San Antonio Places of Interest
The Alamo
Modern San Antonio and Texas history collide at Alamo Plaza. Situated in the center of the city, it is here that 189 Americans fought valiantly against Santa Anna's sprawling Mexican Army in 1836. Though the Texan forces eventually fell to the onslaught, the Alamo has since become a symbol of freedom that embodies Texas’ uniquely independent spirit. Initially established as a mission, the Alamo is now a historical landmark visited by thousands of tourists every year. On their own or as part of a guided tour, guests can walk among the 18th century walls, visit the chapel or see exhibits on Texas history at the Long Barracks Museum.
The Alamo is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5:30 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. In the summer months, Friday and Saturday hours are extended to 7 PM. It is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas. Admission is free. For more information: 210-225-1391
San Antonio Missions Park
San Antonio Missions Park is home to four of the five Spanish missions in San Antonio that flourished in the late 1700s: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada. Guests can take 50-minute-long tours of the missions, which were walled communities built by the Spanish Catholic Church to colonize the Americas and spread Catholicism. Indian converts lived in the communities, which included a church, living quarters and workshops, and learned how to become Spanish citizens. The largest of the missions, Mission San José, was home to 350 residents at its height. Other attractions include a showing of the award-winning movie “Gente de Razón” and a museum with mission artifacts.
San Antonio Missions Park is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free.
San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio's picturesque River Walk is perhaps the most popular district in the city. Comprised of hundreds of hotels, restaurants, nightspots and shops, the Riverwalk is a hotspot for tourists and out-of-towners. Visitors can descend below street level and stroll along the tranquil river walkway, where they can slip into a boutique shop to pick up a souvenir, grab a bite to eat at a spicy Tex-Mex restaurant or simply enjoy the view of the tranquil San Antonio River. With over two miles of walkway to explore – and 11 more miles planned for the future – there’s always something new to discover on San Antonio's River Walk.
San Antonio Entertainment
Market Square
Like many Mexican border towns, San Antonio is infused with a healthy dose of Latin culture. One of the best ways to enjoy the influence of its neighbors to the south is by visiting the popular Market Square shopping district, the largest Mexican market north of the Rio Grande River. Dubbed "El Mercado" by the locals, Market Square features family-owned cafes, local artists and dozens of shops that sell everything from food and refreshments to clothing and souvenirs. With shops opening early in the morning and staying open long into the night, any time is a great time to discover the charm of Market Square.
Tower of the Americas
Built for the 1968 World’s Fair, the 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas reigned as the tallest observation tower in the country until 1996, but still remains in the top 10 tallest buildings in Texas. The tower houses a rotating restaurant and observation deck, which both underwent an $8 million renovation project, as well as the four-dimensional theatre ride “Skies Over Texas,” which takes guests on a trip through Texas history. The upscale Chart House restaurant, along with its Bar 601, offers raw bar, seafood and beef selections, including specialties such as Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Teriyaki Glaze and Mango Sauce and Macadamia-crusted Mahi with a warm Peanut Sauce. Group accommodations are available in the Tower’s banquet and meeting space.
Both the observation deck and “Skies Over Texas” are open Sunday through Thursday from 10 AM to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 11 PM. Tower tickets, which include access to the observation deck and “Skies Over Texas,” cost $8.95 for children, $10.95 for adults and $9.95 for seniors and military personnel. Parking is $6. For more information: 210-223-3101
The Majestic Theatre
At its opening in 1929, the Majestic Theatre was the second largest theatre in the country. After a $4.5 million renovation in 1989 and $3.5 million expansion in 1996, the theatre still retains much of the original grandeur of its Mediterranean-style architecture, which includes ornate tiled roofs, arches, a vaulted ceiling and a grand staircase. The 2,311-seat theatre is home to the San Antonio symphony and Broadway in San Antonio, and has hosted a wide range of musical shows and other performances. Musicals such as Cats and Cabaret have been preformed on its stage, and performers such as Sting, Tony Bennett, Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock have also made appearances. The theatre is available for a wide variety of group accommodations.
The Majestic Theatre’s box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Ticket prices vary by event. Event parking is $7. For more information: 210-226-5700
San Antonio Restaurants
Bohanan's Prime Steaks and Seafood
Named one of the Prime Time Top 10 USDA Prime Steakhouses, Bohanan's offers a variety of succulent entrees from all corners of the globe. Among fresh-cut lilies and candlelight, guests can select traditional cuts of beef such as ribeye, New York strip and filet, or specialty cuts such as the exclusive Japanese Akaushi steak. Seafood lovers also enjoy entrée selections such as the red snapper filet and Chilean sea bass au gratin. Group accommodations for up to 132 people are available in the main dining room.
