25 Best Things to Do in San Antonio
Explore the top 25 kid-friendly attractions in San Antonio, TX! From zoos to waterparks, this guide is perfect for family fun and creating lasting memories.
Deep in the heart of Texas, San Antonio is a large city in the southernmost reaches of the great state. This Texan stronghold is best-known for the Alamo - the inspiration for the Texas Revolution and is the “Shrine of Texas Liberty”.
San Antonio is home to the Spurs NBA basketball team, The Alamo Bowl, and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. In addition to these events, San Antonio is wonderful for kids and adults to enjoy all the great adventures and activities that make this city so remarkable.
San Antonio is a city of culture, adventure, and scenic beauty. Home to the iconic “Alamo”, San Antonio has a rich history that will lead to hours of exploring opportunities. Parents will find little difficulty finding activities to keep kids engaged and entertained – including spirited waterparks, playful museums, memorable stories of history, and many other spectacular adventures that must be seen to believe!
1. San Antonio Zoo
📍Map It: 3903 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: (210) 734-7184)
Hours: 9 AM-5 PM
Entrance: $18-$24
Get out and enjoy the San Antonio Zoo, a 35-acre park complete with unique and exotic animals for your viewing pleasure. With plenty of fun-filled activities, a day at the zoo is great for the entire family.
Not only can you get up-close-and-personal with the beautiful creatures, but several behind-the-scenes activities allow guests to view how a zoo operates. Take a tour and witness how the world-class staff of zoologists emulate the natural environment and maintain the well-being of these magnificent creatures.
One of the most memorable opportunities within the park is to participate in animal feedings. Staff will lead you as you feed goats, giraffes, and even hippos! These rare interactions will surely keep the kids engaged.
2. San Antonio Aquarium
📍Map It: 6320 Bandera Road, Leon Valley, TX 78238
Phone: (210) 310-3210)
Hours: 10 AM-5 PM
Entrance: $17-$22
Experience the abundant underwater world of fascinating and exotic sea creatures as well as other unique tropical animals. Located just outside the city, the San Antonio Aquarium is an excellent place for children and families to learn about wildlife and explore the world under the sea.
The San Antonio Aquarium has many incredible exhibits to capture a child’s eye. Watching a jellyfish glow or observing seahorses dancing together is an excellent experience for someone of any age.
If that weren’t enough, the aquarium also has several interactive exhibits that allow kids to get up close and personal with some incredible tropical creatures. You and your little ones may participate in the memorable experience of feeding exotic fish, rays, and sharks. That’s not all! There are opportunities to pet a caiman lizard or one of the aquarium’s famous sloths.
Related Read: 23 BEST Kid-Friendly Restaurants In San Antonio
3. Legoland Discovery Center San Antonio
📍Map It: 849 E Commerce St Suite 910, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 610-1150)
Hours: 10 AM-5 PM
Entrance: $22-$39
Have trouble planning a great birthday party? Worry no more. A trip to LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio is the perfect choice for your little ones and their rambunctious buddies. Carve out the entire day, the activities in LEGOLAND are limitless!
This adventure is not only for kids. At the discovery center, the creative LEGO artists have constructed miniature exhibits of all of San Antonio’s greatest landmarks.
LEGOLAND has more than 10 “LEGO” zones that have two different rides and an exciting play area for the kids to blow off that seemingly endless energy. If you need a break from the craziness, step outside and visit one of Rivercenter’s shops in downtown San Antonio.
4. SeaWorld San Antonio
📍Map It:10500 SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251
Phone: (210) 520-4732)
Hours: 10:30AM-6 PM
Entrance: $50-$85
A day at SeaWorld is an exhilarating experience for all ages. With dozens of wildlife and exhibits, adrenaline-inducing rides, and many interactive experiences, there is little doubt that the memories from SeaWorld San Antonio will last a lifetime.
Kids will be delighted to see one of their favorite Sesame Street characters. Randomly wandering the streets of SeaWorld are the likes of Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, and many more. Catch the Sesame Street Parade to see your favorites perform popular music found on the radio today.
