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There's Something for Everyone in San Antonio, Texas

By Harlisha Homer August 9, 2016
In days of old, I was able plan a trip, pack up my husband, four children, and an itinerary of activities, and family fun was almost automatic. Yes, there was a time when there were few complaints or eye rolls, and vacation elicited fabulous family memories and awesome pictures. And San Antonio, Texas, has always been a favorite spot for this native Texan family.

Fast forward to now: those same four children now consist of three teenagers and a nine-year-old. Let’s just say that the concept of the idyllic family vacation is, er, slightly different.
 
So, for our most recent trip to San Antonio, I had to make a few adjustments to ensure family fun. Yes, teen attitude is big, but this mom’s determination to make family memories was bigger. So, here’s how we mapped out our three days in San Antonio, with our older children in mind.

Accommodations:

The fabulous Hotel Contessa is situated along the picturesque San Antonio Riverwalk, which allowed for easy access to restaurants and some of the city’s attractions. Our suite was comfortable for our family of six – with two double beds in the bedroom and a sleeper sofa in the suite’s living area. The rooms were adjoined by a large restroom. And from our 11th story room, we had a gorgeous view of the city at night.

  
The hotel also features Las Ramblas restaurant, where we had breakfast each morning. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a lovely view of the Riverwalk.

Attractions:

What’s your family’s vacation personality? Are you a thrills and chills family who likes theme parks? Perhaps your family enjoys “touristy” locations, nature, history, or culture – or maybe a little bit of everything. With an impressive blend of history, theme park fun, and culture, San Antonio offers variety unmatched by many destinations. 

As I mentioned earlier, I have a group that includes sometimes fickle teens, so I tailored our itinerary accordingly. Here are some highlights:

The Alamo No visit to San Antonio is complete without a visit to The Alamo, the site of the well-known Battle of the Alamo. If you go during the daytime, a short walking tour is available. On the tour, guests can read about the complete history of the mission, as well as view artifacts from the battle. Make plans to see it, even if you only snap a picture in front of the building’s façade. 



Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works. We’d had such fun here before, we worked it into our plans again. We get good laughs from the oddities on display at Ripley’s, and recommend it over the Wax Works if you’re short on time. However, combo tickets can be purchased for both at a significant discount online. A bonus is that it’s located just across from the Alamo, so you can cover several attractions in one stop. Also included in the group of Ripley’s attractions are Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Guinness World Records, and Tomb Rider 3D. 

As an added bonus, these attractions are located near several chain family restaurants, souvenir shops and ice cream shops.
 
SeaWorld and Aquatica. We devoted one entire day to visiting SeaWorld San Antonio and its waterpark property, Aquatica. Having already visited Sea World a few times, we spent the majority of our time at Aquatica. The waterpark offers a bit of everything - water adventures for thrill-seekers, and more laid-back experiences. It also has sandy beaches, and opportunities for up-close animal experiences. It's large, but I didn't feel overwhelmed by the size of it. All of my children had an amazing time here. 


Tip: If your family intends to go to both parks in the same day, break up the day if you can. I would suggest doing the waterpark while it’s warmest, then returning to Sea World when it’s a bit cooler. Theme park + the middle of the afternoon = hot. Also, it worked well for us to go on a weekday.

A new part of SeaWorld is Discovery Point, which opened in May 2016. Here, an expansive Dolphin Lagoon is home to a pod of bottlenose dolphins. Guests can watch them from shores, or view them underwater. The area also features Explorer's Reef, home to several species of sharks, many of which are endangered, along with exotic fish and a living coral reef. Access to Dolphin Lagoon, Dolphin Underwater Viewing and Explorer's Reef is included with any SeaWorld admission.

San Antonio is also the home of Six Flags Fiesta Texas. With dozens of thrill-rides and shows, Fiesta Texas offers another theme park alternative that’s sure to entertain guests of all ages (including hard-to-please teenagers…)

Rio San Antonio Cruise is an informative boat tour of the San Antonio Riverwalk. We had a great time with this, as it provided some inside information about the Riverwalk that I wouldn't have known otherwise (and, being on the water, there are great Riverwalk photo opps).


Tip: If your time allows, ride this boat in the morning or in the evening. It was HOT when we rode, and being on the water made the boat ride exceptionally steamy.

Also of note:
  • If you can, choose a restaurant at which you can dine along the Riverwalk. I don’t have a particular favorite – you can find great Mexican food or any cuisine. And the Riverwalk is particularly striking at nighttime so it's fun to explore.
  • Though my crew skipped it this time, it is a great idea to start your visit with an overview tour of a city. In the past, we’ve taken the City Sightseeing Tour double-decker bus, where guests can tour San Antonio from atop the bus, taking in the sights as described by a knowledgeable tour guide. And with on/off privileges, guests are able to hop off the bus (and, subsequently, back on…), to enjoy more of the city’s sites. I find these tours to be extremely beneficial in taking in all of a city.
  • I’d also recommend spending some time at Hemisfair Park, home of the Tower of the Americas. The Tower offers a stunning view of the city from 750 feet in the air. Hemisfair Park also has multiple play structures, a splash pad, and a sand play area.
  • There is so much more to San Antonio and the surrounding area to experience. I have yet to make it to the Witte Museum of Natural History, the Institute of Texan Cultures, or Natural Bridge Caverns – but they are on my list.
  • The DoSeum, San Antonio's children's museum, is a great place for hands-on exploration for younger children.
  • Morgan's Wonderland is a theme park designed especially with special needs children in mind. With 25 attractions, the park was created for all to have fun - regardless of ability.
  • It's hot in many parts of Texas in summer. San Antonio is no exception - it was hot and humid during our late-summer visit. If you travel there in summer, please prepare accordingly.
Even as my children get older and more opinionated, I will not give up on the concept of the family vacation - I just have to plan it differently. San Antonio, once again, did not disappoint. It is the perfect type of town to accommodate all tastes – there’s something for the thrill-seeker, the history buff, the art lover, and the sports enthusiast in your family - and the explorer in all of us!  

The author received complimentary accommodations, breakfast, and passes to all attractions and tours for the purpose of facilitating this review. Opinions expressed are that of the author.