Sitting at the point where the rocky limestone hills of Hill Country meet the green plains of Southern Texas, the city of San Antonio is rich in historic charm and Texan character, and blends Spanish colonial architecture with a modern skyline of hotels and office buildings. Whether you know it as Alamo City, Mission City, or River City, San Antonio welcomes a wide range of travelers looking to explore its culture, history, and family-friendly sites and attractions. San Antonio is also a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, meaning there’s a strong culinary heritage and sense of sustainability, allowing travelers, especially foodies, to indulge in its food scene.
Built on the San Antonio River, it was originally founded by Spanish settlers as a military post, or presidio, in 1718. Spanish efforts to gain influence in the New World also resulted in the creation of missions—the most famous of which was The Alamo, one of the main reasons why travelers make their way to San Antonio to this day. If “Remember the Alamo” rings any bells, the loss against the Mexican army at the Battle of the Alamo in 1936 rallied those supporting and fighting for Texan independence.
The Alamo’s part in the Texas Revolution put San Antonio on the map for travelers crossing the country. The city shared its blend of cultures and began preserving its missions, becoming popular for those interested in the region’s history. Highway construction and the increase of personal cars brought more tourists to the city, and the River Walk developed into a trendy district in the 1950s-60s instead of the flood control project it was meant to be. In recent years, San Antonio has welcomed amusement parks and other attractions that only add to its appeal for families and other travelers headed to “Old San Antone.”
A great way to start off your trip to San Antonio is to head to the most visited tourist attraction in the entire state of Texas, according to Tripadvisor: the San Antonio River Walk. The heart of the city, the River Walk, is a great place to discover local shops, galleries, museums, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. Shaded and easy to navigate, this walkway is below street level and hugs the river, taking you past colorful umbrellas on restaurant patios, iron bridges, and stone staircases that’ll make you feel as though you’ve found yourself somewhere in Europe!
Many people like to recommend actually taking a boat tour through the River Walk at the very beginning of your trip. You’ll be able to see the sights and hear the guide’s narration of what you’re seeing, allowing you to have more of an idea of where you’re headed and what you’re looking for when you enjoy the River Walk on foot.
Find more tours and activities for your trip to San Antonio on Quest Travel Club.
San Antonio is divided up by “reaches,” based wholly on what section of the San Antonio River you’re in. For example, the Downtown Reach is the most visited by tourists. This is where you’ll pick up that boat tour, and where other popular attractions and sites are, including, first and foremost, The Alamo. This is the actual site of the Battle of the Alamo, and is arguably one of the most iconic historic sites in the United States. A short distance from the River Walk, visitors can take a guided tour of the grounds, Alamo Church, and the Alamo Exhibit, or a self-guided audio tour. If you’d like to explore the Alamo Church on your own, you can reserve your free ticket on the website.
San Antonio has five missions included in the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site. Including The Alamo (otherwise known as Mission Valero), the five frontier missions are along about 7 miles of the San Antonio River basin, and the World Heritage Site includes the mission’s structures, farmlands, residences, and more. The other four missions are Mission Concepción, San José, Mission Espada, and Mission San Juan, and are each known for certain aspects like their design, size, and communities. Guided tours are available, but visitors can utilize the Mission Reach Trail, a system of public pathways that connects the four missions within the National Historic Park.
Find more tours and activities for your trip to San Antonio on Quest Travel Club.
Another historic church that visitors should make a point of seeing is the San Fernando Cathedral. Located on the beautiful Plaza de Las Islas Canarias, a shaded city square, the San Fernando Cathedral was founded in 1731 by 16 families from the Canary Islands, and is still in operation today, with daily Mass and Confession times. Across the street, you’ll find the San Antonio City Hall as well as the Spanish Governor’s Palace that’s open to visitors and even offers virtual tours.
If you’re a history buff looking for other historic landmarks or museums to stop at during your time in San Antonio, take a look at our recommended list below:
Open to the public since 1988 as a restaurant, museum, and gift shop, the Guenther House was formerly the family home of Carl Hilmar Guenther, founder of Pioneer Flour Mills. Dine at the restaurant serving delicious breakfast using Pioneer products, or visit the museum in the former library.
Before your visit, tour the Art Nouveau and Victorian styles of the home online.
This art museum includes pieces from all over the globe that range 5,000 years throughout history. From the Nelson A. Rockefeller Latin American Art Wing, so contemporary art galleries and collections of ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Asian works in various mediums. Open every day except Mondays and various holidays, the San Antonio Museum of Art is located within the Museum Reach of the River Walk.
Located within Brackenridge Park, the Witte Museum is the city’s most-visited museum, and includes exhibits covering natural, scientific, and cultural topics. Learn about Texas and the San Antonio region specifically in both permanent and special exhibitions, such as the McLean Family Texas Wild Gallery, the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery, the Kittie West Nelson Ferguson People of the Pecos Gallery, and much more.
Families will love The DoSeum, one of the best children’s museums in the United States. With 68,000 square feet of interactive exhibits to explore, families will be able to learn and discover everything the museum has to offer. From the Semmes Foundation Spy Academy where your kids can become a Master Spy, to learning about force and motion in the Force Course, and to everyone’s favorite, the Little Town.
Almost every weekend, you’ll be able to find live entertainment, food, and vendors at the Historic Market Square that features over 100 locally-owned businesses. Find authentic Mexican hand-crafted goods, cuisine, and entertainment in Downtown San Antonio close to Milam Park. The Farmer’s Market stage always feels like a fiesta, and all events and performances can be found on the Historic Market Square website.
