Attractions and things to do in San Antonio, Texas

Visiting The Alamo

The Alamo might just be the most well known attraction of San Antonio, Texas. If you ask anyone about the most notable events in American history, chances are the Battle of the Alamo will be mentioned. This has lead to millions of people visiting this site every year. The historical events that transpired here speak to our imagination and many stories have been told about it. And now is your chance to also visit this historical site.

As the Alamo lies in the very heart of San Antonio it’s quite easy to visit. It is also free to access the monumental church and its grounds, on which you will find the barracks and walls among others. But it’s also possible to join a guided tour to see this old fort.

The Alamo is an all American monument that laid the foundation of the San Antonio we know today, so if you are nearby it would be a waste not to check it out. And then next time someone wants to remember the Alamo, you can just whip out your vacation photos. And perhaps show some cute souvenirs from the gift shop.

SeaWorld Theme Park, San Antonio

San Antonio is known for having great weather, which is perfect if you want to explore some theme parks. Especially if you want a fun day out with your partner or family then it’s a great idea to go check out some rollercoaster and animal shows. And that is exactly what you will find at SeaWorld in San Antonio

SeaWorld is a pretty famous theme park, due to being home to all kinds of aquatic wildlife. You will be able to enjoy shows with Orca’s, who are also known as killer whales, and shows with sea lions. The park is also home to several other animals such as alligators, flamingo’s and turtles. It’s also possible to reserve a spot for a meet and greet with penguins, dolphins and to feed the orca’s. It’s basically a paradise for animal lovers.

After having enjoyed the shows you can also entertain yourself with the parks thrilling coaster rides. There are quite a few rides to choose from, from hanging to high speed sitting rides. From a coaster ride that plunges into water to a family friendly rapid river ride. And the park is expanding its attractions, as in early 2020 the park will open the fastest and biggest rollercoaster of Texas. Perfect for thrill seekers.

For small children the park also has a sesame street inspired playground, with also has kid friendly attractions such as a carrousel. So you can be sure there is always something for all ages.

Of course the park also has places to sit down and get some ice cream or pastries. And after a long day of having fun you can also enjoy a nice dinner at one of the several restaurants the park is home to.

So if you are heading to San Antonio, you could consider planning a day to visit SeaWorld. It’s a great way to liven up your vacation and have fun with the entire family. Just remember to bring your tickets with you.

Taking a River Walk boat cruise

The most beautiful part of San Antonio is the River Walk. Strolling past the canals and trees and characteristic architecture is a pretty soothing experience. The River Walk has an abundance of restaurants where you can sit down, relax and enjoy the view while enjoying a great meal.

The River Walk is a pedestrian walk that connects several iconic landmarks and world heritage sites in San Antonio. From the Rivercenter Mall, which is one of the best places to shop in San Antonio, to HemisFair Park, where you will find the Tower of the Americas. And from the San Antonio Museum of Art to the Tower Life Building. So the River Walk is actually one of the best starting points when you want to explore everything San Antonio has to offer.

If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of the River Walk then the best way to do that is by taking a sightseeing cruise over the water. By going on an informative boat tour over the canals you will get to see San Antonio at its best, as you will be guided past the highlights of the city. As it is a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and the rich culture it has to offer, taking a boat cruise is certainly one of the best things to do in San Antonio.

If you want to secure your seat on a boat tour, then it is a good idea to book in advance. It should be noted many companies combine a ticket for the boat cruise over the canals with hop-on hop-off bus tickets, so you can fast travel through the city to check out all the spectacular landmarks San Antonio has to offer.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is one of the most exciting theme parks in San Antonio. The park is themed after Texan and South American culture and famous characters from Warner Bros, including the Looney Tunes and Batman.

The park has a wide range of different attractions, including 10 blood pumping roller coasters and many other thrill rides. A personal favorite of mine is Gully Washer, where you float down a river on a raft with your family and friends, hoping you don’t get too wet. There are also many attractions specifically made for little kids, from carousels and locomotives to a ferris wheel. The theme park also has a water park, with various slides, including the steepest free-fall slide in the world, and water coasters with rafts.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas has more than a dozen restaurants, which offer Mexican, Italian and American food. It are mostly the guilty pleasures that are being sold, as you would expect from a theme park. But the theme park also lies in between two of the most beautiful shopping malls of San Antonio, called ‘The Rim’ and ‘The Shops at La Cantera’, which also have plenty of restaurants where you can sit down after having visited the theme park.

You can easily reach Six Flag Fiesta Texas by car or by taxi, as the theme park can be found in the north of San Antonio. If you stay in San Antonio then visiting a theme park offers a great change of pace from visiting the usual touristic sites. And it allows you to spend some quality time with your family, while enjoying a variety of sensational attractions. It is a good idea to book your ticket in advance, as it allows you to skip the line at the theme park. If you are looking for some old fashioned family fun, then a visit to Six Flags is certainly worth it.

Tower of the Americas

If you want to see entirety of San Antonio, then you could consider climbing the Tower of the Americas. And with climbing I mean taking the elevator. The Tower of the Americas is an observation tower that overlooks San Antonio. It used to be the tallest observation tower in the United States until 1996, as it stands at an impressive height of 750 feet or 229 meters.

