Discover San Antonio Scavenger Hunt
Discover Alamo City with a scavenger hunt through San Antonio's most beloved spots. Stand in front of the Alamo where Texas history pivoted in 1836, walk the cypress-lined River Walk one storey below street level, ride the elevator up the Tower of the Americas and feast at the Pearl District. Cypress shade, mariachi music, puffy tacos. San Antonio is yours for the day.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
The Alamo
Navigate to Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio and check in in front of the limestone facade of the Alamo.
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2
River Walk
Walk one block south and down to the River Walk. Check in near the main bend by the Aztec Theater or Hyatt steps.
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3
Tower of the Americas
Walk through HemisFair Park to the base of the Tower of the Americas and check in.
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4
Pearl District
Walk or rideshare north along the Museum Reach of the river to the Pearl District (former Pearl Brewery), and check in by the Bottling Department food hall.
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5
Market Square
Cross back to downtown and check in at Market Square between Forbes and Fifth Avenue.
Challenges (21)
San Antonio kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic San Antonio backdrop (a cypress overhanging the river, a mariachi musician, a Texas flag) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: The Alamo
Navigate to Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio and check in in front of the limestone facade of the Alamo.
Alamo facade pose
The Alamo's arched limestone facade is the symbolic heart of San Antonio. Line the team up and take a group photo with the full facade in the background.
Trivia: Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo, the thirteen-day siege that became a rallying cry for Texas independence, ended in March of what year?
Answer: 1836
Trivia: Alamo mission founded
The Alamo started life as a Spanish mission, Mission San Antonio de Valero. In what year did construction of the mission begin?
Answer: 1718
Checkpoint: River Walk
Walk one block south and down to the River Walk. Check in near the main bend by the Aztec Theater or Hyatt steps.
River Walk bridge pose
The downtown River Walk is crossed by dozens of small stone bridges. Find a bridge with a great vantage point and take a group photo from the bridge looking down at the river.
Cypress canopy portrait
The River Walk is shaded by massive bald cypress trees that arch over the water. Find a stretch where the canopy fully shades the path and take a group photo looking up.
GO RIO barge wave
GO RIO barges loop the river constantly. From the riverside path, time a group wave at a passing barge and capture the moment in a photo or short video. Bonus points if the barge waves back.
Checkpoint: Tower of the Americas
Walk through HemisFair Park to the base of the Tower of the Americas and check in.
Tower silhouette pose
The Tower of the Americas is San Antonio's skyline anchor. Find a vantage point in HemisFair Park where the full tower silhouette fits in the frame and take a group photo with everyone pointing up at the top.
Trivia: Tower of the Americas opened
The Tower of the Americas was built as the theme structure for the HemisFair World's Fair held in San Antonio. In what year did the tower open?
Answer: 1968
Trivia: Tower height
The Tower of the Americas is San Antonio's tallest structure. How tall is it in feet, measured to the top of the antenna?
Answer: 750
Checkpoint: Pearl District
Walk or rideshare north along the Museum Reach of the river to the Pearl District (former Pearl Brewery), and check in by the Bottling Department food hall.
Pearl food hall shot
The Bottling Department food hall at the Pearl rotates a dozen vendors. Pick a dish (Maybelle's donuts, Carnitas Lonja, Tenko Ramen) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Pearl brick tower portrait
The Pearl Brewery's original red-brick tower still stands at the centre of the district. Find a flattering angle and take a group photo with the historic tower behind you.
Checkpoint: Market Square
Cross back to downtown and check in at Market Square between Forbes and Fifth Avenue.
Mariachi serenade
Market Square and Mi Tierra are famous for roaming mariachi groups. Find a mariachi musician, ask for a song (a tip helps) and take a group photo where the mariachi plays for the team.
Tex-Mex classic taste
Order a San Antonio Tex-Mex classic (puffy tacos, breakfast tacos, enchiladas suizas, a guacamole made tableside) and take a photo with the whole team taking the first bite at the same time.
Local San Antonian tip
Convince a local San Antonio resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
San Antonio finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful San Antonio spot (the river at golden hour, the Alamo in evening light, a Pearl courtyard at dusk) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from Alamo City!
Frequently asked questions
Four to five hours covers the Alamo, the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, the Pearl District and Market Square at a relaxed pace. Downtown to the Pearl is about 1.5 miles along the Museum Reach of the river, so most groups walk that stretch and rideshare to Market Square at the end.
It is worth the 35-minute ride at least once: GO RIO barges leave every 15 minutes from the Aztec Theater and Rivercenter docks, and a narrated loop gives you the architectural history of the bend. Booking ahead is wise on weekends. Even without the barge, the River Walk is a great car-free route between landmarks.
Yes, if you have time. Mission San Jose, the "Queen of the Missions", sits about ten minutes south of downtown on the Mission Reach of the River Walk and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Plan it as a half-day add-on rather than a quick stop. The downtown hunt works fully without it.
Alamo Plaza is the obvious starting point: the limestone Alamo facade is the symbolic centre of the city, and from there you walk one block south and drop down to the River Walk via any of the stone staircases. Parking garages at the Rivercenter and on Commerce Street are a block away.
Yes. The River Walk is pram-friendly along the main bend (the Museum Reach has elevators near the Pearl), the Alamo and Tower of the Americas welcome children, and Market Square has live mariachi and puffy tacos at Mi Tierra around the clock. Skip the hard bar stops if it is a kids day and the route still works.