Local Guide
The first things to know about San Antonio.
A quick read before you go deeper. Everyday life, eating out, staying social, and the planning piece worth watching. Each one links to a source.
Everyday life
Walk the San Antonio River Walk
It gives you a flat, walkable place to stretch your legs in the shade, which matters in the heat.
Source: The San Antonio River Walk
Eating out and guests
La Gloria at Pearl
It sits in the walkable Pearl district, so you can park once and stroll the river before or after lunch.
Source: La Gloria at Pearl
Staying social
City of San Antonio public courts
These public courts cost nothing, which is a friendly option if you are not ready to join a club.
Source: City of San Antonio Pickleball
Worth watching
Getting set up with city services
Knowing where to start saves phone calls when you are settling into a new home.
Source: City of San Antonio
Move tools
Thinking about moving to San Antonio? Run the rough math first.
Use these quick checks to test San Antonio as a retirement move. They are not the full map; they help you decide what deserves a deeper look.
Tax and Medicare
Check the San Antonio income picture.
Estimate how Texas treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Not taxed
IRA / 401(k)
Not taxed
Mortgage
Test the payment or refi
Compare a current mortgage against a new rate, closing costs, and break-even timing.
Open mortgage checkWeather fit
Mixed-season comfort
San Antonio has a weather profile that can support outdoor routines without making the best week the whole story.
Avg
68°
Sun
225
Rain
86
Snow
1
Things to do
Things to do in San Antonio
Parks, trails, classes, and easy outings for an ordinary week.
The San Antonio River Walk
Walk the San Antonio River Walk
The River Walk is a 15-mile network of pathways along the river, lined with restaurants, shops, and shaded benches a level below the street. You can stroll a quiet stretch or catch a barge cruise downtown.
Why it matters
It gives you a flat, walkable place to stretch your legs in the shade, which matters in the heat.
San Antonio Botanical Garden
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Locals call this 38-acre garden one of the most beautiful spots in the city, with Texas native areas, a conservatory, and walking paths. There is a members-only early hour and a senior admission rate.
Why it matters
Seniors 65 and older pay a reduced rate, and the early member hour lets you beat the midday sun.
Visit San Antonio - Things to Do
The Alamo and the Missions
Beyond the Alamo downtown, San Antonio's four other Spanish colonial missions form a UNESCO World Heritage Site connected by a hike-and-bike trail. Visit San Antonio maps out the route and the cultural stops.
Why it matters
It is deep local history you can take at your own pace, much of it free to enter.
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
This downtown hall hosts the symphony, touring Broadway shows, and a full Signature Series of concerts through the year. It sits right on the River Walk, so dinner and a show is an easy night.
Why it matters
It gives you a steady calendar of evening culture without leaving the city center.
Browse by activity
Mapped places near San Antonio. Tap a category to open the full list with directions.
Where to eat
Where to eat
Local spots for an easy dinner or a visit from family. Rough prices included.
La Gloria at Pearl
La Gloria at Pearl
This is Chef Johnny Hernandez's lively patio spot at the Pearl, right on the River Walk, serving the street food of Mexico. Order the tacos, the ceviche, and a tequila and watch the water go by.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Street-style tacos and ceviche
Why it matters
It sits in the walkable Pearl district, so you can park once and stroll the river before or after lunch.
Henry's Puffy Tacos
Henry's Puffy Tacos
San Antonio invented the puffy taco, and Henry's has been frying them from family recipes since 1978. The shell puffs up crisp and airy, then gets piled with your filling of choice.
Approx. price
$
Known for
Puffy tacos
Why it matters
It is one of the most local, no-fuss meals in town and easy on the wallet.
Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia
Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia
A Market Square landmark since 1941 that never closes, open 24 hours with strolling mariachis and a panaderia full of pan dulce. The decor is wall-to-wall color and the fajitas sizzle at any hour.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Fajitas and fresh pan dulce
Why it matters
It is a classic spot to take out-of-town family, and the round-the-clock hours suit early risers and night owls alike.
