Family Vacation Attractions in San Antonio

San Antonio Zoo has more than 600 species of animals on their 56-acre complex. It is consistently ranked among the top zoos in the nation and all families won't want to miss out. One fascinating exhibit is Africa Live!, which recreates an African river several months after the rainy season to impart a lesson about water scarcity. Visitors can view hippopotamuses and crocodiles through underwater viewing tanks. In Amazonia, there are monkeys, primates, large cats and other tropical species, such as anteaters.

Throughout the day, visitors can listen in on educational talks about various animals from zoo keepers and volunteers. San Antonio Zoo also holds regular programs throughout the year, such as an event where you can help capture, tag and release monarch butterflies.

San Antonio Zoo
3903 N. St. Mary's Street
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 734-7184

At Natural Bridge Caverns, visitors will find a lot more for the family to do than just a simple cave tour. While visitors can take a traditional walkthrough guided tour of the cave along concrete pathways with handrails, Natural Bridge Caverns also offers a more challenging set of adventure tours. In these adventure tours, active types climb, slide, abseil and crawl their way through narrow passages. Caving gear is provided and a guide will accompany you on the adventure tours.

Younger children will enjoy the sluice exhibit, where they can run a dirt-filled screen through flowing water to pan for gemstones and other minerals. Natural Bridge Caverns also features The Watchtower, a 50-foot tower lined with rock-climbing wall surfaces. Once at the top, the climber takes an exhilarating zipline ride back to the ground.

Natural Bridge Caverns
26495 Natural Bridge Cavern Road
Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266
(210) 651-6101

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort features a variety of thrill rides, waterslides and swimming pools for people of all ages. The whole family can ride together on the Wolfpack rafting ride and slide down a 670-footseries of twists and turns. Or they can lay back on an innertube for half a dozen tube rides or test surfing skills at the Boogie Bahn Surf Ride.

Young children can splash and play in one of five kiddy play areas, including small wading pools, water slides and fountains. Older children will appreciate the Dragon's Revenge, a unique ride that combines rafting down a waterslide with fiber optics, pyrotechnics and other special effects to create a thrilling encounter with an angry dragon.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort
381 East Austin Street
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 625-2351