Outdoor Activities in San Antonio

UPDATED JULY 2024
By Dom Bewley
six flags san antonio

If you're the outdoorsy type, and the beating sun doesn't scare you, check out this list of the best outdoor activities to try in San Antonio. With some thrill-seeking, animal-meeting, and river-riding fun, you're sure to have a memorable vacation!

Including:

  • Six Flags Fiesta Texas
  • San Antonio Walking Historical Ghost Tour
  • San Antonio Zoo
  • Texas Hill Country & LBJ Ranch Tour
  • Go Rio San Antonio River Cruise
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Go Wild at Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Let's start proceedings with some exhilaration! Are you a daring sort? Do you find joy in being absolutely terrified? If so, head to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and test your mettle on some of the fastest rides on the planet.

And what says speed quite like superheroes? Six Flags knows this, which is why they have a ton of superhero-themed rides for you mere mortals to enjoy. Hop aboard the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Rollercoaster, and find out why she's the queen of comics as your knuckles whiten at every turn. Join the Man of Steel on Superman: Krypton Coaster, and go faster than a speeding bullet. Join the mega-rich yet mortal Batman on his ride around Gotham. If you like superheroes, Six Flags has you covered.

But it isn't all about speed. Six Flags is open to people of all shapes and sizes, so even non-thrill seekers are catered to. Take an easy ride on the Lazy River, catch some of the park's live entertainment, or take the little ones to the kid-friendly rides featuring some of their favorite cartoon characters.

With so many options, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is one of the best outdoor activities you can do in San Antonio.

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Experience thrills and chills on a Walking Ghost Tour!

If you want to swap shocks for spookums, then boy, do we have a walking tour for you. San Antonio might seem like one of the finest cities around, but beneath the surface, terrors twist and turn. Or, at least, that's what this ghastly tour of the city's paranormal side will make you think.

Supposedly one of America's most haunted cities, you can now join a fearless guide and tour some of San Antonio's paranormal hotspots. Over two hours, you'll delve into the city's historic downtown core, learn about modern paranormal investigation techniques, different types of hauntings, and the creepy tales that go with them. Ooooh!

During the tour, you'll visit various haunted locations, where your guide will fill you in on their history, as well as supposed spooky goings on. Ooooooh!

And don't worry; even little explorers are welcome on this ghoulish jaunt. Even squeamish adults like you will do just fine.

Image of Animal, Mammal, Wildlife, Zebra,

Hang out with some furry friends at San Antonio Zoo

Let's shake off those cobwebs with something a little more light-hearted. And sunnier, if you're lucky. If you're a fan of animals, then why not go to San Antonio Zoo and introduce yourself to over 750 species? So what if they don't reply? At least you made an effort.

With delightful critters from all over the world, you'll have hours of fun exploring every nook and cranny of this 50-acre sanctuary. A fan of alligators, giraffes, and/or zebras? They've got them. Want to ride a train shaped like an eagle? Yep, they've got one of those too. Go meet some big cats up close at Cat Corner, greet the residents of the majestic plains at Africa Plains, and brave the humidity to see some tree-loving oddities at Outpost Amazonia. They even have a petting zoo, for Pete's sake. What more could you want?

Looking for a fun day out for you and the family? Go check out San Antonio Zoo - one of the best outdoor activities in the city!

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Texas Hill Country & LBJ Ranch Tour

Want to get a taste of San Antonio's delightful ranch scene and see some of the city's history? Of course you do. With the sun shining, head down to Texas Hill Country and take a tour of LBJ's Ranch on this tour!

Travel along the beautiful backroads of the Texas Hill Country and learn all about Texas cowboys and the great cattle drives from South Texas to mid-western markets.

Then, when you reach Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Visitor Center, you'll get a guided tour of the President's boyhood home before heading to the LBJ Ranch. Known locally as the Texan White House, where you'll learn about LBJ's legacy, his family life, and what he did after leaving the White House.

