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Much of downtown San Antonio can be explored on foot or by way of the trolley system that runs frequently between points of interest .
Depending on whom you ask, the number of neighborhoods in San Antonio varies. The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau breaks the city into quadrants—Northside, Eastside, Southside, and Westside, with museums in the north, heritage sites on the east and west, and missions in the south.
Step into this lovely, lush, flowering oasis within Brackenridge Park that was originally a rock quarry. A man-made 60-foot waterfall is the focus, along with beautiful rock bridges and walkways over and around lily ponds with hundreds of koi fish. The entire place is Instagram-worthy. Dog-friendly with leashed pets welcome.The Jingu House café at the top of the garden offers light lunch, brunch, wine, beer, cocktails, and sake.
Stroll through 38 acres of formal gardens, wildflower-spangled meadows, native Texas vegetation, fascinating historical structures, and diverse sections designed to educate and delight nature lovers at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. You can walk the Texas Native Trail, which represents three distinct regions of Texas. The garden's stunning centerpiece is the 90,000-square-foot Lucile Halsell Conservatory, with five futuristic glass structures exhibiting plants and flowers found in worldwide environments from the desert to the tropics.
Other highlights include the Zachry Foundation Culinary Garden and Chef Teaching Kitchen, which promotes healthy food choices and encourages visitors to participate in planting, harvesting, and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables. The Kumamoto En, a gift from San Antonio sister-city Kumamoto, is a serene, authentic Japanese garden with stone walks and water features. The Family Adventure Garden encourages kids to run, climb, and splash in 2½ acres of nature space.
