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All United States Texas San Antonio

The Atlas Obscura Guide To San Antonio

40 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in San Antonio, Texas

Updated March 23, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in San Antonio

A beautiful bridge.

San Antonio, Texas

Japanese Tea Garden

A gorgeous garden oasis with winding paths, stone bridges, and a troubling history.

San Antonio, Texas

Bracken Cave

The summer home of the largest colony of bats in the world.
Big Boots.

San Antonio, Texas

World's Largest Cowboy Boots

These boots are made for selfies.
Hot Wells Hotel and Spa. (Creative Commons)

San Antonio, Texas

Hot Wells Hotel and Spa

Ruins of a once-opulent grand Victorian resort.
The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum.

San Antonio, Texas

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

A 131-year-old wunderkammer of Texas history.

San Antonio, Texas

Mission San Jose

Three hundred years of preserved Spanish colonial history in San Antonio.
Deer at the Quadrangle.

San Antonio, Texas

The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle and Museum

A National Historic Landmark with a scenic clock tower and park filled with deer and peacocks, plus a military museum.
Virgin Mary Mosaic

San Antonio, Texas

Largest Virgin Mary Mosaic in the World

The 40-foot-tall votive candle is the largest of its kind.
See All 40 Things To Do in San Antonio

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in San Antonio

The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum.

San Antonio, Texas

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

A 131-year-old wunderkammer of Texas history.
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

8 Out-There Art Destinations in Texas

A surplus of space always means a surplus of creative possibility. Texas, with its never-ending skies, wide deserts, and even bigger imaginations, takes this idea to thrilling conclusions. If you’re interested in planning an art-focused road trip, you won’t find a better destination than Texas, where one day you’ll be browsing an obsessive collection of outsider art, and the next day you’ll be walking through a hidden alley covered in umbrellas or beneath a neon skyscape. Here are eight of the most exciting art destinations in the state to inspire your mind and thrill your eyes.

View Itinerary

Explore San Antonio, Texas

Art 9
Sculptures 5
Museums And Collections 5
Animals 4
Architectural Oddities 4
Graves 4

San Antonio Leaderboard

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Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to San Antonio.

Places Edited

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Places Visited

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Recent San Antonio Activity

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    sechristk

    wants to go to Old Time Wooden Nickel Company

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    RedboyJizzle

    wants to go to Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

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    Shon

    has been to Miraflores

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    has been to Japanese Tea Garden

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    parkmimo

    wants to go to The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle and Museum

Stories About San Antonio

Video: The Majesty of San Antonio Missions National Historic Park

San Antonio is home to five missions, which are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are the only heritage sites in the U.S. that remain active parishes.
Sponsored by Visit San Antonio
The Micronesian kingfishers hunkered down quite peacefully.

The Kingfishers That Shacked Up at the Start of the Pandemic Aren’t Sick of Each Other Yet

Before the birds moved in together, they had to learn to "howdy."
by Jessica Leigh Hester
July 28, 2020
Fort Douglas Post Cemetery, in Salt Lake City, holds the graves of 20 German prisoners of war from World War II.

Three Headstones in American Military Cemeteries Bear Swastikas

But not for much longer.
by Matthew Taub
June 10, 2020
Meet the reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi).

Can a Salamander Find Salvation in San Antonio?

A zoo lab's successful captive-breeding program may be the best hope for this critically endangered amphibian.
by Jennifer S. Holland
March 16, 2020
Juanita (left) and Esperanza Garcia make tortillas in this photograph from 1937.

The Forgotten Chefs Who Made Carne con Chile a Texas Mexican Standard

"Chili queens" spread the dish from San Antonio's plazas.
by Tom Little
June 15, 2018

The Small Mystery of Why Bats Keep Returning to This House

“I don't understand why of all of these beautiful homes, mine is the one the bats are attracted to."
by Erik Shilling
May 15, 2017
An inspiration to sick goldfish everywhere.

The Goldfish That Got a Wheelchair

It helps it stay underwater.
by Eric Grundhauser
March 15, 2017

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