It is possible to visit the observation deck of the Tower of the Americas. From there you will have a stunning panoramic view over the city. It’s the perfect place to take some memorable photos from the skyline and the most important landmarks of San Antonio. Of course you do need to buy tickets for that. Tickets to the observation deck also give access to the 4D theatre ride of the Tower of the Americas, where you will be shown the history of Texas.

Alternatively, you could also decide to dine at the restaurant of the Tower of the Americas while enjoying the breathtaking views over San Antonio. That would certainly be the high point of any stay in San Antonio.

San Antonio Zoo

A classic family friendly attraction that everyone can always enjoy is a trip to the zoo. And San Antonio just so happens to have a pretty amazing one. The San Antonio zoo is home to over 3500 animals from over 750 species. The park is also active in animal conservation programs, where they for example breed endangered species, so even by just visiting it and enjoying yourself you are actually doing something charitable for the wildlife.

As you’re in Texas you can of course expect the bald eagle to be flying around. But there are also leopards, kangaroos, black bears, flamingos, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, monkeys, bats, turtles, hippos, crocodiles, birds, aquatic animals and much more.  The park is actually home to one of the largest and most diverse bird collections around, which are definitely worth checking out. The park is also home to a little petting farm for children with goats and pigs.

The San Antonio zoo also has special programs that you can book, to get a true close encounter with animals or feed certain animals. On top of that you there is also a little train that goes through the park. If you visit the zoo it can be a good idea to keep the animal feeding times in mind as it’s always a joy to watch.

You can never go wrong with visiting a zoo, as I’ve yet to encounter anyone who doesn’t enjoy watching these exotic and wild animals up close. Luckily visiting the San Antonio Zoo is also quite easy, as tickets are cheap, the zoo lies quite central in San Antonio and there is actually free parking. So there are no excuses not to go.

Mission San José

When you are in a different city it’s always fun to go sightseeing. If you wish to explore the historical sights of San Antonio then the Spanish missions should be at the top of your to do list. 

San Antonio has five famous frontier mission complexes near each other, which are located along the San Antonio River basin. Nowhere else in North America will you find so many missions near each. These missions were made in an effort to colonize and defend this part of America, while also turning the indigenous population into good Christians.

The most famous of these missions is undoubtedly the Alamo, but the largest and perhaps the most visually impressive one is the mission ‘San José y San Miguel de Aguayo’, or simply mission San José in short. That’s why this mission is often referred to as the Queen of the Missions. This mission was founded in 1720 and used to house an entire community. Considering this landmark is older than the United States itself, visiting this monument gives us an interesting insight in how people used to live during that time period in America.

Due to its historical significance Mission San José is an UNESCO World Heritage site and has been well maintained to this day. And the stunning church at the heart of the mission is actually still in active use. Of course people are welcome to check out the church’s beautiful flying buttresses, the unique baroque rose window, carvings and Spanish colonial architecture. Visiting this historical site is free, but for a more immersive experience you could consider booking a guided tour through the missions, to find out more about the historical significance and the unique highlights of each of the missions.

Natural Bridge Caverns

San Antonio is home to several cave systems. The largest cave system of Texas and certainly the most famous one is the Natural Bridge Caverns, which is one of the United States National Natural Landmarks. These caverns can be found in the north of San Antonio. It is here that you will be able to explore a half a mile long path below the surface, as the caverns allow visitors to descend up to 180 feet (54,8 meters) below the ground.

Walking through the caverns feels like an unearthly experience, seeing all the ancient geological cave formations formed by water and the passage of time. And there will be plenty of great photo opportunities to immortalize your trip.

The caverns are not just a pretty sight but they also hold historical significance, as 7000 year old tools have been found in the cave, among other things. So even our ancestors might have used these caverns as shelter.

There are several types of tours through the caverns available. Which can vary in route, length and accessibility among other things. The caverns tend to have a temperature of around 21 degrees Celsius (70°F) throughout the year, so you can wear light clothes. But good walking shoes that provide some grip are certainly recommended.

On the surface you can also find many paid attractions that are fun for the whole family. From a zip rails and rope course which takes place up to 60-foot in the sky to a climbing wall. And if you aren’t too fond of heights you can try the maze instead. You could help your kid sift through a tray to find gemstones in a sluice. Or take a break from all the fun to get some hot dogs and souvenirs at the shops.

Japanese Tea Garden

San Antonio is a beautiful city with plenty of things to do, but sometimes it can be just as enjoyable to just take a peaceful stroll through a beautiful park while you clear your head, breathe some fresh air and take in the stunning environment. And that’s exactly what the Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio offers to its visitors.

When you are strolling past the romantic waterfall, the classic lily pond, see exotic plants and stone arch bridges over the koi filled pond, it is pretty hard to imagine these beautiful gardens were once an old rock quarry. The Japanese Tea Garden is also home to the Jingu House, which is a small cafe that’s open during the day where you can get some Japanese tea and food, such as sushi, noodles, bento boxes and vegetarian or chicken sandwiches made from local produce.

The Japanese Tea Garden is a magical place to take some vacation photos at to remember your vacation with. It has beautiful cobblestone paths so ladies should try to wear walkable shoes. And the best thing about it is that admission to the garden is entirely free. So it should certainly be added to your list of things to do in San Antonio.