Sea World San Antonio is Texas Family Travel's favorite theme park in Texas.  The park is clean and well-maintained, and there is just so much to do.  Sea World is like three theme parks in one: animal encounters, amusement park, and water park.

Our family's favorites included:

• Feeding the dolphins.  Check early in the day for the feeding schedule.
• Hitting the water park early before the crowds.  Complimentary life jackets are provided.  We even put our 6-year-old (who can swim) in a life jacket to give us peace of mind so that we could relax and enjoy.
• Viva! Dolphin and Beluga whale show.  The acrobats are awesome.
• Shamu Express roller coaster.  Our kids' first roller-coaster.  Just the right speed for first-timers.

Tips to simplify your trip (and make it more affordable):

•  Map out your day before you go.  You can download a park map and make a tentative plan about where you will start and which shows you will see.
• If at all possible, go on a weekday.  Weekends can get extremely crowded.
• Consider going for more than one day.  A multi-day ticket costs the same price as a single-day pass.
• Bring a stroller for any child under 7.  You will do an amazing amount of walking at the park.
• Outside food and drink is not allowed in the park.  You can, however, return to your car for a quick picnic lunch.  This frees up money for fun drinks and snacks throughout the day.

Watching your child's face the first time they see Shamu leap into the air is a priceless moment that every Texas family should experience.