Last Updated on January 30, 2024 by Deanne
San Antonio is a family vacation destination that will please even your pickiest child – yes, I’m talking about your teenager. With a mix of exciting, beautiful, and adventurous things to do in San Antonio, teens will have their fill of Texas fun on this family vacation.
My husband Ryan, our three teens, and I recently traveled to San Antonio filling our itinerary with a variety of things to do that entertained all of us. It wasn’t hard. San Antonio is a vibrant and exciting place to visit. Read on to see how we spent our time, what our teens enjoyed the most, and what activities we actually recommend skipping.
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In no particular order… here are 7 things to do in San Antonio with teens (and two you can skip):
1. Enjoy rides at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
While Six Flags is not unique to Texas (you can find them all over the country), Six Flags Fiesta is a fun way to spend a hot Texas day. Those who like rollercoasters and rides will appreciate a day of thrilling excitement – especially the refreshing water rides.
Personally, I’m not a fan of rollercoasters, so while my teens got their adrenaline rush by careening, soaring, and splashing, Ryan and I stayed cool sipping on slushy cocktails. It was a win-win for the entire family.
2. Dine at a restaurant on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.
San Antonio’s Riverwalk is something special. The area has beautiful trees and flowers lining the San Antonio River along with many hotels, shops, and bustling restaurants serving up a variety of cuisines. One of our favorite meals was at Paseano’s. Their garlic bread is some of the best we’ve ever tasted. My teenage son was ooh’ing and ahh’ing the entire time while eating it. Another favorite dinner was at Iron Cactus. Our family reminisced about the restaurant’s chili con queso for days. They make delicious fish tacos, too!
With all the great restaurants and activity on the Riverwalk, I highly recommend staying at a hotel right on the Riverwalk. The convenience of stepping out of your hotel right into a beautiful oasis within walking distance of all the action is an experience well worth the money.
**Parking for San Antonio Riverwalk
Many hotels near the Riverwalk provide parking at a premium price. For example, we stayed at the Drury Plaza San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel where they charge $32 per night for parking one vehicle. There are parking garages nearby, but they are also extremely expensive. The first night we parked across the street just one block down in a parking garage that charged $25 per night. We knew the rate was crazy, but we didn’t think there was anything we could do about it. Later we found a surface parking lot less than a 3-minute walk around the corner from our hotel and it only cost $5 for 12 hours! We had to walk there after 12 hours to pay again, but it was well worth it.
3. Experience a Riverwalk boat tour.
Slowly cruising along the San Antonio River on a boat tour provides a different experience than walking along the riverside. The tour guides provide interesting stories and facts. (Did you know 150-200 people a year fall into the river?) You’ll sail by interesting architecture and historic buildings, but even if your teen isn’t into learning about the local history, the 35-minute tour is entertaining and scenic. Take a night tour to see the gleaming lights brighten up the area.
4. Explore the Alamo.
You really shouldn’t travel to San Antonio without visiting the Alamo. “Remember the Alamo” is a saying that comes to life as you learn the details surrounding the 1836 battlefield. It’s conveniently located within walking distance of the Riverwalk. Touring the Alamo is free, but you’ll need a ticket for a timed entry. It can be crowded during the day, but it’s worth a visit to learn the facts behind this historic site. Venture there at night to see it all lit up.
The area right across the street from the Alamo is very touristy with attractions like Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Guinness World Records, and a wax museum garnering for your attention. Ryan thought it was extremely tacky—especially being so close to such a monumental and historic site—but our teens were actually intrigued. Those are optional things to do if you think your teen would be interested.
Note: One small building (the Crockett Building) is mixed in with these attractions and houses a very detailed LEGO replica of the Alamo. It’s quite impressive, made from more than 50,000 LEGO bricks! Keep an eye out for it as it’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.
5. Venture to Natural Bridge Caverns and/or Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.
I shouldn’t even combine these two activities because they are two completely different places, and I was told they are not even run by the same owners. But… they are located right next to each other about 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio. So, if you’re going to visit one, you should at least be aware of the other just in case you want to experience both.
