(Aug. 24, 2018) -- San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and filled with excitement. All three UTSA campuses are near the easy-to-navigate freeway systems and both are near thriving tourist areas. Also, remember the VIA buses run to (or near) almost all of these places. There is so much to do, here are a few Roadrunner favorites.
1. Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Okay, this one’s pretty obvious. It’s practically next door to the Main Campus. If you’re not familiar, it’s home to classic thrill rides (you must brave the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso) and a huge water park. There’s also fireworks every night to help you appreciate that big Texas sky. Also, look for special features at Halloween and Christmas. The Roadrunner Express in the Student Union sells discounted tickets.
2. Food truck fun
If you want to step off campus for a bite to eat and you want to keep it casual, check out The Block on Roadrunner Way. It’s a picnic-style park with gourmet food served in a rotating group of food trucks to cater to your every craving. Also, free wi-fi!
3. Shopping and food!
There’s nothing to take the edge off like some retail therapy and lucky for you, UTSA’s Main Campus is surrounded by shopping centers. The Shops at La Cantera is just across the street and up the road is The Rim. Both centers have new stores and traditional favorites. You can also cross UTSA Blvd. for the food trucks at The Block. Enjoy something new without really leaving Main Campus.
If you desire a unique adventure stop by Couleur + Blinde Boutique, 4704 Broadway Street, 78209 and meet Project Runway All Star winner and designer, Anthony Ryan, San Antonio’s homegrown super fashion-star.
For fun retail and entertainment experiences near the Downtown Campus, visit Southtown and The Pearl.
Southtown merchants host a special event on the first Friday of every month and it includes all the food, music, art and evening entertainment you would want. It happens on South Alamo and around the Blue Star Art District.
The Pearl area off Broadway and Graysen Streets includes one of the most famous hotels in the world, The Hotel Emma. These merchants host a special event night on the First Thursday of every month. You can pick up some healthy eats on this night at the Pearl Farmer’s Market, catch local musicians, and special in-store deals. Make sure you also plan a meal at the Pearl eateries such as Southleigh’s, Cured and Bakery Lorraine.
Also, not far from the Downtown Campus, plan an outing to the King William District to view classic architecture and breakfast at the Guenther House; or visit Market Square and the traditions of Mexican merchants with meals served at the famous Mi Tierra 24/7. Short on time? Dine in at Pico de Gallo, just across from campus on Buena Vista Street.
4. Indoor sky diving
If you have a special occasion coming up or just some extra money to burn, UTSA is around the corner from iFLY, an indoor skydiving facility that allows visitors to “fly” in a wind tunnel. It offers the experience of skydiving without actually, you know, jumping out of an airplane.
5. Explore nature
While many people think of Texas as a desert, Roadrunners know better. There are plenty of green spaces to embrace, and the best one near UTSA’s Main Campus is Leon Creek Greenway Park. It’s a beautiful multiuse trail just five minutes from campus, great for hiking, biking or just a quiet stroll. If you’re a Downtown Campus student, try some study time at the beautiful Travis Park across from the historic St. Anthony’s Hotel.
6. Practice your golf swing
UTSA’s Main Campus is just a few minutes away from Topgolf, where you can eat a burger topped with fried mac and cheese while also playing golf and enjoying a majestic view of San Antonio. For those near the Downtown Campus wanting to hit the links, head up Highway 281 north to Quarry Golf near the Quarry retail area… You can golf, eat, shop and take in a movie all in one place.
7. Take in some culture
First of all, make sure you visit the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures located on the Hemisfair Campus. Enjoy learning about the many cultures which make up Texas history. Take in exhibits, festivals, and performances scheduled throughout the year. An added bonus—UTSA students, faculty and staff get in free with a UTSA ID.
If the Lyric Theatre doesn’t have any performances around the corner, catch a play or a musical down the road at the Woodlawn Theatre, a non-profit community theatre that puts on classic plays and musicals each month. The most unique theater in the state is the beautiful Majestic and Empire Theatres near the Downtown Campus. Go early to enjoy the features before your show.
San Antonio is also known for its museums. Spend a day visiting the Witte Museum, The McNay Museum or the San Antonio Art Museum to see creativity at its best. Have a kiddo in the family? Check out the DoSeum, a favorite of the young and young at heart.
8. Explore!
The Alamo isn’t the only historic site in San Antonio—far from it! The San Antonio Missions are a World Heritage Site featuring a trail of four Spanish frontier missions that are hundreds of years old. Each is uniquely beautiful and they make for a fun, inspiring day.
San Pedro Springs Park is located in downtown San Antonio. Surrounding the source of the springs, the 46-acre park is the oldest in the state of Texas.
The iconic San Antonio River Walk is downtown and lined with restaurants and merchants to visit and entertainment to enjoy. This is a must-visit during the holidays and each spring during Fiesta. Also, take in the Starving Artist Show featuring local talent.
9. San Antonio sports
Are you hungry for more sports on top of the exciting teams at UTSA? Then perhaps a team with five world championships will suffice… the San Antonio Spurs! Need we say more? Put on your silver and black and cheer for the home team. The Alamo City is also home to the San Antonio FC soccer team and the Missions baseball team.
10. Local coffeehouses for a caffeine boost, study time and a scone
San Antonio is packed with a variety of unique coffee houses. Each has its own character and specialties so check them out until you find one that’s perfect for you. Some of our favorites include:
Find more fun things to do in San Antonio.
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Fiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.
UTSA Southwest CampusJoin the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event is to achnowlege the graduating seniors and induct the new cohart of scholars to our program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140,) Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
AlamodomeCelebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
