Adventures await at these colorful destinations located only a short drive from San Antonio.
On those days when adventure calls your name but responsibilities loom in the near future, there’s nothing like a day trip to discover new thrills—or ultimate relaxation. Those living in San Antonio are lucky to reside within a short driving distance of several destinations that promise historical charm, tranquil nature, unique Texan culture, and more.
From dipping your toes into a natural spring to two-stepping at Texas’s oldest dance hall to slurping down locally grown oysters near the shore, here are our picks for how to spend one unforgettable day not too far from San Antonio:
Austin
Jump in the car and travel less than 100 miles northeast for a day of sun-filled leisure, unique shopping, delicious food, and live music galore in Texas’s capital of all things weird: Austin.
Any day trip to ATX must begin with a dip in one of the city’s numerous natural springs. If your schedule is tight, opt for a quick visit to Barton Springs Pool, located near the city center within Zilker Park. This three-acre, naturally fed pool remains a comfortable 70 degrees year-round, a refreshing salve to Austin’s triple-digit summer temperatures. If you have the time to travel to the city’s edges, Krause Springs in Spicewood, about 30 miles west of Austin, is home to 32 springs, a manmade pool, and a natural pool that flows right into Lake Travis. Catapult yourself into the springs from a rope swing, or bask in the sun with a favorite book from the area’s rocky banks.
If all that time in nature has your tummy grumbling, you’re in the right place, as Austin is home to a wealth of quality barbecue and Mexican restaurants. Interstellar BBQ has gained a cultlike following for its commitment to thoughtfully sourced ingredients cooked slowly and meticulously—guests rave about the pork spare ribs, flavored with equal proportions sweet and heat, and the tipsy turkey, which is brined in citrus, herbs, and the Bavarian beer Live Oak Hefeweizen. More in the mood for Mexican? Fonda San Miguel’s charming environs filled with exotic plants and international art has been welcoming guests since the 1970s to try traditional plates like the pescado veracruzano, grilled white fish in a Veracruz-inspired tomato sauce complete with Spanish olives, onions, and capers.
Shopping options in Austin prove that the city’s trendsetters are still keeping things weird—those looking for one-of-a-kind garments from yesteryear must swing by Thigh Hi Vintage for a curated selection of structured coats and jackets, flowy sundresses and blouses, and everything in between. Media lovers will want to peruse the extensive offerings at Waterloo Records, whose stacks of vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and more cover every niche genre you can think of.
Finally, who would visit the Live Music Capital of the World without taking in a live performance? Emo’s used to be the city’s top punk club, but today it hosts performances from nationally touring artists of every persuasion, while Cheer Up Charlie’s is a vegan, queer bar with kombucha on tap, a wide menu of organic juices, and a diverse calendar of live music, comedy, film screenings, and drag performances.
Corpus Christi
A day at the beach requires only a two-hour drive southeast from San Antonio to Corpus Christi, home of the Padre Island National Seashore. This 66-mile-long coastline along the Gulf of Mexico is one of the nation’s last intact coastal prairie habitats, and it provides the perfect backdrop for an afternoon spent swimming, fishing, birding, or combing the beach for seashells and sea beans.
Next, keep the spirit of the sea close even when you leave its shores by dining at Water Street Oyster Bar, a historic restaurant whose locally farmed oysters are half price each day between 3-6 p.m. Located within the Art Museum of South Texas, Elizabeth’s at the Art Museum is another seafood-forward restaurant whose Mediterranean-inspired plates and awe-inspiring views of the Corpus Christi Bay lend an elevated feel.
Shopping in Corpus Christi is all about catching a local vibe. From farmers’ markets filled with artisan makers to block parties showcasing local talent, the Gulf Coast capital knows how to gather folks together for a pop-up experience. Check out this complete list of Corpus Christi’s pop-up events here, which includes local farmers’ markets at least every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
On the off chance that you encounter rain in a city boasting more than 200 sunny days each year, the Texas State Aquarium brings you up close and personal with alligators, turtles, stingrays, dolphins, and otters, while the Selena Museum pays homage to the queen of Tejano music in the city in which she built her career.
New Braunfels
You don’t need to drive more than 45 minutes from San Antonio to reach a growing city that retains plenty of historical charm. New Braunfels is one of the nation’s fastest-growing towns, yet it retains its unique heritage in a myriad of ways.
Gruene Hall is Texas’s oldest, continuously operating dance hall, and today’s visitors can take in live music under the same tin roof that Texans have two-stepped under since 1878. When spooky season rolls around in fall, visitors arrive in droves for guided strolls around the town’s historic district with New Braunfels Ghost Tours. New Braunfels’ Downtown Antique Mall will charm collectors with its vast repository of lamps, furniture, and art reaching back to the Victorian era, as well as glass art, American pottery, jewelry, records, and coins from the last century. When a dig through the antique mall’s stacks works up your appetite, head over to Freiheit Country Store, a bar, restaurant, and veritable honky tonk that’s been serving beers and burgers paired with live music since 1889.
New Braunfels has plenty of modern points of interest to boot: Wild Bloom Market is a bright and airy boutique offering a curated selection of gifts, clothing, and wellness and apothecary products in the heart of downtown. The patio vibes at Guadalupe Brewing Company and Pizza Kitchen are spectacular for pints of local, small-batch brews and pizza, wings, and burgers.
Bringing the whole family along? Your youngest adventurers are in luck, as New Braunfels is also home to the Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort, a Six Flags-owned property that promises wet and wild thrills on the largest collection of water rides in the world. At Schlitterbahn, more than 40 water slides, rides, and pools await, with day passes starting at $42.
