Brackenridge Park
2800 block of North Broadway;
2 miles north of the Alamo
210-736-9534
This lushly landscaped park has 340 acres of picnic grounds, playgrounds, athletic fields, and a golf course. It also has a miniature railroad, a carousel with antique horses, a cable car sky ride and paddle boats. Some of the attractions charge a small fee. Stroll across rustic stone bridges and up winding walks around gleaming pools, and through an authentic Japanese Tea Garden. The Sunken Gardens Theater regularly presents entertainment. Following are additional facets of the park:
(1) San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium
3903 N. St. Mary's St.
210-734-7183
Admission charged.
Daily 9-5 Summer 9-8
The zoo is inhabited by more than 3,000 animals representing 750 species and is one of the top zoos in North America. It is a sanctuary for various endangered species like the whooping crane, snow leopard, and white rhino. Natural habitats have been created and there are special sections for Australian and African animals. Most of the animals reside in outdoor habitats. In addition, there is a children's zoo with a boat ride.
(2) Witte Museum of History and Science
3801 Broadway
210-357-1900
Admission is charged.
The museum features extensive hands on exhibits covering history, science and the humanities. Also displayed are exhibits of the natural history and natural science of Texas and dioramas of Texas flora and wildlife. These are brought to life through instructions on how to decipher ancient rock art, by the recreation of a walk through a thorny Texas landscape and the opportunity to meet some dinosaurs that once roamed the State. On the museum grounds are four early Texas houses and a furnished log cabin. A four-level "science tree house" filled with interactive exhibits lets children lift themselves with pulleys and ropes, play music with laser beams, and launch tennis balls 30 feet in the air.
(3) Pioneer Memorial Hall
3801 Broadway
210-822-9011
This museum houses collections of Texas trail drivers, pioneers and the Texas Rangers. Among the exhibits are saddles, guns, tools, furniture, etc.
(4) Japanese Tea Gardens
Free Admission.
Hours: 8: am-dark.
210-821-3120
3800 North St. Mary's St.
At the northwestern edge of Brackenridge Park Winding pebble walkways, stone bridges, a waterfall and tranquil pools highlight this lush garden.
Sea World Of Texas
10500 Sea World Dr.
210-523-3611
Admission charged.
Closed Nov.-Feb.
Sprawled across 250 acres of manicured gardens northwest of the city, this is the world's largest marine life park offering more than 25 shows in a 4500 seat stadium. The 300,000 gallon coral reef aquarium features many species of sharks and thousands of Indo-Pacific fish. The shows feature sea lions, beluga whales, dolphins, and penguins, among others. There are water rides and a children's play area. For the more adventurous, there are high speed roller coasters, including the Steel Eel hypercoaster and The Great White inverted coaster. A water park features rides such as the Rio Loco.
The Spanish Governor's Palace
105 Military Plaza (Plaza de Armas)
210-224-0601
Mon.-Sat. 9-5
Admission charged.
45 minute tour
This was the residence and the seat of government when San Antonio was the capital of the Spanish Province of Texas from the mid 1700's to the early 1800's. It has carved doors, low beamed ceilings an interior patio with a fountain and several rooms furnished in period furniture. Tours are offered daily of this National Historic Landmark.
Market Square
515 West Commerce Street
210-207-8600
The largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico, this colorful village within a city is busy from dawn until late at night. It includes a farmers' market, Mexican restaurants, a bakery, art galleries, boutiques, and El Mercado, a market with vendors selling handicrafts and souvenirs from Latin America. Festivals are often held here.
Military Bases Complex
San Antonio has five military installations - a reminder that the city was founded as a garrisoned fort. A visitor's pass is normally required except for Fort Sam Houston, an open post. Since some of these bases are restricted, it is best to call in advance.
Brooks Air Force Base
Southeast Military Drive at the junction of I-37 (7 miles southeast of downtown).
Brooks is headquarters of the Human Systems Center.
Tours 8:00am-4:00pm, Monday -Friday.
Free admission.
210-536-3234.
