Looking for a great place to take the family and get outside and play in a relaxing environment, head to Chicken N Pickle, a ginormous entertainment venue that features a fast casual dining restaurant, 11 pickleball courts (6 indoor and 5 outdoor), 2 bocce ball courts and 4 shuffleboard courts as well as a bar and entertainment space with picnic tables, lounge chairs and outdoor lawn games such as Jenga and Corn Hole. They also have a game room with ping pong and TV screens where you can watch the big games. If you've never played pickleball then you're in for a real treat... imagine tennis smashed with ping pong on a mini tennis-like court. As for the eats, they have a variety of options, including the Pickled Chicken Sandwich, made with a brined grilled chicken breast, bacon, smashed avocado, pickle slaw, and jack cheese. Yum and fun awaits you!
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: Chicken N Pickle provides a variety of outdoor games and chill zones for adults and kids alike.
Kimberly's expert tip: Chicken N Pickle is an awesome place to enjoy a margarita on the lawn while the kids safely play nearby.
McAllister Park has a lot to offer, chief among them; it has the best trails for bike riding in the city, but be careful as it's easy to get lost here! Although smack dab in the middle of the city, it feels like you're on a retreat. This park offers some of the most beautiful vistas and stunning variety of vegetation. It's a great place to take your camera for some scenic shots. McAllister is also a popular family spot as it has a multitude of baseball fields, soccer fields, rugby fields, multi-purpose fields, a children's play area, dog park, fitness stations, almost 200 picnic tables and fifteen miles of both hard and soft trails.
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: McAllister Park is filled with tons of nature, trails and places to enjoy a picnic.
Kimberly's expert tip: This is a great place to go off-roading with your bike.
What's better than an outdoor movie? A free outdoor movie! And thanks to Slab Cinema, which provides free movie watching experiences all over the city of San Antonio, you have the opportunity to enjoy popular films, often several times a month. Slab Cinema started in 2004 and has been a favorite family activity ever since. From The Little Mermaid to War Games and even a Coen Brothers triple feature which includes Raising Arizona, Big Lebowski and Fargo, Slab Cinema pops up at the coolest, iconic venues, ranging from the San Antonio Museum of Art (at Confluence Park) to Hemisfair Park and even the Alamo. On the Southside, they've been playing movies on a restored drive-in screen at Mission Marquee Plaza. Typically, the movies tend towards family-friendly flicks, but the content varies, so be sure to check out their website to see what's coming up. Bring a blanket or chair, maybe a cooler with some drinks and snacks and you're set for the evening. Often the venues have food trucks or access to nearby restaurants, in case you don't have time to prepare. Free never felt so fun!
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: Slab Cinema is a relaxing outdoor activity for film lovers that's free for the whole family.
Kimberly's expert tip: Slab Cinema doesn't want you to miss the movie, so they ask that you be there before dusk. The movie starts approximately 15 minutes after the official sunset time.
San Antonio's Botanical Gardens is one of the prettiest places to see in the city. This extraordinary 33-acre facility showcases plants from desert regions to equatorial rainforests, some of which are housed in individual, climate-controlled glass environments surrounded by a sunken courtyard and tropical lagoon filled with aquatic plants. Specialty collections include epiphytic plants, desert cacti and succulents, equatorial tropicals, palms and cycads, tropical fruits, ferns and aroids and insectivores. The Gardens, which always strive to connect people to the plant world through experience, education and research also features a children's garden, a Japanese garden and even a garden for the blind. .
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: One of the most incredible gardens in the city - it's a fantastic way to spend the day.
Kimberly's expert tip: Make sure to check out the garden for special event, such as cooking classes in their culinary garden.
Read more about San Antonio Botanical Gardens and Conservatory →
If you're a thrill seeker, you cannot visit San Antonio without stopping off at Fiesta Texas, one of the best entertainment parks in the country. Located on 200 acres of what used to be a rock quarry, this theme park features teeth-chattering rides, great shows, and incredible attractions, plus White Water Bay water park for cooling off during the hot summer months. Although Fiesta Texas used to be geared more towards the Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny, Fiesta Texas has now become the place to go for thrill rides. They have some of the most spine-tingling roller coasters you'll ever ride, including the Rattler and Superman Krypton Coaster.