Before leaving, be sure to make your way up to Discovery Point. From this vantage point, you can witness the playful behavior of SeaWorld’s most-famous attraction – the bottlenose dolphins of Dolphin Lagoon.
Related Read: 10 BEST Mexican Restaurants in San Antonio
5. The DoSeum
📍Map It: 2800 Broadway, San Antonio, Tx 78209
Phone: (210) 212-4453)
Hours: 10AM-5PM
Entrance: $14
Convincing kids to visit a museum may be challenging, but the DoSeum is an easy sell. The interactive museum focuses on participation and a hands-on learning adventure that is geared towards the imagination of curious children.
DoSeum’s informal educational exhibits make learning fun. There are over 40 different expeditions and summer camp adventures for kids to get lost in.
From dinosaur digging to scientific cooking classes, to even experiencing life as an adult, the DoSeum has creatively fostered important life lessons into a theme park experience. The exhibits rotate often, making every trip to the DoSeum a new and unique adventure for kids and parents alike.
6. Morgan’s Wonderland
📍Map It: 5223 David Edwards Dr, San Antonio, TX 78233
Phone: (210) 495-5888
Hours: 9AM-5PM
Entrance: $13-$19
Morgan’s Wonder is best described as an ultra-accessible theme park where everyone can have fun. This incredible theme park is all-inclusive, and its environment is free of barriers – both economical and physical.
Morgan’s Wonder has 25 different attractions across its 25 acres. Take a tour of the great park along the Wonderland Express – an educational railroad journey aboard the comfortably accessible train. Visit the carousel and the swings, both of which are designed to be wheelchair accessible.
One of the highlights of Morgan’s Wonder is Inspiration Island. Inspiration Island is an all-inclusive tropical splash park for everyone. Waterproof wheelchairs, an accessible riverboat adventure, and even temperature-adaptive play areas truly make Morgan’s Wonder for anyone and everyone.
7. Six Flags Fiesta Texas
📍Map It: 17000 W I-10, San Antonio, TX 78257
Phone: (210) 697-5050)
Hours: 10:30AM-8PM
Entrance: $60-$80
A day trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the ultimate family adventure in San Antonio. With pulse-racing rides for all ages, memorable entertainment experiences, and excellent dining and shopping choices, Six Flags is the place to be!
Six Flags Fiesta has rides for everyone - with thrilling rollercoasters, crashing wave pools, and kid-friendly rides. Depending on the weekend, Six Flags offer a variety of unique festivals and concerts that only enhance the park experience. There are even theatre productions that will make you feel like you are just off Broadway.
Mixed within the thrills are the park are wonderful opportunities for comforts and leisure. With all varieties of restaurants and shops, the park has something for the tastes of all its guests.
Related Read: 9 BEST Restaurants On San Antonio Riverwalk
8. Science Mill
📍Map It: 101 S Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City, Texas 78636
Phone: (844) 263-6405
Hours: 10AM-4PM
Entrance: $9-$11
Who says science can’t be fun? The Science Mill is an interactive non-profit museum built within a historic 1800s mill. The museum offers over 50 exhibits that are hands-on and even has a 3D theatre to keep the kids engaged.
The museum does an incredible job of demonstrating science in our everyday journey. The Science Mill encourages children to appreciate science in everything that they do. With the use of video games, technology-based exhibits, and cutting-edge interactive programs, the museum can ignite a childlike sense of curiosity.
The Science Mill’s mission is to encourage kids who are interested in science and technology to begin thinking about getting a head start on post-secondary education.
9. Aquatica
📍Map It: 10500 SeaWorld Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78251
Phone: (210) 520-4732
Hours: 10:30AM-6PM
Entrance: $30-$57
Aquatica is an action-packed waterpark with water slides, pools, rivers, and even animal experiences. Depending on your choice of adventure, Aquatica has plenty of unique opportunities that will surely leave lasting memories.
