This is easily one of the most beautiful parks in San Antonio--it might even be my absolute…read morefavorite! It features hundreds of trees and a scenic stream winding through the grounds, along with plenty of wildlife like ducks, geese, and vultures near the Joske Pavilion. There is tons of open space to lay out a blanket for a picnic, plus walking/running trails, baseball fields, a couple of playgrounds, plenty of tables and benches, and great paths for biking. It's wonderfully quiet in the mornings, making it the perfect in-town getaway.

The park is lovely. The grounds appear to be well maintained, there's flora, there's fauna, there's…read morewater. What more could you ask for??? Well, maps. Maybe I'm daft, but I couldn't figure out the trails. Every trail I started, ended after a few hundred feet. After a short time of starting and stopping and finding the maps vandalized so I couldn't figure out where on the map we were, we gave up and walked down the street to Mila for coffee. I love that they have maps set up throughout, but every single one I stopped at had the "you are here" section scratched out. Not being from San Antonio, I couldn't orient myself. So that was a little problem. Otherwise, the area a lot of picnic areas set up for grilling and eating with plenty of space for play. You just might have to Hansel and Gretel your way out though.

My 5 yr old grandson and I did the VIP private experience with tour guide Tucson along with the…read moreRhino experience , after which we drove through on our own.. This did make it more expensive, but for us it was worth it...We have been able to feed many giraffes, but never have met a rhino up close and my grandson loved being able to brush them and touch them.. I chose the private tour , so I could relax and enjoy it without having to drive...and all the info Tucson gave us on all the animals and all their programs made the drive back through on our own a lot more interesting. I was very impressed with their setup and how many babies they have.. I would recommend getting their early...The tour was a wednesday at 930 and we only had one other car on the road with us....when I drove back through , there was a lot of car stoppage , cause of course every car wants to stop for every group of animals and I will say the group at the entrance gate holds you for ranson so you better have food for them so you can get thru.. Didn't try the food , but the fudge at the restaurant was really good. The only thing I was disappointed in was the avairy...If you just want to see a lot of beautiful budgies and a few chickens, then go for it, but they had no interest in the food sticks and just flew away from it for the most part...We are used to the lorikeets that land on you, so my grandson was just bored with it...

We had a great time at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch! Took our 3yo daughter and 1 yo son last…read moreweekend. I thought the safari drive was just okay. First, I was a tad disappointed in the quantity of the animals out there. There were long stretches of the drive where I caught myself thinking, " there's nothing out here". Second, don't bother buying feed. A lot of the animals were more interested in food provided in their troughs than the passing vehicles. And, I have a feeling they're fed well enough ...they don't care if you're throwing food. Third, cars tend to bottleneck to look at NOTHING. I think the staff should do a better job explaining you can pass. At least I hope you can, because I did. I wasn't waiting for some of these people. Other than that, I thought the facilities themselves were clean, well lit, and impressive. They've got a great restaurant where you can have lunch (although I felt the prices were exorbitant as they often are with these "tourist traps"). They've got some great exhibits with monkeys and you can get pretty darn close to some giraffes. My little girl had a particularly good time in the aviary. Seeing her face as that bird landed on her stick was just the best. Solid gift shop. Overall, felt the cost was higher than necessary, but solid family outing. It's worth going.

Lovvvveeee this place. I'm a nature girlie and this place did not disappoint. I enjoyed the…read morewaterfall, different paths that offered different views of the beautiful garden and also kept it from feeling crowded. Grounds are very well kept. Felt so peaceful. Beautiful place for pictures as I saw wedding couple and a quinceañera take pics....looks like you can reserve a portion of the garden so that your background is exclusive

Great small area to take photos, walk, or enjoy the serenity of the garden. There is a small…read morerestaurant, which I didn't happen to get photos of, but all around, a great adventure to be taken with family or friends. Hours are open from 7-5PM General Admission: Free

