If you’ve got a trip to San Antonio in your future and are looking for a place to stay where you can let your kids run around without worrying they’ll tumble into the city’s famous Riverwalk, the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch should be on your radar.
Offering sprawling grounds with kids’ clubs, a lazy river, and plenty of (safe) places to run and play, it’s a less expensive option than downtown hotels and has a resort-like feel that’ll keep your kids busy even when you feel like laying low.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch in San Antonio.
The rooms are basically apartments
No more squeezing a family of four into one hotel room! The Hyatt Vacation Club offers 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments with full kitchens, balconies, washer/dryer combos, and living and dining areas— so you’ll have a whole separate room to chill out in when you finally get your kids to sleep at night. The beds are plush; there’s a bathtub easily big enough for three kids to splash around and a large dining room table so you won’t have to use the hotel desk as a breakfast nook. Did we mention the washer/dryer combo? (It’s a big perk.)
Rooms start at about $186 a night for a 1-bedroom. Compare that to the 325-square-foot rooms at the Hyatt downtown for $265 a night (that’s for a single room with two queen beds), and you’ll save enough money for more than a few cowboy hats in your suitcase home.
Note: According to local Hyatt reps, about half of the guests on any given night are Hyatt Vacation Club timeshare owners. But don’t worry! Your overnight stay won’t come with a timeshare presentation. For non-owners, it’s just a regular hotel experience.
Sprawling grounds = Happy kids
Sure, you can stay at a hotel with a view of the San Antonio Riverwalk or one within walking distance to the Alamo (You should know: The Alamo tour is LONG—and long-winded—so not the best choice for little kids!). But there’s something to be said for space, and the Hyatt Vacation Club has it in spades.
The property, which used to be a cattle ranch before it was bought by Hyatt 20 years ago, stretches 39 acres across a natural wooded environment shared by local wildlife, including deer, lizards, and raccoons. It’s enough space for:
- A nature trail -The short nature trail winding around the outskirts of the property doesn’t stray far from the residential buildings—it’s wedged between the pool area and the adjacent golf course—but with its dense network of gnarled oak trees and scurrying squirrels, it’ll feel “nature” enough for most little explorers (and you can walk the whole path in a matter of minutes).
- Two waterslides and an indoor/outdoor pool – The first thing you’ll see when you get to the pool is the serpentine waterslide that curls high above it. There’s also a smaller, enclosed slide (which is actually faster) in the “indoor” section of the pool (a space that’s covered by a roof but is still, actually, outside). The best part? While your kids play, you can order food and drinks to be delivered to you poolside. Hello, vacation!
- A huge lazy river – Hop on an inner tube and wind your way through lush grounds and beneath footbridges on an 800-foot “river pool” separated from the main swimming area.
- A recreation center – When you want to work off all that delicious Texas barbecue, there’s the two-story recreation center where you can find a gym with top-of-the-line equipment and an activity room that offers morning yoga classes. A downstairs steam room and sauna beckon grownups, while an adjacent arcade lets kids spend their time (and your spare cash) vying for stuffed animals from a half-dozen claw machine-style games.
- Firepits – Every night at 6 p.m., Hyatt Vacation Club lights its four outdoor fire pits. S’mores kits can be purchased in the lobby or restaurant.
- A sports court and playground – If the pool and lazy river haven’t wiped your kids out, there’s also a fenced-in playground for toddlers and a sand volleyball court. Note: There are plans to replace both features in 2025 with a pickleball court and interactive water features.
- A kids camp – While it’s not a drop-off situation, kids are welcome to spend their days at “Camp Armadillo,” a poolside cabin where they can do arts & crafts, play games, and partake in seasonal activities (there was a haunted house set up inside when I visited). Note: Parents of kids 12 and under must accompany their kids in the camp, while older kids are free to come and go.
- A restaurant – If you don’t feel like venturing out of the property for lunch or dinner, there’s a restaurant inside the resort that serves up burgers, Tex-Mex favorites, and salads, as well as margaritas, local wines, and other cocktails.
With arts & crafts, guacamole-making classes, and s’mores, it’s like camp for families!
Sometimes, the best part of vacation is the down time, when you can relax without worrying about going anywhere. If you want to have a “downtime day,” there’s plenty to do at the resort to keep your kids (and you) busy, including:
- Guacamole-making – Kids might needs some help with the giant cutting knife used to slice into the avocados, but once those chunks of avocado are in the bowl, you and your fam will have fun adding the fixings, salt and herbs to make the perfect guac.
- Texas wine-tasting – Did you know Texas has its own wine country? Give your kids a coloring book while you learn about and sample some of the Lone Star State’s best wines. Includes four tastings. ($10)
- Resin Art – Feeling crafty? Kids and parents can make Texas-themed paperweights in this easy class that teaches you the art of resin-pouring. It involves sticky stuff and glitter—so yay that you’re not in charge of cleanup!
