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San Antonio Vacation Planning

I had heard so many great things about San Antonio but hadn’t visited until I was invited on a complimentary media trip in the area. I loved it so much that I planned my own San Antonio vacation for my family.

We definitely recommend a visit to San Antonio to any family – here are all of our posts about San Antonio in one spot. Learn about where we stayed, what to do while you are there, and more.


Tips for Visiting SeaWorld San Antonio
Family Things to Do on the San Antonio River Walk
Surprising Things When You Visit the Alamo
Things to Do in San Antonio With Kids
Guide To Visiting The Pearl San Antonio

Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to Sea World and had stayed at the Omni La Mansion Del Rio at no cost for a business trip, and at my own cost for a second trip. My first trip was at no cost due to an unrelated media trip, while my second trip was at my own cost. All opinions are my own.

Pedestrian bridge over the San Antonio River Walk

San Antonio Vacation Planning

Review of the Omni La Mansion Del Rio in San Antonio, TX

The San Antonio River Walk is the centerpiece of this beautiful city, offering restaurants and shops along a narrow canal. If possible, I’d recommend staying at a hotel on the River Walk. It’s centrally located, and it’s easy to just walk to dinner or to the nearby attractions.

I have always loved Omni Hotels, and I really enjoyed our stay at the Omni La Mansion Del Rio. It’s located right on the River Walk, and you can choose to book a room with a view. In addition to the great location, the Omni La Mansion Del Rio offers an outdoor pool and a fitness center at their sister hotel across the river.

There is paid parking at the hotel. Despite the proximity to many attractions, you may still want to rent a car to visit the other attractions that are a little further away.

Whale show at Sea World

Tips for Visiting SeaWorld San Antonio

We’ve enjoyed our visits to SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens in Tampa, so I was eager to check out SeaWorld San Antonio. It’s smaller than the Orlando location, but still offers plenty to do.

During our visit over spring break, SeaWorld San Antonio was only open with limited days/hours. So, if you are traveling in the off-season, be sure to check to see the operating hours for your trip. We ended up going on Easter Sunday during our vacation because they were only open on the weekends.

Family Things to Do on the San Antonio River Walk

The River Walk is an extremely popular attraction in Texas. It’s a narrow canal with shops, bars, and restaurants located on either side. Pedestrian bridges are located throughout the River Walk so that it’s easy to cross over.

In addition to the restaurants and bars, there are other things to do on the River Walk. I would definitely recommend taking one of the boat tours of the area. You’ll see them traveling up and down the river throughout the day. You can also choose to book a dinner cruise, which could be fun if you are traveling with adults or older kids.

The Alamo in Texas

Surprising Things When You Visit the Alamo

Like most people, I had heard about the history of the Alamo before my visit. But there were a lot of things that I didn’t expect. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that admission to the Alamo is free. While there is an audio tour available for an additional fee (which I do recommend), the actual admission is complimentary.

I was also surprised at the location of the Alamo. For some reason, I thought it would be in a completely remote location far from other tourist attractions. However, it’s located right in the center of the town, within walking distance of the River Walk. It doesn’t take all day to visit, so you can combine a visit with the Alamo with other things.

Guide To Visiting The Pearl San Antonio

When I started doing research about our San Antonio vacation, I heard about the exciting new district called the Pearl. The former home of the Pearl Brewery, the Pearl district is now home to trendy cafes, shops, restaurants, and a boutique hotel.

The Pearl isn’t within walking distance of the Alamo or the River Walk, but it’s definitely worth the drive. There’s plenty of parking, and you can just park and walk around the whole area. I’d also recommend getting lunch or dinner at La Gloria, which is located along the river in the Pearl.

San Antonio River Walk

Things to Do in San Antonio With Kids

Don’t plan your San Antonio vacation without viewing this post containing all of our reviews and tips for a San Antonio vacation. There are restaurant and attraction recommendations, including museums, outdoor attractions, and more. We also recommend a few road trips and places to explore beyond the city limits, as well as information about travel to San Antonio.

Photo of pedestrian bridge over the San Antonio River Walk

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