Welcome to San Antonio: A guide to our city
Welcome to our beautiful city! Check out this guide to everything from popular downtown spots to family-friendly activities.
Guide to Downtown San Antonio
Remember the Alamo! No trip to San Antonio is complete without taking a tour of Texas history. Step inside and view artifacts from Texas' battle for independence from Mexico in 1835. Some historical reenactments are also held on the grounds.
Original cannons from the Battle of the Alamo were also recently returned to San Antonio after undergoing a preservation process at Texas A&M University. The Alamo is also within walking distance of restaurants, souvenir shops and other tourist attractions.
It goes without saying, but if you're new to visiting the Alamo City, there's a good chance the San Antonio River Walk is at the top of your list! Enjoy scenic views while dining next to the water, or if it happens to be warm weather outside, hop inside the stores and restaurants as an oasis from the heat. There are options ranging from acclaimed Mexican restaurants to Italian food to ice cream shops. San Antonio's Hard Rock Cafe is also located along the River Walk.
Check out these views of the River Walk during the annual Texas Cavaliers River Parade during San Antonio Fiesta:
Forget waiting in traffic, you can zip around downtown on a bike from one of San Antonio's B-Cycle stations. The bike share program is designed for short trips, and you can swap them out at multiple docking stations.
Have dinner or just take in the views from the top of the Tower of the Americas. There is also a 4D Theater Ride attraction at the 750-foot-tall structure. Hemisfair Park also offers food vendors, so you can stop by as you stroll through downtown.
Getting around San Antonio
Parking downtown is pretty easy with five city-run parking garages conveniently located all around downtown.
You can catch a quick ride by downloading the Uber or Lyft apps, but watch out for surge pricing during special events.
Catch a cab with a taxi app also, or call 210-222-4444.
VIA bus services are offered throughout the city. Click here for a list of routes.
Free and Cheap attractions for families:
Yanaguana Gardens is a public park located in Hemisfair Park downtown. The newly-expanded park features splash pads, climbing structures, a sandpit, table tennis, and much more. It’s at 434 S Alamo Street, near the intersection with Cesar Chavez. Parking is available along Cesar Chavez and it’s an easy walk to the River Walk entrance at La Villita.
Another gem is San Antonio beloved by kids and adults is the Japanese Tea Garden at 3853 N St Mary's Street. The free scenic park is an oasis from the big city surrounding it. It features waterfalls, stone bridges, koi ponds and a pagoda. There is also a café at the gardens.
The Tea Garden is nestled inside Brackenridge Park, which is another great, free option for families. It includes miles of walking trails, two kids’ playscapes, and part of the San Antonio River. It’s located at 3700 N St Mary's Street.
If you are feeling up for a drive, check out Hardberger Park in north San Antonio at 8400 N. W. Military Highway. It’s considered more “wild” than the downtown-area parks, and also has miles of walking and hiking trails. You could get lost for hours in this beautiful preserve.
And if we are talking about free activities in San Antonio, we must remember the Alamo! The 300-year-old former Spanish mission-turned-fortress is open year-round and is free for visitors. But, if you want things like a professional photograph or souvenirs, it will cost you.
The Alamo is not the only mission in San Antonio. Four other historic missions are included in the UNESCO World Heritage designation along with the Alamo and are scattered around central and south San Antonio. Each mission offers free tours and information.
Museums in San Antonio:
The Witte Museum is a science and nature museum featuring some of the natural history of South Texas. For the city’s tricentennial year, it also features an interactive, virtual reality exhibit on the history of the city. For kids, there is a treehouse mini-museum and a rock-climbing wall.
The Do-seum is more than just a children’s museum. In addition to hands-on learning exhibits, it also includes splash fountains, an outdoor play structure, a tree house, a spy exhibit and a water table exhibit.
The San Antonio Museum of Art prides itself in being family-friendly. The collection includes works of art from around the world and throughout history. A unique catwalk on the fourth floor offers breathtaking views of downtown San Antonio. The museum will be closed on Easter Sunday.
McNay Art Museum has an impressive collection of modern and post-modern art work, including original works from Monet, Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall. The works are displayed within a gorgeous 1929 mansion. Outdoor art is also scattered around the grounds of the mansion.
Briscoe Western Art Museum is very family-friendly and takes visitors on a trip through time in the American West. Its location is right on the River Walk, making it a convenient walk from most downtown area hotels and attractions. The museum is closed Easter Sunday.
Amusement Parks:
Check out the dolphins, orca whales, and countless other marine life at Seaworld San Antonio.
The thrills and spills never stop at Six Flags Fiesta Texas with its mix of roller coasters and entertaining shows.
Morgan's Wonderland is the world's first amusement park that is fully accessible for children with special needs, though it is meant to be enjoyed by all children and families.
Exercising in S.A.
Hiking trails at Friedrich Wilderness Park on the north side could pose a challenge, but the views are certainly worth the climb to the top. The park offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty.
McAllister Park is also the largest park in the Alamo City with multiple trails for running and biking, dog park areas and fitness stations.
If you're a runner, let the locals show you some fun and scenic routes! The Downtown Run Group typically hosts group runs beginning at the Pearl Saturday mornings. Also check out San Antonio Running Company, We Run San Antonio, R-U-N San Antonio and Scallywompus Event on Facebook for information on run meetups and local races.
The River Walk's pathway actually extends several miles away from the downtown area, making up the Mission and Museum reaches. Renting a bike and hitting the pavement to explore the missions, which are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, means you can double dip on exercise and sightseeing.