Biga on the Banks
Biga on the Banks
When you want a dressed-up dinner on the water, Biga on the Banks is the long-running fine-dining room locals name first. The menu changes often and the river setting is hard to beat.
Approx. price
$$$
Known for
Chef's seasonal tasting plates
Why it matters
It is the go-to for a special night out and earns high marks from longtime diners.
Pinkerton's Barbecue
Pinkerton's Barbecue
Texas barbecue is a religion here, and Pinkerton's brisket and ribs land near the top of every local list. Come hungry and expect a line at peak hours.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Brisket and pork ribs
Why it matters
It is a reliable taste of central Texas smoked meat without a road trip out of the city.
Pickleball and rec
Pickleball in San Antonio
Where to play, drop in, and meet people. Court times, fees, and how busy it gets.
City of San Antonio Pickleball
City of San Antonio public courts
The city parks system has indoor and outdoor pickleball courts spread across town, free and first-come, first-served. McFarlin Tennis Center on San Pedro Ave is one well-known spot to play.
Why it matters
These public courts cost nothing, which is a friendly option if you are not ready to join a club.
Chicken N Pickle San Antonio
Chicken N Pickle
This indoor-and-outdoor complex has six indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts plus a restaurant and yard games. You can book a court, grab a bite, and stay a while.
Why it matters
The indoor courts let you keep playing when the Texas sun is too much, and the food and social scene make it easy to bring friends.
Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club
Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club
Dill Dinkers is a dedicated indoor pickleball club with two San Antonio locations, one on Blanco Road and one on Beckwith Blvd. They run lessons and events for every skill level.
Why it matters
If you are new to the game, the lessons and beginner-friendly setup are a gentle way in.
The King of Padel
The King of Padel
On the East Side at 314 Nolan St, this indoor venue packs in nine pickleball courts alongside padel courts, ping pong, and cornhole. It stays climate-controlled year round.
Why it matters
Nine indoor courts mean you can usually find a game even on a packed weekend.
Texas Pickle Hall
Texas Pickle Hall
Texas Pickle Hall bills itself as the city's largest indoor pickleball facility, with open play, leagues, and a pro shop. It has two spots, one in Live Oak and one at Morgan's Wonderland Sports.
Why it matters
The open-play sessions are an easy way to find a game without organizing your own four.
Senior help and discounts
Help and discounts for San Antonio seniors
Programs, classes, free city services, seasonal help, and useful local deals.
City of San Antonio Senior Centers
City of San Antonio senior centers
The city's Department of Human Services runs senior centers around town for adults 60 and older, with classes, activities, and a lunchtime nutrition program. For eligible seniors there is no cost to take part.
Why it matters
It is a free, citywide way to find company, a hot meal, and a daily reason to get out of the house.
What’s coming up
What’s coming up in San Antonio
Local events worth putting on the calendar. Check the host page for dates and parking before you go.
Downtown Thursday
Thursdays starting June 4, 2026
Evenings
Downtown Thursday summer series
When
Through the summer the city runs free Thursday-night events downtown, paired with free evening parking. It launches in early June and runs through the warm months.
Why it matters
Free parking and free events make a low-cost summer evening out easy to plan around.
Fiesta San Antonio
April 17 to 26, 2026
Fiesta San Antonio
When
Fiesta is the city's giant 11-day party, a citywide spread of parades, food, music, and art that the whole town shows up for. Plan around the big river and street parades and book early.
Why it matters
It is the single biggest week on the local calendar, so traffic and parking downtown get heavy.
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
February 12 to March 1, 2026
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
When
The annual rodeo and stock show fills Frost Bank Center with bull riding, livestock, a carnival, and big-name concerts. It runs for more than two weeks every February.
Why it matters
It is a long-running winter tradition and a fun outing even if you have never been to a rodeo.
Jazz'SAlive
September 25 to 26, 2026
Fri 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sat 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Jazz'SAlive
When
This free two-day jazz festival fills Civic Park at Hemisfair with local and touring acts every fall. Bring a chair and settle in for the afternoon and evening sets.
