You could walk the King William neighborhood.
http://www.saconservation.org/tours/sitevisits_kingwilliam.htm
You may like a River Walk boat ride/tour. Short and easy.
You must see the Alamo. You just have to. Lots of good places to eat right on the River Walk. Boerne is fun to visit if you want to drive to a cute antique-y suburb. You can check out what's doing at Trinity University, although summer is not the best time. There's also the Witte Museum.

We like The Little Rhein Restaurant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rhein

Last year, we enjoyed the SAMA (San Antonio Museum of Art). The McNay and The Governor's Mansion are worth seeing, too. In all cases, call first to see if exhibits are undergoing renovations, etc.

If you like barbecue and noise, County Line on the River Walk is good. For Cajun, Boudro's is good.
http://www.boudros.com/boudros/about_us.php?PHPSESSID=c60023e6025fec3c1147823986ad47dd

Here is a link that might be useful: County Line

The La Mansion Del Rio is a wonderful hotel. We stayed there one night on our anniversary and thought it was a beautiful hotel. Keep to the Riverwalk during the day, at night the lighting is terrible and lots of opportunity for purse snatchers.

The Alamo is a must and across the street is the Ripley's Believe It Or Not - it's kind of weird but kids love it.

My favorite restaurant in San Antonio is La Fogata. It's not downtown but is a wonderful, lively place with a Mariachi band and great Mexican food.

Here is a link that might be useful: lafogata.com

I've lived in Texas all my life and have visited San Antonio frequently. Even with all my Texas pride, the Alamo is one boring tourist attraction. I doubt your 7 year old would be very interested after seeing the first few bullet holes in the walls. Sea World will be a blast and very tiring. I wouldn't try to do anything else that day.

We love walking through La Villita and seeing all the old buildings. Once when we were walking through they were having a traditional Mexican wedding and the whole party was going through the streets--it was very lovely. We also make a trip to El Mercado to eat at the restaurants there because they aren't as touristy/expensive as the ones on the River. I haven't been since they moved it from the Lone Star Brewery, but the Buckhorn Museum is really fascinating--your young one would love it. Also try to stop into Durty Nelly's near the Hilton--it's an Irish pub where they play the piano and sing songs and you throw peanut shells on the floor. The whole family would enjoy it. The riverboat tour is a must and I would do it during the day and at night. The lights at night are beautiful. We've always walked the river at night and never had a problem with purse snatchers. Easy solution would be not to carry your purse.

There are several missions throughout San Antonio. I've been to most all of them but I can't remember which ones I liked most. Your 7 year old might like visiting one of them. You can walk and climb all around them. There is a Japanese Garden but I'm not sure if that would hold his interest.

I'm not sure what direction you're traveling from, but if it's on the way the Wildlife Ranch between San Antonio and New Braunfels is a hoot. You drive through in your own vehicle. I believe they used to sell "I survived the Ostrich" t-shirts because the darn little things were so aggressive about sticking their heads in your car to grab food.

Have a great time--San Antonio is lots of fun. Stop by Dick's Last Resort on the Riverwalk if you're in the mood for crazy fun (don't ask where the restrooms are--they'll send you out to the street for laughs).

Gosh, you guys, thanks so much for the tips! We will definately try some of the eating places too!

We were wanting to try the Schlitterbahn also, even though it isn't in San Antonio. Anyone been there? And, would a daring 7 year old like it? Actually, I was wanting to shop while DH took DS there-HA! Not sure how shopping is there, but, would like to try.

kelleng, I did the priceline bidding thing and got into the La Mansion Del Rio at $75.00 per night! I was hoping it was a nice one. My girlfriend does the priceline bidding every where her family goes and hasn't been disappointed yet. This was my first time to do it. Oh, and I think my DS would love Ripley's, too.

kitchendetective, County line sounds like a lot of fun and we will hunt it down.

dk, lots of good ideas from you. Buckhorm Museum sounds like a must and Durty Nellies sounds like we would really enjoy that!

Love these ideas, since we don't have much time there to waste!

Sea World is about 25 miles out of San Antonio, so I would agree it will take a whole day. There is also Six Flags there if you are up for 2 days of amusement parks! Schlitterbahn is in New Braunfels. It is a great time, and you can even bring your own food in for a picnic. Another fun alternative is tubing - I think the Guadalupe River is still closed to tubing after a flood last week, but you can tube the Comal River in New Braunfels. Cold water sure feels good in this Texas heat!

I also agree that the Alamo is pretty boring unless you are a history buff. You can just walk by the outside and take a picture. San Antonio has a fabulous zoo, which the 7 yo might like. The buckhorn museum is very interesting to kids. There is an Imax theater near the Marriott Riverwalk. Love the Witte Museum. It is in the Brackenridge Park area near the zoo. It has a whole hands-on area for kids. Be sure and eat some good Tex Mex!

The Alamo is usually a disappointment to adults, but it is part of Texas history and my kids saw it when they were your child's age and liked it. Seems a shame to miss a chance to have it in his cultural repertoire, as long as the line's not too long. If the Guadalupe is open, you ought to go to Gruene and eat at The Grist Mill.

We just went to Sea World and Fiesta Texas (Six Flags) in April. Sea World was great but Fiesta Texas was awful because of the crowds and never ending lines. I live in San Marcos which is right in between San Antonio and Austin. I grew up in a little town 20 minutes from San Antonio so it's my stomping grounds. On the same trip in April we also went to the Alamo with my 4yo nephew and he loved it - go figure . . . I find La Villita and El Mercado hopelessly touristy and crowded so if you know that going in and don't mind then you'll love it.

There are lots of water rides and a water park at Sea World so Schlitterbahn would be redundant unless you just want to go to New Braunfels. If it were me, I would go toobin' but your son might think floatin' is boring! Gruene is a sweet little place to visit - lots of shopping and good eats - I prefer Gruene River Grill over Grist Mill but both are very good.

I second going to Gruene and eating at the Grist Mill, then going tubing down the Comal River. The river is not fast or scary, but is relaxing to float and see the scenery. It takes about 2 hours and a bus picks you and your tube up at the end.

I was looking for places to take my grandchildren last summer, but when I looked at prices for the Schlitterbahn I almost croaked. ;o)

Here is a link that might be useful: schlitterbahn

I love the Mexican handicraft market in San Antonio. Almost like being in Mexico.

There is also an interactive Texas History Museum. I went there many years ago and loved it because you could touch everything.

I agree that the Alamo is boring. It would probably be a bit more interesting after taking Texas history in school.

Have a great trip!

Lisa

New Braunfels and Gruene had a big flood last week, and I just saw on the news that Schlitterbahn will be fully reopened this Saturday. Most of the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers are still closed to tubers.

I heard about the floods, and that parts of the Schlitterbahn were closed. Glad it is open now.

I was wondering if it would be redundant going to the Schlitterbahn and Sea World. I know there are probably better water rids there, but, not sure if he is able to go on the better water rides, because of his age. Of course, DH would be with him.

I don't think we will go to Fiesta Texas, we live in Norman, OK and have been to Six Flags in Dallas many times. Too crowded and hot I think to even enjoy that now.

Also, would love to see the mexican handicraft-I'm a sucker for southwest/western things!

I think the tubing would be great IF the river is open!