Brackenridge Park

North of downtown is San Antonio’s own Shangri-la, Brackenridge Park (3910 N. St. Mary’s St., 210/207-7275, 5 a.m.–11 p.m. daily, free). This beautiful city park has many features and attractions that make it a special place for kids, adults, and adults that act like kids. There’s the nationally renowned San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium, a miniature train called the Brackenridge Eagle (210/735-7455) that travels over two miles around the park, the Japanese Tea Gardens (210/821-3120) also known as the Sunken Gardens, and the Sunken Garden Theatre (210/735-0663). Brackenridge Park is also home to the Brackenridge Golf Course (210/226-5612), the oldest 18-hole public golf course in Texas. At the northeastern edge of the park are two excellent museums, the Witte Museum (210/357-1900) and the Texas Pioneer and Ranger Museum.

Besides these attractions Brackenridge Park is the location of many springs that make up the headwaters for the San Antonio River, which brings the beauty of flowing, twisting lanes of water to the park. The old stone building over the river is the pump house that operated as San Antonio’s first public water supply system.

With a mini-amusement park, a mini-train to ride, boats to bob in, museums, and a zoo, who needs Lost Horizon? The park is approximately two miles north of downtown, and the main entrance is in the 2800 block of North Broadway. Although admission to the park is free, fees may apply to some of the attractions within the park.