Hangar 9/Edward H. White Museum Brooks Air Force Base
8:00 - 4:00 Monday - Friday
Individuals will be added to scheduled tours
Free admission.
For reservations call 210-536-2203 or 531-9767.
Hangar 9 is the oldest aircraft hangar in the Air Force. It houses the Museum of Flight Medicine, which contains exhibits concerning the history of the base, the development of manned flight and the evolution of aerospace medicine and the Flight Nursing Annex which is dedicated to the history of flight nurses
Fort Sam Houston
Grayson Street and New Braunfels Avenue
10-4 Wednesday - Sunday
210-221-1886
Quadrangle Gift shop Friday-Tuesday 8 -4.
210-226-1216.
This fort was established in 1876 and was the site of the first military airplane flight. Today, it is Fifth Army Headquarters and home of Brooke Army Medical Center. Fort Sam's Quadrangle dates from 1876. The Apache Indian Chief Geronimo was once held prisoner within its walls. Today this historic landmark stands in the center of a park-like setting where animals roam the grounds among people at work and visitors from around the world.
Fort Sam Houston Museum/National Historic Landmark Building
123, Fort Sam Houston.
Museum open 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday-Sunday,
closed Monday, Tuesday and Federal holidays.
Free admission
210-221-1886
Exhibits trace U.S. Army history in San Antonio area from 1845 to the present. Historic 500 acre fort includes the Quadrangle, built in 1876.
U.S. Army Medical Department Museum
Located at the corner of Harry Wurzbach and Stanley Road, Fort Sam Houston.
Museum hours 10 -4 Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday, and Federal Holidays.
Free admission.
210-221-6358
The museum collection consists of Army medical equipment (including captured medical equipment from Germany, Japan, Russia, China and Vietnam), uniforms, artwork, photographs, and scale models. The museum is also assembling a collection of restored and replicated ambulance vehicles. The museum has a significant collection of American prisoner of war memorabilia.
Lackland Air Force Base
12 miles southwest of downtown off U.S. 90 at SW Military Dr. exit
Lackland is a basic military training center for all Air Force recruits nationwide.
Air Force History and Traditions Museum
Tuesday-Saturday 8 -4:45 closed on Sundays, Mondays
Tours of 15 or more by appointment. Auditorium for 35.
210-671-3055
Featuring aviation history, the museum maintains a collection of rare airplanes and their components. Free admission.
Randolph Air Force Base
17 miles northeast from downtown off I-35
210-652-4407
Randolph is home to the 12th Flying Wing, HQ. Air Training Command, HQ. Air Force Military Personnel Center and HQ. Air Force Recruiting Center. The Taj Mahal (Bldg. #100) is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Route I-10 at La Cantera Parkway
1-800-473-4378
Open March-Novembe
Admission charged.
Set in a limestone quarry, this 200 acre theme park surrounded by 100-foot cliffs celebrates the cultural diversity of Texas. Disney characters entertain with thrilling rides, a water park and live shows. The park is divided into "theme areas" : the Mexican town of Los Festivales, the German village of Spassburg, the 1920 cowboy boom town of Crackaxle Canyon, and the small Texas town of Rockville during the golden age of rock'n'roll, which includes Fiesta Bay Boardwalk, a '50s-'60s seaside boardwalk complete with a 90-foot ferris wheel.
Thus, in the course of one visit, it is possible to polka in Germany, participate in a Latin fiesta and move on to riding one of the world's tallest wooden roller coasters. Joker's Revenge sends the rider into a 360 degree loop, a series of corkscrew turns, and into a spiral. All of this rotation is backwards!
Blue Bonnet Palace
Open at 7 p.m. Fri., Sat.
Garden Ridge Exit off I-35
Country/Western entertainment complex includes dance hall, indoor bull-riding arena, outdoor sports, and rodeo arena. Big name country stars, professional cowboys, special events, and entertainers.
Majestic Theater
210-226-5700
224 E. Houston
Named a State and National Historic Landmark. One of the few remaining vintage, vaudeville movie palaces. Home to the San Antonio Symphony and the Majestic Broadway Series. Individual concerts and events are also showcased.
