get in, wait in the line to get through security, and wait in the line to show your ticket. If you book in advance they scan your barcode for parking, you can skip the line to buy a ticket and so you only have to wait in 2 lines instead of 4. Another reason to book in advance is that there are some experiences you can not do unless booked in advance. Again lets use SeaWorld as an example; if you want to swim with the Beluga Whales then you need to book that in advance or it’s just not going to happen.
- Things you will want to book in advance:
- Any sort of tour (ghost tour, history tour, etc.)Animal encounters (zoo, aquarium, SeaWorld, etc.)
- To enter the Alamo cathedral
- Things you will want to book in advance:
- Plan your route before you go. If you are a spur of the moment person you are going to hate this suggestion, but I highly advice that you plan your route and research before you go! It really helps so that you can see more and enjoy your experiences more. To give an example, we made a last minute decision to walk the river walk around 8pm one night. So we showed up and didn’t plan parking so we ended up paying $30 for parking. We walked the riverwalk not knowing what we wanted to do or see. Then I remembered that the San Fernando Cathedral had a light show so we walked there and got there 30 minutes before the show started. Our kids were too tired to wait for the show so we just started walking back and thought we might eat at the Rainforest Café, but it was too busy that we couldn’t get in. So we walked back to our van, having done nothing but walked the riverwalk. Plan ahead so that you can get the most out of each thing you do!!
- If you have kids bring carriers/strollers/wagons. I have noticed whenever we travel in a city that it is best to always bring some sort of carrier for my kids. The reason being is that usually we park once and walk as much as possible. Parking is miserable in a city, so instead of paying $5-$30 for parking for each activity, we try to park once and do as much as we can within walking distance. I almost feel like we are hiking in a city. Due to the high amounts of walking it makes a huge difference to have somewhere to put my tired kid and still move around. Personally, having 4 kids, I love using a collapsible wagon. That way more than one kid can ride at a time, so no fighting over who’s turn it is to ride. Whatever your preference is though, bring it; you’ll thank me later!
How To Save On Your San Antonio Trip With The GetOut Pass:
Of all the tips for visiting San Antonio, this is the best of all!! As a family of 6 life is just generally expensive. So when it comes to traveling it is SUPER expensive. Each activity cost us around $70 and if we do just 3 activities a day, then that will cost us around $210. $210 just for activities, then add food, gas, place to stay, etc. it gets expensive. Okay so you get my point, traveling is expensive.
The only way we are able to afford traveling is by finding deals and sales and passes. That if why we are such big fans of the GetOut Pass! This pass is a one time payment for 22 activities in the San Antonio area and 25 more things to do in Austin, Texas. So instead of spending so much for just one activity I am paying that for 47 activities! It is a heck of a deal and is literally the best way to pay for a trip to San Antonio, Texas and Austin!
Some of the fun things to do in San Antonio, Texas that are included in this pass are:
- Visit the San Antonio Zoo
- Monster Mini Golf
- Pedego Electric Bike Rentals
- San Antonio Aquarium
- San Antonio’s Panic Room
- Stumpy’s Hatch House
- Airtopia
- SO MANY MORE…..
USE MY CODE WESTXMOM FOR $55 DOLLARS OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF THE SAN ANTONIO/AUSTIN PASS OR EMAIL ME AT IDKMOMMYBLOG@GMAIL TO GET A CODE FOR A PASS IN ANY OTHER LOCATION YOU ARE LOOKING AT!
Fun Things To Do In San Antonio, Texas:
Dine and Shop On The Riverwalk
Every time I visit San Antonio, Texas there are 2 things I almost always do; visit the Alamo and walk the riverwalk. I mean can you get anymore of a San Antonio vibe than that!? This isn’t just any old riverwalk, this riverwalk is so unique. Built on the waters edge are tons of fun things to do! You could literally spend an entire day on the riverwalk and not do it all! It is also fun for all ages. They have fine dining and gorgeous bridges for date nights. There are so many clothing stores and shopping centers for a girls weekend trip. My kids loved Rainforest Café, Voodoo Donuts, and the candy stores! It is filled with art, music, lights, boats, ducks, and more. It is such a fun walk along a gorgeous riverside.
