San Antonio, Texas is a city teeming with distinctive neighborhoods full of great restaurant options for family travelers in search of good food and fun. Our family had several terrific meals, but a few stand out. Note that Riverwalk restaurants are typically more expensive than those in the city, but it's worth it on a nice evening, when kids can stretch their legs while you relax at an outdoor cafe. Reservations recommended over holiday periods and weekend evenings.
Boudro's
421 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/224-8484
Shops, restaurants and hotels line the bridges, fountains and abundant foliage of the city's famed Riverwalk. Here families will find Boudro's, a lively dining gem that has long attracted a loyal following of locals, tourists and visiting celebs. One bite and you will understand why. Like the city itself, the menu is a blend of cultures – a little bit Mexican, a touch of Louisiana and a nod to Texas Hill Country. Start with the fresh guacamole made tableside and a prickly pear margarita, then move on to lobster tail fajitas, smoked shrimp enchiladas or blackened prime rib. If you are lucky enough to nab a table riverside, you can watch the barges pass by with passengers taking a tour or enjoying a dinner cruise. (Reservation's for Boudro's popular dinner cruise must be made two weeks in advance). Although there is no children's menu, Boudro's accommodates the smaller set by offering a burger, chicken breast or smaller order of coconut shrimp on request. Plus the bustling scene means there's no need to "shush" a boisterous toddler.
Luke
Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk-Downtown
125 E. Houston
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/226-9000
For a fine dining experience, visit this new Riverwalk Hotel, home to celebrity Chef John Besh’s Cajun-inspired restaurant Luke. As his first venture outside Louisiana, the menu mingles notes of Swiss, German and Italian cuisines, reflecting Besh’s global training. Chef Besh is a father of four boys, so children are welcome on this culinary adventure.
MadHatter's Tea House & Café
320 Beauregard
San Antonio, TX 78204
210/212-4832
Over in Southtown, San Antonio's Art District, sits this unassuming café. MadHatters serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea (over 50 offerings) every day in a funky, eclectic setting that draws a diverse crowd. Many menu items follow the tea theme, such as a tea-smoked Mediterranean chicken salad and blackberry-tea-infused waffles. If that sounds too fussy, there are burgers, sandwiches and soups. Prices are inexpensive, service is friendly and portions are abundant. There is plenty to please kids, from the MadHatter's children's tea to a simple PB&J or a plain turkey sandwich, not to mention the yummy baked goods for dessert.
The Guenther House
205 E. Guenther Street
San Antonio, TX 78204
210/227-1061
Not far from Southtown is the King William Historic District, one of the oldest historic districts in Texas where numerous German families settled in the 19th century. If you're not staying in one of the B&B's (we were at the more modern, family-friendly Radisson Resort Hill Country), a trip to The Guenther House is your chance to dine in one of the neighborhood's historic homes on this lovely stretch of the San Antonio River. Up until 1948, this stately circa 1860 home served as the family estate for the Pioneer Flour Mills founder. Lucky for us, The Guenther House now serves hearty breakfasts (breakfast tacos, waffles, fluffy Pioneer biscuits with gravy) and light lunches (salads, sandwiches and a few entrees) until 3pm daily (2pm on Sunday). You can choose to dine on the trellis-covered patio or in the Victorian-style dining room. If the kids get restless post-pancake, take a stroll through the River Mill Store located in a former bedroom and a music room of the stately home. The store features all kinds of delightful gifts and baking-related items, including mixes for many of The Guenther House goodies.
Mi Tierra Café & Bakery
218 Produce Row
San Antonio, TX 78207
210/225-1262
El Mercado, San Antonio's Market Square, is filled with shop after shop of Mexican and South American jewelry, crafts and apparel. It is also home to Mi Tierra, a San Antonio institution for the past 63 years. Mi Tierra never closes and seems always packed despite its el grande size. Locals and tourists feast on large portions of authentic Tex-Mex food and pastries in a lively, casual setting. Kids love the colorful painted murals on the walls, year-round Christmas lights, sombreros hanging from the ceiling and strolling musicians. In addition to a huge menu serving breakfast (available 24 hours a day), lunch and dinner Mi Tierra offers a kids' menu with the usual suspects (chicken tenders, burger, fried fish) plus some simpler Mexican entrees.
