San Antonio Attractions for 3 Year Old

Updated on July 14, 2010
B.S. asks from Spring, TX
14 answers

We are thinking about taking a family vacation to San Antonio for my son's 3rd birthday. Any ideas on what would be good to do there? I really want to go for the boardwalk but want to make sure he has fun also.

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Thanks for the responses. Any hotel recommendations would be appreciated also. We will be going in October. Thanks!

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M.L.

answers from Houston on

San Antonio is great! We go every year just about for at least a weekend trip. Sometimes up to a few times a year. Sea World, and, believe it or not, Fiesta Texas. Fiesta is awesome, and, my kids love it. My daughter could ride almost every ride there when she was 2 1/2. It is VERY family friendly, and, just tons of fun. Also, downtown is just a lot of fun. I suggest a small wagon or a stroller appropriate for his size. His little feet will get tired from all that walking! :)
As far as hotels go, we usually stay somewhere within the middle of the Riverwalk and Sea World or Fiesta TX. It is a short drive, and, you can find cheap parking lots in downtown. So worth it to save the money and take a 10 minute drive in to where you want to go. We keep saying we want to stay on the Riverwalk one day, but, it is pretty high. There is a La Quinta right in downtown, but, not on the riverwalk that is pretty reasonable. We have stayed there once before.
Have Fun!
http://www.visitsanantonio.com/index.aspx

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R.

answers from San Antonio on

Down town is full of fun stuff for little kids. My 3 year old just enjoys the action on the riverwalk. Sea World also has lots of great fun for little ones (happy harbor and a small roller coaster, all the shows and Shamu). The zoo has a special area just for little kids and the Witte Museum (also near Breckenridge park) has an area just for kids and right now they have a special dinosaur exhibit. Hope you have a great trip!

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B.P.

answers from San Antonio on

In addition to the Children's Museum, there is also the newly restored SA Kiddie Park http://www.kiddiepark.com/ which has rides for small children. Another good place is the SA Botanical Gardens http://www.sabot.org/ which currently has the "Playhouses and Forts" on display through Oct for children to enjoy amongst the beautiful gardens. You can't forget to get on the little train ride at Brackenridge Park http://www.visitsanantonio.com/visitors/play/attraction-d...
It is a fun ride for kids and parents thru the park w/ a train conductor who gives the history of the park and gives you the option to also make a stop at the lovely Japanese Tea Gardens (Gardens: free admission). Hope you have an enjoyable time in San Antonio!

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K.A.

answers from Dallas on

We took my daughter to San Antonio when she was three, then went back through there earlier this year with a six year old and a two year old. Sea World has lots of age appropriate activities for your son. And the Alamo has gardens back behind it where the kids can kind of roam around with no vehicle traffic, and there are cannons and koi and different things to look at. The Riverwalk has a lot to look at and lots of lights. Our daughters enjoyed just walking around, and we ate on the Riverwalk. You could also ride the gondola boats on the Riverwalk.

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C.B.

answers from El Paso on

There's also a Children's Museum downtown and a Zoo. If you are looking for a hotel recommendation the JW Marriott is AMAZING. There are several pools, 1 just for toddlers with lots of fun water activities and another pool that has that beach thing where its goes from barely any water to shallow gradually. It really is a great city.

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R.D.

