Many families who head to San Antonio are there to see more than The Alamo. One of the biggest family draws to the Southwestern city is its SeaWorld, located just outside the city and surrounded by large, kid-friendly resorts.
With the Texas sun heating up the desert land year-round, the park gets very crowded and lines can grow pretty long. Many guests arrive quite early to get through the ticketing lines -- even if you arrive with tickets in hand, the lines for the ticket takers and bag inspection can be pretty long -- but arrive too soon and areas of the park won't be open. On the day of our arrival, we were able to visit a toddler splash area, but the larger water coasters did not open for another hour.
Although there are rides for all ages, the park offers more for older kids. We were thankful for the coded map that let us know which rides were suitable for our then 5- and 6-year-old children, but we were all disappointed to discover that wasn't a great deal of rides. To the kids, the toddler area was too "baby" and we found the best play area was actually the water park with a lazy river, splash zone and wave pool, filled with kids of all ages.
Expect to spend a full day at SeaWorld, between the rides, the swimming and the attractions, including seeing the park's famous Shamu the Killer Whale. It won't be a wallet-friendly visit, however, as the park charges at every turn: parking, lockers, snacks, clothing dryers, merchandise, and even straws. (The park has a "no straws" policy, saying it is harmful to sea life. You may, however, elect to purchase an oversized souvenir Shamu straw, should you require a straw to sip from.)
SeaWorld San Antonio Family Vacations
SeaWorld San Antonio Family Vacations
Families will love:
- Aquatica Water Park
- Home of the world-famous Shamu, the Killer Whale
- One of San Antonio's top destinations for families
Written by Lissa Poirot
Read more about SeaWorld San Antonio Attractions
Best SeaWorld San Antonio Family Hotels
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