Travel + Leisure ranked the San Antonio River Walk as the #1 River Walk in America. Also known as Paseo del Rio, this major tourist attraction brings in over five million visitors a year. Delight yourself with a relaxing dinner at one of the numerous restaurants or cafes that line the river. Spice it up by visiting one of the numerous night spots or enjoying the sounds of mariachis and other live music. Adults and children enjoy floating on river boats piloted by San Antonio's humorous tour guides. The River Walk is the perfect place to hang out with family or sit quietly with your date while you enjoy the sounds of a bubbling waterfall.
Recommended for Sightseeing because: The Riverwalk is quintessentially San Antonio, complete with amazing restaurants, bars, shops, palm trees, boats, river ducks and endless festivities.
Kimberly's expert tip: Make sure to go for a boat ride to get the full experience and learn a little bit about San Antonio's rich history.
The Cave Without a Name is a natural, living cavern with over two miles of interconnecting cave systems. Filled with amazing Stalactites and Stalagmites, it is 66 degrees year-round. Visitors enjoy a tour of the six main rooms and the walkways are easy to navigate. The cave has been open to the environment for thousands upon thousands of years as evidenced by some of the prehistoric finds inside. It was used as a moonshine distillery around 1920 which is one of the first documented exposures to humans. It was abandoned and later rediscovered by three boys in 1935.
Recommended for Sightseeing because: The Cave Without a Name is a completely unique experience, getting to explore an ancient, untouched cave.
Kimberly's expert tip: While you're out in the Boerne area, take some time to explore this historic small town, which offers great shopping and dining opportunities, such as Cypress Grille.
Within this lovely district, leading German merchants settled in the late 19th century. Today, its elegant Victorian mansions and tree-lined streets are a pleasure to behold. Madison, Guenther, and King William streets are particularly pretty for a stroll or drive. Stop in at the Guenther House or Steves Homestead, two historic homes that offer guided tours. The former features a small museum of mill memorabilia, a gift shop, and a restaurant serving fine German pastries and full breakfasts and lunches. Along nearby S. Alamo Street, you will also find an assortment of some of the city's top restaurants and bars. Favorites include Feast and Rosario's.
Recommended for Sightseeing because: Similar to the Garden District in New Orleans, King William is a beautiful neighborhood enjoy sightseeing, either on foot or by car.
Kimberly's expert tip: Find a variety of chic shops and some of the city's best restaurant's along S. Alamo Street, which abuts the neighborhood.
One of five missions established in the early 1700's, the Alamo is nearly 300 years old. It is perhaps the most cherished landmark in San Antonio. If you ask around, you will find that all children here and in surrounding towns take at least one field trip to the Alamo as part of their education. Visitors to the Alamo stroll inside and view artifacts preserved in the onsite museum. Texans feel emotion imagining the defenders waking to General Santa Anna's army that fatal morning. The Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836 became the turning point in the Texas Revolution. Due to the stories of cruelty, many were inspired to join the Texian army. Just over one month later, the Mexican army met defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto. Go back in time, take a few photos and Remember the Alamo.
Recommended for Sightseeing because: On the top of everyone's sightseeing list! You can't visit San Antonio without seeing this rich, historic site.
Kimberly's expert tip: Pop across the street for some delectable chocolate from Kilwin's!
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 Sightseeing because: A little off the beaten path, McAllister is a nature's wonderland in the middle of the city, and a great place to explore.
Kimberly's expert tip: This is a great place to go off-roading with your bike.
Let someone else do the driving! If you're not sure what you want to do because let's face it, San Antonio is one of the biggest cities in America, a Trolley Tour is a great place to start. You'll see several popular San Antonio's sights on these trolley tours without the stress of navigating an unfamiliar city. The tours are eloquently Narrated Trolley Tours and include a tour of the Historic Downtown as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Missions. With ten Trolley stops and dozens of attractions for families to explore, it's a great way to entertain the kids. Packages Available Including Free Boat Ride Tickets.
Recommended for Sightseeing because: History buffs will enjoy this tour of San Antonio highlights and its history, that ventures hundreds of years into the past.
Kimberly's expert tip: Ask about packages that also include a riverboat tour.
This is a great museum for families! Built on the banks of the San Antonio River, the Witte is considered San Antonio's foremost museum. With a four story tree house and dinosaur bones, kids are hooked as soon as they arrive. The tree house itself features endless hands on science related activities and a ride on a 'Sky-cycle' 15 feet in the air! Adults appreciate the Texas art and in May 2012, an extraordinary South Texas Heritage Center opened. Long term exhibits include dinosaurs and mummies among other fascinating collections. The Witte will often host special events and exhibits that are an additional fee on top of the museum costs. Ask the staff to tell you about the most current featured exhibits to help you determine whether or not you want to add this to your regular museum ticket price and tour.
Recommended for Sightseeing because: The Witte is always showcasing fun and educational exhibits for families and kids.
Kimberly's expert tip: Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at nearby Brackenridge Park.
San Antonio has a rich history. A vast part of downtown, surrounding the Alamo, was land that was the site of one of the most significant wars. Many many people have seen all sorts of ghosts in San Antonio, including the ghosts of soldiers and their horses. The tour Includes real ghost stories about San Antonio, Texas. They are San Antonio's #1 Ghost Tour, and the only ghost tour that takes you inside the Menger Bar for a drink, which is known for its spooky visitors. They offer two of the most popular ghost tours in San Antonio. Their Ghost Hunts are known world wide as good family entertainment. Ghost Hunting isn't just for kids and family any more!
Recommended for Sightseeing because: The Ghost Tour offers a unique, if not a little spooky, way to go sightseeing in San Antonio.
Kimberly's expert tip: If you want to find out more paranormal stories about San Antonio, check out the local podcast, The Paranormal Empath.
Get a true bird's eye view with Alamo Helicopter Tours. They offer various tour options for a surprisingly reasonable fee. Their downtown-centric package takes you on a flight along the San Antonio River, including the Riverwalk, as well as the Alamodome, Tower of the Americas, the Alamo and Historic La Villita. If you're looking for something more scenic, opt for the Hill Country Tour, where you get to see the San Antonio Zoo and Quarry Market, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, La Cantera, The Westin Golf resort and The Dominion. As you head further north, you will be stunned by the gorgeous vistas of the low Hill Country. There's so much more in store for you, so sit back and take flight!
Recommended for Sightseeing because: Alamo Helicopter Tours offers a unique experience and perspective of the beautiful Alamo City.
Kimberly's expert tip: They also offer private charters and pilot training. Be sure to join the 'behind the scenes' tour!
SeaWorld should be on everyone's list when visiting San Antonio, no matter what your age. Although they have some great rides, such as the Steel Eel and Great White rollercoasters, the best reason to go to SeaWorld is for the animals and the animal-centric shows. They have dolphins and stingrays that you can "pet" if you are lucky enough for them to swim by you, a magnificent oceanarium filled with all sorts of creatures, including sharks and giant sea turtles. The shows are outstanding and include dolphins, Beluga whales and sea lions. Oh, and did we mention the penguins? Yes, there are penguins in Texas, if you can believe it! They also have some exciting culinary offerings, so check out their website for more details.
Recommended for Sightseeing because: A great place for families to explore the ocean's animal kingdom, ride some of the best rides in Texas and so much more!
Kimberly's expert tip: SeaWorld just opened up their fantastic new ride, Texas Stingray, which happens to be the longest, tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Texas! Smooth, quick and exciting, oh, what a ride!