San Antonio: City scavenger hunt with smartphone guide

Summary

Explore San Antonio’s streets with a playful scavenger hunt

Step into San Antonio’s streets for a playful scavenger hunt guided by your smartphone. You’ll solve clues at the Alamo, wander along the River Walk, chat with locals, and discover quirky corners you’d usually miss. With flexible timing and room for laughter (and snack stops), it’s an experience you’ll remember long after your shoes are dusty.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed was the way the morning light hit the Alamo — kind of golden, but not in that dramatic postcard way, just soft and a little sleepy. We’d barely figured out how to get the scavenger hunt app working (I’m not great with apps, honestly), when our group of four started arguing about who’d be “team captain.” In the end, my cousin just grabbed my phone and said, “Let’s go.” So that’s how we started wandering through San Antonio with our phones out, looking for clues and trying not to look too lost.

The city felt different when we were actually searching for things — like suddenly you notice all these details you’d normally walk past. There was this old stone marker near the River Walk I’d never paid attention to before. Our guide (well, the app) had us hunting for some weird historical fact about it. A mariachi band was tuning up nearby and you could smell fresh tortillas from somewhere close — it made me hungry way earlier than expected. We got stuck on one clue by a mural; a local guy saw us squinting at it and just grinned, “You’re close!” Didn’t give anything away though.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much over silly riddles or get so competitive about our score (my aunt is ruthless). The route took us past both big sights and these odd little corners — like a tiny shop selling chili candies where we stopped for a minute because my shoes were rubbing. The whole thing is about two miles walking, but it didn’t feel long since we kept getting distracted by street performers or someone’s dog in a Spurs jersey. You can start whenever you want and go as fast or slow as your group feels like — which is good because we needed snack breaks.

By the time we finished back near where we started, I realized I’d seen more of downtown San Antonio in three hours than I probably have in years living nearby. It wasn’t perfect — my phone glitched once and my Spanish is still embarrassing — but I still think about that mural clue sometimes. There’s something about seeing your own city through a game that makes it stick with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — San Antonio Scavenger Hunt

• Interactive smartphone adventure hunt
• Explore Alamo grounds
• Walk along River Walk
• Discover historic and hidden city gems

Top questions

How long does the San Antonio scavenger hunt take?

The scavenger hunt takes around 3 hours to complete at a moderate pace.

How far do you walk during the scavenger hunt?

You’ll walk approximately 2 miles throughout downtown San Antonio.

Is this scavenger hunt wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible and suitable for strollers.

Can infants or small children join?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the tour.

Do I need to book for each person?

No, one booking covers a team of 2–5 people for the entire adventure.

Does this include entry fees or lunch?

No entry fees or meals are included; it’s an outdoor walking activity using public spaces.

What do I need to bring?

You’ll need a smartphone with US cellular data service to access clues and directions.

Can we compete against other groups?

Yes, you can compare scores with other teams if you want some friendly competition.

What’s included

Your day includes one interactive scavenger hunt adventure for your team of 2–5 people, guided entirely from your own smartphone so you can start anytime and set your own pace as you explore San Antonio together.