Top 20 Places to Take Kids In and Around San Antonio
Every summer, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. This page is where we showcase the 2024 list of winners for the San Antonio area. (Click here for the full list of nominees.)
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Make sure to browse through our packed daily calendar, visit our Everything That's Free page, and sign up for our fantastic FREE weekly newsletter with dozens of ideas each week for local stuff to do with kids.
2024's Top 20 ranking + category winners! Scroll down for more about each venue, with links!
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1. San Antonio Zoo
San Antonio Zoo, voted the #1 zoo in Texas, has something for the whole family! Experience everything San Antonio Zoo has to offer with a Membership. Enjoy UNLIMITED visits on public operating days, discounted admission at practicing zoos & aquariums, invitations to Member-only events, 10% discount on zoo food & merchandise, and discounts on select special events.
2. The DoSeum
The DoSeum Is Much More Than A Children’s Museum. It’s a place where interactive fun and hands-on learning come together—a place where minds are always at play. The DoSeum offers exhibits, programs, camps, classes, and field trips designed for all learners, encouraging young minds to explore the joy of learning through connections to STEM, the arts, and literacy. Originally founded as San Antonio Children’s Museum, The DoSeum has grown over the past 25 years to become a premier leader in informal education, while still staying true to the mission of connecting families and transforming communities.
3. Magik Theatre
Young people are at the heart of everything we do, and community is what we champion. Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio in Hemisfair Park, through shared, rich experiences, we are able to engage families and communities year-round to create memorable moments that lead to lifelong impact. Magik Theatre is dedicated to storytelling that activates imagination, grows young minds, and inspires creativity.
4. San Antonio Aquarium
Come Experience Thousands of Species and Interactive Exhibits! San Antonio Aquarium has been the premier family entertainment center in Leon Valley since 2014. We love providing once in a lifetime experiences that include everything from sharks to Sloths!!
5. San Antonio Botanical Garden
Explore the 38 acre urban oasis at San Antonio Botanical Garden, including the Family Adventure Garden with 15 fun spaces that encourage unstructured play and nature exploration. The 2.5 acre Family Adventure Garden offers a universal, multigenerational design so people of all ages and physical abilities can unplug from devices and plug into nature. Families can explore bubbling creeks, thundering ridges, beckoning hills, and sandy shores. The Garden’s mission is to enrich lives through plants and nature.
6. Witte Museum
The Witte Museum is Where Nature, Science and Culture Meet. Discover Texas Deep Time in spacious galleries located on a beautiful, riverside campus. Explore dinosaurs, Chili Queens and cattle kings, original Gallery Theater plays and so much more. Come discover YOUR Witte Museum.
7. Morgan's Wonderland and Morgan's Inspiration Island
Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first ultra-accessible family fun park, encompasses 25 acres of rides, attractions and activities for everyone, and all are welcome! A place where the common element of play creates an atmosphere of inclusion for those with and without disabilities, encouraging everyone to gain a greater understanding of one another. Morgan's Inspiration Island is the world's first Ultra-Accessible™ splash park, a 3-acre park with five tropically-themed splash pads, the River Boat Adventure ride, and extensive support facilities.
8. The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Our mission is to provide a world-class venue that promotes a diverse range of cultural, education, and artistic experiences that improve the quality of life in San Antonio.
Situated along the banks of the San Antonio River in the city’s heart, the historic Municipal Auditorium, with its original facade preserved, has been transformed into a world-class venue. This theatrical icon is once again the pride of the river and a shining beacon of creativity, fine art, and downtown development. There is no better place — anywhere — to see and hear a live performance.
9. Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Home of eight world-class roller coasters and our giant FREE White Water Bay Water Park!
10. Natural Bridge Caverns
Texas’ largest cavern system – and so much more! Take a guided tour (or two!) 180 ft below the surface of the earth and experience this Naturally Amazing place filled with incredible underground chambers and spectacular formations. Natural Bridge Caverns is more than the cavern tours, it’s also home to Twisted Trails, the World’s LARGEST Zip Rails and Ropes Course. Test your balance on four stories of obstacles high above the spectacular Texas Hill Country. For the little ones, Twisted Tykes is a specifically designed lower ropes and zip rails course. Don’t forget about panning for gems and fossils in a real working sluice at the Discovery Village Mining Company or take on the challenge of the AMAZEn’ Ranch Roundup, a 5,000 square-foot outdoor maze. It’s fun for the entire family!
11. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the San Antonio area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!
12. Scobee Education Center: Planetarium & Challenger Center
The Scobee Education Center at San Antonio College is dedicated to engaging our students and community in life-changing experiences that inspire the pathways to STEAM careers. The Center was established on the campus of San Antonio College in memory of the lives given by the seven crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger/STS-51LL "Teacher in Space" mission. Our goal is to carry on the crew's educational mission, to spark youth interest and joy in science and engineering. The center is named after the Francis R. (Dick) Scobee family - Commander Scobee, his widow Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, and their children Kathie Scobee Fulgham and Maj. Gen. Richard W. Scobee.