Why it matters
It is free live music in a central park, an easy and low-cost weekend out.
Day of the Dead River Parade
October 23, 2026
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Day of the Dead River Parade
When
One of the River Walk's signature events, this ticketed nighttime parade celebrates Dia de los Muertos with decorated barges floating down the river. Seats along the water go fast.
Why it matters
It is a beautiful, only-in-San-Antonio take on the holiday, best seen with a reserved spot.
Ford Holiday River Parade
November 27, 2026
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Ford Holiday River Parade
When
The holiday season kicks off with illuminated floats and 200,000 lights floating down the River Walk the day after Thanksgiving. It is a ticketed parade with a lighting ceremony.
Why it matters
It marks the start of the river's holiday lights, a festive night downtown if you book a seat.
Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square
April 17 to 26, 2026
Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square
When
One of Fiesta's largest celebrations takes over Historic Market Square for ten days of music, dance, and food. There is a new admission gate fee, so check before you go.
Why it matters
It is a concentrated dose of Fiesta in one walkable spot if the citywide sprawl feels like a lot.
San Antonio Coffee Festival
February 7, 2026
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
San Antonio Coffee Festival
When
This one-day festival at Hemisfair brings together more than 30 roasters with tastings, workshops, and live music. It sold out in 2026, so grab tickets early next year.
Why it matters
It is a relaxed morning out for coffee lovers and a good early-year reason to get downtown.
Muertos Fest at Hemisfair
October 24 to 25, 2026
Muertos Fest at Hemisfair
When
This free Dia de los Muertos festival fills Hemisfair with altars, art, music, and food honoring loved ones who have passed. It has a long-term home at the old world's fair site.
Why it matters
It is a meaningful, free cultural event the whole family can share.
Pearl Farmers Market
Saturdays, year round
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pearl Farmers Market
When
Every Saturday morning the Pearl hosts more than 50 local farmers and ranchers with fresh produce and meats from South Texas. A Sunday makers market and a stroll along the river round out the weekend.
Why it matters
It is a dependable weekly outing for fresh food and a walk, year round.
Worth knowing
Worth knowing about the area
City services, neighborhood updates, seasonal notes, and the everyday details that matter.
City of San Antonio
Getting set up with city services
The City of San Antonio website is the front door for trash and recycling, permits, parks, and resident services across Bexar County. It is worth bookmarking when you arrive.
Why it matters
Knowing where to start saves phone calls when you are settling into a new home.
Downtown Thursday
Plan around the summer heat
San Antonio summers are long and hot, often well into the 90s and beyond, which is why locals lean on indoor courts, early-morning garden hours, and the shaded River Walk. Even the city's summer events lean on evenings and free parking to dodge the midday sun.
Why it matters
How you handle June through September shapes daily life here more than anything else.
City decisions
City decisions to watch
Council agendas, hearings, and public meetings that can change access, housing, services, or costs.
Bexar Central Appraisal District - Over 65 Exemption
How property taxes work in Bexar County
Texas has no state income tax, so local property taxes carry the load and start out high. Once you turn 65 you can claim an extra homestead exemption and, importantly, a ceiling that freezes your school district taxes, and you can carry that benefit to a new home in Texas.
Why it matters
The over-65 exemption and school tax ceiling can meaningfully lower what you owe, so file with the appraisal district the year you turn 65.
Health and Medicare
Health and Medicare
Care, Medicare counseling, caregiver help, transportation, and the local senior support to line up.
Texas HICAP / SHIP Medicare Counseling
Free Medicare help through Texas HICAP
Texas runs a free helpline, the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program, that walks you through Medicare choices one on one. You can reach a counselor at 800-252-9240 at no cost.
Why it matters
Sorting out Medicare plans is confusing, and this is unbiased help you do not pay for.
University Health
University Health and your hospital options
University Health is Bexar County's public academic medical center, with two teaching hospitals and a network of outpatient clinics across San Antonio. The Methodist and other systems add many more hospitals around the metro.
Why it matters
It is a large, established system with broad coverage, which matters when you are choosing where to get care.