For more information: 210-472-2600
The Guenther House
The Guenther House is a stately 19th-century home nestled on the edge of the San Antonio historic district. Originally owned by millwright Carl Hilmar Guenther, the structure has been completely renovated to include a museum for mill memorabilia and a restaurant. Down-home cooking infused with a taste of Tex-Mex, the restaurant’s menu features hot entrees such as the Champagne Chicken Enchiladas, baked in a special sauce from champagne chicken gravy mix, and Pioneer Taco Salad, seasoned lean ground sirloin and pinto beans over lettuce, avocado and tomato. Private accommodations are available for up to 50 people on the Roof Garden.
For more information: 800-235-8186
Iron Cactus Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar
Tequila reigns at the Iron Cactus, named one of the top 10 tequila bars in the country. With over 80 selections of tequila to choose from, guests are sure to find a favorite, and Tequila Flights, three 0.5-ounce glasses of specialty tequila, are available for the undecided to sample. Tequila even pervades several menu favorites, including chicken breast marinated with Iron Cactus’ tequila ginger glaze, tequila-marinated jumbo tiger shrimp and the Yucatan Fish Tacos, made from tequila-marinated white fish. The Iron Cactus has flexible options for group accommodations with private rooms for up to 500 people.
For more information: 210-224-9835
Mi Tierra Café
Situated in the cozy, Latin-infused Market Square district, Mi Tierra Café is a hometown favorite that offers guests inspired Tex-Mex cuisine 24-7. Christmas lights adorn the walls, and a breathtaking carved oak bar features Mayan, Aztec and Mexican symbols carved into the wood. The café’s extensive menu includes all the traditional favorites, such as cheese enchiladas, pork tamales and three bean and cheese nachos. Traditional breakfast fare with a Mexican twist is also served all day, and most menu options are accompanied with generous portions of rice and refried beans. Mi Tierra Café makes dining a true experience, complete with troubadours and mariachis serenading guests on request. For those looking for a quick treat, the café also has a panadería, a Mexican bakery, that offers freshly baked bread, sweets, pastries and Mexican hot chocolate. For group accommodations, the Mural Dining Room seats 150 to 200 people and the Patio Dining Room seats groups of 50 or fewer.
For more information: 210-225-1262
San Antonio Nightlife
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is Hollywood done Texas-style. Combining the best of a theater and a restaurant environment, the cinema has nine screens for movie showings as well as full dinner and bar service. Long narrow tables offer seating for guests to see the movie while enjoying salad, sandwich and movie-themed pizza selections such as “Blazing Saddles,” barbecue chicken pizza, and “Honey I Shrimp the Pigs,” chipotle honey-covered shrimp pizza. The Alamo Drafthouse also offers beer, wine and cocktails. Private and corporate cinema screenings are available upon request.
For more information: 210-677-8500
Cowboys Dancehall
San Antonio visitors can slip on a pair of boots and unleash their inner cowboy at Cowboys Dancehall. This 70,000-square-foot facility offers plenty of room to enjoy a variety of country-fied activities, including a mechanical bull, two dance floors, pool tables and live entertainment from the house band or country musicians such as Tracy Lawrence and Merle Haggard, both of whom have performed at the dancehall. Dance lessons are also offered Thursday and Saturday nights. Cowboys Dancehall can accommodate groups of 50 to 3,500 for private events, which may include a customized country-singer concert or square dancing lessons. Private parties can be held Monday or Tuesday.
For more information: 210-646-9378
Howl at the Moon
Howl at the Moon is a typical nightclub with a not-so-typical focal point: two dueling pianos. A local favorite, Howl at the Moon employees invite the crowd to sing along to hit songs and on occasion pull a brave crooner on the stage to take the vocal lead. While enjoying the music, guests can choose from a variety of drink options from beer to signature cocktails. Howl at the Moon offers private and semi-private spaces for groups of up to 200 people.
For more information: 210-212-4770
On the Half Shell
From the polished concrete floors and stone accents indoors to the fish-laden fountains and lush tropical foliage in the outdoor courtyard, On the Half Shell gives guests a chance to escape from the busy city. Just minutes from the River Walk in downtown San Antonio, the upscale oyster restaurant and bar offers an eclectic menu to complement its extensive selection of wine and cocktails. Popular selections include spicy jalapeño blue claw crab dip and wild Alaskan habañero salmon spread. The mezzanine level is available for group accommodations. Happy hours are daily from 4 PM to 7 PM.