answers from San Antonio on

Keep in mind that downtown is tourist so more expensive. But if you stay there, all is within walking distance with a stroller!! No one mentioned the tower-they have a 4D movie and then the tour of the tower itself. Lovely water garden that spans about a mile. At the end of that mile thru Hemisfair park is a FREE wooden structure playground. Next door to that is Magik Children's Theater which has great kids plays-last I saw was Cloudy with a chance of meatballs-they had water tubes painted like giant doughnuts that they threw out over the crowd. Across one block from the Alamo is the Rain Forest cafe. The farthest walk from the Alamo is the Kids museum-4 blocks but across from that is the Buckhorn Saloon (originally Lone Star brewery). On weekends, they have a "high noon" shoot out in the street but the museum is filled with animals of all kinds. And a ride on the river boat is great-goes the length of the riverwalk and tells historical info on the way and helps you get your bearings. You could stay anywhere and drive to these attractions-if you do, park in the Rivercenter Mall parking garage-they are open late, centrally located, easy to find and reasonable cost (about $15 for all day).
Another place to try is Hyatt Hill Country Resort. It is out by Seaworld but you never have to leave the hotel. In October, don't know if it would be too cold to swim but the pool is a huge circular type that you "Float" around and has a beach area with sand. They have bikes, playground, volleyball, and planned games/activities for kids. Then at night, they have s'mores and outdoors movies. I think we saw Cars. A little pricey but you get lots with that. Most recommended SeaWorld-personally, it is the highest priced place in SA and won't let you take even a water bottle for the child. And most 3yr olds can't handle an entire day from open to close!!
Another fun place is Magic Time Machine-again pricey but wait staff are in costume and you don't have to be worried about his behavior-they promote walking around!!
Hope you enjoy it.

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

http://www.sachamber.org/cwt/EXTERNAL/WCPages/WcDirectory...

San Antonio chamber of commerce has this on there site. Have fun. I really liked the Natural Bridge Caverns and it feels cool down there on a hot day...might be better for older kids. Remember the stroller where ever you got thats a lot of walking for little legs. Have fun!!! :D

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K.Z.

answers from Houston on

One time I stayed at the Marriotts Residence Inn behind the Alamo. Walked to the Riverwalk easily and to the Galleria.

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A.P.

answers from Austin on

My only add is that the kids area of the Witte museum is Fabulous!!! A lot of hands on fun things to do - we liked it even better than the children's museum. But be sure you find it - it is actually in a separate building in the back called the tree house. If you didn't know it was back there, you wouldn't know to look.
Have fun!

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W.O.

answers from Houston on

You might be interested in taking him to the zoo. I have been their, but my son wasn't quite that young. Also the Shamu show at Fiesta Texas may be good for him. It is hot up there though.

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L.W.

answers from Austin on

Check for your dates, but we just went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, yesterday and had a great time. There were a lot of rides for little folks and rides that you could do as family. I do have a pretty tall 3 year old, and I don't know about the water park section in October. The Wiggles Rides were a hit with my 8 and under crowd (well we parents had fun too :)

Sea World still has some hours in October. Magic for the little guys.

The Alamo. Make sure you get a coon skin cap :)

WE LOVE: HEB treehouse its part of the Witte Museum. The zoo and train is near this.

Also the Institute of Texas Culture has some programs geared for little ones.

October is generally gorgeous in these parts. Ya'll come :)

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M.T.

answers from Austin on

We just spent a week in San Antonio with our 2 year old and had so much fun!! You have to check out the zoo! They have an entire area that is just for kids 5 and under! It is fantastic! Go early and go prepared...you can bring in your lunch so remember plenty of water and healthy snacks as it gets HOT there!! Also, bring your son's swimsuit...in the toddler section there is a really cool "river bank" area with sand and water...so much fun.

Also, the Witte Museum www.wittemuseum.org is super cool and has a great dinosaur exhibit right now as well as a neat kids area.

In that same area there is an "amusement park" called Kiddie Park that has been recently redone over the past year. You could even have your son's birthday party there!! www.kiddiepark.com

These three places are in Brackenridge park and there is a train that can take you around that whole area. Serious fun for a toddler!

Have fun!

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

Sea World, Sea World, Sea World was great when my kids were 3 and 5 when we moved here! Witte Museum and HEB Treehouse - very cool.

Alamo- good for adults, not so much for 3 yr. olds.

Stay at a Drury or a Courtyard or a Hampton....something reasonable and family friendly.

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P.N.

answers from San Antonio on

The San Antonio Children's Museum is a great attraction for 3 year olds! So is Sea World. The New Braunfels Children's Museum is only 20 min. away and is also a great place for little ones! If you go to the zoo, I recommend also taking the train in Brackenridge park, kids love it! Not to mention Brackenridge park has some terrific playgrounds!

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