San Antonio Family Vacation Ideas

San Antonio is a great choice for a family trip, from historical attractions like the Alamo to water parks that are great for cooling down from the Texas heat. Read on for our top tips for San Antonio family vacations.

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024
San Antonio River Header

Texas may be hot in the summer, but that doesn’t make it any less of a great family vacation destination. Head to San Antonio this summer for a trip you’ll never forget!

Whatever you’re interested in as a family, from arts and culture to cruises and theme parks, there’s something to delight you in this amazing city. Our favorite San Antonio summer family vacation ideas include:

  • SeaWorld San Antonio
  • Six Flags Fiesta Texas
  • Texas Hill Country & LBJ Ranch Tour
  • San Antonio Zoo
  • San Antonio River Cruise
  • Splashtown San Antonio
  • Brackenridge Park
  • Tower of the Americas & Hemisfair Park
  • Alamo Plaza Attractions

Hop-On Hop-Off San Antonio bus tour

The Hop-On Hop-Off San Antonio Bus Tour is the best way to start your trip and get familiar with San Antonio. You’ll see all the top attractions in San Antonio, from the Riverwalk to Southtown.

A hop-on hop-off tour gives you the freedom to hop off at any of the stops along the way to visit attractions or explore a neighborhood by foot - or, you can stay on for the full tour and make a note of areas you want to go back to later. Along the way, you'll enjoy a narrated tour packed with historical information and fun facts about the city.

SeaWorld San Antonio

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There’s nothing quite like a visit to SeaWorld, which combines the exhilaration of a theme park with the fun of an animal park. Come here to meet some of the ocean’s most astonishing and impressive creatures, large and small.

Be sure to check out their exciting Discovery Point exhibit, where you can see playful bottlenose dolphins in a natural environment. Then, stick around for some rides, like the thrilling Steel Eel coaster, or the relaxing Sesame Street Bay of Play water fixture.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Another great option for theme park lovers is Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Filled with unbeatable thrills across six different themed areas, this park is a must-visit for adventure-seeking families. Enjoy everything from roller coasters to bumper cars to water rides! There are rides geared towards children of all ages, so don’t be worried if you’re traveling with younger children.

Texas Hill Country & LBJ Ranch Tour

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The Texas Hill Country & LBJ Ranch Tour is a great historical attraction for families looking for something educational in their vacation. Join up with a day-long guided excursion from San Antonio and head out to Texas Hill Country, some of the most beautiful land in the region.

Learn all about Texas cowboy culture and the history of cattle ranching, as well as about the childhood and legacy of the 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson. Then, you also get to stop at two historic towns along the way: a traditional German town named Fredericksburg, and Luckenbach, where Willie Nelson is from.

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio Zoo flamingos

Animal lovers should put the San Antonio Zoo at the top of their list. Located in the charming Brackenridge Park (more on that below), this 50-acre animal wonderland is home to many critters from around the globe. Their inhabitants are grouped into themed habitats, from African Plains to Amazonia and Big Cat Valley. Don’t miss their Tiny Tot Nature Spot, either, which is a perfect area for the littlest ones to play and learn about nature.

San Antonio River Cruise

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Cool off from the sultry Texas heat with a San Antonio River Cruise - a quintessential San Antonio experience. This informative, 30-minute cruise is a perfect introduction to the River Walk and San Antonio’s vibrant waterfront scene. Your guide will point to important landmarks you’ll see along the route, as well as beautiful local scenery.

Splashtown San Antonio

Another fun one for those super hot summer days is Splashtown San Antonio. Located just a few minutes drive north of downtown, this expansive water park offers 20 acres of summertime fun. They’ve got everything from a massive, half-million-gallon wave pool to Kid’s Kove, an area filled with shallow water and fun spray fixtures. Kids of all ages will love it!

Brackenridge Park & the Witte Museum

This historic riverside park is filled with fun attractions and bountiful nature to explore. It’s a great way to immerse the kids in nature while in the midst of a city, and offers plenty to do as well. Whether you want to explore the Witte Museum, stroll through the Japanese Tea Gardens, take in a show at the Sunken Garden Theater, or even play a round of golf, it’s all here.

Tower of the Americas & Hemisfair Park

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Hemisfair Park is another important cultural and natural location in San Antonio. It’s home to the important Tower of the Americas, a children’s theater, the convention center, and more. The Tower of the Americas is San Antonio’s tallest building and features two fun attractions inside. There are also a number of special, often free, events that go on in this park during the summer months, so check out resources like the San Antonio CVB to see what’s going on before you visit!

Alamo Plaza Attractions

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If you’re in search of excitement, entertainment, and perhaps a side of education, then Alamo Plaza is a must. The commercial is area loosely grouped around the historic Alamo, the site of the famous Battle of the Alamo (another can’t-miss item on your summer vacation itinerary).

Alamo Plaza is filled with fun things to do for the whole family, including quirky museums.

