Traveling with a toddler, an opinionated, well-traveled toddler at that, is really fun. She is always up for trying new things (just like her daddy), eating new foods (just like her momma), and because she is trained to travel cities the way most toddler’s are trained on their nighttime routine, she loves skipping from one activity to the next all day long.
As we started planning our first family trip to visit San Antonio, I kept thinking back on the last several years embarking on trips to other areas in Texas’ Hill Country. Whether we were kayaking in Austin, with the backdrop of the downtown buildings, standing in line for BBQ at 10 a.m., mural hopping from one neighborhood to the next, sipping wine at a winery along a backroad or floating down the river in San Marcos, this area of Texas had a special place in our family’s hearts.
As we were crafting our San Antonio itinerary, we talked to Augustine and showed her pictures of everything on the list to get her excited about what was in store for her. She is very list oriented- she likes to know what we are doing first, second, in the morning, after lunch, etc.
9 Things to do with Toddlers and Kids in San Antonio:
No matter what city I travel to, I like to start with a walking tour to get the lay of the land. In San Antonio, most hotels downtown are right on the river, and it’s super easy to check into the hotel and just wander around the Riverwalk as the sun starts to set, and then grab a drink or dinner as you walk back.
2. River Cruise:
Augustine loved seeing the riverbanks and all the people from inside the river cruise. This is a great way to learn a lot about San Antonio in a really short amount of time. The cruises have varying time lengths with 30 minutes being the shortest one, a perfect amount of time to hold a toddler’s attention.
3: DoSeum:
The DoSeum is San Antonio’s museum for kids, with two floors of interactive learning stations, plus outdoor spaces for them to run around. Augustine loved the rooms where she could dress up like a vet or she could grocery shop with a basket. The climbing spaces outside were another favorite because she could challenge herself but still felt completely comfortable, too. You could easily spend all day here, but it’s great for an afternoon, too. The current featured exhibit is called “Going Places” and has dozens of fun activities about traveling and moving. Since we travel all the time, Augustine really loved this room.
4. Amusement Parks: SeaWorld and Six Flags
Augustine loves Disney World, so when she found out there was a Six Flags and a Sea World (with a water park attached) that made the top of her list. When I told her we only had time for one, she chose Sea World because she loves animals. I also love animals and grew up at the beach, where summer camps were at Marine Biology school, swimming with dolphins and manatees in the wild. I was super curious how Sea World was operating now (I hadn’t been to a Sea World for about 12 years) and what their new research missions looked like in practice. I love the new approach of “See it here, Save it there.” The teaching about the animals was priority number one and every exhibit we visited had that goal in mind. We had a fantastic time and this was the first time Augustine saw and learned about a Beluga whale, and now it’s her favorite.
5. San Antonio Zoo:
Perfect for a full or half-day adventure (or if you had a season pass, just popping in for your favorite animals and then heading to the Witte Museum), the San Antonio Zoo has over 750 animals for your little one to see. Bob and I love the interactive and hands on experiences and the San Antonio Zoo has a few that seem totally unique to them like the Beastly Breakfasts, where you eat breakfast next to the giraffes (kind of like Giraffe Manor in Africa!) or the Butterflies! Caterpillar Flight school, perfect for kids Augustine’s age. I truly believe having a love and curiosity for animals at a young age helps them become lifelong supports for all wildlife.
6. Historic Pearl Park Splash Pad:
The Park at the Pearl is THE meeting place for a toddler happy hour, if there ever were such a thing. ☺ While one parent can grab a drink and food inside the dining hall, the kids can have a blast at the splash pad and then run around freely in the large lawn. On the Friday afternoon we were there, there were probably 40 families, complete with picnic blankets on the lawn and a band setting up for live music that night. We noshed on a variety of foods, all from the dining hall, including a poke bowl, a grilled cheese sandwich and a buffalo chicken salad. Plus, we got hot donuts and ice cream afterwards. There really is something for everyone and the perfect meet-up location if you’re visiting friends or want to make new ones.
7. Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair:
Another awesome splash pad and park that is fantastic for toddlers but even older kids will love this really interactive park. Augustine could run around in the splash pad while the adults played corn hole and while others lounged under big umbrellas to escape the heat. The palatas from Palateria and pizza from Dough were also a big hit with the kiddos and parents. I love a one stop area where Augustine can play but we can also get food so we limit the amount of times we are getting in and out of the car seat. The Yanaguana Gardens also have 8 play public art exhibits that are kid friendly. Exposing kids to art that is touchable is huge in helping them understand what different types of art look like and so different than in a museum where most of the time everything is off limits to little fingers.
8. Historic Market Square:
With more than 100 locally owned shops, this could seem like a toddler’s worst nightmare (what toddler likes shopping?!) but add in flower crowns and face painting, and you’ve got one little girl ready to linger for hours. Named the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico, you can find authentic art, pottery, clothes and rugs.
9. The Missions:
While some parents might not agree that the Missions are toddler-friendly, I say take them. Augustine loves pretending and a lot of missions look like old castles, so she was a happy princess camper the whole time. Plus, the park has a kid & youth Junior Ranger activity guide that they can use while walking around the park. This allowed Bob and I to learn more about the beautiful Missions of the area while Augustine ran around freely and had fun. That’s the ultimate family travel win/win.
We were impressed that there are so many family-friendly activities in San Antonio. While we didn’t make it to everything I had hoped we would (sometimes splash pads and theme parks take up more time than I originally thought they would) that just means we have a dozen more reasons to plan our next trip.
