Our San Antonio bucket list was super easy to create. There are so many unique bucket list experiences that we keep going back for more. From amazing rides at SeaWorld to artistic public gardens, check out our San Antonio bucket list below for some inspiration for your next trip.
San Antonio Bucket List
San Antonio Zoo
Open year round, San Antonio Zoo offers visitors the chance to connect with more than 750 animal species on 56 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Visitors of all ages will create lasting family memories with day-long visits, behind the scenes tours, and up close and personal feedings. San Antonio Zoo is family fun that supports education and conservationism to keep all animals and their natural habitats healthy, safe, and thriving for generations to come.
At San Antonio Zoo, guests can come eye-to-eye with the world’s tallest land mammal while feeding them lettuce, they can get up-close and learn more about kangaroos while feeling like they’re on an outback adventure, and they can come in close contact with hundreds of brightly colored, nectar-eating lorikeets. The bucket list experiences at San Antonio Zoo are plentiful.
SeaWorld San Antonio
A water park, marine life, sensational shows, up-close animal encounters, and thrilling rides all in one location is what you’ll find at SeaWorld San Antonio. It’s the perfect place if you’re looking for things to do in San Antonio with teenagers or with younger kids.
SeaWorld San Antonio is the nation’s largest marine life park, with more than 250 acres for you to explore. SeaWorld is open year-round and will feature spacious outdoor events with physically distanced activities. With so many experiences all in one location, you’re certain to find bucket list experiences for all ages.
Take a Safari at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is one of Texas’s most recognized family entertainment attractions. Meander through 450 acres of rolling hills, creek beds, and magnificent live oak trees all while getting up close and personal with wildlife.
Enchanting Texas said their kids love Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.
It is an amazing experience to drive through the park and get up close with so many free wild animals.
The safari trek covers over 6 miles and takes most visitors 1-2 hours to meander and enjoy. With ranch admission, visitors can take multiple treks—which is highly encouraged–as every trip through the ranch is a different adventure.
Natural Bridge Caverns
Brittany Mendez, CMO of The Florida Panhandle, suggests The Natural Bridge Caverns for your San Antonio bucket list.
The Natural Bridge Caverns has 60 feet of natural limestone slab and is known to be the largest commercial U.S. caverns. There are surface-level ziplines and courses that offer a truly unique view of San Antonio nature, while other activities involve diving deep into the caverns with adventure tours, private tours, and bat flight packages. This bucket list item is ideal for outdoor nature lovers and adventurers on the go who want something unique and rare in the heart of San Antonio.
Visit the Pearl Brewery District
Cailin O’Neil from Travel Yourself highly suggests the Peral Brewery District as one of the best things to do in San Antonio.
She describes it as “a funky up and coming area that you should definitely explore.” It’s located less than a 10 minute drive from the main River Walk area or a quick 30 minute walk along the River Walk itself.
The area is a historical district and cultural destination. Not only do people live here, but there is also a great area to visit for the farmers market, a coffee date, a place to listen to live music, enjoy great dining options and more.
Originally home to a brewery, the area has now been transformed into relaxing outdoor spaces, and the buildings have been converted into a boutique hotel like Hotel Emma, a food hall, and small shopping mall.
As for tasty suggestions while you’re there, “enjoy Mexican food at La Gloria, artisanal ice cream at Lick Honest Ice Creams, French treats at Bakery Lorraine or even Asian American dishes at Best Quality Daughter. Wherever you end up your taste-buds will enjoy it!”
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
San Antonio is the perfect weekend getaway, and Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa is one of the best family-friendly resorts in San Antonio. It feels like a world away with towering trees and fire pits for s’mores, yet it’s conveniently located next to SeaWorld San Antonio and only 20 minutes to the San Antonio Zoo. It offers exceptional amenities, endless charm, and it’s set on 300 acres in scenic Texas Hill Country. For families, I can’t think of a more enjoyable weekend getaway property.
La Cantera Resort & Spa
Overlooking 550 acres of The Texas Hill Country, La Cantera Resort is one of the most sought after San Antonio resorts. With a AAA Four Diamond rating, La Cantera offers sophistication and relaxation. From their 25,000 sq. ft destination spa to six pools ranging from an adult lap pool to a zero-entry children’s pool including slides, guests can immerse themselves in the best that Hill Country has to offer.
La Cantera has a total of 496 rooms, suites, and private villas. Additionally, there is an entire floor dedicated to adults-only accommodations. Good for couples and business travelers, these 46 adults-only rooms feature their own check-in and lounge area with cookies, chips, coffee, games, a manned bar, and panoramic views. Seventh-floor rooms have Aromatherapy Associate bath products, plus Alexa and glass walk-in rainfall showers.
Tour The Alamo
As one of the most historical landmarks in Texas, The Alamo deserves a place on your San Antonio bucket list. The iconic structure was the site of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo during the war for Texas’ independence from Mexico.
The battle is estimated to have lasted only about 20 minutes, but the small force who barricaded themselves in before succumbing to 3,000 Mexican Army troops was made up of legendary figures like James Bowie and Davy Crockett. After the fall of the mission, the phrase “Remember the Alamo!” was a battle cry for soldiers fighting for Texas’ independence.
Inside, explore a museum and library filled with lots of historical texts and artifacts from the war. Tours are available if you want to take a deeper look at what happened during the Battle of the Alamo.
San Antonio’s River Walk Public Art Garden
Via City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture
Located at the intersection where Market and Alamo Streets meet on the San Antonio River Walk, a new artistic and visual experience awaits. The city’s open-air gallery, the River Walk Public Art Garden, is a tribute to the profound powers of art, self-expression, human connectivity, and social justice.
The art garden celebrates both San Antonio and international artists with a public art experience that includes permanent and rotating installations.
“The River Walk Public Art Garden has been an extensive, multi-year project that celebrates the spirit of connection with artworks by several San Antonio artists intermingled with pieces by international artists,” said the Department of Arts & Culture’s interim executive director, Krystal Jones. “Our latest installation, Stargazer by Mexican Artist Pedro Reyes, continues to help redefine the River Walk experience as a global public art destination. Stargazer invites River Walk visitors to move around and see the piece from different angles, and in doing so, they are able to discover other public art treasures.”
The River Walk Public Art Garden will also include a new plaza area that honors the history and legacy of the labor movement in San Antonio along with its ties to social justice and civil rights, set to open in fall 2022. The area titled “Labor Plaza” will feature artworks inspired by the labor movement in San Antonio. Need help finding the garden? Just look for the large “Welcome to the River Walk Public Art Garden” sign by San Antonio Artist Gary Sweeny.
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