15 Fun Family Adventures in San Antonio, TX

Here is a list of 15 different things the whole family will enjoy in San Antonio, TX. It is a beautiful city that invites you to be captivated by its history, culture, cuisine, shopping, and family fun.

1. Alamo - I believe it speaks for itself. A beautiful mission that is over 300 years old and now a museum where you can still see the bullet holes from the famous Battle of the Alamo in 1836. A magnificent piece of history that Texans are very proud of.

2. Riverwalk - The famous umbrella lined walk with delicious culinary cuisine from Mexican to BBQ to Italian and more, along with renowned restaurants like Fogo de Chao Brazilian steakhouse, Hard Rock Cafe, and The Rainforest cafe. You will also find numerous hotels with views of the riverwalk. Then there is the Go Rio River Cruises: a magical narrated boat ride down the famous San Antonio river. It is lined with magnificent towering Cypress trees, where you can discover the unique architecture, beautiful flower covered bridges, along with learning the rich culture and history of this fabulous city. There are also plenty of wonderful shops to get your memorabilia along the riverwalk that lead to the Shops at Rivercenter Mall. The mall is full of fun shops like the Legoland Discovery Center, candy shops, and many name brand clothing stores. With all of these amazing things to see and do it is understandable why the famous Riverwalk is one of the best attractions you can visit while in San Antonio.

3. Shopping and fun - You will find antiques, clothing, memorabilia and more while shopping near the Alamo and the Riverwalk. If you want to have some fun, there is Louis Tussauds Palace of Wax, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and The Amazing Mirror Maze across from the Alamo. If you need something sweet - make a stop at Kilwin’s Ice cream and chocolate shop.

4. Historic Market Square - This is a fabulous and unique shopping experience! Tons of shops with anything from clothing to glassware and jewelry to pottery. You can spend hours roaming the multiple buildings of this famous market square. I love the imported Mexican vanilla and I have also purchased a beautiful set of blown glass goblets and their silver jewelry - which is gorgeous! They also have leather shops galore: need a belt, wallet, or purse…this is the place to get it. Don't forget to stop at one of the many vendors to get an Agua Fresca to drink, they are so delicious and refreshing.

5. Mi Tierra’s - is a restaurant experience like no other. Starting with the coveted bakery where sometimes you have to wait in line for an hour or more before you can order. But it is worth the wait as you drool over all the baked goods behind the glass counter while you are in line. The second part of Mi Tierra is the restaurant. It is open 24/7 and the wait can be just as long. The atmosphere is festive and they even have mariachi’s that play throughout the restaurant. 

6. Tower of the Americas - Located in Hemisfair Park, this grand 750 foot towering site is the tallest building in San Antonio. Ride to the top to see the spectacular views of the city. If you want a fabulous and memorable dining experience there is the famous Chart House restaurant that rotates around the tower located just below the observation deck. There is even a 4D theater ride called skies over Texas. This is a very exciting and magnificent place to visit to get a one of a kind experience high above the beautiful city of San Antonio. 

7. Natural Bridge Caverns - The Discovery Tour through these caverns contain breathtaking sights and the tour guides are very informative. The tour is a little over an hour so you see a lot of unique things while underground. There are 2 giant rooms that are really amazing to experience. You will of course see many of the stunning natural formations and even an underground natural water feature. They have even put in a really great lighting system so it makes it that much more magical because you can really see the rooms, walls, and formations all lit up. They also offer 4 other underground tours and they have exciting above ground experiences as well for all of the family. This is a family fun adventure you don't want to miss.

8. Japanese tea garden - This garden is absolutely stunning. It is down inside an old quarry and has walking trails that border the large koi pond that encompasses over half of the garden and is surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers. There is even a bridge across the pond where you can get up close to a picturesque waterfall. Another thing that makes this garden so wonderful is that it is free to the public. Something to note is that it is not handicap accessible, to get down to the garden you have to go down a long set of rock steps.  

9. San Antonio Zoo - A wonderful zoo with all your favorite animals, birds, and reptiles and even a beautiful butterfly habitat (you do have to purchase tickets for this experience). They also offer special tours and animal experiences.  The zoo even has a kiddie park with rides for children 12 years and younger. For more kid fun try out the zootennial carousel or the zoo train. The San Antonio Zoo is a great outdoor experience and fun family adventure that you definitely want to explore while in San Antonio.

10. San Antonio Botanical Garden - A fun adventure in nature. There are many wonderful things to see in the grand layout of this garden. Step into the 5 awe inspiring glass structures that make up the conservatory with all its amazing tropical plants, ferns, palm trees and more. Then visit the beautiful rose garden, herb and vegetable gardens, water saver garden, and even explore the Texas native trail. You can also sign up for culinary classes at their outdoor teaching kitchen for both children and adults. There is a lot to see, learn, and do in this beautiful botanical garden.

Photo by VisitSanAntonio

11. The Witte Museum - An exciting place for both kids and adults to discover Texas through art, history, paleontology and more. Step into the world of dinosaurs in the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery and see the adventures of old Texas in the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleburg South Texas Heritage Center. There is so much more to explore at the exciting and family oriented Witte Museum.

Photo by Foursquare

12. Mamacita’s restaurant - located in N. San Antonio, this is a fun restaurant experience with a delicious menu. It’s like you are outside in a small Mexican village but you are indoors. Beautiful decor like a magnificent chandelier, a giant sculpture, and a fountain greet you. At the table the salsa, dip, and chips are wonderful, the food is fantastic, and you can even watch them making their fresh flour tortillas. Then you will be amazed by the life sized Davy Crocket that plays an occasional tune. A wonderful experience in all that I highly recommend.

13. 6 flags Fiesta Texas - Fun for the whole family. Known for their thrill rides, Six Flags Fiesta Texas also has family rides as well as a water park called Hurricane Harbor. They even have the famous Looney Toon characters you can snap pictures with. Experience excitement and thrills at this fun filled amusement park.

14. SeaWorld San Antonio - a great place for a full day of family fun. Enjoy marine life, water play, and even amusement rides. Get up close and personal with their animal experiences and watch a show with the dolphins and beluga whales or even the orca encounter. There is so much to see and do at SeaWorld San Antonio. 

15. Pearl Market - this is not your average farmers market. The Pearl farmer’s market has so much to offer like specialty food items, vendors, and artisans. The weekend market is a fun weekly event, Saturday’s are the farmer’s market and Sunday’s are the makers market. There are also fabulous restaurants, cafe’s, wine bars, shops, and a brewery at the Pearl. You can even have a picnic and let your kids run around on the large central lawn. Pearl is a great place to spend a few hours if you just want to meander, eat, shop, and relax. 

Our Family has experienced all of these fabulous and fun places in San Antonio. There is so much to see and do that you can spend a full day or even 2-3 days to really immerse yourself in the beautiful Mexican culture and history that San Antonio has to offer. Enjoy great food and shopping, amazing architecture and history, roam the famous riverwalk, explore the gardens and caverns, and so much more.

San Antonio Inspired beverage:

Watermelon Agua Fresca

(or Agua de Sandia)

• about a 2.5-3lb watermelon

• juice from 1 lime

• 1/2 cup sugar (add more or less to your desired sweetness)

• 4 cups water

• ice cubes for serving

Remove the rind and cut the watermelon into large cubes. Place the watermelon, lime, sugar, and water in a blender, blend until smooth. Add extra water if it's too thick. Pour into a pitcher with ice cubes or pour directly into cups filled with ice. It is normally served with the pulp but you can strain it if you prefer. Enjoy!