By: Alexandra Caspero | From: MSN
15 Reasons San Antonio Should Be on Your Bucket List
San Antonio is a vibrant city with a rich history of Texan pride, a diverse culture, and a nationally-ranked food scene. Of course, San Antonio is famous for the Alamo and its picturesque River Walk, but it’s also home to ancient limestone caverns, a Guinness Book of World Records’s tallest cowboy boot sculpture, amusement parks, and more.
My family of four recently traveled to the second-largest city in Texas and had a delicious, adventure-filled long weekend. San Antonio has something for every type of traveler, especially families looking for a blend of history, fun, and good food.
These are 15 must-do things in San Antonio, Texas.
1. Stroll the River Walk
If you’re in San Antonio, you’ll likely be on the riverwalk at some point. Stretching more than 15 miles from start to finish, the River Walk connects hundreds of shops, restaurants, hotels, historic landmarks, museums, and attractions.
Hop on or hop off anywhere to get to your downtown destination or enjoy people-watching at one of the many outdoor cafes and restaurants.
Or, do what we did each night — enjoy dinner off to experience a more local vibe to the many chains that line the river walk, then head for a post-dinner drink or boat ride on. Tokyo Cowboy was our go-to spot for a nightcap featuring whisky-based cocktails.
2. Hopscotch
If you ask my kids the best thing they did during our San Antonio weekend, they would both say, “Hopscotch!” And my husband might agree.
Hopscotch is more than an art gallery; it’s an immersive art experience. Grab a creative cocktail from the bar, then head down to admire the many light installations and optical illusions. Slip off your shoes for the giant ball pit (don’t forget socks!), walk through a Rainbow Cave with an accompanying pop soundtrack, and try your hand at laser graffiti.
Or, jump on the Quantum Trampoline and watch your bounces turn into neon bursts of art. Hopscotch allows you to play like a kid through their curated spaces.
While we were a family with young kids, we saw enough older couples, date-night duos, and teenagers to say that Hopscotch is for everyone.
3. Small Plates at Pharm Table
After reading the many positive reviews for chef Elizabeth Johnson’s plant-forward, Ayurvedic-inspired, farm-to-table restaurant, we decided to head for Pharm Table for dinner one night.
Though health is a foundation of her mission, Johnson also understands that food should be delicious and fun. She’s influenced by international cuisine and, as a native San Antonian, the region’s heritage foods.
We happened to stop in during Hispanic Heritage Month for their seasonal menu, and well, I’m still thinking about the Masala Nopal Chaat, a play on Indian street food with nopals (cactus) and a tamarind-cashew yogurt served with homemade dosa.
Grab a seat outside; Pharm Table won the “best patio for brunch” in 2022, or cozy up to the bar for a unique date night experience.
4. Natural Bridge Caverns
Located just 40 miles north of downtown, the Natural Bridge Caverns are a must-see in the San Antonio area.
Book the Discovery Tour in advance to secure your time (tours run every half hour), then head 180 feet underground to see huge underground chambers and thousand-year-old natural formations, like soda straws, flowstone, stalagmites stalactites.
The caverns are wet-lid and run by knowledgeable staff to highlight the various features.
5. The Alamo, Duh
If you’re visiting San Antonio, chances are you are here because of the Alamo.
To better familiarize yourself with the 1836 Battle of the Alamo and the site’s collective 300-year history, start with watching the documentary outside the barracks.
Visiting the church is free, but a reservation is required. From there, you can do a self-guided audio tour and explore the historic Alamo Church, the grounds, and the Long Barrack museum. For a more premier experience, take a guided tour led by an Alamo History Interpreter and bring the story of the Alamo to life.
Or, grab a handheld tablet for the Surrounded! The Alamo Augmented Experience allows visitors to travel through time with interactive characters, clips, and animations that help bring the history of the Alamo to life.
6. Shop for Art in La Villita
La Villita is located on the southern bank of the San Antonio River Walk, a darling Artisan village listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With over 25 shops and galleries that showcase local handmade goods to southwest dining options, we loved exploring La Villita one morning.
For families visiting San Antonio, couple a stroll in La Villita with Hemisfair, a nearby public place with a splash pad, disk swings, toddler play area, and numerous climbing structures.
Grab a coffee at CommonWealth Coffeehouse (or a spritz from nearby Box Street All Day) and spend a few hours playing, shopping, and exploring.
7. Classic Tex-Mex at Los Barrios
When you think of Tex-Mex in San Antonio, think of Los Barrios. This family-friendly dining destination has been a staple of Mexican cuisine since 1979, and it has been named one of the 100 Best New Restaurants in America by Esquire Magazine.