Save up to 50% on San Antonio family attractions  

Planning your San Antonio trip? With Go City®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots, and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  

☀️See all San Antonio attractions ☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 – ✈️ Buy a San Antonio pass ✈️ 

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Christmas in San Antonio
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Christmas in San Antonio

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas, the biggest and best holiday, is once again upon us. Heading to San Antonio over the festive break? Wondering what Christmasy things to get up to while you're there? Good, because we've curated this list of the best reasons to visit San Antonio over Christmas! Read on, pick your faves, and go check them out. Including: Christmas cheer at Six Flags Underground Carol Singing at the Natural Bridge Caverns Get festive at Historic Market Square Turn on the lights at San Antonio Botanical Gardens See Santa at Christmas on the Ranch and more! White (Christmas) knuckle thrills at Six Flags Let's kick things off with a Christmas miracle of sorts. Your first thoughts of Christmas in San Antonio might not be of the theme park juggernaut Six Flags, but think again. Because from the end of November to the beginning of January, Six Flags transforms into a winter wonderland. You'll discover dazzling light displays, live entertainment at every corner, and you've still got all those rides to try. But the jewel in Six Flags' Christmas bonanza is arguably 'The Majesty of Christmas', a stunning reenactment of the nativity, full of songs, animals, and angels literally flying through the air. And, well, it doesn't get much more Christmasy than that! Let the songs ring out at the Natural Bridge Caverns From the tops of Six Flags' tallest rides, we now descend deep into the Earth. While exploring caves might not sound like a particularly festive time, you'll find a rather unique Christmas experience down in San Antonio's famous Natural Bridge Caverns. Thats' because carol singers who live in the caves dress themselves up over the festive period, ready to sing songs to unsuspecting explorers! Well, we assume they live there; otherwise, why sing there at all? And they're joined by everyone's favorite fat bearded man Santa, who you may well see spelunking down the cavern walls! When you're done down in the depths, head up top to experience the Natural Bridge Caverns' outdoor playground, including a Christmasy maze, a 30-foot tall Christmas tree, and a walking trail with lots of lights. And if San Antonio's chill gets a bit much, sit down by the campfire and warm up! Easily one of the most unique things to do over Christmas in San Antonio. Go see the lights at Windcrest In what has become a Christmas tradition in the city, the Windcrest neighborhood of San Antonio competes to see who has the best home decorations. Head there in early December, and you can admire every house you find. Head there a little later in the month, and the winners will already be picked! So, if you only want to see the best of the best, head to City Hall, pick up a map of the winners, and go see them for yourself! For over six decades, the fun competition has stood the test of time, with winners outdoing one another every year! You've never seen anything like, it, so it's absolutely worth a visit if you're in San Antonio around Christmas time. Need a quick and easy way to get around the map? Why not hire an E-bike? San Antonio's winters put many summers to shame, so breezing around on a bike might be just the thing. Burn some of those Christmas calories and get around Windcrest at your own pace. Nice. Down by the river Another traditional San Antonio thing is to deck the river with decorations. Starting off life as a religious display to guide the holy family, it has since become a more general Christmas celebration. Now, the San Antonio River is lined with light-covered trees. Over 100,000 of the beauties, to be exact. So, if you want the perfect photo opportunity, head down there and take a walk! There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and Christmas stalls along the way, should you need to refuel on your adventure. Or, if you fancy adding even more adventure to your trip, why not take a cruise river instead? Walking's great and all, but riding down the river on a boat with the lights surrounding you is something else entirely. Magical. Christmas magic, that's what it is. Christmas like a cowboy at Don Strange Ranch If 100,000 Christmas lights just aren't enough lights for you, how about 4 million? Because if you head down to the Don Strange Ranch during the Christmas season, that's what you'll find. 4 million Christmas lights, and plenty more too. Featuring a mile of lights to drive beneath, a host of Christmasy cowboy rides to try out, and a market full of stalls selling everything from eggnog to s'mores, you'll be all Christmas'd out by the end of it. If you want to make a day of it and see more of San Antonio's old west side, why not take a tour of Texas Hill County and LBJ Ranch during the day, and then head to Don Strange Ranch at night when the lights are all the more spectacular? Yee-haw! Christmas, Mexico style, at Historic Market Square! While many cities traditionally have European-themed Christmas markets, not San Antonio. Oh no. See, San Antonio was once part of Mexico, so they do things a little more southern here. It's still a Christmas market, but not one you've experienced before. The usual suspects are still in full force - carol singing, Christmas stalls with food and drink, as well as places to buy small stocking fillers. It's just with a Mexican twist. A spicy twist, if you will. So if you're around over the holiday season, go check it out! Dazzling lights at San Antonio Botanical Gardens And finally, because we all really like Christmas lights, why not treat yourself to the dazzling show at San Antonio's Botanical Gardens? It's a one-of-a-kind display featuring a metric ton of Christmas lights. Lightscape is the real tour-de-force there; a corridor of lights that is sure to put the cheer in you! And those were our picks of the best reasons to spend Christmas in San Antonio! If you're looking for more fun things to do during your vacation, check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass, you can see San Antonio's best bits at your own pace!
Dom Bewley
the best cheap things to do in San Antonio
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The Best Cheap Things to do in San Antonio