The Wildlife Ranch is a Safari Adventure that provides an up-close look and interactions with more than 500 native and exotic animals. You drive your vehicle through their 400+ acres where you can even feed the animals. While it all sounds interesting, we only had time for one of these activities and our teens chose to tour Natural Bridge Caverns instead of the wild safari.
At Natural Bridge Caverns you descend well below the ground to explore otherworldly formations growing in the caverns. The unique and delicate creations were interesting to see (and tempting to touch) as our family enjoyed the damp, cool underground walk.
After the tour, there are other attractions on the grounds. Our teens mastered the outdoor maze which consists of 5,000 square feet of twists and turns, up stairs into towers, and across bridges. The maze is timed and was a fun, friendly competition between siblings.
6. Play pickleball in San Antonio at Chicken N’ Pickle.
If your family enjoys playing pickleball, San Antonio has a unique venue to check out called Chicken N’ Pickle. With multiple indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, yard games like bocce ball and shuffleboard, plus a restaurant and sports bar serving up a variety of craft beer, Chicken N’ Pickle is an entertaining destination.
Spend an hour or an entire afternoon bonding with your teen over a competitive game of pickleball, then hang out and enjoy a meal or drink at this fun indoor/outdoor complex.
7. Watch the light show at San Fernando Cathedral.
We weren’t sure what to expect at this light show projected onto the San Fernando Cathedral, but it was quite impressive. Pictures depicting San Antonio’s history cover the cathedral while music plays along for this free 23-minute light show called “The Saga”. The San Fernando Cathedral is convenient to the Riverwalk and has nighttime showings on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
BONUS:
8. Decipher clues and race against the clock at The Escape Game.
We didn’t get to experience this place personally, but our family always has a blast at escape rooms – trying to solve puzzles and escape before the time limit expires. The Escape Game is a new venue at the RIM, about 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio. With five different escape room themes, I wish this venue had been open when we were visiting San Antonio. We were across the street eating at Lupe Tortilla and definitely would have checked out this highly-rated escape room. Next time for sure!
Things to SKIP in San Antonio with your teen
A couple things to do in San Antonio ended up being disappointing for us and for our teens. You still may decide to do these activities, but here’s the scoop on our personal experience.
1. Mission Walk
After visiting the Alamo, our family rented bikes to ride along the Mission Trails to see additional missions. I was under the impression that the trail is mostly on a pedestrian-only walk/bike trail, but it actually begins on busy San Antonio streets. Then once we got onto the safer pedestrian-only paved route it took us through not-so-pretty parts of San Antonio. When we arrived at Mission Concepcion (the first mission after the Alamo) we walked around the grounds and toured the historic structure. Dedicated in 1755, Mission Concepcion is the oldest unrestored stone church in America. It was interesting to walk through, but after a short time we were ready to head back to town. We didn’t need to continue to any of the other missions. This just wasn’t how my teens wanted to spend their time.
2. The Pearl District
Probably the biggest disappointment during our trip to San Antonio was visiting the Pearl district. This historic area promised good food, unique shops, a fun vibe, and outdoor hub. I’m not sure if it was the time we went (we were there during the middle of a weekday) but there wasn’t much to do. I think weekends and evenings offer live music and probably a different experience than what we encountered.
My daughter and I were looking forward to shopping, but there were only a handful of eclectic stores and nothing that interested us. I kept feeling like maybe we were missing something. Our family specifically went there over the lunch hour to enjoy some good food, but you need an adventurous palate to eat there. I should have read their website a little closer as it describes their cuisine as consisting of a “diversity of ingredients” and the “eccentricity of style.” We had a hard time finding a place that offered something each member of our family would like. After much searching, we found a deli that sufficed.
If it was just my husband and me hanging out here on a weekend enjoying a beer listening to live music, it would have been a different experience. Then maybe it would have been worth it, but this time with our teens – not so much.
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