- Tortilla-making – Mix up flour and water and let your little chefs squeeze and flatten to their hearts’ content. Then, slap your doughy disk on a pan and let set sizzle its way to perfection.
- S’mores by the fire – Every night at 6 p.m., the Hyatt staff lights the four fire pits by the front lobby. S’mores kits are available for purchase because, well, what’s the point of a fire without them?
What to do in San Antonio
Whether you want to explore underground caves or ride thrilling coasters, San Antonio has so much to offer that you’ll be hard-pressed to fit it all into a few days. Here are some must-see destinations:
The Tower of The Americas – The second tallest observation tower in the country (which was built for the Hemisfair World’s Fair in 1968), this downtown tower features a revolving Chart House Restaurant, an indoor and outdoor observation deck, a cafe, a gift shop, and a 4D theatre show titled, “Skies Over Texas.”
The Riverwalk – Texas’ version of the Venice Canals, this picturesque waterway is lined by sidewalks and winds around the city. Originally built to prevent flooding, it is now a tourist mecca filled with riverside cafes, bars, and bustling restaurants. You can view it on foot (but hold your child’s hand, as there’s no gate between most of the walkways and the 4-foot-deep water) or hop on a boat for a slow-moving float down the river. Pssst: Want to check out the ride? Check out my time-lapse video of the riverboat ride!
Legoland Discovery Center + Sea Life Aquarium – Located inside the three-story Rivercenter mall at the base of the Riverwalk, the Lego Discovery Center offers rides, character meet-and-greets, play spaces, and plenty of Lego-building opportunities. The adjacent SEA LIFE Aquarium (which offers tickets bundled together with Legoland Discovery Center) lets kids get up close and personal with sea turtles, sharks, and other fish via a walk-through underwater tunnel; as well as interactive marine exhibits and more.
SeaWorld San Antonio– Equal parts amusement park and aquarium, this 416-acre theme park features state-of-the-art marine life exhibits, interactive animal experiences, five roller coasters, and seven thrill rides of varying intensities.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas – Got little adrenaline junkies? Six Flags Fiesta Texas (located about 22 minutes from the Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch) is the place to go for rides that’ll get those hearts pumping (there’s a pretty big thrill section for the under 48-inchers as well).
The Missions – You probably Remember The Alamo, but there are four other historic Spanish colonial missions to see in San Antonio—and they’re all connected by a flat, easy-to-navigate bike path! It makes for an exhilarating full-day activity if you’ve got older kids up for pedaling the nearly 15-mile stretch (30 if you’re going to go both ways). Start at Mission Espada and end at the Alamo. Rent a bike here, or use these bike-share kiosks to start in one place and end in another without having to loop back (note, these kiosks don’t rent helmets or child-sized bikes).
Natural Bridge Caverns – Descend more than 180 feet underground at this cavern, one of several underground caves in the San Antonio area. With five unique tours—including adventurous routes that require spelunking ropes and lanterns—these chilly underground caves showcase a wonderland of geological features deep underground. For above-ground fun, there’s a massive ropes course.
Where to Eat:
No diets are allowed in San Antonio, where the food is as rich as its storied history. We recommend these spots:
The Chart House at the Tower of the Americas – It’s not cheap, but when it comes to wowing your kids, you can’t go wrong with a revolving restaurant high above San Antonio (unless you’re afraid of heights, of course).
NOLA Brunch & Beignets – Located in a trendy residential neighborhood on the outskirts of downtown, this colorful New Orleans-inspired cafe serves hot, pillowy beignets loaded with powdered sugar, as well as hearty breakfast and lunch dishes. Open Wednesdays through Sundays for breakfast and lunch.
The Pullman Market – A brand-new grocery store/ farmer’s market popular with locals, the Pullman Market specializes in locally sourced items. Housed in a former glass factory, it also has several eateries, including an upscale pizzeria, a walk-up burger joint (with meat so fresh it was probably grazing on the ranch just yesterday), and an ice cream shop that sells old standbys as well as locally-inspired specialties like Chicken & Waffles ice cream made with a chicken broth base.
Cafe Catrina – San Antonio’s Day of the Dead celebration is one of the biggest and best in the country. But at this three-story Mexican Cantina built into a bustling section of the Riverwalk, every day is Dia de los Mortos! The Day of the Dead-themed restaurant serves up Mexican favorites like street tacos and empanadas with a view of the riverwalk that puts diners front row for any of its seasonal boat parades.
For more information, check out the Hyatt Vacation Club online.
*Note: The author was given complimentary accommodation at the Hyatt Vacation Club, but the opinions expressed in this article are her own.