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: A major tourist destination for outdoor family fun, rides and more!
Kimberly's expert tip: Make sure to stay till the end of the night to catch the fireworks and laser light show! It's like the Fourth of July every night at Fiesta Texas.
The City of San Antonio invested $125 million dollars into revitalizing the San Pedro Creek and transforming it into the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, which means a beautiful and free destination for visitors to enjoy throughout the year. Located on the western edge of downtown, near the Alamo, is a merging and celebration of this city's nature, art, and culture. The first section opened in May of 2018 and showcases the Plaza de Fundacion and its stunning "Rain from the Heavens" public art installation of custom tile work that adorns a dozen generational benches. Visitors can stroll through this picturesque park, very similar to the riverwalk, and take in their surroundings, which includes a variety of commissioned murals and art pieces that depict the history and culture of San Pedro Creek.
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: This park is a wonderful place to go on a leisurely walk in the downtown area.
Kimberly's expert tip: The ideal place to go for a morning jog or grab a cup of coffee and go for a walk if you're staying in the downtown area.
San Antonio likes to lead the way in all things and the zoo is no exception. Parents magazine ranked the San Antonio Zoo as one of the Top 10 Best Zoos for Kids. It is also the third largest zoo in the nation so there is plenty to see. Home to over 8,500 animals, the zoo is open 365 days a year, rain or shine. There are plenty of places to grab a cold drink or a bite to eat as you spend the day exploring. The San Antonio Zoo is about 10 minutes from the downtown area. We recommend you bring your sunscreen as you explore this friendly animal world. Your kids will want to stay awhile.
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: San Antonio Zoo is one of the most eclectic and beautiful zoos in Texas, if not the country, perfect for outdoor enjoyment.
Kimberly's expert tip: Go early in the mornings or on a cooler day when the animals are more active.
If you're visiting San Antonio for the first time or have not been before, Hemisfair Park is a must see destination spot. This lush, beautifully landscaped neighborhood park, located in the center of downtown, was originally created for the World's Fair in 1968. In recent years, it's become home to San Antonio's largest arts exhibit known as Luminaria. Walking this park will not only give you a good workout, but will lead you to some of the best destinations in San Antonio, including the Tower of the Americas, the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Magik Children's Theatre, just for starters. The park is also located directly across the street from La Villita, the historic arts village which is great for shopping!
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: Located right downtown, the newly refreshed HemisFair Park is a great place for families to explore.
Kimberly's expert tip: With an amazing playground area for kids, this is a great place to take the family if you're looking for some free fun.
It's a rare thing in the San Antonio area to be able to witness the changing of the seasons, but if that's what you're looking for, you don't have to go terribly far to find it. Just a few hours northwest of San Antonio is a state park known as Lost Maples. Although it makes for an extraordinary excursion any time of the year, during the fall, this grove of "lost maples" turns all the beautiful colors of autumn. This scenic park is also known for its abundant wildflowers, steep canyon walls and the gorgeous Sabinal River. This is a great place to take the whole family, especially once fall has hit Texas. Go hiking, photo trekking, fishing, birding, camping, stargazing or hunting for geocaches. With 10 miles of trails, it's easy to get happily lost in this wonderland.
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: Lost Maples is one of the most beautiful Texas state parks with plenty of things to see and do.
Kimberly's expert tip: Make sure to take the scenic route from San Antonio to take full advantage of nature's gifts and inspirations!
Just 90 miles from San Antonio lies the second largest batholith in the United States. Enchanted Rock has seen human activity up to 11,000 years ago. You'll enjoy fun and enriching activities like backpacking, camping (primitive also), hiking, rappelling and rock climbing, bird watching, and the stars at night are absolutely amazing! Local legend has it that the Tonkawa Indians named Enchanted Rock because of the sounds they heard coming from the rocks at night. They believed the formation was enchanted. This is one of the most beautiful natural areas in Texas. There is also a cave towards the top of the formation, but beware if you are claustrophobic, it is very cramped and at times you find yourself crawling. Flashlights are a must!
Recommended for Outdoor Activities because: Enchanted Rock is one of the most popular outdoor attractions for hiking in the Texas Hill Country.
Kimberly's expert tip: If going on the weekends, make sure to arrive early as it can get pretty crowded.