{"id":593,"date":"2020-08-27T12:49:29","date_gmt":"2020-08-27T12:49:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/?p=593"},"modified":"2023-07-21T18:13:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T18:13:33","slug":"the-best-san-antonio-hidden-gems-for-frequent-visitors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/the-best-san-antonio-hidden-gems-for-frequent-visitors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best San Antonio Hidden Gems for Frequent Visitors"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re from San Antonio<\/a> or visit the city a lot, you\u2019ve probably already seen The Alamo and the River Walk more times than you\u2019d care to count. Sure, the major historic attractions<\/a> in Alamo City make for an educational visit, but after you\u2019ve been once, you\u2019ve got the gist.<\/p>\n

Instead, why not plan a group trip around some of San Antonio\u2019s lesser-known gems? Organize a group trip to the city\u2019s offbeat yet interesting spots with Texas Charter Bus Company<\/a>. Book a charter bus<\/a> for your scout troop<\/a>, community organization, or even a big friends\u2019 trip<\/a> to make your outing as smooth as possible. Renting a private motorcoach with Texas Charter Bus Company will give your group plenty of space to travel together and the freedom to travel on your own time. Call 210-686-1207<\/strong> to get a personalized bus quote<\/a> for your San Antonio group trip!<\/p>\n

While creating your group itinerary, consider penning these hidden gems into your schedule:<\/p>\n

\"Bats<\/p>\n

Bracken Cave Preserve<\/h2>\n

Address<\/strong>: 26101 FM3009, San Antonio, TX 78266
\nPhone<\/strong>: 512-327-9721<\/p>\n

Texas is home to several massive bat colonies that give us a look into the lives of these nocturnal critters we don\u2019t often see. Bracken Cave Preserve is located about 20 miles from San Antonio and hosts more than 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats throughout the summer. It\u2019s the largest maternal colony in the world, doubling in size every summer after new bats are born.<\/p>\n

Guests can watch the stunning sight of thousands of bats emerging from the cave during dusk. All visitors must book a tour through Bat Conservation International<\/a>, the only organization registered to access the private property. Groups can book guided tours or private events by emailing bracken@batcon.org<\/a>. Head out to the preserve in the early evening and learn about the colony before watching the bats take flight. Texas summers can be hot and muggy, even at night! Cool off in your charter bus\u2019s climate-controlled cabin on the ride back into the city.<\/p>\n

Charter bus travel tip<\/strong>: The route to the preserve will take you along a dirt road and to a relatively small parking lot that isn\u2019t suitable for oversized vehicles. When you make your group reservation, notify your tour guide that you\u2019ll be getting dropped off before your driver returns to park outside the preserve\u2019s gate.<\/p>\n

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum<\/h2>\n

Address<\/strong>: 318 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205<\/p>\n

Phone<\/strong>:\u00a0 210-247-4000<\/p>\n

Visiting the Buckhorn Saloon may be a bit macabre for some travelers, but it\u2019s a unique spot to add to your itinerary. This historic saloon is decorated with more than 500 species of mounted animals, including prehistoric elk, half-ton fish, and record-holding bucks. If you\u2019re traveling with inquisitive kids, don\u2019t worry\u2014the saloon is also a cafe, museum, mini arcade, and shooting gallery all rolled into one. Although the stuffed taxidermy animals are the stars of the saloon, there are other exhibits that explore Texas history. Learn about pioneers of the Old West, the Texas Rangers, and the history of carnival sideshows. Groups of 10 or more can take advantage of discounted admission to the museums, while admission to the saloon and cafe is always free.<\/p>\n

Charter bus parking tip<\/strong>: The saloon is located in the heart of Downtown San Antonio, just a few blocks from the River Walk and the Alamo. This makes parking a bit tricky. Have your bus driver drop your group off at a designated loading zone near the Alamo before parking off-site. Oversized bus parking options can be found on the City of San Antonio\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

San Antonio Street Art Initiative<\/h2>\n

Address<\/strong>: Varies; N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212<\/p>\n

