San Antonio Attractions

Spanish Governor's Palace Market Square La Villita Alamodome Buckhorn Saloon and Museum San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium Tower of the Americas Morgan's Wonderland Witte Museum McNay Art Museum Splashtown USA Schlitterbahn Water Park King William District Pearl Brewery Natural Bridge Caverns

Discover what makes San Antonio such an interesting town by visiting top San Antonio attractions. Tex-Mex meets the old West at numerous San Antonio missions, markets and museums where you can do such things as shop for piñatas or see a two-headed calf. San Antonio attractions also include Texas size theme parks and a new multi-use center that houses a branch of the Culinary Institute of America, plus the San Antonio TX Zoo, one of the top zoos in the country.

Spanish Governor's Palace.

The National Geographic society has called the Spanish Governor's Palace near Market Square the most beautiful building in San Antonio. See for yourself when you tour this Texas wonder, which was once the seat of the Texas government, www.sanantonio.gov/dtops/SpanGovPal.asp.

Market Square.

Shop for everything from piñatas to pinto beans at this bustling San Antonio square often just referred to as the Mexican Market. While you shop for that sombrero or string of chilis souvenir, you'll be serenaded by street mariachi bands, http://www.marketsquareusa.com.

La Villita.

Explore the shops and restaurants of this colorful downtown San Antonio arts and crafts community where settlers once hid from Indian invaders. At this unique San Antonio attraction located right on the Riverwalk, you can shop for everything from turquoise necklaces and hand-painted Mexican pottery to Texas cookbooks and local gourmet foods and salsas, http://lavillita.com.

Alamodome.

You never know what might be going on at this San Antonio sporting and special events venue. One day the circus might be in town, the next it might be NCAA football or a Woman of Faith conference, http://www.sanantonio.gov/dome.

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum.

Get a taste of the old west and the Texas Rangers, plus a two-headed calf and eight-legged lamb at this downtown San Antonio museum located just two blocks from the Alamo and one block from Riverwalk, http://www.buckhornmuseum.com.

San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium.

This San Antonio family attraction is known as one of the best zoos in the nation, recently winning top nods from Parents Magazine. You'll see why when you explore its 25 beautifully landscaped acres with more than 3,500 animals, 600 species and a conservation program for rhinos, snow leopards and whooping cranes that has earned praise around the world, www.sazoo-aq.org.

Tower of the Americas.

You'll get some of the best views of San Antonio atop this San Antonio attraction. A 750-foot-tall tower offers a panoramic view of downtown San Antonio and the Riverwalk. Glass walled elevators take you more 500 feet to the revolving Chart House restaurant and observation deck, www.toweroftheamericas.com.

Morgan's Wonderland.

The new 25-acre, San Antonio special needs theme park is built on an abandoned rock quarry and features swings, a train ride, merry-go-round, water works play area, music garden and more. Everything is accessible for special needs adults and children, http://www.morganswonderland.com.

Witte Museum.

Discover history, science and culture with kid-friendly hands-on exhibits at this San Antonio museum and attraction adjacent to Brackenridge Park. You'll find everything from dinosaur skeletons to mummies, to rotating art exhibits that might focus on the circus, www.wittemuseum.org.

McNay Art Museum.

One of the most recent additions to this San Antonio attraction is a 45,000-square-foot modern glass box expansion, which highlights the museum's outdoor gardens and modern and Impressionist art collection. See works by Jackson Pollock, Picasso, Georgia O'Keefe and more, http://www.mcnayart.org.

Splashtown USA.

Not far from downtown San Antonio, you'll find this 20-acre water park, which offers more than 50 rides and attractions, Dive-In movies and 17 miles of space to cool off, www.splashtownsa.com.

Schlitterbahn Water Park.

Rent a private cabana at this San Antonio water park, voted the world's #1 water park. Float down the new Congo River ride, surf, go tubing or ride one of the water coasters at this family friendly San Antonio TX attraction, www.schlitterbahn.com/nb.

King William District.

Explore the tree-lined streets, historic homes, art galleries and restaurants and cafes of this nearby 25-block San Antonio neighborhood, located just a few blocks away from our San Antonio hotel. Southtown is the commercial hub of this thriving San Antonio neighborhood, and where you'll find the majority of boutiques, cafes and galleries. On the first Friday of the month this charming San Antonio neighborhood closes down a portion of South Alamo Street for an outdoor art walk and carnival.

Pearl Brewery.

This new multi-use center just north of downtown San Antonio, houses a handful of interesting restaurants and shops. Take a yoga class, browse in the bookstore, bliss out with an Aveda spa treatment, shop the Saturday farmer's market or the Tienda du Cucina cooking store, where you can find everything from Mexican glassware to corn-grinders at this store owned by cookbook author and PBS TV host Melissa Guerra. At this north Riverwalk San Antonio attraction you can also sign up for cooking classes from the new Latino-focused branch of the Culinary Institute of America, http://www.pearlbrewery.com.

Natural Bridge Caverns.

Experience one of the world's premier caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns. Take the Discovery Tour and see what millions of others have seen - an incredible underground world of natural beauty. This 75-minute tour travels through a half-mile of the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas. The new Illuminations Tour gives guests an up-close and personal tour of the amazing Hidden Passages dramatic lighting and spectacular formations. www.naturalbridgecaverns.com

Biking in San Antonio

San Antonio recently received the honor of one of America's "Most Bike-Friendly Cities," and it's no surprise as downtown San Antonio recently launched a revolutionary bike share program called B-Cycle. While you are in San Antonio, TX make use of this innovative system by finding your bike for the day at any of 20 B-Cycle stations around the downtown San Antonio area. Get to your destination quickly and cleanly with San Antonio alternative transportation. For more information on B-Cycle, visit http://sanantonio.bcycle.com