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The best places in San Antonio to take out-of-towners that aren't the Alamo

By San Antonio Current Staff on Fri, Nov 3, 2023 at 12:15 pm

Everybody knows about the Alamo and the River Walk, but San Antonio has much more to offer beyond its two most famous tourist attractions. Even so, when you're hosting visiting family or friends, it's possible to draw a blank when trying to show them new sights around the city.

To give hosts a leg up, we rounded up 33 SA landmarks that will appeal to out-of-towners of all stripes, from history buffs to outdoor enthusiasts — and the kiddos too.

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Courtesy Photo / San Antonio Public Library

Central Library
600 Soledad St., (210) 207-2500, mysapl.org
The bulk of the Central Library makes it stand out, whether viewed from up close or passing by on the freeway, but it is the color (dubbed “enchilada red” by locals) that really grabs the attention. Selected in a design competition held in 1991, the building’s Mexican modernist architecture by Ricardo Legorreta includes a breathtaking multi-story atrium containing the artistic heart of the structure, a blown-glass sculpture created by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.

Courtesy Photo / San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio Zoo
3903 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 734-7184, sazoo.org
Located by Brackenridge Park, the San Antonio Zoo has been in operation since 1914 and is home to many species from around the planet. The zoo has many attractions including Africa Live, the Friedrich Aquarium and the Neotropica realm. The zoo also operates Kiddie Park and the San Antonio Zoo Train, making it a prime destination for kid-friendly fun.

Courtesy Photo / The DoSeum

The DoSeum
2800 Broadway, (210) 212-4453, thedoseum.org
The DoSeum is all about hands-on fun. The museum was originally founded as the Children’s Museum of San Antonio in 1995, and opened its 68,000 square foot facility on Broadway in 2015. Dedicated to the “power of play,” the DoSeum features a variety of interactive exhibits on subjects including science, the arts and literacy.

Shutterstock / freelancerChrisSobalvarro

Bracken Cave
26101 FM 3009, batcon.org
In the summer, you can find the largest colony of bats in the world right here in San Antonio. About 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats chill at Bracken Cave from March to October, making it one of the world’s largest concentrations of mammals. So many bats are found here because the cave is a maternity site for the species, so females gather here to give birth and rear their young.

Mike Hume, courtesy of the Majestic Theatre

Majestic Theatre
224 E. Houston St., majesticempire.com
Featuring Baroque, Mediterranean Revival and Mission Revival architecture styles, the iconic Majestic Theatre is a must-visit even if there isn’t a show going on. As the city’s oldest and largest atmospheric theater, the Majestic, which opened in 1929, has a lot of history. It was the first theater in Texas to be completely air-conditioned. Films have been screened and made their premiere here, and some scenes have even been shot within the historic building.

Courtesy Photo / Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns
26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, (210) 651-6101, naturalbridgecaverns.com
Right in San Antonio’s backyard is the largest known commercial caverns in the state of Texas. In 1960, students from St. Mary’s University were granted permission to explore the area and were convinced that underground passages would be found underneath a 60 foot limestone slab bridge. Sure enough, one of the students felt a draft from a rubble-filled crawlway — meaning there were additional passages. Today, visitors can explore the caverns through various tours.

Courtesy Photo / City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture

Comanche Lookout Park
15551 Nacogdoches Road, (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov
Though it encompasses 96 acres, Comanche Lookout Park is best known for having one of the highest elevation points in the city. In addition to beautiful views of SA, in early 2021, the park debuted new public artwork at the peak that honors the city's indigenous heritage.

Shutterstock / Paulettes1104

San Antonio River Walk Museum Reach
thesanantonioriverwalk.com
This stretch of the River Walk runs north from the more famous Downtown section up to the Pearl. The first 1.5 mile segment of the Museum Reach extension of the River Walk opened in 2009, and the final "cherry on top" Mission Reach Park Segment trail in Brackenridge Park opened in 2019. You can enjoy public artworks like Carlos Cortés' The Grotto and Donald Lipski's F.I.S.H, and easily access the San Antonio Museum of Art, which is located right off the river.

Photo via Instagram / adm_xander

Hot Wells
5503 S. Presa St., bexar.org
Back in the day, Hot Wells hot spring resort was a hotspot for some of the hippest celebs of the silent film era, including director Cecil B. DeMille and actors like Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Sarah Bernhardt. Furthermore, the 1911 film The Immortal Alamo was partially shot across the river from the property at Star Film Ranch. The remains of the once-famous resort are now a park, where visitors can soak in the landmark's unique history.

Sarah Brooke Lyons, courtesy of Carver Community Cultural Center

Carver Community Cultural Center
226 N. Hackberry, (210) 207-7211, thecarver.org
This East Side landmark was built as a community center in 1918 and became a segregated library for the city’s black population in the early 1930s. By the 1940s, it drew big musical acts such as Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong. After desegregation it fell into neglect, but area residents realized its significance and formed a wall of bodies to protect it from the city wrecking ball in 1973. By 1977, under the ownership of the city, a renovated Carver reopened and has served as a go-to events facility, with a focus on African-American culture.

Courtesy Photo / Slab Cinema

Mission Marquee Plaza
3100 Roosevelt Ave., (210) 207-2111, missionmarquee.com
The Mission Drive-In entertained countless numbers of car-bound moviegoers who came from all over the city from 1948 into the early 2000s. After the theater’s closure, the city purchased the site and now uses it for arts and cultural events under the supervision of the San Antonio World Heritage Office. Throughout the year, movies still flicker across the original big screen, only viewers now sprawl on blankets or in lawn chairs across a lawn facing the screen.

Photo via Instagram / morningsuninmylife

The Guenther House
205 E. Guenther St., (210) 227-1061, guentherhouse.com
Giving a glimpse into the lifestyle of San Antonio’s affluent residents of the 1800s, the impeccably upkept Guenther House truly takes visitors back in time. The home, which has served as a restaurant and museum, belonged to Pioneer Mills founder Carl Hilmar Guenther. Located on the river and hidden away from the surrounding Southtown, the Guenther House is a must-visit for foodies and history buffs alike.

Photo via Instagram / mattrelliott

The Medicine Wall
3104 N. Loop 1604 W., texasclimberscoalition.org
This may be a bit much for the average tourist, but it's a must-visit for outdoors enthusiasts. After 20 years without legal access, rock climbers were officially given the go ahead to ascend the popular sport climbing crag known as Medicine Wall in 2020. Accessed through the Salado Creek Greenway trail system, the outdoor climbing area offers nearly 50 bolted routes on an 80-foot limestone bluff. The City’s first officially sanctioned outdoor climbing wall is reached through the greenway's parking lot off Loop 1604.