San Antonio w/ teens & 8 yr old
 

We're planning a trip in April. Will probably spend a few hrs at Sea World. Thinking about driving out to Bandera - is it worth it? We can't really do the dude ranch/horseback riding thing as our eldest is allergic to horses/hay etc. Will do Riverwalk, Alamo, ...any other ideas - it's tough w/ the different ages!

April will be a good time to visit. The flowers (bluebonnets specifically and wildflowers generally) will be starting to bloom. Bandera and Kerville area is really pretty. I make a trip once a year to Sabinal Canyon and Lost Maples near those two places for cabin camping with alot of friends. Nothing much to see in the town itself (although there's a tiny stretch of their main street with little shops). Take hwy 16 along that area and you will get a very pretty riparian drive. The other alternative is heading to fredericksburg and enchanted rock. The kids will like fredericksburg and main street with the shops lining it and the german beer gardens (serves food). Enchanted rock will be fun (period).

Oh, one last thing. With the kids, you may want to check out the underground caverns (http://www.naturalbridgecaverns.com)near there by San Marcus (and do a bit of shopping at the outlet mall too).

I don't think I sent you the link to enchanted rock. Here it is... (http://www.americansouthwest.net/tex...ural_area.html)

Enchanted Rock is a great suggestion--my niece and nephew, both teenagers now, love to go there when they come to visit. My nephew has been going there since he was a little boy. Fiesta Texas is another idea.

thanks for the tip on the caverns! - all of us would enjoy that. Might be perfect to do on the a.m/early afternoon of departure day as we have a late afternoon departure.

I was going to suggest the caverns. We did that and really enjoyed it. Also, right near the caverns is a drive-thru animal park that was really fun. They let you buy food (I think a coupon from their internet site gets you an extra bag of food) and you can feed the animals from your car. A zebra reached right in our window and ate the whole bag of our food, bag and all!

Oh yeah! I forgot about that exotic safari place. It's been awhile since I went. I did remember the giraffe sticking it's head in the car and licking my friend's face...that was funny!

Oh, if you do go to Fredericksburg, right past Bandera and LBJ state park on the way, there is a wild flower farm right off that frwy (can't think which one, I think it's 290???. Make a point to stop, especially during the time you're going. You can't miss it. It will be fields of blocked colors on your right. There's a shop and a tiny restaurant. Good for a lunch/snack stop. There's also alot of peach orchards in the area...