Location:
Tips: Find your parking spot at parkopedia so that you don’t have to pay $30 for parking! Visit during the day to shop. Make reservations for any place you want to eat or anything you want to do before you go. If you have small children carry them or put a back pack leash on them so that you do not lose them in the crowd or into the river. Download a map to your phone so you know where to go.
Take a Boat Tour Down the San Antonio River
Since you are already at the riverwalk then there is something there you have to do! Ride the boats! Constantly going down the San Antonio River are GoRio tour boats. I am not always a big fan of tours, but I loved this boat tour. It is fun to walk down the riverwalk, but it is a whole other experience to ride down the river on this boat tour.
The tour guides are fun, comical, and know so much about San Antonio. You will learn about the old buildings, some of the restaurants, and even see sights from the Miss Congeniality movie!
Locations: 3 locations for boat rides: Historia – 706 River Walk (Under Market St. Bridge & Alamo St.)/ Rivercenter – 849 E River Walk (Commerce & Bowie St.) – River level/ Aztec Theater – 731 River Walk (River Level Aztec Theater – Crockett & St. Mary’s St.)
Tips: Arrive 30 minutes before your tour. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat; whatever you need to protect yourself from the sun. Ride the boats during the day so that you can see all of the buildings and truly see everything. Also the line is smaller during the day, than in the evening.
Hours: Daily (weather permitting) 10am-10pm
Admission: $14.50 adult, $8.50 children (1-5), $11.50 Senior (65+), $11.50 Military, $12.50 Local Resident
Walk through the historic Alamo
Remember the Alamo! Yes, you can not visit San Antonio without going to the Alamo. The Alamo is the symbol and centerpiece of San Antonio. This beautiful building is the biggest icon in San Antonio. It is where Davy Crockett made his last stand and so many others lost their lives defending the garrison. You can walk the beautiful grounds, enter the museum, and also walk through the cathedral itself.
Location: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Tips: I will suggest this time and time again bring anything you can to protect yourself from the intense sun. The parking lot behind Alamo is about $5 for parking. Book your time to go into the cathedral before you go. Visit early when it first opens, it will be the least crowded then.
Hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Admission: FREE
Test Your Ninja Skills at the Airtopia Ninja Course
Besides SeaWorld, Airtopia trampoline park is the place my kids keep begging me to take them back to. Airtopia is a huge trampoline park! It has a toddler section with its own toddler ninja course, it has a climbing wall, a launch pad, a dodge ball section, a ninja course, basketball, and a ton of trampolines. It was pretty much heaven to my kids! They literally passed out exhausted as soon as we got in the car after playing for an hour.
Location: 16628 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78232
Tips: Sign your waivers online before you go in to save time and not have to wait in line. Buy the GetOut Pass to get in here and 46 other places for super cheap! (Use code WESTXMOM to save on your GetOut passes).
Hours: Mon-Thurs & Sat 9am-10pm , Fri 10am-10pm, Sun 12pm-8pm
Admission: socks $3, Weekday 60min $14.99 & 120min $19.99, Weekend $16.99 & $22.99
Explore each of the 4 San Antonio Missions
My kids loved the trampoline park, but I loved the San Antonio Missions. If you want to see the beauty that San Antonio has to offer than the 4 missions are where you need to go. San Antonio used to be home to a ton of missions that homed many the native people. Now there are just remnants left of these buildings, surrounding gorgeous cathedrals.
There are 4 cathedrals and missions still standing; Mission San Juan, Mission San Jose, Mission Espada, and Mission Concepcion. At each of these missions you can walk around and admire the gorgeous grounds and architecture. There are tours offered or you can do a self-guided tour to learn more of the history of these missions that built San Antonio. For more information about visiting the missions, click here.
