San Antonio is a city full of rich history, culture and food but you may want to check out its surrounding cities as well that vary from small towns to large cities. Let’s have a close look on some of the best things to do in San Antonio and its nearby neighbors that are easy to drive to.

1. Catch the Saga Light Show at San Fernando Cathedral

Price: Free
Address: 115 Main Plaza

Watching the Saga Light show at night at the San Fernando Cathedral at Main plaza is a must experience that you do not want to miss!! This 25 minute night light show art experience is projected on the San Fernando Cathedral Church which is one of the oldest Cathedrals in the US. Its artistic visual narration of moving images with great music that tells a story about San Antonio history.  They usually play the show on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 9pm, 9:30 and 10pm but do check the website incase anything changes.

2. Stroll and Eat the Riverwalk

Price: Free
River Cruise Price: $15 ( Price may change)
Address: 809 Riverwalk St.

One of the most famous things to do in San Antonio is walk and eat at the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is full of life filled with shops and restaurants. It is even legal to walk around and drink alcohol at the Riverwalk.

The whole Riverwalk is about 15 miles  so I recommended doing the Go Rio River Cruise which is a 40 minute ride to see the whole place and learn about its history. Definitely touristy but so much fun! The guide had some cheesy dad jokes that were quite funny. 

If you do come on the weekends, make sure to make a reservation at a restaurant before going on a walk because it gets very crowded and it can take 45 minutes to 2 hours to get a table. They can text you when table is ready, so you can explore the Riverwalk while you wait.

Also, check out if there is a show at the Arneson River Theater or the Aztec Theater. It is an open air outdoor theater which sometimes has shows going on. Bonus: If you are a fan of the movie ‘Miss Congeniality’ with Sandra Bullock, the famous pageant scene where Miss Rhode Island iconically says that the perfect date is April 25 was actually shot at this ampitheater.

3. Alamo

Price: Free
Address: 300 Alamo Plaza

Your visit is not complete if you do not go to iconic Alamo Church. Unfortunately, it was closed when we went here so I guess our visit wasn’t complete. Going inside the church is actually free but you have to reserve a time slot ahead of time. It does look a lot smaller in person by the way, but this Spanish Mission and fortress will bring you back in time with its interesting history. It is highly suggested to pay for a self guided audio tour or a tour guide to learn more about the history of Alamo. 

4. Explore the Pearl Historic District

Address: 303 Pearl Pkwy

Peal Historic District is home of a former brewery back in the 1880s transformed into a hip food district and hang out spot. We went on a weekday but it is more lively and fun on the weekends featuring a farmers market with a variety of food options. We had some French food at Brasserie Mon Chou Chou which was a cute restaurant next to Hotel Emma.

Do check out Hotel Emma which was originally a Pearl Brewery converted into a classy historic hotel. The lobby itself was so aesthetic and elegant with a vintage rustic and industrial feel with repurposed tools adding to the atmosphere. You can enjoy your drinks at their cozy bar and even in an intimate old distillation tank.

5. Enjoy a Carriage Ride 

Price: $25 per person (Price may change)
Address: Near 210 Crockett St.

The horse drawn carriages with its beautifully decorated lights will give you fairytale vibes while you get to see Downtown San Antonio. They were not the cheapest as it was $25 per person for a 20 minute ride but definitely worth it and would definitely do something like this again.

6. King Williams Historic District

Address: 112 Madison St.

King Williams is a beautiful neighborhood full of Historic beautiful homes with classic architectures. Wander In the streets and admire the breathtaking charming old mansions with beautiful landscapes. You can even come in and have breakfast the Guenther House as it is usually open to the public from 8am to 2pm on Wednesdays to Sundays.

NEARBY CITIES:

Gruene:

8. Visit & Explore the Historic Town Gruene

Drive: Approx 40 Minutes from San Antonio
Address: 1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels

We actually found this small town by accident on our way to Austin and we just instantly fell in love. It’s quite charming with markets, homy hotels, lively music, outdoor wine tastings, shops and restaurants. There’s a fun old general store with a fudge and ice cream bar and lots of nostalgic items sold in there.

