20 fun things to do in San Antonio that don’t involve alcohol

Play outside at Pearsall Park
4838 Old Pearsall Road, (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov
While SA has plenty of beautiful parks that let guests let loose and connect with nature, Pearsall Park is perfect for almost everyone because it basically has it all. With a skate park, dog park, multiple sports courts, golf course and plenty of trails, Pearsall is basically outdoor heaven.

Try out all the games at the Japanese-style arcade at Otaku Cafe
7022 Bandera Rd., (210) 455-4516, rrotakucafe.com
With a large selection of imported Japanese arcade games, Japanese snacks and an abundance of anime and gaming merch, Otaku Cafe is a great spot to indulge your inner otaku. Make sure to check their social media pages for info on weekly game tournaments.

Catch a free movie screening courtesy of Slab Cinema
Multiple locations, slabcinema.com
Slab Cinema's various offerings around town cover everything from recent blockbusters to arthouse classics, so no matter your tastes you’re bound to have a blast. Don’t forget the blankets or lawn chairs for ultimate comfort.

Test your skills at Vice Coffee's Chess Night
123 Heiman St., instagram.com/viceversa.sanantonio
Vice Coffee offers a fun take on coffee featuring an Instagram-worthy interior filled with plants and vinyl records spinning all day. Stop by on Thursday nights for Chess and Chill, where you can sip coffee, listen to a sick record, and demolish a friend at chess on one of their provided boards.

Search for your favorite albums at a local record store
There are few things more nostalgic than flipping through a crate of vinyl, spotting the album art for the record you’ve been looking for, taking it home and playing it for the first time. San Antonio has a whole host of record stores to peruse, so if you’re not sure where to start, look no further than here!

Japanese Tea Garden
200-414 Alpine, sanantonio.gov
The historic Japanese Tea Garden was built in a former quarry and features elaborate pathways and carefully cultivated landscaping, as well as waterways filled with koi. The abandoned limestone rock quarry was made complete with walkways, stone arch bridges, an island and a Japanese pavilion. Go on a less crowded weekday and let the soft sound of waterfalls and chirping of nearby wildlife wash over you.

Strap on some wheels at The Rollercade
223 Recoleta Rd., (210) 826-6361, therollercade.com
Nothing beats the neon-lit, retro vibe of the roller rink for a nostalgic night on the town. Whether you spend most of your time just re-learning how to move on wheels or you decide to come up with your own little rink routine, you’re sure to have a blast.

Explore some new local restaurants
Whether you decide to head downtown and visit a brand-new restaurant or stop somewhere close to home that you have always been meaning to try, San Antonio is a great food city for tried and true cuisines as well as innovative menus. Find inspiration here.

Kayak the San Antonio River
Looking for some water-centric entertainment? You can paddle down scenic stretches of the river downtown — both through the River Walk and the King William District. Mission Kayak provides guided and unguided kayak rentals from March through October, or you can take your own kayak to paddle select parts of the river!

Play tabletop games at Knight Watch
16350 Blanco Rd. #116, (210) 888-1051, knightwatchgames.com
Knight Watch prides itself on its atmosphere, styling its interior like a castle’s great hall, making it the perfect place to host your next DnD or board game night. The venue features a cafe with ample themed food options for patrons and hosts a $6 “ladies knight out” on Thursdays.

Cheer on the Spurs at a home game
One AT&T Center Parkway, (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com
Most San Antonians are Spurs fans every day of the year. Show your loyalty to the Silver & Black and cheer on the team during home games at the AT&T Center.

Enjoy a non-alcoholic cocktail at HASH Vegan Eats
5007 S. Flores St., (210) 332-9244, hashveganeatery.com
This family-owned restaurant goes out of its way to provide a vegan-friendly space and comfort food to the South Side of SA. HASH’s dry bar offers a wide selection of alcohol-free cocktails and loose leaf teas.

Fall on your ass ice skating
17530 Henderson Pass, (210) 490-9550, northwoodsice.net
Even if it’s not winter, ice skating can be a great way to get active and have fun with friends. Bundle up with some buds and head to Northwoods Ice & Golf to see who wipes out the least on the ice. Once you run out of steam, you can wind down after skating in the on-site arcade and snack bar.

Unleash your inner child playing pinball at What's Brewing
138 West Rhapsody, (210) 308-8882, sacoffeeroasters.com
You can get caffeinated and let your inner kid out at What's Brewing's Roastery and Cafe, which has a rotating selection of pinball machines for you to practice your wizardry.

Take a hike or bike ride
Sometimes the most fun can be had on the move. Travel by foot or bike, and explore the green spaces SA has to offer. Between city parks, natural areas, green belts and nearby state parks, there’s an abundance of green spaces to explore. It’s easy to find a perfect trail near you.

Visit a museum or gallery you’ve never been to before
Most San Antonians know the more-popular museums and galleries, but there’s most likely a few you’re not as familiar with. Now is the perfect time to explore a museum off the beaten path, or maybe a gallery out of your comfort zone. Not sure where to start? Try the Contemporary at Blue Star — a house for innovative contemporary art, this nonprofit’s galleries are open to anyone for free, and on top of their range of rotating exhibitions, they also offer a variety of family-friendly art events.

Go to a farmers market
Whether you want to pick up fancy ingredients to make a meal at home later, or just gorge on fresh food and drinks being sold by vendors, there's plenty to enjoy at farmers markets all over town. If you're down to battle the crowds, Pearl's weekend market is as popular as it is for good reason.

San Antonio Botanical Garden
555 Funston Pl., (210) 536-1400, sabot.org
Taking up 38 acres, the Botanical Garden is home to tons of gorgeous plants. With multiple greenhouses, an authentic Japanese garden, and a trail showcasing three distinctive ecological regions of Texas, there's plenty of natural beauty to enjoy year round. There’s also a glass conservatory and Jason Dady's Jardín restaurant, an essential stop once you’re done exploring the grounds.

Be mesmerized by the stars at the Scobee Planetarium
1819 N. Main Ave., (210) 486-0100, sacscobee.org
If you have a Friday evening open in the near future, the Scobee Planetarium offers public programming from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. each week. Learn more about our solar system and let the expansive stars put everything into perspective.

Go to an improv show at Black Potion
1900 Fredericksburg Rd. Suite 101, (210) 369-8750, facebook.com/BlackPotionSATX
The nerd-friendly spot Black Potion boasts private board game rooms and even a 49-seat theater for hosting everything from film screenings to improv. Their in-house troupe, House Party Improv, puts on shows every Friday. While Black Potion serves alcohol, they also offer non-alcoholic options.