San Antonio has top attractions and activities to suit visitors of all ages and interests. History, culture, and five theme parks only minutes from town are just some of its glories. Despite being the second-largest city in the state, the center seems manageable and compact, making it perfect for a weekend trip in Texas with smaller kids. The jewel in San Antonio's crown is the River Walk, a world of its own below street level that connects many sites and attractions. And, of course, a visit to the Alamo allows you to see the location of the infamous 1836 battle that became a symbol of heroic resistance on the route to Texas independence. Modern indoor attractions, such as the Legoland Discovery Center and the DoSeum, mean there are many options for every family.

Read on for the best things to do in San Antonio with kids, plus kid-friendly restaurants and hotels. For more summer vacation fun, check out our Houston Day Trips and Family Getaways guide.

Not all family activities need to lean into the "active" part. Sometimes, just taking the squad for a leisurely stroll to get some fresh air, browse a few shops, and grab a bite to eat can make the perfect weekend outing. One great way to enjoy the warmer temperatures outdoors is to find a walkable neighborhood with a cute downtown district or Main Street lined with family-friendly stores and restaurants to pass the time. We found 9 great walkable Philly neighborhoods to do just that on lazy Sundays, Saturdays, or any day.

For more kid-friendly places to take the crew a little farther out, browse our Day Trips and Weekend Getaways Guide. For more family activity inspiration, sign up for our newsletters.

Since many of the best amusement parks in the US are located in places where it's warm year-round, like Orlando and Southern California, many DC-area families plan vacations to visit them in fall, winter, and early spring. But come late spring and summer, amusement parks near DC are open and ready to welcome families.

Whether you have toddlers or preschoolers looking for low-octane fun or older kids and teens chasing the thrill of roller coasters, there is a theme park within a three-hour drive from DC that's perfect for a day trip or weekend trip with your family. Many of these family-friendly amusement parks near DC also have on-site water parks included in their ticket prices, so don't forget your bathing suits!

Here are nine great amusement parks near DC to visit with your family. Most of them are open only on weekends in the spring and then every day by June, so be sure to call or check the websites for operating hours before you go.

Water sports near Orlando beckon to those looking for adventure, excitement, and time on the water. These water activities near Orlando are great ways to spend a day on the lake, for appropriate ages, which include wakeboarding, paddleboarding, boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and more. Because Central Florida has such an extensive volume of lakes and waterways, it makes sense that these water sports near Orlando are huge draws to outdoor enthusiasts. 

If the only summer water activity near Orlando you seek is swimming, make sure to take a dip in one of the picturesque Top 10 Natural Springs in Florida Near Orlando. Swimmers should stick to these natural springs and swimming holes near Orlando because they are safer than large Orlando lakes better suited for water sports. Avoid wildlife and dangerous bacteria and ameobas (which flourish in hotter temperatures), by enjoying daytime water activities near Orlando in boats, on floating appratuses, or at the dock. Check water conditions and learn more about environmental hazards online, with the Florida Department of Health and/or Protecting Florida Together Water Quality websites.

If you're looking for a vacation that will provide thrills and fun for everyone in the family, an amusement park is a great bet. Most of the 40 top amusement parks in the US for a family vacation offer rides, attractions, shows, and other activities for everyone from toddlers to teens and their grown-ups. My family recently visited one of these theme parks, Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, and had an absolute blast.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a European-themed park that's been voted the World’s Most Beautiful Amusement Park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association for over 30 years. The massive park is broken into nine villages that center around six countries—Germany, France, Ireland, Scotland, England, and Italy. Many of the rides, attractions, performances, and foods are themed around those countries. There are also animal habitats to visit. While there's enough to do at Busch Gardens Williamsburg to make it your sole destination, its proximity to Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and other historical sites can also make it one part of a larger family vacation.

Here's what to know about visiting Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA with kids.

There is no shortage of warm-weather family activities in Brooklyn, but I find myself continuously making the trip to Brooklyn Bridge Park throughout the spring and summer months. Spanning 1.3 miles along the East River, Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85-acre waterfront green space promising recreation, sustainability, and environmental exploration. Where else can you fish, roller skate, kayak, barbecue, hit some spectacular playgrounds, catch the ferry to Governors Island, see FREE outdoor movies, explore a sensory labyrinth, or visit an environmental education center? Plus, the Lower Manhattan skyline views never fail to impress.

We've rounded up our favorite things to do in Brooklyn Bridge Park with kids. Looking for more green spaces to explore? Bookmark our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in NYC.

With space travel increasingly in the news, children’s fascination with all things space is sky-high. Being able to get up close to real space artifacts at one of these space museums near NYC is thrilling for any kid, not just those obsessed with space, like somebody in my house!

We've found a collection fo dedicated space museums near NYC, plus some ultra-cool space-themed galleries within some favorite local science museums. At these spots, kids and adults can experience what it feels like to be in space through simulators, interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, or watching a live feed from the International Space Station.

Find more cool museums for kids in our Guide to Museums and Galleries for Kids or find more STEM-inspired fun in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids.

Creating your very own pollinator garden is a fun and easy activity that teaches kids the importance of bees and butterflies to every aspect of our ecosystem. Don't have a green thumb, or even a backyard? No problem. We’ve got tons of easy solutions to get started on a simple at-home bee garden or butterfly garden for your backyard or a window box. And planting and caring for a pollinator garden isn't just for adults; it’s a perfect family activity suitable for kids of all ages.

Once you’ve planted a bee garden or butterfly garden, you can watch these creatures up close as they drink nectar and fly from flower to flower. But don’t stop there—get crafty and create some homemade wind chimes out of recycled materials to decorate your new pollinator garden.

Check out more green activities for kids as part of our Earth Kids Guide to Green Activities for the Planet.