San Antonio has a variety of summer-friendly activities that are kid-friendly and free. If you are on a budget and looking for a way to entertain the kids, these eight places are a good place to start.
The River Walk
Enjoy shade from the abundance of trees along the waters of the San AntonioRiver. Meander through air-conditioned shops, museums, restaurants and hotels along the path that follows the river. There is plenty of seating and tables to sit and enjoy the weather. Be sure to find La Villita (The Little Village), built by Spanish Soldiers, it is now a historical arts village that will provide hours of exploring in itself.
The River Walk
110 Broadway, Suite440, San Antonio, TX78205
Phone: (210) 227-4262
thesanantonioriverwalk.com/
Five Missions to Explore
Step back into another time while exploring San Antonio’s historical missions. There are five missions, all open to the public free of charge. The most visited mission is the Alamo, by far. But, the other missions that include the San Jose, Concepcion, San Francisco de la Espade, and San Juan Capistranoeach are their own adventure. For the athletic and adventurous there is 12-miles of trail that interconnect these missions and can be hiked or biked.
http://www.nps.gov/saan/historyculture/index.htm
The Alamo
A pivotal location in Texas history, the Alamohas more than 300 years of historical significance. The grounds are broken up onto three buildings including the Shrine, the LongBarrackMuseum, and the GiftMuseum. The Alamois just a couple of blocks from the River Walk, an easy trek for the kids. More than 2.5 million people visit this old mission and battleground each year. It is a must see for any first-time San Antonio visitor.
300 AlamoPlaza
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-225-1391
http://www.thealamo.org/visitors/overview.php
The San AntonioMuseum of Art
This is a 30,000 square-foot museum that holds antiquities, American art, contemporary art, Asian art and lots of other exhibitions. Their featured exhibitions change periodically, so check their website for the most up-to-date information. The museum offers reasonably-priced programs for the kids including Wednesday Workshops. These workshops differ every week and include topics such as Exploring Latin America and Discovering Ancient Egypt.
The San Antonio Museum of Art
200 W. Jones Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78215
Phone: (210) 978-8100
samuseum.org
The Guether House
The Guether House is in one of the most historical areas of San Antonio. It is a restaurant and museum that has pieces dating back to 1848. The house was built by Carl Hilmar Guenther who settled in the area, prospering in the flour mill industry. Items in the museum include mill memorabilia and other fixtures of the time period.
205 E. Guenther Street
San Antonio, TX 78204
800-235-8186
http://www.guentherhouse.com/index.php
BrackenridgePark
A San Antonio local favorite, BrackenridgeParkis a 443-acre park near the San Antonio Zoo. There are giant oak trees that shade you while you explore the river, trails and playground. A dog-park is also available, so bring your four-legged friend on your day at the park. Near the park is the Japanese Tea Garden. The botanical garden features stone paths that guide you through the beautiful gardens and koi-filled ponds. Also located within the park is the WitteMuseumwith exhibits that include dinosaur skeletons, mummies and the Science Tree House.
BrackenridgePark
3910 North Saint Mary's Street
San Antonio, TX 78212
210- 207-7275
wildtexas.com/brakenridge
WitteMuseum
3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 357-1900
wittemuseum.org/
Geocaching
One of the best ways to explore any city for the first time is by geocaching. Geocaching will take you to the unadvertised places, the hidden gems within the city. Geocaching is very inexpensive to get started and free thereafter. If you want to know the best geocaches in any area, you can filter your search results on geocaching.com by the caches other geocachers have “favorited”. Click on the blue ribbon at the top of the search results page for the best caches in town!
Finding hidden geocaches, exploring museums or playing in a tree house are all good ways to beat the summer blahs. They are also the areas the crowds don’t swarm. A peaceful day at a park or museum, away from the crowds may be just the thing on a hot summer day. Finding the geocaches along the 12-miles of mission trails will surely keep you away from the crowds and create adventures that will be remembered for a long time.
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