6 Best Sights in North and Northwest, San Antonio

The world's first theme park designed and built for individuals with special needs, 25-acre Morgan's Wonderland is completely wheelchair-accessible, with playgrounds, attractions, and rides specially built to accommodate wheelchairs, like the colorful carousel and the Whirling Wonder Ferris Wheel. Traditional swing areas also feature wheelchair swings. The Wonderland Express perimeter train ride gives an overview of Morgan's Wonderland and Morgan's Inspiration Island, the latter with five tropic-themed splash pads and a Riverboat Adventure Ride that travels through a jungle setting. And because not everyone's wheelchair is suited for a watery environment, there are complimentary waterproof wheelchairs and protective accessories for guests.

The inspiration for such an amazing place is Morgan Hartman, daughter of native San Antonian businessman and philanthropist Gordon Hartman and his wife Maggie. The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation pursues Gordon and Maggie's goal of helping people of all ages with special needs. Morgan Hartman is now 27 and is greeted like a rock-star when she visits her namesake park. Special needs children and adults are admitted to the park free of charge. Before planning a visit, call or check their website for seasonal hours and closings. 

Thirty minutes north of downtown San Antonio, you can trek down 180 feet below the earth's surface for a half-mile walk through this beautiful, historic cavern system. Take the original Discovery Tour to explore the largest show cavern in Texas with its stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, chandeliers, and soda-straw formations. The more adventurous (and physically fit) can take the Adventure Tour to get down and dirty (read: muddy) like a real spelunker. Caverns are cool with high humidity. Wear comfortable shoes with good traction. Trails can be wet, and climbing and descending stairs are involved. Tour prices can vary by date. Surface attractions include a four-level ropes course, seven zip rails, and climbing towers. Booking and buying ahead is recommended for cavern tours. 

Set within 100-foot-tall quarry walls, this amusement park features five themed sectors highlighting Texas's rich diversity, from the state's Mexican and German culture to its rip-roarin' Western past. Nine roller coasters are here, including Batman: The Ride, Boomerang Coast to Coaster, the hybrid wood/steel Iron Rattler, the spinning/twisting Pandemonium, the "spaghetti bowl" Poltergeist, the family-friendly Road Runner Express, Superman: Krypton Coaster (the largest steel coaster in Texas), and the Goliath, a 50-mph body-blasting suspended looping coaster. The Dare Devil Dive Flying Machines that imitate the maneuvers of acrobatic dogfights is the tallest ride of its kind in the world. There's also Scream, a 20-story tower-drop ride. The park has about 40 rides in all, and its Whitewater Bay water park is open seasonally. Rounding out the offerings are many excellent family-friendly live musical shows.

For locals, Friedrich Wilderness Park is a great close-to-home spot with more than 10 miles of hiking trails, a mere 20 miles from the Alamo on the northwest side of town near Six Flags Fiesta Texas. This 600-acre hilly haven for rare birds and orchids is a nesting site for two federally listed bird species: the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler. As a protected area that minimizes impact on the environment, rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, and bicycles are not allowed.

Bird-watchers from around the world are often spotted here. Some species are seasonal, such as blue jays (fall and winter), eastern meadowlarks (spring), red-winged blackbirds (spring and summer), scissor-tailed flycatchers (spring, summer, and fall), and double-crested cormorants (winter). You can see turkey vultures, finches, Carolina wrens, doves, northern woodpeckers, northern cardinals, mockingbirds, and more year-round. For trail conditions, check out their Facebook or Twitter, call the park office, or go to Friends of San Antonio Natural Areas ( fosana.org).

This 12,244-acre natural area about 26 miles from downtown is home to numerous varieties of trees and several species of rare birds, such as the golden-cheeked warbler. It also offers views of surrounding Bexar County and glimpses of San Antonio. Protected Habitat Area trails are open September through February, but other trails of varying difficulty are available year-round. There is a picnic area, a playground, camping, mountain-biking trails, nature/interpretive trails, and a visitor center/museum. The area is very popular, and reservations are recommended for both camping and day use. Reservations can be made online or by phone at the Texas State Parks Customer Service Center, 512/389--8900.

The largest marine park in the United States, SeaWorld San Antonio consists of more than 250 acres where you can see shows and animal habitats and experience thrilling coasters and family-friendly rides. Shows include orcas, belugas, sea lions, otters, and Pacific white-sided dolphins, and there's also an immersive experience where you can get up close to belugas. The Aquatica water park (admission is separate from SeaWorld) offers a range of water rides and pools. The pricing structures for both parks vary seasonally and depend on if you purchase tickets in advance or at the entrance. Check the website or call for the latest prices.