5 Kid-Friendly Activities for Your Extended Trip in San Antonio, Texas
When you’re planning a family road trip it’s important to consider destinations that will keep your kids entertained and engaged. For some families, this means getaways to locations with plenty of theme parks. For others, it might mean heading into the mountains to get back to nature or making trips to famous historical landmarks. It all depends on your children’s age and interests.
Road trip destinations like San Antonio, Texas, offer a wide range of kid-friendly activities and attractions. Fun things to do in San Antonio include theme parks, beautiful gardens and parks, animal encounters, and historical landmarks. Here’s our list of the top 5 things to do in San Antonio with kids.
1. Hit the Theme Parks
Theme parks and water parks are almost always popular with kids. San Antonio is home to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, with its thrilling roller coasters and rides, and Splashdown San Antonio, where you can relax in a personal cabana or race down the high-speed, open-top Serpentines water slide. To help maintain the health of both visitors and staff, both parks encourage visitors to maintain social distance and abide by park rules.
If you’re not comfortable exposing children to potentially large crowds, don’t worry! There are many other fun things to do in San Antonio with kids.
2. The DoSeum
Filled with interactive exhibits, the DoSeum ranks as one of the best things to do in San Antonio with toddlers. The popular 6,000 square-foot kid’s museum lets kids get right into the action with hands-on exploration of the arts, sciences, digital platforms, and the natural world.
In response to the pandemic, the DoSeum currently only runs at 25 percent occupancy and requires all visitors wear masks. Due to the reduced number of guests allowed in at any one time, your family can enjoy themselves while maintaining a safe social distance. Demand for tickets is high, so it’s best to book your visit online before embarking on a San Antonio road trip.
3. Stroll the Paseo del Rio
The Paseo del Rio, also known as the River Walk, is a series of walkways and parks along the San Antonio River, at a level lower than the streets it borders. A beautiful location for a stroll, the River Walk loops along the riverbank and below bridges with links to Marriage Island, HemisFair Park, and the Alamo. It’s an eclectic mix of nature, history, public art, shops, and restaurants, and well worth exploring.
4. The San Antonio Botanical Gardens and Conservatory
If your kids love pretty plants and nature, consider making a trip to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The 33-acre site includes a children’s garden, a Japanese garden, and a scent-filled garden for the blind. It’s a great place for kids to learn about ecosystems, or just to enjoy a quiet day between more energetic family outings.
5. The San Antonio Aquarium
One of the most fun things to do in San Antonio for toddlers, older kids, and adults is a visit to the San Antonio Aquarium. Home to thousands of different animals and fish, the aquarium features plenty of interactive adventures, including the I-guana Jump Bounce House and a chance to feed fish, sloths, birds, turtles, and octopuses. You can even get a selfie taken with a mermaid!
Where to Stay in San Antonio
With so many things to do in San Antonio with kids, it’s best to spend a week or more exploring the city. A week-long stay at a traditional hotel is expensive — lodging and meals out can quickly go through your road trip money. Instead of paying night-by-night, consider an extended-stay hotel for your next getaway.
WoodSpring Suites has five extended stay hotels in San Antonio. All offer weekly rates on suites capable of sleeping up to four people, and all are maintained to meet the highest standards for cleanliness. Each suite includes a kitchen with a stovetop, microwave, and full-sized refrigerator, so you can make your own meals. With a full-sized bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TV, a WoodSpring Suites guest room includes everything you need for a base of operations while you explore the many fun things to do in San Antonio.