With its close connection with SeaWorld, many of the adventures bring you up close to the park’s most exotic and playful sea creatures.
Aquatica’s feature attraction is a rafting tour through Stingray Falls. This adventure travels by river raft through an underwater cave, winding through an enormous aquarium. This one-of-a-kind adventure brings you face-to-face with exotic tropical fish as well as gigantic stingrays. Around the world, it is the only ride of its kind.
10. Texas Transportation Museum
📍Map It: 11731 Wetmore Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247
Phone: (210) 490-3554
Hours: 9AM-4PM
Entrance: $12
San Antonio has a rich transportation history and what kid doesn’t like trains? This historic museum has a collection of unique automobiles, classic engines, life-size train models, and actively operated trains.
The museum is part of the Longhorn and Western Railroad, a heritage railroad system that runs to this day. For a truly special adventure, the museum offers train rides. For the price of admission, you and your family can enjoy unlimited rides in a flat car or caboose train.
If you want a more historically accurate trail ride, book a tour on either an active steam train or a diesel cab ride. A ticket to this attraction can be purchased in addition to the admission price for as low as $5.
11. Kiddie Park
📍Map It: 3903 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: (210) 734-7184
Hours: 9AM-7PM
Entrance: $16
Experience the country’s oldest amusement park for kids! Kiddie Park is a classic theme park with traditional rides that would have been enjoyed as far back as the 1920s.
While modern renovations have been made, the majority of the park maintains its original rides. Still standing today is an old-fashioned Ferris wheel and Kiddie Park’s famous carousel, hand-crafted more than 100 years ago. With your admission ticket, each guest receives unlimited rides, the choice of one hot dog or bag of popcorn, and a 16oz beverage.
If planning a birthday party, the park can be reserved for a party with up to 20 kids, in addition to the guest of honor.
12. Witte Museum
📍Map It: 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 357-1900
Hours: 10AM-5PM
Entrance: $10-$14
The Witte Museum is arguably the leading museum in all San Antonio. This incredible museum focuses on the science, history, and importance of water resources in South Texas.
Many of the exhibits at the Witte Museum are interactive. Unlike your typical museum, kids will enjoy a small circus exhibit and Wild West artifacts and films. The museum dives into the mythical history of San Antonio – complete with unicorns and dragons.
Part of San Antonio’s rich history is also on display. It is highlighted by the renowned works by huichol shaman-artist José Benítez Sánchez. Sanchez specialized in crafting vibrant and beautiful yarn paintings which are featured throughout the museum.
13. Graff 7A Ranch/South Texas Maize
📍Map It: 911 US-90, Hondo, TX 78861
Phone: (830) 741-3968)
Hours: 10AM-9PM
Entrance: $14-$18.50
The corn maze just outside of San Antonio is the fall flagship event and has been since 2001. Every year from mid-September to late July, the Graff 7A Ranch opens its massive seven-acre corn farm to families from across the state.
Get lost in the enormous corn maze that spans entirety of the seven-acre property. A journey through the corn is an all-day puzzle that is suspenseful, sometimes frustrating, but always satisfying.
If you or the kids prefer to not get lost, they also offer playful hayrides and muddy pig races. Before leaving, be sure to visit Matter Corn Slide Mountain, a fun hilltop slide that overlooks the puzzled folk in the corn maze.
14. Altitude Trampoline Park
📍Map It:11075 I-10 W #126, San Antonio, TX 78230
Phone: (210) 697-5867
Hours: 12PM-8PM
Entrance: $18-$20
Taking the kids out to a trampoline park is a great Saturday afternoon activity. With dozens of creative jumping opportunities, Altitude Trampoline Park is the perfect place to let the kids blow off some steam.
This particular park is more than meets the eyes. In addition to its endless energy-exhausting trampolines, Altitude Trampoline Park also features rock climbing. With a European-style rock wall that reaches 30 feet tall, you can try different routes with ranging levels of difficulty. For safety, you will be given professional equipment and will be well informed on the best practices for climbing.
