Make Plans for These Lesser Known Gems of San Antonio!
Big amusement parks and Alamo tours come to mind when a San Antonio trip is mentioned. These are both great ways to spend your time in the area, but if you’re looking for something unique, here are some attractions you should check out. From shopping sprees to ghost tours, San Antonio offers things you wouldn’t believe. There will be plenty to tell friends and family about your vacation when you experience these activities. Make sure you get reservations at one of our lodging options, and then purchase your tickets to these refreshingly different things to do.
In a city with a history as rich as San Antonio’s, it’s not surprising to learn that some of the area’s history has a dark side. With the Ghosts & Legends Tour you will set off on foot for a 90-minute stroll through the downtown area. Your tour guide will share with you some of the city’s darkest stories, including those where love, lust, greed, and even natural circumstances have resulted in death. You will stroll to areas where spirits are known throughout the city to be uneasy, including sites where La Llorena is known to wail along the San Antonio River and the site where the famous pirate Jean Lafitte met his demise.
Return to the days of the Old West with a visit to Enchanted Springs Ranch. This unique attraction paints a vivid picture of America’s pioneering days through a believable set, re-enactments, and more. Throughout the 86 acre ranch, you’ll find 30 authentic Western-style buildings, Texas Longhorns, horses, buffalo and deer, and a general ambiance of the West. During your visit to San Antonio, make it an authentic western time with the help of Enchanted Springs Ranch.
Treat yourself to a day of shopping at one of San Antonio’s most luxurious shopping centers, the Shops at La Cantera Shopping Tour. This gorgeous shopping center boasts an open-air shopping experience with hundreds of square feet of upscale shops and restaurants. You can find discounted name-brand merchandise from top stores such as J. Crew, Jos. A Bank, Republic of Couture, and more. In addition to having access to already marked down merchandise, the tour provides you with other great discounts and savings to add to your exciting day of shopping. Don’t miss the Shops at La Cantera Shopping Tour for a memorable shopping adventure in San Antonio!
Shop and Dine at San Antonio’s Memorial Day Arts & Crafts Festival!
Memorial Day can be celebrated in the most grandeur fashion during San Antonio’s Arts and Crafts Festival, taking place from April 27 – 30. The event will attract many visitors to the River Walk, where the majority of vendors and businesses will gather for the festival during the day. Take advantage of the detailed ceramics and pottery displayed along the River Walk and smell the delicious herbs and spices wafting out of many of the restaurants along your stroll across the River Walk. Visitors will have plenty of time to find just the right souvenirs and special items to take back home with them. If you’re interested in staying during the Memorial Day Arts & Crafts Festival, you can make reservations at one of San Antonio’s finest hotels.
San Antonio has many other great features to provide a full vacation once you get here, including a tour of the enormous 86 acre Enchanted Springs Ranch. This ranch is a great experience for both the young and old, and visitors will find plenty to do, from walking through old western buildings to hopping on the back of a rustic wagon for a full tour of the town. You may even see Texas ranchers’ pride and joy – the Texas Longhorn! Visitors can walk through the Texas History Exhibit to fully understand the area’s past.
With all of the walking and touring you’ve been doing, you might need a bit of cooling off, which is easily provided through the Schlitterbahn Waterpark San Antonio. This amazing park features three intense uphill water coasters, a special surfing mechanism and three miles of tube rides for a full relaxation. The park has an incredible view of the bordering Comal River, and the park extends across 65 acres, which gives you and your family plenty to do no matter how long you decide to stay at the park.
Experience a Real Texas Rodeo in San Antonio this February!
When people think of Texas, visions of cowboys and bucking broncos often come to mind. Texas is synonymous with rodeos, and if you are vacationing in San Antonio this February, you will have a great opportunity to experience a real Texas rodeo in person! The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has been entertaining families since 1950, and you can have an exciting time at the rodeo from February 3-20. At the rodeo, you will see calf scrambles, mutton bustin’, extreme bullriding, roping and riding. The rodeo also provides first-class entertainment by some of America’s best known musicians, and this year the rodeo will feature the musical stylings of Toby Keith, Styx, Train, Reba McEntire and Clay Walker. If you plan to be in San Antonio in February, you won’t want to miss the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo!
After a visit to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, you might want to get a closer look at some horses. With a tour of Enchanted Springs Ranch, you can see a variety of interesting animals like Texas longhorn, buffalo, deer and horses. The ranch is decorated in the style of the Old West and was built to be used in television and film, so you will feel just like you’ve stepped onto the set of your favorite western film! After taking the guided tour, you may have worked up an appetite. You can experience a delicious chuck wagon dinner of brisket, sausage, coleslaw, beans and a dessert while you are entertained by live western music. Your Old West experience at Enchanted Springs Ranch will be one you are sure to remember with fondness.