The Buckhorn Saloon & Texas Ranger Museum
The oldest running saloon in the state, head to The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum for the full Texas experience. Both the Buckhorn Museum and The Texas Ranger Museum highlight various aspects of the state’s history including the world-class Texas Ranger exhibit and priceless historic artifacts. You can’t leave without saddling up to the same bar where Teddy Roosevelt and Pancho Villa are said to have visited.
Another popular stop for visitors, is Brackenridge Park. Located north of Downtown San Antonio, this park is a beautiful public space that got its start as a driving park for horse-drawn carriages. Now a full 3430 acres, this urban park includes some of San Antonio’s most-visited landmarks and attractions, in addition to visitors enjoying the outdoor space and network of trails. Just like the Witte Museum, as we’ve previously mentioned is located within the park, another great place for families to visit in the San Antonio Zoo. Taking up 56 acres of the park, the zoo holds more than 760 species and features the Spekboom Lodge, the zoo’s new overnight suite where you can sleep near giraffes, zebras, and other African species.
Find more tours and activities for your trip to San Antonio on Quest Travel Club.
Another neat feature of the park is the San Antonio Zoo Train, or the Brackenridge Eagle. Built in 1956, this train takes you on a tour of the park, with stops at the Witte Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, Sunken Garden Theater, and the Train Depot just outside the zoo. In fact, the Brackenridge Eagle was the last known train to have been involved in a train robbery in Texas, after the miniature train was robbed in 1970.
Speaking of, the Japanese Tea Garden is another popular stop for visitors to San Antonio. Walk the complex winding through walkways and over stone bridges, and tak e in the beauty of the 60-foot waterfall and koi ponds. Enjoy Japanese food, cocktails, and tea at Jingu House, located within the Japanese Tea Garden. Nearby, is the Sunken Garden Theater, a local favorite and stage that hosts annual events and concerts.
For visitors who love plants and gardens, add the San Antonio Botanical Garden to the itinerary. The gardens sit on 39 acres, and include over 100 endangered and rare species of native and imported plant life. Families will love the Family Adventure Garden, inviting children to “come mess with Texas” in a hand-on environment to get some exercise and have a little fun. During the holidays, see Lighstscape, a festive light display set to music.
It’s well-known that San Antonio has various amusement parks, but there’s one attraction that we’d like to highlight before officially jumping into theme parks, and its Natural Bridge Caverns! There are many things to do, including what might be the most obvious, going on a cavern tour. Above ground, there’s gem and fossil mining, the AMAZEn’ Ranch Roundup, and the Twisted Trails Zip Rails and Ropes Course. During the summer, you can also view the largest bat colony in the world take flight at Bracken Cave during a special tour.
Last but not least, here are five fun amusement parks in San Antonio, making it the Theme Park Capital of Texas:
One of the many Six Flags properties throughout the country, expect to see thrilling rides and rollercoasters, family rides suited for all ages, and even water rides and a Texas-sized wave pool.
Another well-known park brand, SeaWorld San Antonio combines rides and roller coasters with amazing animal experiences like tours and even interactions.
Get ready for rides, 4D movies, and lots and lots of Legos at San Antonio’s Legoland Discovery Center. You’ll even get to meet Lego Characters!
This one-of-a-kind park features 25 Ultra-Accessible rides, playscapes, and other interactive fun for families to enjoy
San Antonio is a year-round travel destination. That might surprise you since Texas is known for its intense summertime heat. From June to September, average highs hit the low-to-mid nineties, so no, San Antonio is not magically immune to the Texas heat. It might be hard to believe that May to October is considered the busiest travel season, but it is! Because San Antonio is rich in history and culture, many families like to make the trip to visit the missions and other historical places during summer vacation. It’s obviously doable, but it will cost you more in accommodations and wait times. Our recommendation? If you do go during the summer months, get ready to have some fun, stay hydrated, and pack your patience!
If you’re trying to avoid the crowds, try visiting anywhere from November to May. “Winter” temperatures see average highs in the mid-sixties and lows in the low-forties. Yeah, that doesn’t sound like winter, to us! That’s part of the reason why San Antonio gained popularity as a travel destination in the first place; it’s temperate springs, falls, and winters and beautiful and mild. Just note that spring does ramp up in temperature pretty quickly!
Here are some annual festivals and events held in San Antonio throughout the year:
- San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo (February)
- Valero Texas Open (April)
- Fiesta San Antonio (April)
- Cinco de Mayo Events (May)
- Fiesta Noche Del Rio (May-August)
- LGBTQ+ Pride (June)
- World Heritage Festival (September)
- Dia de Muertos (October-November)
- Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival (November)
- Tasting Texas Wine & Food Festival (Fall)
- Alamo Bowl (December/January)
As we’ve mentioned before, the different sections of San Antonio are based on what part of the San Antonio River you are. For example, we mentioned that the Downtown Reach and River Walk is basically the heart of the city, and you’ll find a lot of popular attractions and other things to do and see there. Pearl District is another trendy and more upscale and artsy area where you’ll have easy access to Museum Reach, local trails, and the Pearl Brewery complex—great for those who love shopping and dining locally.
Speaking of, Museum Reach is also a great place to look for accommodations as it’s not as busy as Downtown, but you’ll still have access to the River Walk and be well-connected to sites and attractions. Moving further from Downtown still, the Broadway Corridor suits families and those wanting to be closer to outdoor spaces like Brackenridge Park. Stay in Mission Reach on the southern side of Downtown, and have access to historic sites and more natural settings.
Use your Palmera Vacation Club membership to find great deals on stays through the RCI Exchange or Quest Travel Club. Here are some options we found on RCI:
*Availability and point ranges subject to change.
