Heading to San Antonio tomorrow for 10 days for an Oracle conference (4 days). We are staying at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort. The JW has a small water park at the hotel, so we decided to bring the kids (5 & 6) along as well.

We're planning on hitting The Alamo, River Walk, Sea World and possibly Schlitterbahn. We will have a rental car.

Any other ideas, particularly that might interest my 5 & 6 YO? Wife has a cousin in Austin with 2 kids (4 & 6) so we plan on visiting them, or them coming to us, so something between Austin and SA is fine.

Wife also found a place called Natural Bridge Caverns. Anyone ever go to that?
http://www.naturalbridgecavern...mkgknzl))/Index.aspx

There's a big ass amusement park at the intersection of I-10 and 1604 that I can't recall the name of. It's not far from the resort you're staying at, I think. FIESTA TEXAS is the name!

You're gonna want to do any outdoor activities as early in the day as you can manage. Or after sundown.

The Imax Theatre is on the Riverwalk.

The pool/water park at the hotel is great. It will entertain your kids for several days. Get down there early and grab a shady spot to park your stuff. Great hotel, we do weekend escapes there sometimes with our boys.

Welcome to SA!

Besides whats already been mentioned for kids, the Witte Museum is popular and Rainforest Cafe on the riverwalk. If doing the Alamo & riverwalk - I'd also say to take the boat tour and check out the Tower of the Americas.

Funny, your from Conifer, Co. I remember passing through there. My in-laws live in Nathrop - near Salida/Buena Vista.

Hope you and the family enjoy it here. Stay hydrated!

Natural Bridge Caverns is a treat, and much cooler than those other venues.

I was in New Braunfels last Saturday. The line of cars heading for Schlitterbahn went all the way out San Antonio street to the Plaza and out Seguin Street, and if you had fallen off the San Antonio street bridge near the chute, you would have had to work to get wet.

Thanks for the feedback all!

I consulted with SWMBO and she said Schlitterbahn was out. Mostly due to cost and limited rides for the little guys. I'll look into Fiesta.

Glad TXJIM said the water rides at the JW should entertain the kids for a few days. I wasn't sure how long until they got tired of it.

Witte museum looks cool! Thanks, we'll look into that! Every young boy loves dinosaurs! Yep, BV is about 1.5 hours from me. We're right off hwy 285!

We'll also see what's playing at IMAX. Kids have never been to an IMAX.

Natural Bridge caverns does sound cool (literally and figuratively), so I think we'll make plans for that. I'll be in the cool A/C Mon - Thurs morning, so maybe SWMBO and the lids can go there on those days!

Best food in town is Tommy's. It's a small hole-in-the wall place that looks really sketchy, but it has the best Mexican food in Texas. My wife routinely buys several quarts of refried beans to take home with us when we visit. There are 2-3 of them in town.

If you want less tasting food (but still good) with a really cool atmosphere, try Mamacitas. It's big and open and is made to look like a Alamo-era village. Even has an animatronic Davey Crocket play the violin ever 15 mins.

In the same area as Natural Bridge Caverns is the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. You stay in your car and drive along seeing all sorts of exotic animals.

The World's Cutest Grandaughters, 6-8 year olds, got a kick out of it.

This was January, cold and rainy. Your visit won't be.

Speaking of food, when you get tired of Mexican food and want a good burger, or need something cheaper than resort prices, this place is a great dive. I recommend the cheeseburger and onion rings followed by a nap

About 10 minutes from your hotel just off 1604.

https://www.google.com/search?...17904056229304486003

Thanks Jim, Jim & Hound Dog!

Speakign of food...I love Mexican, wife & kids not so much. Wife is a burger gal. Maybe I can talk her into Tommy's or mamacitas for 1 meal.

I'm open to NON-MEXICAN food if anyone else has suggestions. Maybe not cheap, but we don't do "fancy/expensive". My kids are well behaved.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
Best food in town is Tommy's. It's a small hole-in-the wall place that looks really sketchy, but it has the best Mexican food in Texas. My wife routinely buys several quarts of refried beans to take home with us when we visit. There are 2-3 of them in town.

If you want less tasting food (but still good) with a really cool atmosphere, try Mamacitas. It's big and open and is made to look like a Alamo-era village. Even has an animatronic Davey Crocket play the violin ever 15 mins.

That's a fiddle.

OP: Rudy's barbecue on I-10, west of 1604 about 5-10 miles, is a fairly good bbq joint.

DeWeses Tip-Top cafe, on Fredericksburg road in San Antonio has been there since 1938. It's the real deal. Good burgers, chicken fried steaks, onion rings, etc. I recommend it, and it's not too far from your hotel.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Re...n_Antonio_Texas.html

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Thanks Jim, Jim & Hound Dog!

Speakign of food...I love Mexican, wife & kids not so much. Wife is a burger gal. Maybe I can talk her into Tommy's or mamacitas for 1 meal.

I'm open to NON-MEXICAN food if anyone else has suggestions. Maybe not cheap, but we don't do "fancy/expensive". My kids are well behaved.

The best burger I have had in San Antonio was at Chesters. One is near Broadway on Loop 410 near the airport. Another is out by Randolph AFB.

http://www.chestershamburgers.com

My brother lives in Boerne and he insisted he take me to Rudys when I came to visit him. It was good

Rudy's is very average Texas BBQ, very average at best. With that said, the original location out west off I-10 is cool to see and the food is good.

It's very hot (101) here now. Be sure to wear hats and carry lots of water. Don't plan on doing too much walking.

If you do not have What-a-Burger in CO then try it. River City Cafe on Loop 1604 near 281 has good cajun seafood.

Jim's Resteraunts serve some mexican style dishes such as migas and breakfast tacos, and diner food.

quote:

Originally posted by TXJIM:
Rudy's is very average Texas BBQ, very average at best. With that said, the original location out west off I-10 is cool to see and the food is good.

The original Rudy's in Leon Springs (just outside of SA on I10 West) is way better than average.

No restaurant on the River Walk itself has good food. Decent food is the best you can hope for in those tourist joints. The Tex-Mex places are your best bet on the River Walk, but they won't be great Tex-Mex.

The Alamo and River walk together are a good half to 3/4 day. But it is likely to be really hot to you, so be forewarned. You could also stop at the Mercado (Mexican market) on the west side of downtown and enjoy that for an hour or two. It is junky tourist stuff for the most part, but kind of fun.

The Marriot you are staying at could probably please your kids for two or three days.

The caverns you mentioned are your standard caverns. I enjoy caverns. I think the tour is an hour or two.

Sea World for rides and imprisoned sea creatures.

Fiesta Texas for a straight up amusement park.

Is there a Schlitterbahn in SA now, or are you talking about going over to New Braunfels? I liked the park when the kids were small. A historic dance hall/honkeytonk is in the neighboring town of Gruene (pronounced "Green") - the Gruene Hall, and they have music every night. I also see who is at the Gruene Hall when I am around.

We are all talking about the same Rudy's. Leon Springs is a wide spot in the road just past The Dominion on I-10 west of 1604. It's a chain, now, but that one is their original restaurant.

Natural Bridge Caverns is extremely cool. My wife and I went there on our honeymoon back in '87 and I know a number of people who have recently visited the place. Well worth the time.