San Marcos has been a popular travel destination for over 12,000 years, including a plethora of things to do in San Marcos. Underwater archaeological excavations at Spring Lake, on the upper San Marcos River, have uncovered artifacts dating to the earliest known inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, the Clovis Indians. So, a visit to this pious, religious and historical oasis is a must for any travel-enthusiast!
Top Places to Visit in San Marcos(Texas)
Amidst the abundance of nature, wildlife and classy city life, here are 15 of the best places to visit in San Marcos.
1. San Marcos River
If you’re looking for outdoor activities, the San Marcos River is a great place to spend a day tubing, fishing, and swimming. The river runs through the center of San Marcos, and there are plenty of places to enjoy recreational tubing, kayaking, and canoeing.
You can catch catfish, perch, and trout in the river. A great place to hold a picnic, relax and soak up the sun, or visit the riverside as one of the many things to do in San Marcos at night.
2. Charles S. Cock House Museum
Built-in 1867, the Charles S. Cock House Museum is a beautiful stone house and the oldest residence in town. The house uses the Greek Revival style and retains many original features, including a beautiful collection of antiques.
Locals call this kitchen the “cottage kitchen.” Visitors can rent most of the homes for weddings and other special occasions. It can accommodate up to 40 people seated and 60 people standing.
3. Rio Vista Park and Dam
The dam reopened as a theme park in 2006 and is now known as Rio Vista Park. The park follows the San Marcos River, which can be seen from the park and is filled with artificial rapids and nice deep swimming holes. Take advantage of one of the tennis courts, picnic at one of the provided tables, or explore the many biking and hiking trails.
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4. LBJ Museum
Your history buff will be delighted to visit LBJ Museum in San Marcos, one of the best things to do in San Marcos. The late Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president, served from 1963 until he served in 1969, but that year is not the focus of this unique museum.
Instead, the LBJ Museum commemorates President Johnson’s years as a college student and later as a schoolteacher. It also commemorates how those years shaped the passage of landmark and great social laws that continue to influence America today.
5. Sewell Park
Sewell Park, in the middle of campus, is one of the favorite places in San Marcos. You can spend practically the whole day relaxing. The park has two sand volleyball courts, a large green area for Frisbee, and many trees if you want a hammock or slackline.
The river is full of coves and is a great place to cool off from the Texas sun, or find some fun things to do in San Marcos.
6. Wonder World Park
Wonder World Park is a unique park with the honor of being home to the only walk-in earthquake cave in the United States. Guided tours take visitors underground and provide information about the region’s geological history. After spending time underground, visitors can take a thrilling elevator ride up to the park’s observation tower.
The park has several other attractions, such as a petting zoo, an anti-gravity house, and a trackless train that takes visitors under a waterfall.
7. Calaboose African American History Museum
It houses a relatively large collection of photographs, artifacts, letters, and other items that reflect early African-American life in Texas. Surprise, this spot is one of the top things to do in San Marcos, especially those looking for hidden gems.
The Calaboose Museum of African American History has many interesting exhibits in its permanent collection. The most popular is the Eddie Durham memorabilia collection.
8. Cheatham Street Warehouse
The warehouse on Cheatham Street is famous for many Texas musicians who started their careers at this music venue. Randy Rogers, George Strait, and Stevie Ray Vaughan are just a few celebrities who have performed here. So, if you are looking for great live music, check out Cheatham Street Warehouse!
9. Mama Kat’s Restaurant
Family-owned since 1994, Mama Kat’s Restaurant is known for its delicious home-cooked meals and incredibly friendly service. All dishes are prepared from scratch whenever possible, and the restaurant prides itself on serving locally-roasted coffee and homemade baked goods.
Especially the homemade cake selection is worth a visit. Choose from an excellent selection of cream tarts, fruit tarts, and traditional family favorites such as lemon meringue and buttermilk tarts.
10. Rhea’s Ice Cream
Reah’s Ice Cream is a quirky ice cream shop with a nostalgic vibe that specializes in locally-inspired, handcrafted ice cream. Small-batch flavors typically include unique seasonal offerings such as avocado, coconut, and caramel cider, and vegan options are usually available.
Customers can enjoy this among other things to do in San Marcos at night. The ice cream in bowls, handmade cones, or as part of a freshly baked cookie and ice cream sandwich. Others include espresso, beverages, and brownies made in a local root cellar bakery.
11. Purgatory Creek Natural Area
The Purgatory Creek Natural Area has numerous hiking trails and is a great place for nature hiking. This area is the largest dedicated natural space in San Marcos. The hiking trails are well maintained and range from easy to moderate.
The trail is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset and it falls under the category of things to do in San Marcos for free. Purgatory Creek is also a great site for bird-watching. If you happen to be an avid birdwatcher, be sure to visit this place!
12. Bobcat Stadium
Texas State University’s Bobcat Stadium is an impressive football stadium that seats 30,000 spectators. Of course, the stadium is home to the Texas Bobcats, and watching them play is a highlight of San Marcos’s sights.
Bobcat Stadium is an exciting and fun place for sports fans and those seeking relaxation in the city’s downtown area. The stadium occasionally hosts other events and has been used as a backdrop for various movies.
13. Texas Water Safari
Texas Water Safari is an annual event in San Marcos. Considered the ‘toughest canoe race in the world, it lives up to its name. The race begins in San Marcos and ends at Seadrift, Texas. If you’re looking for a challenge or fun things to do in San Marcos, the Texas Water safari is for you.
14. Longhorn Racing Academy
Longhorn Racing Academy is every car enthusiast’s dream come true with world-class sports cars. The company takes tourists to the nearby Harris Hill Raceway, where they can ride with professional drivers or take a few laps around the circuit in one of their cars.
Insurance and helmet rentals are included; both classroom and in-vehicle lessons are available for drivers. Another option is to take a high-performance driver training course which includes two classroom and four-track sessions.
15. Wittliff Collection
One of the top things to do in San Marcos for art lovers is to visit the Wittliff Collection, an Albert B. Alquek Library gallery at the University of Texas. Opened in 1936, this beautiful museum showcases a very large variety of works by Southwestern artists and creators and numerous exhibitions by Mexican artists.
You will find something in this medium literature, painting, music, cinema, archives, documents, photographs, and also manuscripts.
San Marcos has been a popular travel destination for over 12,000 years, including a plethora of things to do in San Marcos. Underwater archaeological excavations at Spring Lake, on the upper San Marcos River, have uncovered artifacts dating to the earliest known inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, the Clovis Indians. So, a visit to this pious, religious and historical oasis is a must for any travel-enthusiast!
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