Vacations are expensive - there are no two ways about it. You save up all year, putting a bit of your wage away every month so you can splurge on a great trip. But when you take flights, accommodation, eating out, drinks, and your itinerary into account, those savings can go fast. After all, San Antonio is full of things to see and do, places to go, and delicious food and drink to consume. Eventually, all those sweet dollars are gonna dry up. So, what to do? After all, we can't have you living on noodle cups like a college student. No, those days are long gone. Instead, let's look at the cheaper side of San Antonio. Why don't we bring together the very best cheap things to do in San Antonio? We'll put them all in one place - right here - and let you decide which ones you want to do. Sound like a plan? Good. Alright then, let's get on with it. These are our picks for the best cheap things to do in San Antonio! Including: Go Rio San Antonio River Cruise One-day E-Bike rental The Tower of the Americas the Witte Museum and more! Go ham on a San Antonio River Cruise! Let's kick things off with a smooth river cruise that'll let you see the city from a different perspective. With a narrator in tow, you'll glide down the San Antonio River, see the sights and sounds, and learn more about the city. Hop aboard this colorful electric boat at the San Antonio Visitor Centre and set sail down the waterways. You'll pass sites like where General Santa Anna placed his cannon line in the Battle of the Alamo, the old crossing where Teddy Roosevelt led his rough riders, the Briscoe Western Art Museum, and much more. Then, when your thirty-minute odyssey is up, you'll hop out and get on with your day. Cheap and cheerful at under $15, or you could grab an Explorer Pass and see tons of San Antonio's best bits for one price! Explore the city on two wheels with a one-day E-Bike rental! After days of gorging on San Antonio's Texan cuisine and washing it down with a few beers or whiskeys, your midriff might be slightly larger. And by slightly, we mean alarmingly so. If that's the case, why not hire a bike and get active? It'll let you explore the city at your own pace and get your heart pumping at the same time! You'll find docking stations extending from Mission Reach through downtown and north along Museum Reach. And with pedal assist, you can take your foot off the gas, so to speak. If you've seen all the San Antonio's sights, give the Mission Reach Trail a go. It's a big one, coming in at sixteen miles for the roundtrip, but it passes through some of the best scenery in the city. At $15 a day, it's easily one of the best cheap things to do in San Antonio. It's also included in our Explorer Pass if you want to get more bang for your buck. Take a trip up the Tower of America Want to experience the best view of the city? Step right up, one and all, and journey to the top of the Tower of America. It's so good, they named the entire country after it. Or was it the other way around? Guess we'll never know. Head up to the 360-degree observation deck, and you'll see the city's top landmarks and sights, including the Alamo, the River Walk, and more. You'll also get free entry into the Skies Over Texas 4D Theater Ride, where you'll get a virtual helicopter tour of the city's highlights, zooming past live street performances, a high school football game, and more. Who knew a tower could pack so much into it? Well, we did, because - you guessed it - it's part of our Explorer Pass too. Is there anything we don't do for you? Maybe, maybe not. Discover big dead animals and more at the Witte Museum! If you like your history prehistoric and your mind blown, then we've got two words for you. The Witte Museum. Wait, that's not two words. Disregard the above. But don't disregard The Witte Museum! It's the jewel in San Antonio's cultural crown, with over ten acres of eye-opening, mind-widening entertainment. From giant dinosaur skeletons to hands-on scientific exhibits, there's something for every curious mind behind the Witte's doors. Explore the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery, where you'll encounter skeletons, excavate dinosaur bones, and learn about giant dinosaur footprints. And at H-E-B Body Adventure, you'll explore the human body like never before. Over four floors, you'll learn about its limits and its goings-on from the inside out. That's just a taste, mind. To get the full dish, you'll need to head there yourself. And with our Explorer Pass, you'll simply scan in and swan along. Nice. Go touch grass at one of San Antonio's many parks! And finally, we'll end this jolly foray into the cheaper side of San Antonio with something that won't cost you a dime. Parks are their name, and having free, nature-filled fun is their game. There's Brackenridge Park, with its running waters, golfing opportunities, and plenty of places to pitch your tent. Fancy a hike? Give Friedrich Wilderness Park a pop. With its rocky climbs and enchanting scenery, there's no shortage of natural beauty. Plus, there's plenty of wildlife to spy for those with a keener eye. Or, try the aforementioned Missions Reach Trail, which takes you through the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. SAMNHP to her friends (not really, a park doesn't really make friends) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's where you'll find the infamous Alamo. You can even take a tour if you like. Lovely. And those are our picks for the best cheap things to do in San Antonio. May your vacation be long and full of fun, and your wallet heavy with riches. For everything else San Antonio, 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
Concepcion
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Free things to do in San Antonio

With historic Revolution-era attractions, a dizzying array of family-friendly theme parks, zoos and aquariums, and an enviable selection of top-notch museums, it’s pretty easy to have yourself a jam-packed weekend in San Antonio.
Kirsten McCroskrie
Kirsten McCroskrie

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