Upcoming events in San Antonio
See all eventsTheater & film
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club · San Antonio, TX
Red Grant
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Theater & film
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre · San Antonio, TX
Mean Girls (Touring)
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Theater & film
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre · San Antonio, TX
Mean Girls (Touring)
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Music & concerts
8:30 PM
Sam's Burger Joint · San Antonio, TX
Music & concerts
7 PM
Paper Tiger · San Antonio, TX
Theater & film
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club · San Antonio, TX
Red Grant
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Common questions
What people ask before retiring in San Antonio
Short answers to the questions most people ask first. The full source trail sits in the guide above and the sources panel below.
Is San Antonio, TX a good place to retire?
Plenty of people do retire here, so it is a real option worth a look. What matters is whether the home costs, the health and senior support, the things to do, and the family side all fit your life. Not just how it ranks on a list somewhere.
Source: La Gloria at PearlWhat costs should you check before moving to San Antonio?
Price the month, not the postcard. Keep separate lines for home, property taxes, insurance, utilities, getting around, health, and everyday spending. A low-tax headline can quietly hide a high insurance bill, or the other way around.
Source: Bexar Central Appraisal District - Over 65 ExemptionWhere do you find things to do in San Antonio?
Start with parks and rec, the local event calendar, the visitor bureau, the senior center, and the restaurants people actually go to. The real question is whether they are close enough, and happen often enough, that you would use them all year. Not just visit once.
Source: La Gloria at PearlWhat health and senior support matters in San Antonio?
Look at Medicare counseling, the nearby hospitals, pharmacies, ways to get around, caregiver help, and one emergency contact. These can decide whether the move works, even when the rest of life looks great on paper.
Source: City of San Antonio PickleballWhat should your family ask before you move to San Antonio?
Talk through driving, airport access, local services, who to call in an emergency, care backup, home upkeep, and how often someone would be needed. The point is to see the move as a real support plan, not just a nice address.
Source: Bexar Central Appraisal District - Over 65 ExemptionRetirement Life Score
A quick read on the life you would actually live.
San Antonio scored across eight things that decide whether a move feels good: monthly affordability, home costs, restaurants and outings, activities, parks, health and senior support, weather, and getting around. The full numbers are below.
San Antonio Retirement Life Score
74
Workable, verify carefully / 65-74
Affordability is the strongest daily-life fit. Weather is the piece to verify before treating the move as settled.
A city has useful strengths, but the guide is showing meaningful cost, access, weather, or evidence gaps.
Strongest fit: Everyday affordability
Verify first: Weather comfort
Everyday affordability
Counts a lot83/100
How the ordinary monthly life could feel once taxes, insurance, fees, utilities, meals, and errands are in view.
What’s good: Lower-tax signals, visible discounts or free programs, ordinary-cost dining and errands, and practical transportation backup.
What to check: High housing pressure, insurance or storm costs, HOA or assessment friction, resort pricing, and thin cost evidence.
Price the month, not the postcard.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Walk the San Antonio River Walk · Watch: Jazz'SAlive · TX has no state income tax
Evidence weighed: Tax, housing, insurance, senior-service, transportation, and local deal sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Home, taxes & insurance
Counts a lot60/100
Property taxes, assessments, homeowners insurance, storm exposure, maintenance, and local housing friction.
What’s good: Clear assessor or property-appraiser sources, homestead or senior relief signals, and plain-language housing-cost context.
What to check: Coastal or wildfire exposure, insurance pressure, high home prices, amenity fees, HOA or district assessments, and missing local tax sources.
Separate the house from the lifestyle.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Getting set up with city services · Watch: Bexar Central Appraisal District - Over 65 Exemption
Evidence weighed: County assessor, property appraiser, tax collector, insurance, emergency management, and housing sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Restaurants & outings
80/100
Restaurants, coffee, arts, downtown meals, family visits, and low-friction places to go without over-planning.
What’s good: Specific restaurants, coffee shops, arts districts, downtown routines, visitor-hosting ideas, and source links that feel repeatable.