We tried to secure a sloth experience for a corporate event through Zoomagination and held what…read moreseemed like two very positive phone calls with Jennie, the co-owner, in which we verbally arranged all the details. However, when we asked for a paper agreement to hold the date, she said they "didn't usually do them." When we insisted that for a corporate event with lots of money on the line (our entire booth is supposed to be themed around the sloth), we needed at least SOME kind of agreement and deposit in place, she promised multiple times across two phone calls to send us something...but never did. Two different members of our team tried patiently to follow up with her for OVER THREE WEEKS via email, phone, and text message. We didn't even get the courtesy of a simple message back saying she couldn't do it, and frankly, it left us in a difficult position and created reputation risk for us with other vendors. I absolutely cannot recommend this mobile zoo if you need someone reliable for your event, and candidly, the lack of responsiveness we received is hard NOT to perceive as extremely rude. It's sad, too -- a member of our team apparently saw this zoo present at a different event and said it was good. But how would you even know they were going to show up? I see they have lots of good reviews, but they all seem to be old. I can only guess they must be missing whatever management they used to have. All around just a huge bummer.

I was surprised with a sloth meet and greet and was super excited about it. Meeting the sloth in…read moreperson was the highlight of my year. I also learned a lot about sloths. They are slow like they are portrayed. They are nocturnal. They eat veggies and fruit. They poop once a week and only at night. Who would have know ? I didn't book this experience, but the handler was accommodating. We were able to meet Osa in her environment, but I do understand that they can take her to your home too. Definitely a great experience It's my understanding, that these animals are all rescued.

My family has wanted to check this place out for a long time and we finally made the drive. Lots to…read moresee and my granddaughter was over the moon with the capybara encounter and petting one of the tiny foxes. Then there are the baby goats in the petting area. So cute! Plenty of shade available on a warm day and several educational moments.

Drove by this place and decided to stop because my daughter has recently expressed an interest in…read moresnakes. The parking lot was small, which wasn't a huge issue since the farm/zoo itself is also very small. However, the pricing was absolutely outrageous!! around $55 for just 1 adult, 1 child, and a small cup of food to feed the farm animals. There were plenty of snakes to look at, and that part was genuinely fascinating. Unfortunately, everything else left us feeling uncomfortable and honestly pretty upset. There were far too many farm animals packed into tiny enclosures. Most of the habitats looked extremely small, bare, and lacking any kind of enrichment or stimulation for the animals. It was hard not to feel concerned for their wellbeing. Instead of enjoying the experience, we left feeling sad and disappointed. I would not recommend this place, and we will not be returning.

