Traveling to San Antonio?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in San Antonio.San Antonio is a rare gem of culture and history which makes it a top vacation destination in the US. As the second largest city in Texas, it has much to offer families with children of all ages! Check out some of the best things to see and do n Antonio for families below.
Downtown San Antonio
The Riverwalk
You can’t visit San Antonio and not visit the Riverwalk! It’s one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the city! A few kid friendly highlights on the Riverwalk include: taking a riverboat tour, visiting Legoland & SeaLife Aquarium in the Rivercenter mall, and a meal at Mi Tierra! If you schedule it right, you can make an entire day of these three things:
- The riverboat tour is great because kids simply love boats and water—it’s fun and educational for the adults too! You’ll learn about San Antonio’s deep history as well as see areas where some famous movie scenes have been filmed, such as scenes from Selena and Miss Congeniality!
- The Rivercenter Mall on the Riverwalk is home to SeaLife Aquarium & Legoland Discovery Center—two of the newest kid friendly attractions in the Riverwalk area! Who doesn’t love Lego and getting up close and personal with sea creatures?!
- While you’re on the Riverwalk, get a table at the famous Mi Tierra for some authentic (and amazingly delicious) Mexican food. Kids will love the music and lights inside, and you can shop at El Mercado just outside in the Market Square before or after your meal!
The Alamo
This touristy San Antonio landmark is probably better suited for later elementary kids and older, but even younger kids can find some cool things here. (You just might not spend as long here with babies and toddlers in tow). But what trip to San Antonio is complete without a picture in front of the Alamo? It’s a must do!
Pearl Brewery
Not too far from the Riverwalk area, the Pearl Brewery area is home to many shops and restaurants. It’s particularly kid friendly as it’s an open, walkable area and in the summer (which in San Antonio is about March through October), they have a splash pad area for the kids! Be sure to bring a change of clothes for everyone!
The DoSeum of San Antonio
One of the best children’s museums in the United States, The DoSeum has two stories of interactive learning and fun for children of all ages. Bring the swimsuits also because there is a splashy creek and fountain outdoors that’s hard for the kids to resist! There are many water and bubble exhibits outside, as well as a sand play area. You could easily spend hours here if not a whole day with the family here!
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Amusement Parks in San Antonio
SeaWorld
Located on the northwest side of San Antonio, SeaWorld has something for all families. There are roller coasters, carnival rides and water rides. There are adult and big kid rides as well as rides and a splash pad for the littlest of children in Sesame Street’s Bay of Play. Shows and exhibits featuring the animals and sea life will amuse everyone. SeaWorld even has its own standalone waterpark with Aquatica. Again full of rides, slides and pools that are suitable for all ages.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio
If rides and entertainment are your family’s idea of fun, check out Six Flags which is also in northwest San Antonio. It has its own waterpark section for the many hot months of summer. Six Flags is definitely known more for its thrill rides and roller coasters, so if your family is a gang of thrill seekers, this may be your park! Even if you have little ones, there are rides, attractions and shows for them as well.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark
A short drive outside of San Antonio, in New Braunfels, Texas, Schlitterbahn is the waterpark of waterparks. They have four waterparks in one, and were voted “World’s Best Waterpark” by Amusement Today. This is the original Schlitterbahn location, that “grew” out of the tube chutes and river rides in the area. You can stay on the property at their Inn and make several days out of it. How else would you be able to hit all the rides?! This place is serious family fun in San Antonio.
Morgan’s Wonderland
Truly a unique gem of San Antonio, Morgan’s Wonderland is the world’s first theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind. Everything in the park is wheelchair accessible, and anyone with a special need is admitted for free, no questions asked. Morgan’s Inspiration Island is their accessible water park which includes waterproof wheelchairs!
Outside the City
Natural Bridge Caverns & Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
Located outside the outer “loop” of San Antonio, Natural Bridge Caverns is just as the name says—a cavern featuring a 60 foot natural limestone bridge. Explore the caverns, walk the bridge and check out the amazing natural formations. Venture as far as 180 feet below the surface! Enjoy the 70 degree year round temperature inside the caverns.
Also nearby, is the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch—a drive through safari that features over 500 animals of 40 different species. You can explore the world’s animals all in one place as all continents have representation here in the animal population…with the exception of Antarctica.
Fredericksburg
About an hour north of San Antonio, Fredericksburg is well known as “Texas Wine Country”. It’s also well known for its peaches! Because it’s becoming such an attraction, there is also tons to do here for families to make it a fun family destination. From the National Museum of the Pacific War (which older kids and adults will like), to Wildseed Farms (the largest working wildflower farm in the nation), to the LBJ State Park and Historic Site on the Pedernales River. Also, not too far from Fredericksburg is the infamous Luckenbach Texas—where everybody’s somebody and you can always hear some great live music!
The Science Mill
If you’re going to Fredericksburg, The Science Mill is just down the road and definitely needs to be on your must do list! This repurposed historic mill in Johnson City, Texas features many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) exhibits that harness cutting edge technology. Interactive learning and games make STEM fun for children of all ages. This is a great way to get them learning and interested in potential careers in STEM!
Whether you stay inside the city or venture out your family will enjoy all that San Antonio has to offer!
About the Author:
Hello! My name is Lisa Peek and like a lot of you, I’m a very busy mom! For full time work I’m a corporate trainer. In my spare time I hustle—side hustle that is! I do baby gear and equipment rentals in the San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country areas with BabyQuip! I have 3 boys under 6 years old and LOVE to travel. We travel as much as we can as a family. Sharing all of the family travel hacks and tips I’ve come across over the years with BabyQuip readers is a joy for me!
Traveling to San Antonio?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in San Antonio.
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I love S.A
Wow. Didn’t realize there is so much to do in the San Antonio area. The Wildlife Ranch & Caverns seem like a must see!
Yes! And there’s more than we even covered here in his post! It’s a super great city for families to visit or live!