What to check: Only generic visitor copy, heavy seasonal crowds, hard parking, expensive dining signals, or no specific local outing ideas.
Look for repeatable evenings, not only famous spots.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: La Gloria at Pearl · Watch: La Gloria at Pearl
Evidence weighed: Restaurant sites, tourism boards, chambers, downtown groups, event venues, and local dining guides.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Activities & social calendar
80/100
Events, clubs, classes, pickleball, senior programs, volunteer options, and the weekly social rhythm.
What’s good: Dated events, parks and rec classes, senior-center programming, clubs, pickleball options, volunteer leads, and repeatable weekly activities.
What to check: Undated or stale calendars, few senior-friendly programs, heat or traffic timing issues, and no clear way to register or show up.
Make sure the week has more than errands.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia · Watch: The San Antonio River Walk
Evidence weighed: City calendars, recreation departments, senior centers, libraries, clubs, parks districts, and community event pages.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Parks & outdoor life
73/100
Parks, trails, beaches, gardens, preserves, water access, golf, and everyday outdoor routines.
What’s good: Specific parks, trails, beaches, gardens, water access, golf, outdoor classes, and low-friction places to be outside often.
What to check: Extreme heat, smoke, flooding, storm seasons, winter driving, crowding, parking friction, or thin park-level detail.
Check whether outdoor life works in the season you will actually live there.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: La Gloria at Pearl · Watch: The San Antonio River Walk
Evidence weighed: Parks departments, park districts, conservancies, recreation sources, tourism sources, and trail or beach authorities.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Health & support access
Counts a lot79/100
Medicare help, aging agencies, caregiver backup, transportation support, pharmacies, and local service depth.
What’s good: Area Agency on Aging, SHIP or SHINE counseling, senior services, caregiver support, transportation help, and credible health-resource depth.
What to check: Weak care-radius evidence, no benefits counseling source, unclear transportation backup, or hints that specialist access requires long drives.
Do not let a fun town hide a weak care radius.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: City of San Antonio senior centers · Watch: City of San Antonio Pickleball
Evidence weighed: Area Agencies on Aging, county health and human services, senior services, Medicare counseling, transit, and hospital or clinic sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Weather comfort
53/100
Heat, storms, flooding, smoke, winter, seasonal swings, and how much resilience planning the move demands.
What’s good: Evidence that outdoor life works in ordinary seasons, plus clear planning sources for heat, storms, winter, smoke, or emergency readiness.
What to check: Sustained heat, hurricane or flood exposure, wildfire or smoke risk, winter driving, evacuation complexity, and missing resilience sources.
Plan the hard season, not the best week.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Pinkerton's Barbecue · Watch: San Antonio Botanical Garden · 68F annual average, 225 sunny days
Evidence weighed: Emergency management, weather-resilience, utility, health, parks, insurance, and local government sources.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Getting around & family visits
61/100
Driving, parking, airport access, golf-cart life, visitor logistics, medical trips, and family backup.
What’s good: Airport or transit access, shuttle or senior transportation, walkable routines, golf-cart usefulness, and simple family-visit logistics.
What to check: Traffic, parking scarcity, seasonal congestion, night-driving issues, long medical trips, or no car-light backup.
Test the drive on an ordinary Tuesday.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Fiesta San Antonio · Watch: The San Antonio River Walk
Evidence weighed: Transit agencies, airports, city transportation pages, senior services, tourism access pages, and guide items with location detail.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
How we keep this current
Sources for San Antonio
A mix of city pages, community calendars, senior services, council agendas, official tourism, restaurant sites, and registration pages. Every claim above links to where it came from.