Your ticket may choose from a 60-minute, 90-minute, or a two-hour pass. If this becomes a summer hobby, you may purchase a seasonal pass at a discounted rate.
15. San Antonio Spurs
📍Map It:1 AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone: (210) 444-500
Hours: Event Depending
Entrance: $20-$200
For a kid who loves sports, visiting the AT&T Center and catching a San Antonio Spurs game is an event that will leave memories for a lifetime. Watch one of the NBA’s greatest franchises from the home that David Robinson and Tim Duncan built.
There are few better experiences that a kid could have than enjoying a sporting event with their friends and family. Sipping your favorite beverage and eating a hot dog, all while watching these almost-superhuman figures play a game at the highest level, is a perfect night for a young fan.
Without any other major sports teams in the city, the San Antonio Spurs are the best ticket in town.
16. San Antonio River Walk
📍Map It:849 E Commerce St, San Antonio TX
Phone: (210) 227-4262
Hours: 24 Hours a Day
Entrance: Free
Riverwalk is in the heart of San Antonio and is also the city’s authentic core. The world-renowned 15-mile walkway along the historic Paseo del Rio dates back to 1536, San Antonio’s earliest days. Today, the iconic path through San Antonio is abundant with activities, events, and entertainment to be enjoyed by the entire family.
The highlight of the pathway is the river. Come aboard a riverboat tour and float the lengths of the river and through the heart of San Antonio. Before leaving, be sure to check out the city center to bring your trip full circle. The center village is complete with authentic restaurants and enjoyable shopping.
17. Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
📍Map It: 618 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78216
Phone: (210) 460-7054
Hours: 4PM-8PM
Entrance: $12-$31
The Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park is a great way to pacify kids’ short attention spans. The park is a trampoline park with multiple “mom, look at me!” jumps from a variety of creative angles. But the park is so much more than just a trampoline adventure.
You name it, this park has it. There is rock climbing, zip-lining, rope courses, and dodgeball. In each activity, there is staff trained for safety. With the large selection of activities, this park is unlikely to bore the kiddos. There are height restrictions for some of the activities, so the park is recommended for kids aged 6 and up.
18. Natural Bridges Caverns
📍Map It: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
Phone: (210) 651-6101)
Hours: 9 AM-4 PM
Entrance: $19.25-$29.75
A trip to Natural Bridges Caverns is an exciting and fun journey below the surface. This naturally formed cave system that opens into a large underground canyon. You may choose to do a self-tour, but it is recommended to get a tour guide. Learning how this cave is formed and is still alive today only adds to the incredible experience.
In addition to the natural caverns, on this surface is an adventure all its own. From above, you can enjoy an obstacle course that is part rope course. From the top of the obstacle course is a zip line that returns you to the starting point.
Before leaving, check out the Discovery Village Mining Co. Here you can discover and explore precious gems and fossils.
19. San Antonio Botanical Gardens
📍Map It: 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 536-1400
Hours: 9AM-5PM
Entrance: $13-$16
Visiting the San Antonio Botanical Garden is a great way to escape into nature without leaving the city. Tucked away in the middle of San Antonio, this beautiful garden spans over 38 acres.
Visitors may have access to 2.5 acres of this beautifully concentrated and carefully landscaped garden. The gardens lack any type of structure, allowing guests to wander through the deepest parts of nature, quickly forgetting about the busy city that surrounds you.
Their adventure garden is comprised of 15 different fun and interactive spaces. These spaces are essential in teaching children the importance of these plants and the value they are to our ecosystem.
20. The Alamo
📍Map It: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 225-1391
Hours: 9AM-5:30PM
Entrance: Free
When visiting San Antonio, a visit to the historic Alamo is an absolute must. Located in the heart of the city, The Alamo represents one of the greatest turning points in the history of the great state of Texas.