After all that, settle down for lunch at a German beer garden, go to a wine-tasting session, or visit the Nimitz Museum and National Museum of the Pacific War. It's completely up to you! After lunch, you'll head to the town of Luckenbach, before ending the tour at a Texan winery.

A fantastic way to spend a day out on your vacation to San Antonio!

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Relax on a Go Rio San Antonio River Cruise

And finally, let's end our guide with a relaxing trip on the water. If picturesque sights and sounds are your thing, take a wonderful river cruise and see the city from a different angle. You'll have plenty of photo ops on your way, so make sure to bring a camera!

Snap stunning bridges, old buildings in San Antonio's original neighborhood, and some points of historical significance your guide will expand upon. You'll pass the cannon line from The Alamo, as well as the location where Roosevelt's rough riders crossed.

If you want to catch some of San Antonio's most historical landmarks, then this guided river cruise is easily one of the best outdoor activities for your itinerary!

And that's our list! If you're looking for other outdoor activities in San Antonio, and some inside ones too, check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass, you can see San Antonio's best bits, as well as some of the best museums in the city, at your own pace!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Is San Antonio Safe?

Planning a vacation takes time and effort; we all know that. When picking a vacation destination, many things swirl around the mind. What will you do when you're there? What's the weather like? How safe is the city? So let's talk about San Antonio. How safe is the city, what do you need to look out for, and where should you avoid? Including: Is San Antonio a safe city to visit? Common threats to safety in San Antonio Neighborhoods to avoid Is it safe to walk in downtown San Antonio? Is public transport safe in San Antonio? Is it safe to walk in downtown San Antonio? Yes, it is safe to walk around San Antonio's Downtown. You'll find plenty of people joining you on your two-footed adventure too, as it's one of the most popular ways to get around the more condensed parts of the city. Regardless, it's always worth being aware of your surroundings. Keep your belongings on you at all times, store anything you don't absolutely need in your hotel or Airbnb (ideally in a safe), and be cautious when approached by strangers of a shifty nature.   And that's our guide to San Antonio. Is it safe? It sure is! Wondering what mischief you can get up to on your vacation? Try Go City. Our Explorer Pass lets you see the city at your own pace, so go grab a San Antonio attraction pass and save while you sightsee!
Dom Bewley
adventurous things to do in san antonio
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Adventurous Things to do in San Antonio