See the 30 sources behind this guideEvery claim above links to where it came from.ShowHide
community / weekly
La Gloria at Pearl
Chef Johnny Hernandez's street-food Mexican spot on the River Walk at Pearl.
community / weekly
Henry's Puffy Tacos
Family-owned since 1978, home of the San Antonio puffy taco.
community / weekly
Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia
24-hour Market Square landmark since 1941 with mariachis and a panaderia.
community / weekly
Biga on the Banks
Long-running fine-dining room on the River Walk, high ratings on Tripadvisor's local eats list.
community / weekly
Pinkerton's Barbecue
Top-rated Texas barbecue on Tripadvisor's San Antonio local eats list.
institutional / weekly
The San Antonio River Walk
Official River Walk site for the 15-mile network and its events.
institutional / weekly
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Official garden site with hours and a senior admission rate.
institutional / weekly
Visit San Antonio - Things to Do
Official visitor bureau page covering the Alamo, the Missions and more.
institutional / weekly
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Downtown performing arts center with a full season of concerts and Broadway.
community / weekly
Chicken N Pickle San Antonio
Indoor/outdoor complex with six indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts plus dining.
community / weekly
Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club
Dedicated indoor pickleball club with two San Antonio locations.
community / weekly
The King of Padel
Eastside indoor venue with nine indoor pickleball courts and padel.
community / weekly
Texas Pickle Hall
Climate-controlled indoor pickleball with open play, leagues, and two locations.
official / weekly
McFarlin Tennis Center
City tennis center on San Pedro Ave; city parks offer pickleball at courts across town.
official / weekly
City of San Antonio Pickleball
City parks page listing indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, first-come first-served.
institutional / weekly
Fiesta San Antonio
Official site for the 11-day citywide Fiesta with the full event schedule.
community / weekly
Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square
Ten-day Market Square celebration during Fiesta, April 17 to 26, 2026.
institutional / weekly
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
77th annual rodeo and stock show at Frost Bank Center.
community / weekly
San Antonio Coffee Festival
Annual coffee festival at Hemisfair, Feb 7, 2026, with 30-plus roasters.
institutional / weekly
Jazz'SAlive
Free two-day jazz festival at Civic Park at Hemisfair, run by the Parks Foundation.
institutional / weekly
Day of the Dead River Parade
Signature River Walk parade for Dia de los Muertos, Oct 23, 2026.
community / weekly
Muertos Fest at Hemisfair
Free Dia de los Muertos festival at Hemisfair, Oct 24 to 25, 2026.
institutional / weekly
Ford Holiday River Parade
Illuminated floats kick off the holiday season on the River Walk, Nov 27, 2026.
community / weekly
Pearl Farmers Market
Saturday farmers market at Pearl, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 50-plus local vendors.
official / weekly
Downtown Thursday
City summer series of free Thursday-night downtown events with free parking, starting June 4, 2026.
official / weekly
City of San Antonio Senior Centers
City Department of Human Services senior centers with programs and a lunch nutrition program.
official / weekly
Bexar Central Appraisal District - Over 65 Exemption
Official appraisal district overview of homestead and age-65 exemptions and the school tax ceiling.
institutional / weekly
University Health
Bexar County's public academic health system with two teaching hospitals and outpatient clinics.
official / weekly
Texas HICAP / SHIP Medicare Counseling
Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program, free Medicare help at 800-252-9240.
official / weekly
City of San Antonio
Official city site for residents, services, and parks.
Activities & recreation in San Antonio
What there is to do here, with the sources.
The things people retire for, in San Antonio. Each links to the full activity guide and the states that fit it.
San Antonio Parks and Recreation maintains both indoor and outdoor pickleball courts at facilities across the city, available on a first-come, first-served basis; the department's dedicated pickleball page lists court locations by district. Parks has also added dedicated outdoor courts at newer facilities in response to demand noted in public programming announcements.
City of San Antonio Parks and RecreationThe McNay Art Museum, Texas's first modern art museum, draws 200,000 visitors annually to its 25-acre grounds and collection spanning Gauguin to Georgia O'Keeffe; the Tobin Centre for the Performing Arts is permanent home to the San Antonio Symphony, Ballet San Antonio, and Opera San Antonio in a renovated 1,750-seat hall on the River Walk.
McNay Art MuseumSan Antonio's Department of Human Services operates 11 senior centers citywide, including the 29,000-square-foot Northeast Senior Center and the Bob Ross Senior Center near the Medical Center, each offering fitness classes, arts programs, indoor pools, daily lunch, and transportation for eligible seniors within a five-mile radius.