Kids will enjoy hearing the stories and battles that occurred on these hallowed grounds. Try to get an early tour to avoid the crowds, this monument is extremely popular and long lines are inevitable.
After exploring The Alamo, check out the museum to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of the fortress. There is also a gift shop on the premises to bring a piece of the Alamo home with you.
21. iFly San Antonio
📍Map It:15915 I-10, San Antonio, TX 78257
Phone: (210) 762-4359)
Hours: 12PM-7PM
Entrance: $65-$85
Did you know you could skydive without ever jumping from a plane? With iFly San Antonio, you can! iFly is an indoor experience in which you can enter a large vertical tubelike wind tunnel. With the extreme forces of the wind, it will levitate you – imitating the extreme feeling of freefalling.
The adventure lasts for about 1 hour and 15 minutes – each ticket gives allows you two visits to the skydiving simulator. Your visit comes with an instructor and gear. Although safe, guests are required to sign a liability waiver before entering the tunnel.
22. Magik Theatre
📍Map It: 420 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 227-2751)
Hours: 9AM-4PM
Entrance: $17.25-$22.50
The Magik Theatre is a wonderful children’s theatre that focuses on family-friendly shows and performances. The nonprofit group stages kid-friendly classics in fun musicals and plays. Often, these shows are interactive, involving children to participate from the audience.
That last part is important because the theatre’s mission is to get children involved in the arts. Behind the scenes, the Magik Theatre teaches courses and holds performing arts camps. After these camps, some kids continue and take part in the performances that inspired them in the first place!
23. Cibolo Center for Conservation
📍Map It:140 City Park Rd, Boerne, TX 78006
Phone: (830) 249-4616
Hours: 9AM-4:30PM
Entrance: Free, but donations are appreciated
A visit to the Cibolo Nature Center is a wonderful opportunity for kids who love the outdoors. For kids who like bugs, trees, and playing in rivers, there is no better place around San Antonio.
The nature center offers more than six miles of hiking trails that lead to wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities. Along the waters of a spring-fed marshland, it is very common for playful deer to be galloping through its streams.
The pathways are interpretive. With engaging informational signposts, kids can learn about the protected ecosystem, and the animals and fauna that rely upon it.
24. SEA LIFE San Antonio
📍Map It: 849 E Commerce St Suite 600, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 610-1160
Hours: 10AM-6PM
Entrance: $21-$28
SEA LIFE San Antonio is a new aquarium that explores the underwater world of some of the world’s most exotic aquatic creatures. The highlight of SEA LIFE is an amazing underwater ocean tunnel, taking you to a unique vantage point under the sea.
With 10 incredible themed exhibits and over 3,000 different sea creatures, there is no shortage of attractions for kids to enjoy. From the ocean tunnel, you will witness the underwater behavior of eels, stingrays, jellyfish, and sharks – all interacting with one another!
25. Scobee Education Center: Planetarium and Challenger Center
📍Map It:1819 N Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: (210) 486-0100
Hours: 6PM-11PM
Entrance: Varies
Kids are naturally obsessed with space. At the Scobee Planetarium & Scalan Observatory, their imagination becomes reality under the stars. Since 1961, the children of San Antonio have been enjoying the planetarium as a way to see galaxies far far away.
Every Friday night, the planetarium offers three shows. At 6:30 pm, there is a family-friendly visual presentation. Beginning at 8 pm, there is a live presentation of “The Sky Tonight.” Lastly, at 9:30 pm, there is a rotating movie presentation. For the 8 pm and 9:30 pm shows, kids must be 6 years of age or older to be admitted.
Alex Frick is a Midwestern-born, RV-pulling, bike-touring, globetrotting freelance writer and journalism student at the University of Florida. Traveling full-time with his travel nurse wife and their famous hiking tabby, Rafiki, Alex specializes in outdoor adventure writing and sports coverage, drawing from his experiences living nomadically. With a passion for uncovering hidden gems and lesser-known destinations, Alex's work invites readers to experience the world through the eyes of a modern adventurer.
