San Antonio is a treasure trove of parks, and there is a different park waiting to be explored for every type of personality. There are 194 city-owned parks, numerous wilderness and nature parks and plenty of historic park sites.
Brackenridge Park
- San Antonio's Parks & Recreation Department sustains the city's swimming pools, gymnasiums, sports facilities, recreation centers and golf courses. City parks also provide well-maintained green space and pathways perfect for cycling, jogging, picnicking, playing catch or just reading a book on a blanket. Brackenridge Park, over 100 years old, is a jewel in the heart of the city. Activities include picnicking, cycling, fishing, pedal boating and birdwatching.
- Within Brackenridge Park are the city zoo and Japanese Tea Gardens. San Antonio's zoo is the third largest animal collection in North America and has 700 species. The Japanese Tea Gardens offer a serene escape from everyday life in its calm water pools, 60-foot waterfall and unique bridges. When you've exhausted your feet, take a ride on the 3.5-mile mini train ride through the park and over the San Antonio River.
Guadalupe River State Park
- In addition to city parks, San Antonio boasts quite a few parks where the emphasis is on native plants and animals. Visit Guadalupe River State Park, 30 miles North of San Antonio, where the beautiful Guadalupe River, its rapids and tall limestone bluffs take center stage. This is the perfect place to enjoy canoeing, fishing, swimming and tubing in the river. There are also opportunities for hiking, picnicking and camping, as well as 5.3 miles of equestrian and mountain bike trails. Keep your eyes peeled for coyotes, bobcats and armadillos!
Friedrich Wilderness Park
- This is the city's only official nature preserve and has 5.5 miles of trails, some of which are ADA accessible, and protects rare birds and terrestrial orchids within its canyons. Eisenhower Park is 320 acres of Texas Hill Country. Take a walk on Cedar Flats Trail to get a spectacular view of the landscape from the observation tower. One last nature park is Honey Creek State Natural Area, a 2293-acre park 30 miles north of downtown San Antonio. Be sure to visit on a Saturday morning to take part in a guided tour. Here you will see diverse vegetation including native grasses and Texas persimmon, and if you are lucky, you might spot a rare Cagle's map turtle, Guadalupe bass or a famous Texas jackrabbit.
Casa Navarro State Historic Park
- Some of San Antonio's most precious and educational parks are those that center around the city's rich heritage and colorful history. Casa Navarro State Historic Park is one such example, as the house of Jose Antonio Navarro, who was a Texas politician, rancher and merchant in the 1800s. Here, visitors see adobe architecture characteristic of this area, furnished to make guests feel they have stepped back in time to more than a century ago.
Lyndon B. Johnson State Historic Park
- In addition to typical outdoor park activities such as picnicking and recreation, this park has a Visitors Center and 1870s cabin. Items to see at the Visitors Center include items that belonged to President Johnson when he was a boy, as well as items characteristic of the various ethnic groups in Hill Country. There are also pictures from President Johnson's years in the white house, as well as those of famous guests who visited the LBJ Ranch. The park also features a two-room cabin built by a German immigrant in the late 1800s.
San Antonio's parks are so diverse and plentiful that everyone will be able to find a favorite. Whether you are a history buff, sports and recreation lover, nature enthusiast, or all of the above, San Antonio has a park with you in mind!
