Endless thrills await at Six Flags Fiesta and the nation’s largest SeaWorld. Get spooked by spirits haunting the city’s oldest streets or beat the Texas heat floating on a lazy river. Whatever you choose, these hot spots spell fun with a capital "F."
1. Under the Sea
Take a selfie with a mythical mermaid or explore an exotic rainforest on your visit to the San Antonio Aquarium. Feed colorful fish, lizards, iguanas and even birds that perch on your shoulders. These aquarium residents know where you're hiding the treats, especially the Giant Pacific Octopus—crawfish are his favorite. Got a future marine biologist in the group? Hop in the tank and snorkel with dozens of the stingrays and tropical fish. Be sure to rent a waterproof camera to capture the underwater fun. Buy tickets to the aquarium online and save $3 each.
2. Watch Penguins Waddle at Seaworld
Who doesn't like penguins? Watch these comical creatures as they waddle and swim about their chilly enclosure at SeaWorld San Antonio. More than 100 penguins of various species call this realistic winter wonderland home. Sea lions Clyde and Seamore have their own show, playing pranks on you and the kids while trying to earn diplomas at Sea Lion High. Feeling brave? Climb aboard the Steel Eel, a hyper-coaster that has so many dips that you'll swear it's a sea serpent. The ultimate coaster, the Great White zips along at 50 mph while turning you upside down. For your young kids, take the Shamu Express for a fun but tamer ride.
3. Shop and Play at Traders Village
At the southwestern end of the city, you'll find food, fun and rides awaiting you on weekends at the oversized swap meet known as Traders Village San Antonio. There's the usual swap meet fare—dollar bargain stores, toys and artists selling original airbrushed T-shirts—but when you tire of shopping, wander over to the fruit and veggie market and find something for a healthy picnic lunch. The kids will get a kick out of Freddy's Fender Bender, a bumper car ride, and the Rumpus Room, a colorful, interactive playground. Brave the Fleafall, a ride that lifts you 128 feet in the air and then drops you. Delighted screams permitted.
4. Dine with a Ghost or Two
Ghosts, goblins and dinner—isn't that a delightful combination? At Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours, you'll dine on a 3-course meal at the haunted Menger Hotel, tour the property and then head outside for 90-minute, after-dark ghost walk of old San Antonio. The dinner and the tour are done by candlelight, which adds to the spookiness as guides dressed in period costume detail the eerie spirits who refuse to cross to the other side. Wear your walking shoes, as you’ll cover more than a mile. The dinner and tours are designed to be family-friendly, but children under 6 years old may get spooked.
5. Thrill at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Whether you like the excitement of riding giant roller coasters or prefer cooling off at a water park, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the destination. The family-friendly park also has rides mom and dad can take with the kids, such as the Crow's Nest Ferris wheel or the Fender Bender, an old-fashioned bumper car ride. Cool off with the kids on the Gully Washer, a whitewater river raft trip, or in the Lone Star Lagoon, a wave pool shaped like the State of Texas. If your heart is set on the ultimate thrill ride, try Batman: The Ride. This speedy 4D Free Fly Coaster flips you upside down, giving you a feeling of weightlessness.
6. Ride a Vintage Train
Love trains large and small? What about old fashion cars, fire trucks, horse drawn carriages and tractors? You'll find all of these and more at the Texas Transportation Museum. Watch the model trains go around their miniature tracks in the indoor exhibits, then head outside to see the real thing. See what it was like to travel across country in an original Pullman car or catch a ride on the museum's privately owned, Longhorn and Western Railroad. Watch and listen as the vintage engine blows off a mighty cloud of steam. Volunteers run the museum, so it’s only open Friday through Sunday.