San Antonio is full of things to do, with or without children. Here are some suggestions:
Russel Hill Rogers Gallery (Santiko Building, across the street from conference buildings): “Courage, Valor, Mужество, Mужність, 勇气” as part of the New York Foundation’s Immigrant Arts Mentorship Program
Pearl Historic District
La Villita Historic Arts Village
The Alamo
Japanese Tea Garden
San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio Botanical Garden
The Witte Museum
San Antonio Museum of Art
San Antonio River Cruises
Tower of the Americas
Mission San José
Mission Concepción
Spanish Governor’s Palace
DoSeum (Children’s Museum)
San Antonio Zoo
Hot Wells of Bexar County
Got kids?
Some fun things to do with kids near the conference:
Take a boat ride on the river. Look for the GO RIO riverboat-stop sign on the Riverwalk just below the Hotel Indigo. Tickets & info: https://www.goriocruises.com/river-shuttles/
Visit the San Antonio Central Library, the big red building across Augusta Street from UTSA Southwest campus. Calendar of children’s events: https://www.mysapl.org/Events-News/Events-Calendar/id/cen
Walk or get a Lyft or Uber to the San Antonio Museum of Art. Admission is free for kids 12 & under. For older students, $12. (Grad students, bring your student ID!) From Hotel Indigo, 16 minutes’ walk along the Riverwalk). https://www.samuseum.org/
In the Hemisfair Park area, 25 minutes on foot or 7 minutes by car/Lyft/Uber from the conference (parking will cost):
Play at Yanaguana Garden, a wonderland of a playground…and it’s free! Highly recommended. https://hemisfair.org/the-parks/yanaguana-garden/
Get a paleta at Paletería San Antonio. Cold, delicious, right next to Yanaguana Garden. https://www.paleteriasanantonio.com/
See the Magik Theatre’s production of Red Riding Hood. Magik is San Antonio’s theater for children—always funny and fun. Best to buy tickets online before going to the theater, as shows may sell out. It’s only a few paces from Yanaguana Garden, a good place to blow off steam after a show. https://www.magiktheatre.org/
Eat at Dough Pizzeria Napoletana. Great pizza, plus: kids get to play with dough! Just ask, and a server will bring dough while you wait for your food. Next to Yanaguana Garden. https://www.doughpizzeria.com/
Ride the elevator to the top of the Tower of the Americas for a great view on a clear day. Not a free ride; ticket info: https://www.toweroftheamericas.com/
Other places that are all 7-8 minutes by car from the conference, all with free parking:
The Witte Museum (natural history, dinosaurs included). Extra activities for kids vary and may include things such as rock-wall climbing, aerial bicycle riding, or spear-throwing. You can also get there by riverboat shuttle, but that takes longer than driving. https://www.wittemuseum.org/
The DoSeum – San Antonio’s children’s museum, great for toddlers through tweens. Indoor and outdoor activities. No adults admitted without an accompanying child. https://www.thedoseum.org/
The San Antonio Zoo. A nice, big zoo … and yes, there is a train ride. (Railroad enthusiasts can even get train tickets without admission to the zoo.) https://sazoo.org/
Kiddie Park is the oldest children’s amusement park in the United States, with the original rides still running. Good for preschool and elementary-school ages. Next to the zoo. https://www.kiddiepark.com/