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San Antonio Family Vacation Ideas

Attractions, activities & things to do in summer

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.

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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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

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