Locations:
Tips: If you have kids bring a stroller or wagon because you will be walking a ton! Saying that also it would be smart to wear comfortable shoes for walking. Besides walking renting bikes is a great way to travel between the missions. There is a missions trail connecting each mission. It is super hot and sunny so sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen are always a great idea.
Hours: sunrise-sunset
Admission: FREE
Feed Flamingos at the San Antonio Zoo
I honestly can say I have never seen so many Flamingos in one place in my entire life as at the San Antonio Zoo! This zoo has at least 6 exhibits of different types of Flamingos! Who knew there were that many breeds of Flamingos!? The cool part about San Antonio Zoo is not only do you get to see Flamingos; you can feed them too!
This is what made San Antonio Zoo so much fun, there are so many different animals encounter experiences. You can feed the hippos, pet rhinos, feed flamingos, feed Lorikeets, and play with the kangaroos. These were only some of the many encounters! Literally all over the zoo are coin machines to feed the fish; there are so many ways to interact with the animals!
Location: 3903 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212
Tips: Go right when the zoo opens, this is when it will be the coolest of the day and the animals will be the most active. If you have kids bring a stroller/wagon, as it is a big zoo and there is a lot of walking. Purchase the GetOut Pass (discount code WESTXMOM) to get in the zoo and 46 other activities for the price of 1 ticket!
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm
Admission: $31.99 adult, $27.99 (ages 3-11), 2 and under FREE, (encounters and other activities prices vary)
Enjoy a meal in the jungle at Rain Forest Café
If you are looking for the most fun place to eat in San Antonio, Texas than try the Rain Forest Café on the riverwalk! As you walk into the building, you are walking into a giant jungle! There are animals all over the place and some of them even move! So not only do get to eat delicious food, you get to dine in a jungle where the wild things are!
Location: 110 E Crockett St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Tips: Get reservations beforehand if you are going in the evening, or you could wait for a very long time.
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Pet Sharks at the Sea Antonio Aquarium
Pet sharks, hold an iguana, walk in a pool of coy fish, have a lorikeet land on your arm, pet a porcupine, play with lemurs, and the list could just go on and on! Lets just say this is not your average aquarium. This aquarium isn’t just for looking, but for interacting and playing with exotic animals. This park gives you the opportunity to interact with exotic animals without even living the city!
Location: 6320 Bandera Rd, Leon Valley, TX 78238
Tips: Not all interactions are offered at every point of day, don’t be surprised if you show up and they tell you the Lemurs are not in the mood to play today. Buy the GetOut Pass (code WESTXMOM for a discount) so that you can get into the aquarium plus 46 other activities for the price of 1 ticket.
Hours: Everyday 10am-8pm
Admission: Adults $22.95, Child $17.95 (ages 3-11), Senior (ages 55+) $20.95, Student $20.95, I-Guana Jump $8.95, tokens for the different encounters varies depending on how many you want from $3 for 1-$225 for 100)
Watch the Killer Whale Show at SeaWorld
I don’t know whether to say welcome to the zoo or welcome to a theme park, cause SeaWorld has a little bit of both! If you were to ask me what my favorite thing to do in San Antonio, I would without even thinking tell you it is SeaWorld. SeaWorld is a theme park with incredible shows centering sea creatures. They have a performances by Beluga Whales/Dolphins, Sea Lions/Otters, and Killer Whales!
SeaWorld also offers a pretty amazing waterpark, Aquatica. There are slides, splash zones, pools, waves, and so much more. Believe me, if you are visiting San Antonio in the middle of summer than you will be begging to be in a pool to escape the heat! Enjoy swimming, riding rides, feeding sea creatures, and watching incredible shows!
Location: 10500 SeaWorld Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251
Tips: Get there first thing in the morning to not only beat the crowd, but beat the heat. Go on the rides first, this is when the lines will be shortest and the weather not as intense. Eat at Rositas Café, all you can eat pizza and salad! Buy the annual pass so that you can bring a friend for free and free parking! For more tips click here!