Calling all adventurers! Do you long for excitement every day? Are you traveling to San Antonio this year and want some adrenaline-pumping recommendations? Look no further. These are our picks of the best adventurous things to do in San Antonio! Including: Explore the Natural Bridge Caverns Exciting Scavenger Hunts Escape the Mirror Maze Kayak down the San Antonio River and more! SeaWorld® San Antonio Let's start proceedings with a trip under the sea. Sort of, at least. SeaWorld might evoke thoughts of dolphin shows and Killer Whales doing synchronized dives, but did you know that you'll also find plenty of adventure-filled rides there? No? Well, now you do. And at SeaWorld San Antonio, you're in for a treat. You've got the Wave Breaker, a jet ski-style rollercoaster as you speed 60ft above a lake. Or hop on the Great White Rollercoaster and feel how a great white feels, including sharp turns, twists, and flips. If you like to feel your stomach drop out, try the Steel Eel - featuring a fifteen-story drop; just make sure you don't load up at one of the many restaurants before you strap in! Natural Bridge Caverns Discovery Tour Ever been spelunking? Seems kind of dangerous, doesn't it? Instead, why not simply explore the inner beauty of a cave structure on foot? Say, at the Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio? On this tour, you'll descend 180 feet below the surface and walk through half a mile of beautiful caves. Your guide will be on hand to clue you up on the caverns' history, which dates back millions of years. You'll also have the chance to snap more stalagmites, stalactites, and other -ites as you want! And when all's said and done, why not stretch your legs on some above-ground activities? Tackle the Twisted Trails, a 60ft-high rope course. Or, test your mettle at the AMAZEn' Ranch Roundup, a massive maze to try and escape from. Scavenger Hunt by Foot Ready to see the city? Why not spice things up a little bit and make a game out of it? On this scavenger hunt, you'll be able to tick all of the city's landmarks off your itinerary while solving clues and having tons of fun! Start in Hemisphere Park at the large mosaic panther. There, your host will explain the rules of the game and give you the details of your quest. Then, you're off on your own, or with accomplices, to solve the clues and win the hunt! Take photos of your achievements and send them back to the host to ensure they're keeping score. Then, all you need to do is win. Good luck, scavengers! If you're looking for adventurous things to do in San Antonio, a scavenger hunt around the city's landmarks should be top of your list! Image courtesy of Vineyard Perspective/Shutterstock Two-Hour Party Bike Pub Crawl If you prefer your booze cruises on terra firma, preferably on wheels, then why flex your drinking arm with this two-hour party bike pub crawl? Easily one of the best adventurous things to do in San Antonio if you're in a group. It's also a pretty unique way to see the city. You and up to 14 pals can pull up a pew and ride around the city. Pick your playlist and even your pubs if you know the city. If not, your host will take the reins and guide you to the city's best watering holes. If you want to combine your San Antonio adventure with a few suds, you know what to do. Amazing Mirror Maze Who said mirrors can't be adventurous? Not us, that's for sure. And once you visit the Amazing Mirror Maze, you'll believe the same. Thanks to the literal thousands of strategically-placed mirrors, secret corners, dead ends, and continuous circles, no experience is ever the same. Best of all, you'll be able to go through as many times as you want. Stick on the provided 3D glasses to enhance your experience and see if you can escape. Once you've beaten the maze, take a load off with the magic mirrors. Ripped right out of a circus, your crazy reflections will delight and surprise you. If you need yet more fun, try the Vault Laser Challenge – an obstacle course full of lasers. Can you make it through without touching them? Find out. Six Flags Fiesta Texas You already know about Six Flags - it's America's favorite theme park that doesn't feature a cartoon mouse. What sets San Antonio's apart is its superhero repertoire. You can hop aboard the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Rollercoaster, and find out why she's the queen of comics as your knuckles whiten at every turn. Join the Man of Steel on Superman: Krypton Coaster, and go faster than a speeding bullet. Join the mega-rich yet mortal Batman on his ride around Gotham. If you like superheroes, Six Flags has you covered. There's also plenty for non-thrillseekers too, with kid-friendly rides and relaxation stations too. You want adventurous things to do in San Antonio? It doesn't get much more adventurous than Six Flags. Kayaking on the San Antonio River Want to make a splash during your San Antonio vacation? How does one hour of kayaking down the San Antonio River sound? Explore two miles of picturesque sights at your own pace on this self-guided tour. Forget about rapids and the like; this here's smooth sailing through calm waters. Perfect for kids or anyone who's never kayaked before, you'll get all the kit you need when you turn up. Then, it's up to you to go exploring and make the most of it! One Day E-Bike Rental And finally, we'll end our list of the best adventurous things to do in San Antonio with a nice little bike ride. Everyone's going crazy for E-Bikes these days, so why not see what all the fuss is about? You'll see the sights while staying fit, and with docking stations all around the city, you're never too far from a drop-off point. A bike is also the perfect way to explore the Mission Reach trail. This sixteen-mile roundtrip is the city's largest ecological restoration project, and the best way to access the San Antonio Missions. Or, simply head Downtown and museum-hop your way through the city. It's entirely up to you! And those were our picks of the best adventurous things to do in San Antonio! Looking for less adventurous things to do during your visit? Check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass, you can see San Antonio's best bits at your own pace!
Dom Bewley
San Antonio
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Katie Sagal

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