We had so much fun on our little mini family vacation to San Antonio a few weeks ago. It was both of our kids first time flying (that they could remember) and we all had a blast. Below I am sharing our itinerary including where you must stay, where you must eat, and what you must do when traveling to San Antonio with kids (ours are ages 1.5 and 5).
Day 1: Downtown San Antonio
All things downtown San Antonio! This is your day to experience the city and all downtown has to offer.
We recommend your first stop be The Alamo. It is totally free to visit and my son and husband had it in their top 3 of favorite things we saw. I highly recommend visiting your local library before traveling and checking out some books (age appropriate of course) on the Alamo. It really helped make it more interesting knowing the history behind the Alamo. You should only need 1-2 hours at the Alamo.
After The Alamo grab some lunch (we hit up Fudruckers because I love their burgers and we don’t have them back home) and took a short walk to the Yanaguana garden which has a free yet AWESOME playground for the kids (photos below). We got a drink and had a great time watching the kids burn some energy in this beautiful park before our next adventure).
Side note: There are a total of 5 missions in the area other than the Alamo which are also fun to visit if you have time. We ended up over the few days we were there visiting 4 of them and the kids really loved exploring them.
Next we visited the Japanese Tea Gardens (note: you will need to Uber or drive it is not walk-able/ leave your stroller at the hotel). This ended up being a highlight of the trip. The Japanese Tea Gardens are GORGEOUS and free to enter. The kids had a blast exploring and we all enjoyed a glass of tea in the gardens when we were done. If you wanted to make a day of it you could totally pair with the zoo which is right next door. We did not have time to visit the zoo but I hear it is great.
After the tea gardens we returned to the riverwalk for a boat tour. I highly recommend the boat tour. The kids had a blast and so did we. Note: buy your tickets online to save time in lines and go early to avoid lines.
After grabbing a bite to eat round out your night by visiting the free light show at San Fernando cathedral. The show is great and lasts 24 minutes.
Where we recommend you eat: There are tons of fun places on the Riverwalk but we recommend you get there early (the waits get long at night). We really enjoyed Casa Rio and the kids loved watching the ducks walk around and the boats go by in the river as we ate. Lulu’s Bakery is also a must visit. Two Brother’s BBQ is also great.
Where we recommend staying: SpringHill Suites San Antonio Downtown/Riverwalk Area – this hotel was within walking distance of everything you want to do but still quiet enough to let little ones sleep and allowed us to leave our car parked and just push a stroller and walk. The hotel staff was super friendly and the hotel even has complimentary breakfast and a swimming pool.
Day 2: Seaworld San Antonio
Our second day we left the city and drove out to hill country to experience SeaWorld and it certainly did not disappoint. This park, while different then the Orlando location, is awesome and has so many great shows for all ages along with some great roller coasters and play spaces for kids. When you buy a ticket to Seaworld you get free access into Discovery Pointe as well so we walked over there as well and really enjoyed watching the dolphin trainers train the dolphins. Such a cool experience and one you shouldn’t miss!
Where we recommend you eat: While you are at the parks I highly encourage you to look into the meal pass Seaworld offers. The four of us purchased one adult meal pass and one kids meal pass and it allowed us to eat all day long more than we wanted for less than $65. It was a great deal! If you want lunch outside the park Rudy’s is the perfect place to grab some delicious bbq.
Where we recommend staying: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa – this property was GORGEOUS! You could easily stay your entire week and never leave the property. From incredible pools and a lazy river to a water slide and trails it offers something for everyone! You can eve bike ride around the property or visit the onsite spa or golf course. There is truly something for everyone at this resort! They even had family friendly activities included in your stay and planned for you such as arts and crafts for kids and smores in the evenings.
Day 3: Enjoy Hyatt Hill Country Resort and Spa for the first half of the day then explore Natural Bridge Caverns
On our last full day in San Antonio we had a wonderful time just enjoying the beautiful resort at Hyatt Hill Country. We played in the pools, rode the lazy river, and explored the gorgeous property. Below are some photos of all the fun we had.
After exploring and enjoying the resort we headed to The Natural Caverns for a cave tour. This was really neat but also VERY humid so dress accordingly. Also, know if you bring small children there are lots of steps so you will probably be carrying them most of the time. The tour lasts about 1.5 hours.
End the day by visiting Market Square to pick up some souvenirs (its a real Mexican market) and eat at Mi Terra for an authentic Mexican experience.
Where we recommend you eat: For an unforgettable breakfast we highly recommend the Springhouse Cafe at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa. Mi Terra Cafe y Panaderia is a must eat when visiting Market Square. Rudy’s BBQ if you need a lunch spot near hill country.
Where we recommend staying: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
We had the best long weekend in San Antonio and highly encourage you to add it to your list of places to visit with your kids for a super fun long weekend full of great food and tons of fun!
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