Since San Antonio has much more to offer than rodeos and ranches, you will love exploring the culture of the area during your vacation with a visit to the Institute of Texan Cultures. At the Institute of Texan Cultures, you will see exhibits celebrating more than 26 ethnic cultures that are represented in Texas. You can also learn all about the history of the area throughout the institute and in the living history exhibit. If you want a true view of what Texan culture is really like, you won’t want to miss this exciting attraction!
San Antonio Saddles up for the Annual Stock Show and Rodeo!
The annual San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is full of great music artists and exciting rodeo events everyday from February 3 – 20. Look for your favorite artists performing live, including Clay Walker, Gary Allan, Miranda Lambert and Josh Turner. This enormous indoor rodeo event incorporates music along with exciting cattle auctions, horse shows, bull riding and calf roping. The rodeo is bigger and better than any other in the region, so you won’t want to miss this chance to attend! Reserve your San Antonio lodging early.
In between your rodeo and music entertainment, you’ll want to take the opportunity to come down to the Enchanted Springs Ranch, which provides a rustic, country atmosphere for both kids and adults. View this enormous 86 acre ranch and head across the dirt roads in your wagon transportation driven by an old tractor. You’ll be able to see many of the western animals that make this area their home, such as buffalo, Texas Longhorn and beautiful horses.
In addition to your fun tour of the ranch, you can also participate in the Old West Summer Chuck Wagon Ride and Dinner Show, incorporating a fun ride across the prairie as well as an old fashioned, home-cooked cowboy meal! You’ll enjoy everything the ranchers ate as they drove cattle across miles of wilderness, including smoked barbecue of brisket, sizzling sausage, and delicious coleslaw. If you’d like to participate in both of these events, you can combine them for one great price.
Cool Off in San Antonio with Family During the Summer!
Summer is winding down, but there are still plenty of parks and outdoor areas for you to enjoy in San Antonio with family and friends. Whether young or old, these well-known attractions will liven up the spirits of any one who participates. Make your vacation memorable with a visit to Splashtown Waterpark, Enchanted Springs Ranch, or the legendary SeaWorld!
With up to 50 rides to choose from, visitors can choose the intensity and speed of the activity that suits them best. You’ll be able to walk through an enormous 20 acres of rides, concessions, and entertainment at every corner. The waterpark boasts the largest wave pool in Southern Texas, so hop on in for the ride of your life. For additional activities, you may try the volleyball or basketball courts located right inside the theme park.
Transport yourself into the Old West with this rustic tour that gives you and the family a chance to see country wildlife like Texas longhorn, horses, buffalo, deer, and many other animals. You’ll receive a self-guided tour of the area that was originally custom-designed for Old West movies and film. If you like, you can also treat yourself to a barbecue dinner and western music with the dinner combo.
Look for Shamu and friends in this waterpark that attracts thousands of visitors each year. See amazing shows like Cool Vibrations, Sea Lions Tonight, Azul, and many others. A wave pool and other water attractions welcome all visitors. You’ll be treated to the amazing acrobatics of dolphins, sea lions, killer whales, and exotic water animals. Expert trainers will guide them to create the perfect entertainment.
San Antonio is rich with summer activities for the avid traveler, whether interested in history, fun rides, or a simple stroll down the Riverwalk. Enjoy your stay!
Enchanted Springs Ranch Named One of Oprah’s Wacky Family Attractions
If you are looking for a light-hearted vacation the entire family can enjoy, the San Antonio area is certainly filled with active attractions that will capture your attention through immersive settings and zany fun. In particular, San Antonio is home to one of Oprah Winfrey’s esteemed Wacky Family Attractions – Enchanted Springs Ranch. And while the approval of Oprah has certainly helped to launch Enchanted Springs Ranch into the national spotlight, it is an area attraction that locals and frequent visitors have been enjoying for quite some time.
At Enchanted Springs Ranch, visitors will find a sprawling 86-acre setting housing a wild animal park, pony rides, an Old West town complete with re-enactors, live shows, and Texas History Exhibit. Throughout the day, the wide variety of activities will entertain while immersing you in a fantastical western setting the will rekindle the days when the west was still a wild frontier.
Combine active fun for the entire family with the culture and traditions of Texas and the old west with a visit to the Oprah approved Enchanted Springs Ranch during your next visit to San Antonio, TX!