Silo
1133 Austin Highway
San Antonio, TX 78209
210/824-8686
The kids will especially enjoy the elevator ride up to the dining room, as Silo stacks Alamo Heights (a more formal dining room) on top of Nosh (their new tapas bar). The varied menu makes this an easy place for everyone to order and parents will appreciate the lively and ever-changing dining concepts. This group also has another place, 1604, in San Antonio.
New Braunfels Smoke House
6450 N. New Braunfels Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78209
800/537-6932
A showplace for the region's ethnic German heritage; home to a variety of wurst and smoked meat.
Casa Rio Mexican Foods Restaurant
430 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/225-6718
This restaurant is open daily from 11 am-11 pm and serves passable Mexican cuisine; the real draw to the establishment is its excellent location along the River Walk, which affords excellent views of the surrounding area and has done since 1946.
Rio Rio Cantina
421 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/226-8462
Another Mexican establishment with a great location on the River Walk, calling ahead for reservations is a good idea since it can be difficult to get a table.
Luby's Cafeterias
(14 Locations)
210/654-9000 (Downtown location: 210/223-1911)
This cafeteria chain is spread throughout the city (and throughout all of Texas). Luby's variety of hot and cold dishes, vegetables (the mixed plate of four veggie side orders is a favorite) and cheap, quick dining make it a good alternative for the thrifty or impatient traveler looking for a bite.
Pig Stand
801 S. Presa Street
San Antonio, TX 78210
210/227-1691
A local San Antonio fast-food chain open 24 hours, essentially an old fashioned McDonald's, for pork lovers only. Vegetarians need not bother.
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Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!
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I love spending time in London. I think if you want to spend time out of the city, Brighton is also a great place to visit, especially as it’s close by. There are a number of family-friendly hotels, too, like The Brighton Hotel:
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It’s a steam excursion train, shorter ride, probably many kids on board. This would be better suited to younger children. Much better choice for the under-12 set.
Ralph
Originally created as a recreation area for employees of the Hershey Chocolate factory, today Hershey Park boasts plenty of chocolate paraphernalia, as well as roller coasters and a water park. Tickets include admission to the nearby ZOOAMERICA. Originally owned by the Knott’s jam producers, Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park is one of the older parks in the US, Knott’s Berry Farm is a classic for those looking for thrill rides, water rides and family fun.
Hi Ralph, thank you for your reply. I haven’t booked it yet as I had similar reservations that since it’s an 8-hr journey, it will not be wise to take the kids at this age but would love to take them on a shorter train tour, I’m currently looking at the Jacobite express (here in the UK).
Hello Zeb,
For children under 10, It would simply be too long a day in too confined a space for them, might get a little boring for them after the first 20 minutes; it’s an eight-hour journey.
If they are active, there isn’t a lot of room to run around on the train, which is smaller than the ones we are used to here in the U.S.
If you have already booked a space, and will have toddlers or young children, suggest you bring lots of things to keep the little ones entertained.
Ralph
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Have been to Switzerland but missed the Glacier Express, I’ve heard it really one of the best train journeys in the World with amazing mountain/alps view. Is it good to travel with kids 7 and 4 years old) too, since it’s 8 hours long?
Sunlight, particularly in late summer and fall, sets off the production of anthocyanin. Cloudy weather dampens production and leads to less colorful displays. Many scientists argue that warming temperatures do not have much to do with the intensity of color, only with its timing: when it appears and how long it lasts. But Howard Neufeld, a professor of biology at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, said climate change could eventually affect the complex processes in leaf senescence and lower anthocyanin production, dulling the autumn reds.
Gladiator School – My new favorite thing to do in Rome. We did this on our last trip to Rome and both kids and adults absolutely loved it. Instructors are great. Highly recommended. Book far in advance. (Pictured above.) Walking Tour: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill – Excellent guided tour of Ancient Rome. Skip the line to enter all three sites. Very kid-friendly.