City of San Antonio Senior ServicesMedina Lake, about 40 miles northwest of San Antonio, holds largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, and catfish; TPWD maintains public ramp access at Park Road 37 in Plum Creek Cove. Texas residents aged 65 or older can purchase a Senior Freshwater Package for $12 or an all-water package for $22 through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Published local price
Texas resident freshwater fishing package (annual, valid to Aug 31); senior 65+ resident freshwater package $12; born before Jan 1, 1931 exempt
Published range: $12 to $40.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Fishing Licenses and Packages · as of 2025-08San Antonio's greenway network covers roughly 100 miles of multi-use trails along Leon Creek, Salado Creek, and other corridors, accessible from more than 50 trailheads and open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Medina River Natural Area at Highway 16 South adds a wilder reach along the river for those wanting less pavement.
Published local price
Texas State Parks Pass (individual, annual); covers unlimited free entry to 88 state parks for one year; senior 65+ partial passport gives 50% off per-entry fee at no charge to obtain
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Park Passes · as of 2026-01The City of San Antonio parks department permits no-license-required non-motorized paddling at Woodlawn Lake Park (dock at 1103 Cincinnati Ave), Elmendorf Lake Park, and along designated Mission Reach and King William zones of the San Antonio River. Medina River Natural Area provides a half-mile carry-in launch along a calm cypress-lined stretch.
Published local price
Texas vessel registration (Class 1: 16 to less than 26 feet); Class A (under 16 ft) $32; Texas registration valid for 2 years; per-year equivalent shown
Published range: $32 to $150.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Fee Chart for Boats and Outboard Motors · as of 2026-02San Antonio's Alamo City Golf Trail operates eight public courses, including Brackenridge Park and Olmos Basin, with senior/military rates (age 62+) available at all locations; a weekday senior walk rate at Olmos Basin runs about $32. Mission Del Lago, the most affordable course on the Trail, offers senior walk rates from $24 on weekdays.
Alamo City Golf TrailBexar County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, hosts regular education events including Lunch and Learn sessions on gardening and plant health held at Greenies Urban Farm, 1615 Sherman St. The group publishes a quarterly Scion newsletter and answers gardening questions through its public help service.
Bexar County Master GardenersGolf
Golf near San Antonio
Courses around San Antonio worth a round, with how to book each one.
- Par
- 71
- Back tees
- 6,243 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Historic riverside parkland, tight tree-lined front nine near downtown · A.W. Tillinghast
This is the oldest public course in Texas, a walkable Tillinghast layout along the San Antonio River just north of downtown. The mature trees and friendly muni rates make it an easy regular round.
Opened 1916 · $ · Slope 126
Photo: Pauliedigi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,158 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Hill Country elevation changes and strategic doglegs on the northwest side · Finger Dye Spann
A muni that plays like a resort course, set in the Hill Country off Loop 1604 with real elevation changes and long views. Reopened after a 2024 renovation, it rewards a thoughtful round at a fair price.
Opened 1989 · $$
- Par
- 71
- Back tees
- 6,740 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Back nine drops into an old rock quarry framed by tall limestone walls · Keith Foster
You play a links-style front nine, then the back nine descends into a former rock quarry ringed by towering walls. It is one of the most striking public rounds in the city and stays close to downtown.
Opened 1993 · $$$ · Slope 128
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,954 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Cart required
The Rattler 7th tee drops about 80 feet over Six Flags Fiesta Texas · Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf
This Hill Country resort course winds past limestone outcrops and live oaks with big elevation swings, so plan on riding a cart. The signature 7th, The Rattler, drops dramatically off the tee.
Opened 1995 · $$$$ · Slope 134
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,435 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Wide oak-lined fairways, host of the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open · Greg Norman with Sergio Garcia
Home of the Valero Texas Open, this Greg Norman course is open to guests staying at the adjacent JW Marriott resort. The oak-lined fairways are generous, but the length makes it a memorable test.
Opened 2010 · $$$$