We had the opportunity to visit SeaWorld San Antonio through a Veteran Appreciation program while…read morewe were in town for my nephew's Air Force BMT graduation. First, I want to say how truly appreciative I am of SeaWorld for offering this opportunity and allowing our family to enjoy the park with complimentary tickets. It was a very thoughtful gesture, and it meant a lot to us. We visited during the last week of July, and if you know anything about San Antonio summers, you know the heat can be brutal. Unfortunately, we happened to visit during a heat wave, so the combination of high temperatures and humidity was intense. We had my mother with us, who is handicapped, along with two younger children who are not used to that kind of heat, so we weren't able to stay as long as we originally planned. The biggest highlight of SeaWorld for us was definitely the animal attractions. We really enjoyed seeing the crocodiles, tortoises, flamingos, beluga whales, dolphins, and orcas. Those experiences were what made the visit worthwhile, and my kids absolutely loved seeing the animals. We especially appreciated the covered and indoor areas because they gave us a chance to escape the heat while still enjoying the park. The beluga whale show was a great break from the temperatures, and the orca show was another memorable experience. One thing I was surprised by (although I know many theme parks are similar) was the pricing for food and beverages. We stopped at Harbor Market because we wanted a break from the heat, some air-conditioning, and a chance to sit down and eat. Unfortunately, the air-conditioning seemed to be struggling when we walked in, so it wasn't quite the cool break we were hoping for. SeaWorld is a cashless park, so if you bring cash, you have to use a kiosk to transfer it onto a card. The kiosk does charge a fee for the transfer, which I believe was around $3.95. The food prices were definitely higher than expected. They do offer an all-day dining deal that works across SeaWorld and Aquatica for $59.99 per person, but for a family, that adds up very quickly. Especially considering the food options are pretty basic things like burgers, cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs, and similar theme park-style meals. They do have some Asian-inspired options like orange chicken and sweet-and-sour chicken, but overall the food was nothing that stood out. The beverage system was also interesting. With a meal, you receive one drink, but the cup is activated through a QR code at the fountain machines. Once you use it, you can't simply refill it again, which was surprising. I understand that parks may have had issues with people abusing unlimited refills, but it was still frustrating not to have the option for a refill, especially in the middle of a summer heat wave when staying hydrated is important. The Harbor Market food area itself could also use some attention. The floors were sticky, and the tables and seating areas could have used a better cleaning. I understand theme parks are busy and maintaining large dining areas is challenging, but keeping those areas clean would really improve the overall experience. The gift shops were what you would expect at a theme park cute souvenirs but definitely overpriced. We did stop and get Rita's lemonade, which was a nice treat and helped us cool down. The ride lines were another thing to consider. If you're planning on riding the roller coasters or other attractions, expect some longer wait times and plan your day accordingly. They also have a splash pad/water area where kids (and adults) can cool off, which was a nice feature, especially during the summer heat. Overall, I would give SeaWorld San Antonio about a 7/10. I don't dislike it, but I wouldn't say it was a perfect experience either. The animal attractions were truly the best part and are what gave the park its higher rating for us. My kids loved seeing the animals, and we are very grateful we had the opportunity to visit through the Veteran Appreciation program. I would definitely recommend visiting during a cooler time of year if possible because the Texas summer heat can really impact your experience.

I've visited SeaWorld and Aquatica San Antonio for years, but this trip will likely be my last…read more What used to feel like a family-focused destination now feels like nothing more than a money grab. Let's start with parking--$45 just to park per day is outrageous before you've even walked through the gate. The ride experience was incredibly frustrating. We stood in line for over 30 minutes with absolutely no movement other than people giving up and leaving. Only after we had already wasted that time did employees finally announce that the ride was broken. A simple announcement at the entrance to the queue would have saved everyone a lot of time and frustration. Aquatica was just as disappointing. They wanted $60 for a locker for only three hours because all of the smaller $30 lockers were already full. We refused to pay that much just to store our belongings. The lazy river was another letdown because there were no tubes available. Guests were hanging onto them indefinitely, and there were no employees making sure tubes were being shared so everyone had an opportunity to enjoy the attraction. Finding a place to sit was nearly impossible. People claimed chairs by leaving towels and personal belongings on them, then disappeared for hours while other families walked around searching for somewhere to sit. There didn't appear to be any employees enforcing a chair policy or addressing obvious chair hogging. Even getting into the park was poorly managed. There were only two employees collecting admission for four lanes of backed-up traffic, creating long, unnecessary delays before we even entered the park. To make matters worse, the park does not accept Louisiana's LA Wallet or other state-issued digital driver's licenses, despite many states now recognizing digital IDs as valid identification. It created an unnecessary inconvenience. The one bright spot of the day was the evening entertainment. The concert was excellent, and the fireworks were great. The drone show was impressive as well, but if you're seated in Bayside Stadium, a large portion of it is blocked by the stadium roof. Simply moving the drone performance a little farther out, I believe, would allow everyone in the stadium to enjoy the entire show. Overall, this was one of the most disappointing amusement park experiences I've ever had. Between the excessive fees, poor operations, lack of crowd management, and constant frustrations, the value simply isn't there anymore. I'll be spending my vacation dollars elsewhere from now on. This was, without question, the worst trip I've ever had to SeaWorld and Aquatica San Antonio.

