San Antonio is a city that took us by surprise in the best of ways! The city is vibrant in color and music, rich in culture, and just feels like a little town despite being a flourishing city. It is the perfect blend of Mexican/American Culture or, as Jess says, “where burgers meets tacos.” We had the best time exploring and hope our guide helps you enjoy your time in San Antonio too.
Explore the DoSeum
While a children’s museum may not be top of the list for most people in San Antonio, our kids loved it so much that we went twice! This hands-on museum provided hours of fun for both our 6-year-old and 3-year-old. From the Little Town section for our little one to the incredible hands-on technology, exploration, and science themes on the upper level, it was a hit for the whole family. We have been to children’s museums in cities worldwide and The Doseum was the best for all ages and hands on learning. To learn more about The Doseum, check out our in-depth review!
Visit the Alamo
The Alamo is the most visited landmark in Texas, and despite its popularity, it is FREE. The Alamo is a 300-year-old former Spanish mission where the Battle of the Alamo was fought in 1836. It is a huge part of American history and it was truly amazing to be able to visit and teach the kids through hands-on learning. They open at 9am and we recommend that you go early to avoid long lines and the mid-day heat.
Experience the Riverwalk
The riverwalk truly makes San Antonio one-of-a-kind. It flows one level below the streets of San Antonio and makes walking or taking a boat through the heart of the city a picturesque experience. Along the riverwalk you can find bars, restaurants, shops, and missions. The pathways along the riverwalk are easy to walk, but be careful with your kiddos as much of it doesn’t have railings. You can also choose to do a guided 35-minute boat tour through Go Rio Cruises, where you learn more about the city or just hop on one of their river shuttles to move through the city. This unique ecosystem is definitely hard to miss and is what gives San Antonio so much of its charm.
Shop at Historic Market Square
If you would like to see the largest Mexican Market outside of Mexico, do not miss Historic Market Square! This vibrant part of town is full of amazing artisan finds, live music, agua frescas, and more. Our kids loved finding little wooden toys to buy at the market and I loved finding fun vibrant dresses. In just a few blocks it felt like we had stepped across the border as we were greeted with beautiful culture. If you make it to Historic Market Square, stop by the famous Mi Tierra Cafe Y Panaderia for a bite to eat, but get on their list before you shop as there is usually a wait.
Spend the Evening at The Pearl
This fun and hip part of town was a favorite for our family. It is hard to imagine that this used to be the home of Pearl Brewery as it has been preserved yet reimagined in such an exciting way. The Pearl square has a large grass section for kids to run and play along with a splash pad, so don’t forget their swimsuits. While they play, you can grab a bite to eat and a beer at the Food Hall, a building with different vendors that actually used to be the bottling plant. There are several stores and restaurants in the area including the popular Lick ice cream shop. If you are in town during summer, be sure to stop by on the weekend in the morning for a farmers market event; we are told it is a fun experience.
Watch the Light Show at the San Fernando Cathedral
To be honest, we didn’t know what to expect when told that a local Cathedral had a light show, but we were so impressed. The light show was more like a short silent film depicting the story of San Antonio on the beautiful San Fernando Cathedral. It was incredible to see how artist Xavier De Richemont made the Cathedral his canvas for a unique history experience. Grab a drink or ice cream and enjoy the wonderful show. The light show is FREE; it lasts 24 minutes, and show times are 9, [9:30] and 10pm on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Hang Out at Hemisfair Park
Hemisfair Park is close to downtown and a fun park for all ages! Our kids loved the giant playground and splash pad while we could have fun playing ping pong or foosball. Hemisfair Park has some food choices, food trucks, and a bar, making it a great place to stop for a bite to eat and let the kids run around and play. While we didn’t experience it, Hemisfair Park is also home to the Tower of the Americas which we hear offers and amazing view of the city.
Overall, we fell in love with San Antonio so much that it has made our top list of places to possibly settle down in one day. The beautiful riverwalk and parks make it a fun place to visit. We loved that it had a small town charm to it while having big city amenities and activities. We hope to go back soon and check out the San Antonio Zoo and Fiesta Texas, which we didn’t make this trip. Maybe next time we visit we can meet you there!
This post was produced in partnership with Visit San Antonio and Travel Mindset.