For more information: 210-222-2171
Rivercenter Comedy Club
Within walking distance from the San Antonio Riverwalk, Rivercenter Comedy Club is a great place to have a drink and enjoy some of the best stand-up comedy in town. Rivercenter Comedy Club has been hosting A-list comedians for more than 15 years, and new acts are brought in weekly. The club also features hypnotists, celebrities and local improvisational groups. Rivercenter Comedy Club’s 350-seat showroom is available for private groups.
Showtimes are daily at 8:30 PM. A late night show is held Friday and Saturday at 10:45 PM. Monday and Tuesday tickets cost $8, Wednesday and Thursday tickets cost $10 and weekend tickets cost $13. For more information: 210-229-1420
Family Activities in San Antonio
Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods
The Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods is a great place to spend a day with the family. Visitors can practice their putting skills on one of two 18-hole miniature golf courses, complete with unique obstacles such as tunnels, loop-de-loops and waterfalls. The center also has two regulation ice rinks, a mezzanine viewing pavilion, a full-scale indoor arcade, and a sports bar.
Public ice skating is available daily with hours varying based on day. Miniature golf courses are open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 10 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 11 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 11 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 9 PM. Admission for the skating rink is $6 and skate rentals are $3. Admission for one round of miniature golf is $7. For more information: 210-490-9550
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort
Just outside the city limits of San Antonio sits one of the world's largest water parks. Schlitterbahn is a 65-acre oasis for families that includes over 40 family attractions, including water slides, tube chutes, pools and hot tubs. Guest favorites include the Cliffhanger Tube Chute and Master Blaster, one of the world's only uphill water coasters. Named as the number 1 waterpark in the world by the Travel Channel, Schlitterbahn is a must-see attraction for any family visiting San Antonio.
Schlitterbahn is open most days late May to August from 10 AM to 8 PM. Hours may vary based on time of year. A single-day pass is $29.99 for children ages 3-11 and $37.99 for adults. Passes for children under 3 are free. For more information: 830-625-2351
SeaWorld San Antonio
As the largest marine life adventure park in the world, SeaWorld offers more than 26 shows, rides and animal attractions. Children and adults alike will enjoy rides such as Journey to Atlantis, part-roller coaster, part-water ride, and the Great White, Texas’ first inverted roller coaster. Visitors can also get an up-close look at marine life at the seal and sea lion communities and coral reef exhibit, or meet world-famous killer whale Shamu.
SeaWorld is open early March to late December. Park hours vary based on time of year. Single-day tickets are $42.99 for children ages 3-9 and $50.99 for adults. Tickets for children under 3 are free. For more information: 800-700-7786
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is an award-winning amusement park that truly delivers something for everyone. Decorated in a style that promotes the culture and history of Texas, this expansive park is sure to get families in the San Antonio spirit. Kids will love the Looney Tunes characters that patrol the grounds, and thrill-seekers of any age will enjoy riding one of seven different roller coasters, including the Superman Krypton Coaster and Tony Hawk's Big Spin. In 2008, the park opens the Goliath, a suspended looping coaster. Nine-time winner of the amusement industry’s Golden Ticket Award for best theme park shows, Six Flags Fiesta Texas also offers various entertainment venues and live concerts, from music to Broadway shows.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is open weekends, March to April and September to October, and daily, May to August. Park hours vary based on day and month. General admission is $31.99 for children under 48 inches and $46.99 for adults. Admission for children under 2 is free. For more information: 210-697-5457
San Antonio Children's Museum
Creative play is a powerful engine for stimulating a child's learning, and the San Antonio Children's Museum is the vehicle that makes it happen. Within this multi-level building, children can get lost in a life-like cityscape full of surprises and hands-on activities. Permanent exhibits include an imaginary plane flight, a kid-powered elevator and the recently-added Texas Treasure Cave & Wild Texas Spring, a re-creation of Edwards Aquifer that kids can explore through slides and caves.
