San Antonio is most well known for their basketball team and the Alamo. Most visitors don’t realize this, but San Antonio is also home to two world-class amusement parks. When you visit, you have the option of making it to Sea World San Antonio or Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
Sea World San Antonio gets the wonderful distinction of being the largest of the 3 Sea Worlds, and is also the world’s largest marine-life theme park. After Anheuser-Busch’s takeover in the early 90’s, the park has expanded it’s thrill-ride operations and de-emphasized the learning aspect. There are 5 major thrill rides at this park, and Journey to Atlantis is one of the most unique that the park has to offer. Somewhere in between a roller coaster and a water ride, the cars are actually boats with wheels on the bottom. There are traditional coaster elements like lifts and drops, but there are also areas when the ride is more of a water ride. Of course, no trip to Sea World is complete without a trip to see the killer whales. The Shamu stadium was completely remodeled, and the show now focuses on visual elements, acrobatics, and even has underwater cameras. A visit to Sea World is truly unique.
If you love thrill rides, then Six Flags Fiesta Texas is your best bet. Unlike other Six Flags parks, Fiesta Texas isn’t famous for it’s roller coasters. That’s not to say that the park’s 30 coasters won’t rock your socks off, that’s just not what the park is famous for. The park actually has some of the best shows in the nation, and has been awarded “Best Shows in a Theme Park” awards for the past 10 years running! The Xcelleration show mixes professional BMX riders as well as acrobatics, skate boarders, and bungee artists, and is a fantastic sports show. If you visit during halloween, “Mayor Slayer’s Monster Bash” has also won several industry awards.
After you visit the mandatory places like the Alamo, give San Antonio’s great amusement parks a chance. They’ve spent years building themselves up for your enjoyment, and have the awards to back it up.