Deer Valley caters to families with kid-friendly skiing, child care programs and a limited child-to-instructor ratio. Because Deer Valley sells a limited number of daily lift tickets, tiny tots and pint-sized groms have plenty of room to work on their pizza wedge and French fries. Other amenities include a Children s Center, Adventure Camp and furry mascots on the Adventure Trails. I grew up skiing here and learned to love the mountains and snow at this resort. The amenities are top notch and the food is amazing. As a young kid, when the skiing got tough, I would always head inside and get delicious food and hot cocoa. See more Deer Valley reviews here .
Fall is very busy in the mountainous regions with the influx of leaf peepers from the New England area, around the United States and the world. In these extremely popular areas, you ll want to make lodging reservations at least several weeks ahead, especially on weekends. Columbus Day weekend (Oct 7-9, 2017) is another time in which advanced booking is advised throughout the region.
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Traveling to other cities with your kiddos? Don’t miss Curbed’s maps of the best family activities
Good to know : West Valley is open daily from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Apples are $0.85 a pound. Follow their Facebook page for updates on U-pick apples. And be sure to bring containers for their popular juice pressed right on site!
Minneapolis, Minnesota is a great pick for outdoor-loving families thanks to kid-friendly (and free) favorites like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home to more than 40 outdoor works of art
You can’t go wrong with a safari and I would recommend booking with a company like Timbuktu Travel. Have a look at their safari travel tips – .
The K Bar S Lodge, built in 2006, is located a short distance from Mount Rushmore. It is quietly secluded on 31 forested acres and away from busy streets. Battle Creek winds its way throughout the property and the large meadow in front of the Lodge is often a playground for deer and turkeys. As a single traveler it was so fun to be with this group. It s much nicer to be with others when you share a great experience or see something wonderful. And, it s safer than traveling alone. I m hooked on Road Scholar.
Rockefeller State Park offers seasonal activities including hiking, running, bird-watching, fishing ( New York state fishing license required), picnicking, horseback-riding, carriage-driving, photography, painting, and geocaching (park permit required). Sleepy Hollow and neighboring Tarrytown have a deep immigrant history resulting in a rich mix of cuisines: Italian, Greek, Mexican, Indian, French, Portuguese, Irish, Japanese, Dominican, Chinese, Ecuadorian, Thai, Moroccan, and Chilean. Foodies should not miss the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow farmers market at Patriots Park where you ll find fresh Hudson Valley produce, meat, bread, and wine.
Speaking of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, don t miss out on seeing the Rockettes show-stopping leg kick precision chorus during the holidays at Radio City Music Hall.
Jimmy Buffet s restaurant is a short walk from the Comfort Suites Paradise Island Hotel and Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. What could be better than eating a literal Cheeseburger in Paradise? Pairing it with a yummy margarita, of course.
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Make sure you check out the new sustainable Christmas Market in Berlin!! Its located by Hacksnshiremarkt!
What s more exhilarating than seeing the city from 108 floors above the world-famous Las Vegas Strip? Jumping off it. Strap in and face your fear as you jump off the side of SkyPod at The STRAT.
Have you ever dreamed of creating your own ice sculpture? The Quebec Winter Carnival has just what you’re looking for! Bring your group to our Ice Sculpture Workshops under the guidance of a team led by none other than Marc Lepire, chief sculptor of Bonhomme’s Ice Palace! During this one-hour event, you will learn the workflow of master sculptors and enjoy the unique experience of carving your own solid ice block with your group of 2 to 4 people. Free all-you-can-drink hot chocolate will keep you warm throughout the frosty fun.
When you’re travelling with your kids, indoor-fun options are a must no matter what the season. Montreal saves the day with all kinds of activities, from adventurous physical feats to skill-testing games and educational entertainment.
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We have traveled through several airports in Germany but never Munich. We will keep Munich on our list for the next trip through Europe since it sounds like the best place to have a stop over with kids. Thanks for the review and the information for kids to do in Munich Airport.
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