Try one of their iconic puffy tacos, stuffed with beef, chicken, beans, or guacamole and then topped with lettuce and tomato. We also tried their enchilada assortment platter, including an Enchilada Ranchero, Enchilada Mexicana, Enchilada Verde, Enchilada en Mole, and a Tex-Mex cheese enchilada.
As you feast, don’t be surprised if the owner, Diana Barrios Treviño, swings by your table. She stopped by twice during dinner to check on our food and say hello, as was the norm with several tables.
We loved our meal so much that we grabbed a copy of their book, Los Barrios Family Cookbook, as soon as we got home.
8. Splash Around the Pearl
Located just north of downtown, the Pearl is a fantastic pedestrian space home to several local shops, dining, the Paseos riverside amphitheater, the third campus of The Culinary Institute of America, a wine bar, brewery, and more.
We spent a few hours here during our San Antonio weekend, grabbing an ice cream cone from Lick, shopping for souvenirs at Felix Modern Pop and The Tiny Finch, and my kids’ favorite, splashing in the giant splash pad at the district’s center.
If you’re there on a weekend, make sure to check out the farmer’s markets. Named one of the Top 10 Farmers Markets in the nation by USA Today, the Saturday market is dedicated to local farmers and ranchers, while Sundays center around local artisans – you’ll find unique culinary-inspired home goods, pottery, wood crafts, and more.
9. You Must Try the Tequila Almond Croissant
Run, don’t walk to La Panadería for their famous Tequila Almond Croissant. Pro tip: ask for it to be warmed, then be prepared to enjoy the best croissant you’ve ever had. And that’s no exaggeration – I’ve traveled much of Europe and never had a pastry like this.
Don’t just take my word for it. Brothers José and David Cáceres opened the bakery in 2014 and have raked in the awards ever since. La Panadería was ranked the number one top place to eat by Yelp in 2024, the Best Bakery in San Antonio for 5 years in a row, and David was a semifinalist for the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker.
With four locations throughout the city, I recommend getting there as soon as they open to avoid the lines. Don’t forget that almond croissant – you won’t regret it.
10. Spend an Afternoon at the DoSeum
With two kids, ages 4 and 7, we often visit local children’s museums when we travel. However, the DoSeum is so much more than a children’s museum. Designed with a thoughtful, sustainable approach, the DoSeum’s features are kid- and environmentally friendly.
Most exhibits have a science, technology, and math focus (STEM), like an interactive robot named Baxter, a spy academy, the interactive puppet parade, and plenty of outdoor space with water and a treehouse.
11. Get The Good Kind
The Good Kind features fresh comfort food in Southtown San Antonio, owned and operated by James Beard Fellow & Food Network’s Chopped competitor, Tim McDiarmid.
This was the first stop of our weekend, and we enjoyed bowls of nourishing eats in a beautiful green lounge.
Menu highlights include the market bowl, with black rice, roasted sweet potatoes, edamame, and pickled local veggies, the house-made burger on local artisanal bread, and the fish tacos with fried cod and salsa verde.
12. An Evening Cruise
Hop on one of the many Go Rio river cruises as a relaxing way to experience the city’s vibrant River Walk. Enjoy a narrated 35-minute tour to learn about the many historic landmarks and San Antonio’s history from knowledgeable guides.
While the tours run night and day, I’d recommend an evening cruise to enjoy the illuminated riverbanks and better people-watching.
13. Chilaquiles and Boozy (or not) Brunch
Located in the vibrant Hemisfair area, Box St. All Day serves up seriously fun vibes. The family-friendly atmosphere features an all-day brunch menu, craft cocktails, and thick, homemade donuts.
We stopped in for chilaquiles and their many zero-proof cocktails. Using Ritual Zero Proof alternatives, the cocktail menu offers a creative selection of non-alcoholic cocktails, making it a family-friendly option for those who prefer to abstain – or at least abstain until 5 PM.
14. Eat the Garden
Jardin is a hidden gem nestled within the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The restaurant’s Mediterranean-inspired cuisine features fishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
My beet and orange salad was garnished with fresh, edible flowers, and our “The Med” hummus was topped with pomegranate arils, fresh dill, and prosecco-soaked golden raisins.
15. Stay in Style
We stayed at the InterContinental on the River Walk and enjoyed the outdoor rooftop pool, retro decor, and central location, which was within walking distance of downtown, the Pearl, and Hemisfair.
The newest luxury hotel on the San Antonio scene, plan on experiencing elevated amenities and classic hospitality that InterContintal is known for.
Make sure to grab a cup of coffee at Pink Belly, where they add pecan nuts to the coffee roasting process for a slightly nutty, distinctively Texas cup of Joe.