You’ll find Gruene Hall which the oldest dance hall in Texas built in 1878 where you can some good food with live country music. Make sure to take your time to walk around and explore this gem.

9. Go tubing by the Guadalupe River

Price: $25 ( Price may change)
Drive: Approximately 40 Minutes from San Antonio
Address: 1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels

While you’re in Gruene, you have to go tubing at the river. It would be such a waste to not go tubing to such a scenic location.

We rented a tube with the Rocking R River Rides. It will last for about 2-3 hours but you can make the time quicker by swimming it out. It’s so relaxing as you float down the river and enjoy your drink. It will take you to a few natural rapids that go fast which are super fun and will give you a lil rush and a shuttle will pick you up at a certain spot to bring you back to where you started.

10. Take a Quick Helicopter Ride with Leading Edge

Price: Starting at $20 (Price may change)
Drive: Approximately 41 Minutes from San Antonio
Address: 6260 I-35, San Marcos

Something random that we saw while driving at the freeway was the $20 helicopter ride sign. We thought why not so we immediately made that exit. The catch is that for $20, it’s only 90 seconds. Hence, we did end up doing it but paid $45 each for a 6.5 minute ride but you’ll see more pricing options. The view is alright but it was such a fun ride and the pilot made some fun turns which felt like a rollercoaster. This spot was just 12 minutes away from Rockin R Rides Tube rental. 

Wimberley:

11. Swim at Jacob’s Well

Credits: @angelique.the.greek

Price: $9 (Price may change)
Drive: Approximately 1hr 15min from San Antonio
Address: 1699 Mt. Sharp Rd., Wimberley

You may have seen Jacob’s Well on Instagram as it has such a unique pool cave. Sadly, it wasn’t swimmable when we were there but this place is so cool on the good months where you can actually swim and jump into this deep hole. Keep in mind that you do have to make a reservation in advance as they limit on how many people can swim at a time.

Martindale:

12. Swim at San Marcos River

Price: Free
Drive: 1 hour away from San Antonio
Address: Near 203 FM1979, Martindale

There are way too many rivers in Texas that you can enjoy so make sure to make your way out there. We ended up swimming at the San Marcos River which felt like paradise. It’s so refreshing to enjoy the water especially during those warm summer days.

Austin:

12. Eat BBQ at Terry Black’s

Drive: 1 hour 15min away from San Antonio
Address: 1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin

If you go to Texas, you cannot leave without eating some delicious Texas BBQ. Terry Black’s BBQ is one of the top rated BBQ spots in Austin so we decided to give it a shot and it totally lived up to its ratings. The ribs were so tender that they came off the bone so easily. It was honestly the best quality bbq we’ve ever had! 

Despite the long lines, it that goes by very quickly with the staff’s fast service. It can get hard to find parking but for a good reason. We got there at 10:30am and it was smooth but one hour later, the line was already outside and it was extremely hard to find parking.

13. Check Out the 360 Bridge Overlook

Price: Free
Drive: 1hr 15min away from San Antonio
Address: N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin

This would be the perfect place to watch the sunset as you get a gorgeous panoramic view of Austin. It seemed a bit high but it really just takes a quick 2-5 minute hike to reach the top. Quick warning: Hide your valuables when you leave the car because unfortunately, this spot is a hot spot for thieves smashing the windows to steal valuables. 

15. Rent a Retro Boat

Price: Starting $160 (Price may change)
Drive: 1hr 15min away from San Antonio
Address: 74 Trinity St., Austin

One  way to see the skyline in style is by driving a vintage styled boat with Retro Boat Rentals. The boat is electric motored and quiet so you can cruise comfortably as you check out lake and the skyline. They give you a speaker to borrow so that you can have some music and feel free to bring some snacks and drinks.

That’s All For Now

That’s all I got for now. I cannot wait to come back to Texas as I know that I still missed a lot of spots! Hope you all also enjoy your time in Texas!