15 Kid-Friendly Activities in San Antonio

We’ve packed a lot of fun into our first 6 months here in San Antonio: we stepped into an 18th-century mission church, explored the world-famous Alamo, cruised down the San Antonio River, watched the world from above in the Tower of the Americas, and ate some really great waffles at the Guenther House.

Here is a list of 15 fun places to visit with your family. Enjoy!

1. San Antonio Children’s Museum: Where to begin? The museum features a huge contraption that sorts, spills, and sucks-up plastic balls. Then there’s the mini-airliner. Downstairs, you’ll find the mock grocery store. Great fun! For more about this museum, check out one of my previous posts here.

2. The Alamo: You can’t visit this city without taking a few pictures of the family in front of the Alamo. Besides the famous exterior, the grounds are very pretty, and you’ll find lots of displays and informational signs to help you learn a little more about the famous site’s history.

3. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: The four missions that make up the park are absolutely beautiful. I particularly love Mission Concepción, the oldest unrestored stone church in the United States, which was built in 1755.

4. Japanese Tea Garden: This garden is located within Brackenridge Park and admission is free. Our daughter particularly likes the lily pond, which is filled with plenty of colorful fish.

5. Brackenridge Park: This park contains so many fun activities for families. It’s home to the zoo, Japanese Tea Garden, Witte Museum, lots of walking trails and picnic areas, and the small train which makes a loop through the park.

6. San Antonio Zoo: Our daughter is particularly fond of the elephants and monkeys. Located in Brackenridge Park, the zoo is easy to fit into your family’s itinerary since it’s near several other attractions.

7. Kiddie Park: This small, old-fashioned amusement park is one of my favorite kid-friendly spots in San Antonio. Many of the rides date back to the 1920′s.

8. Guenther House: Who doesn’t love waffles covered in strawberries and whipped cream? This is a great place to enjoy breakfast or lunch. The setting, a home built in 1860, is absolutely gorgeous.

9. Milam Park: This city park is very pleasant and has plenty of swings, slides, and climbing structures for young kids. Nearby, you’ll see a beautiful pavillion designed by Jalisco architect Salvador de Alba Martin. Also, parents who love history will enjoy checking out the monument to Ben Milam, a man killed while defending the city against the Mexican army in 1835.

10. San Antonio Botanical Garden: A family could spend hours here. It’s a great place to relax on a nice day and watch the kids run free.

11. Riverwalk: Along with the Alamo, this is another absolute must-see in San Antonio. Lined with restaurants, this is a great place to grab dinner, take a stroll, or hop on a river cruise.

12. San Antonio Art Museum: The museum’s collection encompasses a wide range of styles, from Western Antiquities to Latin American art to Contemporary American paintings. The museum also features special exhibitions; for an exhibition schedule, visit the museum’s website.

13. McNay Art Museum: This museum is based on the collection of Marion Koogler McNay, an heiress and art-lover who set aside her art collection, home, and 23 acres of gardens in her will. In 1954, the McNay opened its doors and became the first museum of modern art in Texas.

14. Tower of the Americas: Our daughter loved riding up the elevator to the observation deck and looking out across San Antonio.

15. Orsinger Park: This park has an almost impossible combination: a. swings b. a large sandbox and c. shade! If you’re visiting on a hot, sunny day, you’ll want to check out this playground.