13. Devine Acres Farm
A family-owned agri-tourism destination in Devine, just a short drive from San Antonio! Open Spring, Fall, and Christmas for wholesome family entertainment. 30+ attractions and activities for “kids” of all ages! We also do seasonal field trips! Book one for your school on our website! Explore our vibrant pumpkin patch and flower fields in the fall. Immerse yourself in our Christmas trees, Santa and Christmas play in the winter. And take in the joy of spring during our Easter and springtime events! Spread out over 40 acres of attractions, entertainment like live music and goat races, delicious food, beer & wine, desserts and so much more. Join us for a celebration that will leave you with cherished memories that last a lifetime!
14. SeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld San Antonio creates unforgettable experiences for guests of all ages with a blend of exciting and educational offerings like up-close animal encounters, thrilling rides, exhilarating coasters and awe-inspiring shows that focus on ocean wonders. Kids can marvel at the majesty of marine mammals like orcas, sea turtles, and reef fish, all while learning about them and what they can do to help conserve the oceans they live in. Thrill seekers can choose from a variety of rides, like the Tidal Surge, the world’s tallest and fastest swing of its kind; Texas Stingray, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Texas, and guests can hop on a “jet ski” go on a simulated rescue mission on Wave Breaker; the Rescue Coaster. And Sesame Street comes alive at the park in Elmo’s Bay of play where kids and kids at heart can meet beloved friends everyone has come to love. SeaWorld has something for everyone!
15. Aquatica
Aquatica San Antonio, a tropical paradise adjacent to SeaWorld, offers all things water from serene to extreme! Cool down in a crashing wave pool with waves to body surf on, meet stingrays and other amazing animals; and enjoy the best, most refreshing and thrilling water rides in Texas. Guests can race their friends and family on the new Riptide Race water coaster, soar up a 3-story-high wall on Walhalla Wave; enjoy the Ihu’s Breakaway Falls, the tallest drop slide in Texas; or simply relax and soak up the sun. Aquatica is Texas’ best water park!
16. Majestic Theatre
The Majestic and Charline McCombs Empire Theatres are San Antonio's premier performing arts facilities featuring Broadway shows, concerts, comedians, and other live events!
17. Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is a wildlife refuge designated by the City of San Antonio and located on San Antonio Water System property. Once the sewage facility for the city, the lake is now exclusively for wildlife viewing and provides habitat. No fishing or recreational activities are allowed at the lake - it's for the birds!
Our wetland habitat is one of the last critical stopover grounds before the Texas Coast, where 98.5% of long-distance migratory bird species in the US pass through, many which are about to fly for hours or days over open ocean. Explore our habitat, walk our native gardens, take a class or a tour, volunteer, or give your support to our education and conservation programs.
18. Frost Bank Center
San Antonio's premier live entertainment venue, bringing the hottest concerts to the Alamo City.
19. The Aztec Theatre
San Antonio's oldest theatre and premier entertainment venue! The Aztec is also available for rentals and private events. Built in 1926, the 1600-capacity Aztec Theatre is a notable example of the impressive exotic-theme motion picture palaces constructed in the United States during the economic boom of the 1920s. It is decorated with vibrantly-colored columns, sculptures, furnishings and murals, many of which are authentic reproductions of Meso-American artifacts. A massive two-ton chandelier dominates the theater lobby. The chandelier was installed the same day the stock market crashed in 1929.
20. Santikos Theatre
Santikos Entertainment is an American movie theater and entertainment center chain based in San Antonio, Texas.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in several categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: The Tobin Center for Performing Arts
Generation NEXT connects education and the arts, promoting creative classrooms and culturally relevant learning. We believe creative empowerment is central to a 21st century education. Generation NEXT removes barriers to arts participation by providing inclusive and diverse educational and artistic experiences to more than 20,000 annually.
Top Sports Educator: YMCA of Greater San Antonio
The Y focuses on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, and incorporates the core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith into all we do. The Y is more than a gym. We are a community with something for everyone in your family regardless of age, income, ability, ethnicity, or faith. When youth play sports at the Y, they gain more than just exercise. They learn what it takes to be a leader in sports and in life. Youth learn the fundamentals of the game while building character, developing self-confidence, and creating healthy relationships.
Top STEM Educator: Scobee Education Center and Planetarium
The Scobee Education Center at San Antonio College is dedicated to engaging our students and community in life-changing experiences that inspire the pathways to STEAM careers. The Center was established on the campus of San Antonio College in memory of the lives given by the seven crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger/STS-51LL "Teacher in Space" mission. Our goal is to carry on the crew's educational mission, to spark youth interest and joy in science and engineering. The center is named after the Francis R. (Dick) Scobee family - Commander Scobee, his widow Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, and their children Kathie Scobee Fulgham and Maj. Gen. Richard W. Scobee.