San Antonio Family Attractions: Low Cost or Free

On our "Ask Us" Pinterest page we recently had a request for ideas on what to do in San Antonio with kids that's free or close to free. Here's a list of several activities for families, kids and visitors to San Antonio that won't break the bank and will keep the kids happy.  There are several that kids of ANY age can take advantage of.  If there are others that you know of or find, please share them in the comments!

Free or discounted summer activities in San Antonio for the kids, families and travelers too.

A Rare Bird for San Antonio

Each year on the Sunday of the week before Christmas, local Audubon Birding groups in San Antonio take to local areas that are heavily populated with birds and make a composite "Christmas Bird Count."

It is analyzed regionally and then added to a database with the results of more than 2,200 other bird counts going on from mid-December to Jan. 5 across the Western Hemisphere.  This years Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the 113th.

The count began in 1900 as a National Audubon Society protest of holiday hunts that left piles of bird and animal carcasses littered across the country. Prior to the turn of the century, people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt": They would choose sides and go afield with their guns; whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.

Conservation was in its beginning stages around the turn of the 20th century, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman, an early officer in the then budding Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition-a "Christmas Bird Census"-that would count birds in the holidays rather than hunt them.  So began the Christmas Bird Count.

The CBC helps scientists understand how birds react to short-term weather events and may provide clues as to how they will adapt as temperatures rise and climate changes.  It provides critical data on population trends and tens of thousands of participants know that it is also a lot of fun.

Tropical parula, seen along Campground Rd, Hidden Valley RV

Hidden Valley has long been a birding site for the local chapter of the Audubon Society and this year they conducted their CBC on Sunday, December 16th.  Chapter members Mr. Bartels and Ms Golden are very familiar with the landscape here as well as the usual habitats and customs of the birds indigenous to this area.  Their enthusiasm is infectious and encourages us all to be more conscious of the creatures of the air we share the earth with.  Below is the current list of birds sighted on December 16, 2012 including what some may call a "Life Bird," not because it's endangered or rare, as is often the case when speaking of seeing your 'life bird' but because, as Ms Golden mentioned "this warbler is rare for this time of year and place...It is a warbler that is seen in Mexico and very southern Texas, so we were excited to see it." 

red wing black birds

great tail grackles

house sparrows

blue birds

eastern phoebe

cardinal

chickadee

titmouse

red tail hawk

cooper hawk

golden fronted woodpedker

sapsucker

downy woodpecker

ladderback woodpecker

Yellow legs 

least sandpiper

shoveler

great blue heron

great egret

yellowrump warbler

orange crown warbler

tropical parula

red crowned kinglet

house wren

carolina wren

song sparrow

lincoln sp

vesper sp

green wing teal

least grebe

great egret

ring neck duck

Henry, our Campground Road runner

Of course, these are only birds who winter in Texas, the group of summer birds repeats some birds but includes many others.   We've listed over 170 kinds of birds over the years here at the Valley and have adopted one, our Henry.

 So when you travel through San Antonio, remember the Alamo but don't forget the scores of birds that grace our southern state and our SW San Antonio RV Park.  We also have the Medina Natural Area - only 4 miles away and the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center 5 miles from the RV Park.  Ask us for a bird list when you arrive and Happy Birding!

Teri Blaschke is the RV Park operator of family owned HiddenValley RV Park in San Antonio, TX and writer of the park blog “A Little Piece of Country in San Antonio.” Teri contributes to various other blogs with a focus on either travel or social media and how it relates to the outdoor hospitality industry but her passion is serving the RV travel community by providing a memorable RV camping experience and growing the Hidden Valley RV family.  Connect with Teri on Google+, Facebook and Twitter@HiddenValleyRV

Six of the Truly "Natural" Spots in San Antonio

Although the Riverwalk is serene and natural in appearance, the landscape there has been mostly imported and very tropical in appearance.  San Antonio has six truly natural areas that began as either ranches or privately owned land but have now become preserves for all kinds of nature, both plant and animal.  Although I haven’t been to them all, the ones I’ve seen are pristine and teaming with native flora and fauna, butterflies are abundant and varieties birds grace every tree limb.  Native wildlife, (some cute and cuddly, some not so cuddly)  also make these parks there home. 

The six Natural Areas all have a different flavor but their mission unites them:  to

“1) Preserve and manage San Antonio’s Natural Areas to protect natural ecosystems,
 2) Promote inclusive and transformative relationships between people and natural systems.”

Courtesy of Medina River Natural Area Website

Here’s a list of the parks with a link to each of their websites:

• Crownridge Canyon Natural Area
• Dwight D Eisenhower Park
• Friedrich Wilderness Park
• Phil Hardberger Park
• Walker Ranch Historic Landmark and our personal favorite
• The Medina River Natural Area

Although all the Parks are wonderful and each deserves a visit, since the Medina River Natural Area is on our turf, (the far south side of San Antonio,) that will be the focus of today’s post. 

The Medina River runs through this 500-acre Natural Area constructed on the site of the old proposed Applewhite Reservoir.
The main entry, park headquarters and the large covered pavilion are located on the north shore. There are also 6 miles of trails, restroom facilities, and native plant displays.  At the entrance there is a cement parking lot.  From Hidden Valley you can access the park in less than 10 minutes by taking Fischer Road, at the head of our entrance road, for about 3 miles to hwy 16.  Take 16 going south (right) for a couple miles and just before the Medina River bridge, turn left into Medina River Natural Area. (15890 Hwy 16 South, San Antonio, 78264.)
Historically, the El Camino Real wagon trail, used by many early settlers in South Texas, goes through the Medina River Natural area.  
The Medina River Natural Area is home to many plants, mammals, snakes, birds, fish and insects.  Hiking, fishing, pets on a leash, bikes and Geocaching are allowed.  The Medina River Natural Area is a paradise for birders.  You can download a list of birds sited at the natural area as well as one comprised of all Bexar (pronounced bear) County birds.  An extensive butterfly list  (7 pages!) is also available and a plant key for those botanically minded folks. 

Courtesy of Medina River Natural Area Website

The hike and bike trails are of varying degrees of difficulty and accessibility. They follow along the river and climb to the upland areas above the north shore. The trails are all concrete paths making for wonderful biking paths and fairly easy hiking paths.
Trail maps are available on site but you can view and print one out here also.  The Park is open from 7:30am to sunset daily except Christmas and New Years Day. 
Another nice opportunity is found in this invitation on their website:

Viva Voluntarios!
Help Beautify Your
      Natural Area!

8 am - noon each day, January through October

Join us on the last Saturday morning of each month. We will plant native plants and remove non-native plants, pick up trash, remove weeds and spread mulch .We will meet near the kiosk by the Parking Lot.

Please bring gloves and a water bottle! Call (210) 207-3111 for Details & to Sign Up!

A great event is planned for this Saturday, November 13, 2010:

Owl Prowl  
Medina River Natural Area
15890 Hwy 16 South
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturday, November 13, 2010 - 6 pm to 8 pm

Owl Prowl

Medina River Natural Area, 15890 Hwy 16 South - Richard Heilbrun, TPWD Wildlife Biologist for an evening about owls, take a walk to the interpretive area where live barred owls will be called in with owl calls as they stake out their territory. This program is very popular and limited to 50 people, so call 210-624-2575 today to RSVP.

Call (210) 207-3111 for reservations and information. Walk-ins will be accepted on a limited basis. Suggested donation: $3.00 per individual/ $5.00 per family

Note:  If you're at Hidden Valley RV Park we'll be glad to carpool with you to the Natural Area