Sunset Station
1774 E. Commerce
210/222-9481
All aboard! The complex is a destination for great entertainment, food and live music, as well as shopping all set in the historic backdrop of a turn of the century train station on St. Paul Square. Originally constructed in 1902, it has been revitalized to showcase the city's cultural diversity. Traditional Mexican cuisine against a backdrop of live music. Four music stages and five dance floors.
Buckhorn Saloon & Museum
318 E. Houston
10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
Admission charged.
210-247-4000
The museum's two stories are packed with more than 40,000 western artifacts and 550 different species displayed from all over the world. Other features include the only wax museum of Texas history, an authentic shooting gallery, videos, live entertainment, gifts and the original 118-year old bar
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
325 South Salado
210-271-0379
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center brings its artistic vision alive through six art disciplines: visual arts, media arts, theatre arts, literature, dance, and music life
King William Historic Area
A 25-block area near downtown on the south bank of the San Antonio River. In the late 1800's the King William District was the most elegant residential area in the city. Prominent German merchants originally settled the area. It was zoned as the state's first historic district, and has once again become a fashionable neighborhood. The area includes the following attractions:
(1) Guenther House
205 E. Guenther
Museum and River Mill store hours 9-5 Monday-Saturday
8 -2 Sunday.
Admission: Free
210-227-1061
The house is located on a bend of the river, at the foot of King William, one of the oldest historic districts in Texas. Carl Hilmar Guenther, founder of Pioneer Flour Mills, built this elegant home in 1860. The restored house is now a museum. Of interest to collectors are the Dresden china anniversary plates which were made in Germany until WWII.
(2) Steves Homestead
509 King William
Open daily. Hours: 10 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
Small Admission charged.
210-227-9160
Located in the King William Historic District, this Victorian French Second Empire design three-story home was built for Edward Steves in 1876 and furnished in a late 19th-century style. The River House, a one-story brick structure, housed the first natatorium or inside swimming pool in San Antonio. The Carriage House was built in 1875. This two-story frame and stone building was used for storage. The servants quarters were built around 1877. The Steves Homestead has been maintained since 1954 as a historic house museum.
Castroville Regional Park
From Jct. US 90 in city: Athens St S 5 blks; Lisbon St W 3 blks; half blk S on Alsace St. On suburban, grassy hill by Medina River.
Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife Management Area
For several years, beginning in 1942, a portion of Matagorda Island was used for practice bombing by the U.S. Air Force. Now, as a state park, the 7,325-acre area has largely returned to its natural state as a haven for migratory water fowl and deer.
Friedrich Wilderness Park
On I-10
Open Wed. - Sun. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Operated by city of San Antonio as a nature preserve. Provides nesting habitat for black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler. Five miles of hiking trails.
Mission Tejas State Historic Park
Landmark structure in 363-acre state park commemorates Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, first Spanish mission in East Texas, built in 1690 to stem tide of French settlement, but was not successful and closed in 1693
Lake Calaveras
3,624-acre impoundment on Calaveras Creek is among the best of the Texas bass lakes, producing trophy-size fish above 12 lbs. Two non-native species of game fish have been introduced.
Choke Canyon Reservoir
Midway between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, the 25,733-acre reservoir on the Frio River has been heavily stocked with largemouth, striped and Florida bass, crappie, sunfish, and channel and blue catfish.
Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area
The wildlife management area is open nightly from June - Oct. for a spectacular emergence of 1.5 to 2 million Mexican free-tailed bats from an abandoned tunnel of the old San Antonio, Fredericksburg and Northern Railway Co.
Cascade Caverns Park
14 miles NW on I-10 to exit 543 (Cascade Caverns Road)
210-755-8080
This beautiful park has been a popular visitor attraction since 1932. Skilled guides conduct 45 minute interpretive tours every 30 minutes over well lighted, comfortable walking trails. A water formed underground cavern with spectacular rock formations is the centerpiece of the tour. It has a 100 foot underground waterfall. There is a picnic facility on the grounds of the 10 acre park.