It's easy to see why this is one of the most visited cave sites for tourism worldwide and the…read moremost-visited in Texas. It's a very well-developed cave to visit. By "developed", I mean that lighting and a path has been installed to make traversing it A LOT easier than when it was discovered. By "path", I mean smooth, textured, non-slip, paved sidewalks from one end of the tour to the other--complete with stainless steel handrails along almost every step of it. The effort it took to make a cave system this accessible is beyond commendable. At one end of one of the tours there is a long uphill slope to get out of the cavern, but you don't have to walk--they have a roller/conveyor belt that you stand on and ride to the top. The erosion-carved rocky "rooms" of the cave system defy description. They are up to 100 feet tall, 100 feet wide, and over 200 feet long, and are filled with otherworldly mineral formations that have been actively "growing" for millions of years. Photos don't do this justice. When you see it in person, it's just breathtaking. Adult-only tours would be an occasional welcome option, as a less-than-silent baby/toddler ruins the silence that the below-ground space allows. Parking is abundant, but it is not free. Even out in the spacious Texas Hill Country they decided that $10 per car was appropriate. I hate paying to park (anywhere), and in a rural setting like this, it just feels like such a shameless money-grab! I wish they'd just charge more for the tours and let us feel like parking is "free". More intensive, deeper tours for small groups that require higher effort into undeveloped parts of the caverns are offered on a limited basis. This sounds like something worth returning for.

I have been to Natural Bridge Caverns several times me moving to the US and having visitors. The…read morediscovery tour is beautiful. It is the first cavern discovered I decided this time to check the hidden wonders tour for the newest cavern. This tour is definitely not accessible. Lots of stairs down and lots of wet spots. But it is highly recommended! The tour guide was friendly saying jokes and very informative. Someone in the group asked him to rephrase for a kid brain to absorb the information. It was hilarious and the kiddo in the group was engaged and so enthusiastic about the whole deal! The cave itself is so beautiful! We spent a good hour and a half inside At the end you get the light and sound show and the fun ride out on the B.A.T the only belt assisted transport conveyor in the world to get out of the cave. Even that is a challenge for older people. It was a real fun afternoon exploring the cavern

A unique botanical garden with so much beauty and history. We were lucky to visit during the…read moreOtherwild art exhibit, which displayed beautiful large scale colorful art throughout the various gardens. We walked through the Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, an adorable set up of a water conservation garden, cacti/succulent garden and had a relaxing break on the swing facing the pond filled with turtles and ducks. Make sure you stop inside the high humidity garden and the indoor cacti garden with a unique display of various cacti. There is also a really nice children's garden/area and the botanical garden is child friendly in general. There are a lot of spots to enjoy your lunch. I suggest bringing snacks or your lunch. I didn't see any places to purchase food. Parking is free. We visited midweek and it was pretty mellow. A gift shop is located at the entrance. Overall, this botanical garden is at the top of my list and it's definitely worth a visit.

What a beautiful piece of heaven! I felt like I was transported into another world and didn't feel…read morelike I was in a city at all. My first visit and a definite must in the Spring. Parking was plentiful and easy. Entry is $18 per adult, $16 with military discount. The park is well paved and divided into themed sections. See pic of map below. And in addition, there were 11 beautiful art installations related to plants throughout the park to admire and take pics. Love the symbiotic flow between garden and art. I really enjoyed Pineywoods Lake- gorgeous wooded area with cabins, and lots of benches to sit, relax, and enjoy nature. Vibrant cardinals high up in the trees were singing and turtles were lounging and catching sun rays on a small island in the middle of the lake. Another fave was the Lucile Halsey Conservatory area. The multi color Flowy Flora in Flight resides there and caught my eye. The area also housed the Desert pavilion, fern grotto, tropical conservatory, and palm and cycad pavilion. So many interesting plants and landscaped in a meticulous manner. Couldn't get enough : D Plan to spend about 2-2 1/2 hours and we brought lunch and had a nice picnic near the lake. Cute gift shop and coffee near entrance. I'll be back.