San Antonio Children's Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, September to February, from 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. The museum is open Monday through Friday, March to August, from 9 AM to 5 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. Admission is $7 per guest. Admission for children under 2 is free. The museum provides one hour of free parking. For more information: 210-212-4453
Recreation and Outdoors in San Antonio
San Antonio Botanical Garden
The San Antonio Botanical Garden refines the expansive natural beauty of the Texas countryside into 33 breath-taking acres. The garden features several displays including the Rose Garden, Sensory Garden, Shade Garden and Kumamoto En garden, as well as the Native Texas Trail, which includes plant communities native to the ecological regions of the state. The Lucile Halsell Conservatory is the garden’s $6.9 million attraction that features plants from desert regions and rainforests, all housed in glass buildings tucked into the ground.
The Botanical Garden is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Single-day admission is $4 for children ages 3-13, $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, military personnel and students. For more information: 210-207-3250
Friedrich Wilderness Park
Friedrich Wilderness Park is 600-acres of diverse flora and fauna sure to delight any nature lover. Visitors can walk on 5.5 miles of hiking trails through orchid-covered hills, canyons and creeks, but what the park is most renowned for is its opportunities for bird-watching. Over 50 species of bird have been noted as inhabitants of the park, including the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. Guided nature walks are available.
The park is open Wednesday through Sunday, October to March, from 8 AM to 5 PM, and Wednesday through Sunday, April to September, from 8 AM to 8 PM. Guided nature walks are free. For more information: 210-698-1057
The San Antonio Zoo
Over 3,500 animals from 750 species are waiting to be discovered at the San Antonio Zoo. About 850,000 visitors stop at the zoo annually to visit one of over 10 exhibits, which include Africa Live, featuring hippos and crocodiles; Amazonia, showcasing pygmy marmosets and jaguars; and Cranes of the World, housing, as the name implies, varying crane species such as the whooping crane, blue crane and hooded crane. The new cheetah exhibit, endangered baby condors and bat colonies also make the list of favorite attractions for guests.
The zoo is open daily, Labor Day to Memorial Day, from 9 AM to 5 PM, and daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Admission is $7 for children ages 3-11, $9 for adults and $7 for seniors ages 62 and older. Zoo parking is complimentary. For more information: 210-734-7184
San Antonio Tours
Natural Bridge Caverns Tours
Discovered in 1960, the Natural Bridge Caverns are among the largest in the state of Texas. To discover the rare stalactites, stalagmites, chandeliers and soda straw formations in the caverns, guests can select from four tour options. The Discovery Tour takes visitors on a 75-minute trip over a half-mile trail of show cavern, 180 feet below ground. The Illuminations Tour is a 70-minute-long journey in two underground chambers, lit craftily with a state-of-the-art light system that balances both light and dark. Two adventure tours, Hidden Passages and Discovery, offer three to four hours of hands-on experience, as guests can climb, hike and rappel through the caverns.
Natural Bridge Caverns are open daily, October to February, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Daily hours are extended March to September. The caverns are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Discovery Tour tickets cost $9.95 for children ages 3-11 and $16.95 for adults. Illuminations Tour tickets cost $10.95 for children ages 3-11 and $17.95 for adults. Hidden Passages Adventure Tour tickets cost $99.95 and are only available to guests ages 13 and older. Discovery Adventure Tour tickets cost $69.95 and are only available to guests ages 8 and older. Guests on the Discovery and Illuminations Tours are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes with good traction, and guests on the Adventure Tours should be physically fit. Advanced reservations are required for both Adventure Tours. For more information: 210-651-6101
River Cruiser Tours
The San Antonio River is rich in history, tracing its beginnings back to a complex water system that served to supply water to five Spanish missions built between 1718 and 1731. For 35 to 40 minutes, guests can enjoy a narrated tour and learn about the history of this waterway as they glide 2.5 miles through the River Walk district. Dinner and cocktail cruises, catered from one of the many River Walk restaurants, are also available. Dinner cruises accommodate up to 20 guests and cocktail cruises accommodate up to 30 guests.
River Tours are offered daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. Tickets cost $2 for children ages 1-5, $7.75 for adults and $5 for senior citizens. Group rates are available. Chartered, drink and cocktail cruises vary in time and price based on event. For more information: 210-244-5700
San Antonio City Tours: Trolley Tours
Visitors can enjoy several of San Antonio’s most notable sites in one hour-long trolley tour. Stops vary from historic landmarks such as the Alamo and Mission San José, shopping destinations such as Market Square and Rivercenter Mall, and unique sites such as La Villita, San Antonio’s oldest surviving neighborhood. Tours depart daily starting at 9:30 AM. Tickets cost $8.95 for children ages 3-11 and $19.95 for adults. San Antonio City Tours offers a variety of tour options, including customized tours for groups.
For more information: 210-222-1176