The San Antonio Street Art Initiative (SASAI) has brought together local and international artists to create one of Texas\u2019s biggest outdoor art galleries. This ongoing project stretches across Midtown with more than 40 murals. One of the best ways to see the project is by mapping out a shuttle route by using the SASAI mural map<\/a>. Texas Charter Bus Company lets you build your own itinerary and routes, so you won\u2019t have to miss any of the beautiful murals.<\/p>\n

Hop off your charter bus and have a photo op at different mural locations along St Mary\u2019s Street. Make a stop to see over a dozen murals under the S PanAm Expressway and at the St. Mary’s Strip. Groups of adults who may want to stop for a brew, cocktail, and bite to eat can pop into one of the many bars along the Strip. Don\u2019t worry, you\u2019ll have a built-in DD for your ride back home.<\/p>\n

Charter bus parking tip<\/strong>: Since the SASAI is located in different parts of the city, you\u2019ll need to organize parking at each mural location you choose to visit. Parking under the S PanAm Expressway at the Midtown Murals is plentiful and free if you plan to start your day there.<\/p>\n

Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo<\/h2>\n

Address<\/strong>: 5640 Interstate 35 S, New Braunfels, TX 78132
\nPhone<\/strong>: (830) 608-9270<\/p>\n

Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo may not be as big as the San Antonio Zoo but that\u2019s part of the charm! Visiting this zoo is perfect for small school field trips, youth groups, and children\u2019s birthday parties. The zoo has exotic critters like binturongs, jaguars, monitor lizards, gibbons, macaws, and over 50 species of venomous snakes. The snake exhibits include important educational materials about identifying venomous and non-venomous Texas natives.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also find a few recognizable furry friends like baby goats and pigs that you can pet and feed for a small fee. Groups looking for extra fun can book an animal encounter with non-venomous snakes, tortoises, fennec foxes, lemurs, or alligators. Your group will have a private talk with a zookeeper and your animal ambassador of choice.<\/p>\n

Charter bus travel tip<\/strong>: The zoo is located in New Braunfels<\/a> about 35 minutes from downtown. It isn\u2019t too long of a trip but if you\u2019re traveling with kids and hit traffic, you\u2019ll probably want something to keep them entertained. When you book your motorcoach with Texas Charter Bus Company, request amenities like TVs with DVD players and WiFi for a smooth trip. Once you get to the zoo, there\u2019s plenty of free parking.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

King William Historic District<\/h2>\n

Address<\/strong>: 1032 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78210<\/p>\n

Phone<\/strong>: 210-2278786<\/p>\n

The King William Historic District may not be too much of a \u201chidden\u201d gem since it\u2019s hard to miss the massive mansions in the neighborhood. Stretching across 25 blocks in Southtown San Antonio, the King William Historic District is a must-see spot for architecture lovers. Even if you don\u2019t know much about architecture, the eclectic mixture of styles is undeniably a cool sight. As you stroll or shuttle through the district you\u2019ll see influences of Victorian, Greek Revival, Baroque, Southwestern, and Italianate.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, most residences in this neighborhood are private property, but you\u2019re welcome to admire the extravagant homes and yards from afar. Three homes\u2014Steves Homestead, The Guenter House, and Villa Finale\u2014have been converted into museums and are open for tours with prior reservations.<\/p>\n

Charter bus travel tip<\/strong>: As a mostly residential neighborhood, you\u2019re not going to find a parking lot for your charter bus. Most parking is available along the street but you\u2019ll be very lucky to find space for a motorcoach. Opt for a personalized hop-on-hop-off tour to avoid parking your bus or have your driver drop everyone off before parking outside of the district.<\/p>\n

See San Antonio\u2019s Hidden Gems with Texas Charter Bus Company<\/h2>\n

Whenever you\u2019re ready to book your charter bus, give our rental team a call at 210-686-1207. <\/strong>A Texas Charter Bus Company rep will match you with a minibus or full-sized coach for your group trip. You\u2019ll get a quick, accurate, and personalized quote for your San Antonio trip in no time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re from San Antonio or visit the city a lot, you\u2019ve probably already seen The Alamo and the River Walk more times than you\u2019d care to count. Sure, the major historic attractions in Alamo City make for an educational visit, but after you\u2019ve been…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,22,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-charter-buses","category-group-travel","category-travel-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=593"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":888,"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593\/revisions\/888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texascharterbuscompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}