Dissapointed about SA expensive attractions (San Antonio, Center: transplants, home, tenants)

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

Hey, you get the entire Hill Country for free! Also, all five of the missions, the Riverwalk, La Villita, the Japanese Tea Gardens, Brackenridge Park, the Summer Art and Jazz Festival, SAMA Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., San Pedro Park, the McNay Art Museum Thursday nights and the first Sunday of the month, the Witte Tuesdays 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Mariachi Mass at San Fernando Cathedral every Saturday at 5:30 p.m, exploring the King William Historic District, glass blowing at Garcia Art Glass, etc. etc.

Maybe we don't give everything away, but there are a lot of things to do that are free if you just take a second to look for them!

Cheers! M2

That's why I'm asking,
not that I'm dissing San Antonio, but I'm trying to figure out what's the reason behind it.
Or it could be that we just take for granted the things that are free in San Antonio.

[catriona]

I guess you have to weigh the price of admissions with the attraction itself. To visit the Chicago Field Museum, it was $28. I think I found a d/c online, but even at that price per person, we still enjoyed it and would go back in a heartbeat. I'm glad you mentioned the St. Louis Zoo. I looked it up online and if we ever visit St. Louis, I definitely want to check it out, too.

For a family of 4 to visit the SA Zoo, it would cost $36, not including food, etc.
You can also visit the Japanese tea gardens (free), or ride the Brackenridge Eagle ($2-3).

For a family of 4 to visit the St. Louis Zoo, it would cost approx $27, if you parked your car ($11) and everyone visited the chidren's zoo ($4/ea). The zoo does have other nice attractions, like the railroad ($5), 3d ride, sea lion show, etc. that our zoo doesn't have, but you do have to pay extra for them, but its only $3/ea. Still, that is an extra $12 to watch the sea lions or an extra $20 to ride the train around.

Isn't the Alamo free, too?

[Bo]

Compare the zoo's admission price to the ~$30/head admission at Fiesta Texas or Sea World and it seems like a bargain. I suspect that's the yardstick that the zoo folks prefer to use.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the price of admission to the city-owned Tower of The Americas and the attractions at its base. I remember a lot of squawking about those in the media when the Landry's version opened.

[BenjaminNicholas]

The SA Zoo is one of the best in the country, as it's one of the oldest and first zoos to introduce 'natural' environment caging to the animals. For the price, it's a bargain and they do quite a bit with the little funding they get. They're currently working on a huge Africa makeover that should be ready to open by the Spring. Upgrades cost money.

It's already been said in this thread, but in a city that relies on tourism as their numero uno way to make cash, it's only natural that places charge what the market will bear. For a city of this size, there are still NUMEROUS attractions that are free (or close to it) and provide entertainment for both locals and tourists. Most museums in town offer 'free' days.

And, let me quickly dispel the myth that most zoos are free: Some of the top rated parks in the country charge (San Diego, Brookfield, etc) and they charge much more than what we pay here in San Antonio.




BN

[buffy888]

Originally Posted by Bowie

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the price of admission to the city-owned Tower of The Americas and the attractions at its base. I remember a lot of squawking about those in the media when the Landry's version opened.

Do they still offer a discount for S.A. residents to take the elevator up? I think they used to offer it on weekdays - or maybe just a specific weekday - but wondering if they still do.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by catriona

For a family of 4 to visit the St. Louis Zoo, it would cost approx $27, if you parked your car ($11) and everyone visited the chidren's zoo ($4/ea).

Just want to clarify something,
at the St. Louis Zoo you don't have to use their parking.
You can park in the streets that go through Forest Park (the zoo is located there) but you might have to park far away.

Big map of St. Louis Forest Park

[wCat]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

D'oh! Sorry about that, you are correct!

But Missouri also has a state income tax, and Texas does not; plus the city tax rates I posted are correct (so about one percent higher in St L)...

Cheers! M2

Actually you both are correct. EAST St Louis is in Illinois, JUST across the river....where Scott AFB is located and where many military families make a stop. I spent half my life thinking St Louis was in Illinois too....because I didn't know there was a whole state line separated them. Not to mention the fact that I was also 5.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by Dopo

That's why I'm asking,
not that I'm dissing San Antonio, but I'm trying to figure out what's the reason behind it.
Or it could be that we just take for granted the things that are free in San Antonio.

Really?

Well...it's not the first complaint you've had since you've been here. I'm just sayin.

[scuba steve]

I'm used to that kind of stuff costing some amount to get in. The Seattle Aquarium, the various art museums, monorail and the space needle... they all cost something. To me San Antonio feels about the same as everywhere else in that regard.

[majormadmax]

Yeah, I gotta agree with sCat, it sounded like complaining to me as well; especially considering your other threads like the one on the lack of coverage on the Texans.

That's nice that St Louis has free things like their zoo but most places charge admission for stuff pike that, and to act as if SA is unique in doing so is unfair. Go to other tourist towns such as Orlando or Washington DC and see what they charge for their attractions and it will make SA look like a bargain!

Cheers! M2