Hours: Thurs-Fri & Sun 10:30am-6pm, Sat 10:30-9pm, Mon-Wed Closed
Admission: between $49.99-$74.99 depending on the day you go
Try San Antonio’s hottest burger at Chunky’s Burgers
Do you think you can handle a burger filled with the 4 hottest peppers in the world? This burger is literally called the 4 Horseman because it will pretty much destroy your taste buds! The Man Vs Food star, Adam Richman even deemed it the “hottest burger on the planet.” You have 25 minutes to eat this burning hot burger (no restroom breaks, relief foods, or help) then a 5 minute torturous wait while your mouth seethes, to win the challenge.
If you happen to choose life instead Chunky’s has a large selection of delicious burgers that are super delicious!
Location: 4602 Callaghan Road San Antonio, TX 78228
Hours: Tues-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 11:30am-10pm, Sun 12pm-6pm, Mon Closed
Pose With Your Favorite Celebrity at Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks Museum
Pretty sure this is as close as I will ever get to seeing an actual celebrity. I can now say I have stood by the Avengers, had my picture with John Wayne, I have seen Superman, and reached for the golden head with Indiana Jones. Not to mention almost been eaten by a giant moving t-rex! This quirky museum is full of your favorite celebrities and movie characters and all the photo ops you could dream of!
Location: 301 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Tips: Buy the multi-passes so that you can go to the wax museum, the moving theater, the illusions lab, and the odditorium for cheaper than you would pay separate.
Hours: Sun-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm
Admission: $24.99 adults, $19.99 children (ages 4-12), 3 and under FREE
Enjoy the refreshing taste of Acai Bowls at Playa Bowls
I don’t know about you, but sometimes on trips I eat so much junk food snacks and greasy restaurant food that it is just nice to eat something fresh every once and a while. Acai bowls are the answer to this greased out phase! Fresh smoothies mixed with fresh berries and fruits, covered in all sorts of delicious toppings! Not gonna lie, it is so hot in the summer in San Antonio that you will definetly be craving one of these cold bowls!
Locations: 9602 TX-151, San Antonio, TX 78251 & 22706 US-281 Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78258
Hours: Mon-Wed 9am-8pm, Thurs-Sun 9am-9pm
Find the weirdest thing at the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum
This is by far the oddest museum I have ever been to and I guess that is kinda the point. Welcome to a museum of the oddities! Stand by the tallest man alive, sit in the largest tire, see the quirkiest art made out of junk, and lay on a bed of nails. It is a place to learn, see, and experience the weirdest things this world has to offer.
Location: 307 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Tips: Buy the multi-pass so that you can experience not just the Odditorium, but the wax museum, the illusions lab, and the moving theater for $40 cheaper!
Hours: everyday 10am-7pm
Admission: $24.99 adult, $19.99 child (ages 4-12), 3 and under FREE
Final thoughts on San Antonio:
San Antonio is one of the most Texas-vibing cities in Texas! It embraces its Hispanic origins in its art, designs, historic sites, buildings, and even in its food. Everything is just beautiful and fun! There is so much to do and so much to see for all ages and all types of travelers. It is a city for all.
I have loved every visit I have ever made to San Antonio and every time I visit I find something new that makes me want to come back. Which is why I invested in the GetOut Pass for the San Antonio area, so I can just keep coming back and experiencing more all for the price of one ticket! (Use promo code WESTXMOM to save on your San Antonio pass).
Everything I mentioned is just a small bit of what there is to actually do and see in the area. There are waterparks, amusement parks, Tex-Mex eateries, incredible hikes, and so much more. Enjoy your time at one of my favorite cities in Texas!
Day Trips From San Antonio, Texas:
Dig For Fossils in Bandera, TX at the Bandera Natural History Museum
Watch a dolphin show at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, TX.
Walk through the Garden of Eden in Eden, TX.
Go cliff jumping at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, TX.
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