9 Tips to Have the Best Trip to San Antonio

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San Antonio, Texas is an amazing destination for family vacations. It has warm weather, family-friendly activities, delicious food, and a colorful history and culture. Make your vacation awesome with these tips for the best trip to San Antonio!

Tip #1: Stay close to the action.

One of my best tips for any family vacation, but especially for visiting San Antonio, is to stay close to the action. Plan out your activities first and then find a hotel that is close to where you will be spending most of your time. This will save you time and make getting to and from your experiences easier.

San Antonio is a very walkable city, especially the downtown area. So, if you will be spending a good chunk of time downtown, including at the Alamo and Riverwalk, then I highly recommend that you stay at a hotel in that area.

This will allow you to walk to most of your planned attractions. And it will allow you to walk off some calories after you chow down at some of the great restaurants in the Riverwalk area.

Tip #2: Embrace the Riverwalk.

There is nothing more iconic about San Antonio, Texas than the Riverwalk! It is, by far, the most popular attraction in the entire city. It is also one of the top Texas bucket list experiences. And it is definitely a place where you should spend a good amount of time exploring.

The Riverwalk is located along the banks of the San Antonio river that runs through downtown San Antonio. Both banks of the river in this area are lined with shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, and entertainment venues. There are also two shopping malls located on the Riverwalk.

You can also take a guided boat tour along the river to learn about the history of the city and see the Riverwalk from a whole new perspective. Your kids will love this!

All of this is located below street level, so you can’t really see it from the street. To access the Riverwalk, look for stairs leading down from street level at just about every intersection along its path.

I love walking along the Riverwalk, taking in the atmosphere, people watching, and enjoying the sights. It is one of my favorite things to do in San Antonio.

Tip #3: Enjoy some favorite Texas cuisines.

San Antonio is said to be the birthplace of Tex-Mex. In addition to that, it has more than its fair share of amazing barbeque joints and steakhouses. You really don’t have to go far to find some delicious food in this city!

So, definitely take your trip here to the next level by eating some of these beloved cuisines. Do your research ahead of time and make a list of the restaurants you want to try the most.

Tip #4: Eat breakfast at Guenther House.

Speaking of restaurants, you can’t have the best trip to San Antonio without having breakfast at Guenther House! It is located in the historic King William neighborhood, just outside of downtown, in a historic house.

It is so delicious! This is one of those places that you instantly know is amazing when you walk up and see the line of people waiting for a table! My mouth is watering, just thinking about it!

I visited San Antonio many times before I discovered Guenther House. I won’t make that mistake again! It will be on my must-do restaurant list from now on! I can’t believe it took me so long to find this place!

Tip #5: Check out El Mercado.

El Mercado is the largest Mexican market in the United States. It features shops, small food stalls, bakeries, cafes, and more. It also hosts many festivals.

This is a great place to find Mexican souvenirs, taste classic Tex-Mex treats, and hear some wonderful mariachi music.

If you love teaching your kids about other cultures when you travel, a visit to the market is a must. It is the easiest way to dive into the culture of San Antonio!

Tip #6: Remember the Alamo.

Another experience that should be on your list of things to do in San Antonio is to visit the Alamo. One of the greatest battles in Texas history happened at the Alamo. And it sits right smack dab in the middle of downtown San Antonio, just a stone’s throw from the Riverwalk!

So, definitely make some time during your trip to visit this historic site and learn about the men who so bravely defended it back in the day. This is another activity that your kids will really enjoy!

And because the Alamo is pretty small, it won’t take a ton of time to fully explore it.

Tip #7: Catch a game.

Texas is a big sports state. And San Antonio is a great sports city. Depending on when you visit, you should have ample opportunities to take in a game of some sort while you are there.

During the winter, you can catch a Spurs basketball game. Prefer women’s sports? Go watch the WNBA’s Stars play.

In the spring, you can see the San Antonio Missions play minor league baseball.

San Antonio also has a minor league hockey team and a professional soccer team. Additionally, you can watch the University of Texas-San Antonio play collegiate sports or enjoy one of the many high school sports teams.

If you happen to be in San Antonio around New Years, go watch the Alamo Bowl! It is an awesome bowl game and a lot of fun for the whole family!

Tip #8: Check the weather before you leave home.

Texas doesn’t really have typical seasons. Most of the time, in San Antonio, it is hot, or at least warm, regardless of what time of year it is.

But, the weather can be unpredictable. It is not unusual for the temperature to drop 20 degrees or more in a matter of hours. And it can get down right cold at times.

So, it is very important, in order to have the best trip to San Antonio, that you check the weather before you leave home. You don’t want to be caught unprepared with the wrong clothing for your trip!

Tip #9: Explore the Natural Bridge Caverns.

My last tip for having the best trip to San Antonio is to explore the Natural Bridge Caverns. Just outside of San Antonio, you will find the Natural Bridge Caverns. These caverns, which were first discovered in 1960, are one of the most popular attractions in Texas.

Here, you can marvel at the caverns on one of several tours. You can also have fun with a variety of above ground activities, including a maze, ropes course, and mining for gems.

And if you will be in San Antonio during the fall or Christmas seasons, check out their special events!

Conclusion

San Antonio, Texas is an amazing city that makes a perfect vacation destination for any family. I highly recommend planning a trip to this fun city with your family soon! These tips will help you plan the best trip to San Antonio possible!

For more Texas tips, see my Texas trip planning tips, my review of the Crockett Hotel, and the best beach destinations in Texas.

Happy travels!

P.S. Need help finding the best places to go on your family vacations? My Ultimate USA Bucket List for Families will instantly give you 60 of the best vacation destinations for families in the United States! Get it for FREE in the box below and start planning your next trip today! Plus, as a bonus, you will receive my weekly email newsletter full of family trip tips and inspiration!