Pack up the kids -- or the kid at heart -- and seek out some Texas-sized thrills. Big theme parks, a cave adventure, and even some wild animals will excite and entertain, all mere miles from downtown San Antonio.

Rides, Slides and a Killer Whale!

Fasten your seatbelts…San Antonio has big roller coasters and water rides waiting for you. Six Flags Fiesta Texas' rollercoasters twist and turn, launching you into space at upwards of 60 miles per hour. There's even a large kiddie ride section with smaller proportioned rides for little tikes. Cool off at Splashtown, a water park with 20 acres of attractions, or hit the wave pool at Schlitterbahn, the world's largest tubing park.

If you'd prefer to just get splashed, visit Shamu at SeaWorld San Antonio. Watch the aquatic entertainment and daredevil stunts, or interact one-on-one with the dolphins. Need more excitement? Sea World also has tons of rides and slides to keep you moving.

Unleash Your Inner Animal

Next, head to Brackenridge Park, where you can relax at the Japanese Tea Gardens, or find some more high-energy fun at the San Antonio Zoo. See rhinos and spider monkeys, visit the African Plains and Amazonia -- and don't forget to peek under the sea at the aquarium!

Then, go on safari in Hill Country at Natural Bridge Caverns Wildlife Park. Five hundred animals from six of the seven continents roam free on this 400-acre preserve. You can even pet and feed some of the animals, making for a fun, up-close animal experience. While there, take a walking tour of the stalagmites and stalactites at the Natural Bridge Caverns -- the largest cavern in Texas. Or, sign up for the adventure tour and rappel undeveloped parts of the cave.

Take the Adventure Indoors

Maybe you've forgotten your sunscreen, or perhaps you'd like to take a day to enjoy the air conditioning. Either way, there's plenty of indoor fun in San Antonio. Take the kids to the San Antonio Children's Museum to explore more than 80 hands-on exhibits. If they are into Ancient Egypt and dinosaurs, a stop at the Witte Museum is must -- they've got both dino bones and mummies! Join in the celebration of the Lone Star State's multicultural heritage at the Institute of Texan Cultures.

After that, catch a 3-D movie at the IMAX Theater, and get a feel for the Wild West at the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. This museum is not stuffy -- Teddy Roosevelt recruited Rough Riders here, Pancho Villa planned the Mexican Revolution, and now you can visit the western saloon and the museum of oddities here -- mounted antlers included.