11 Reasons You’ll Love Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair

By Kelsey Kennedy | June 5, 2023

Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair is a true gem in San Antonio and one of the most spectacular places to visit in SA. Nestled on the southeastern edge of downtown San Antonio, Texas, this area was designed to revitalize the historic park and provide a welcoming green space for residents and tourists alike. Yanaguana Garden isn’t particularly new, but it’s a notable spot (and I happen to be pretty obsessed with it!) and we knew it needed a permanent spot on The San Antonio Things.

Yanaguana Garden not only provides a quiet place to relax, but it’s also a great place to enjoy foods and drinks in SA. It was created as part of the Hemisfair Park redevelopment project, and it officially opened its gates in 2015. It offers a stunning blend of natural beauty, recreational amenities, and a community gathering space for everyone.

The goal of this redevelopment initiative was to revitalize the historic Hemisfair Park and create a vibrant, accessible, and inclusive public space for the community. Hemisfair Park was originally built for the 1968 World's Fair but it gradually lost its beauty over the years. So, to make a new life in the park, they transformed the area into a thriving urban oasis…and that's how Yanaguana Gardens was created!

The cost to build Yanaguana Garden and Park in San Antonio was approximately $10 million. This significant investment really showcases the city's dedication to creating a vibrant and accessible green space for its residents and visitors. (Thank you, SA!) The result was incredibly worthwhile as it brought so much enhancement to the park. I’ve been really happy to see that it’s consistently well-maintained, people continue to come back again and again to visit..

San Antonio residents have absolutely fallen in love with Yanaguana Garden…and for good reason! It serves as a beloved community hub, hosting multiple types of events and festivals throughout the year. From live music concerts to yoga sessions on the lawn, the park's calendar will always keep you busy with tons of activities that foster a sense of camaraderie among its visitors.

Once inside the (free) park, visitors can play on a sprawling playground with whimsical outdoor structures, swings, slides, walls to climb, and an interactive play area with group games. There is also a splash pad that is absolutely necessary on those hot summer months in the city. And for those seeking a moment of tranquility, Yanaguana Garden also offers some shaded walking paths, charming gardens, and cozy seating areas where you can unwind and soak in the peaceful atmosphere while enjoying the view of the entire garden.

As you’re relaxing at the park, you can also visit some of the best restaurants at Hemisfair Park (Hemisfair Park is where Yanaguana Garden is located) The food and drink options available here cater to every appetite, with local vendors offering all sorts of delicious treats and meal options. This place is a total gem! No wonder everyone loves Yanaguana. It's a perfect place to spend your day in San Antonio with your family or friends.

Ok, enough chit chat. Let’s dive in to Yanaguana Garden and show you 11 reasons why it captures the hearts of its visitors. From its stunning landscape design to its diverse range of recreational activities, you’re going to see why this urban retreat is very special.

11 Reasons You’ll Love Yanaguana Garden

1. Plenty Of Nearby Sweet Treats!

Yanaguana Garden is made for all ages to enjoy, but it’s particularly popular among the youngest residents of San Antonio. If you’re visiting Yanaguana with your kiddos, be sure to leave plenty of time for a sweet treat during their play day.

Option 1 is the fabulous Lick Honest Ice Creams. This Austin-based ice cream mini chain makes gourmet ice cream with high quality, local ingredients. The flavors are INSANE and rotate with the seasons, so there’s always something new to try! The classic Texas Sheet Cake is my go-to at any time of the year, but I love sampling anything new they have on hand.

Paleteria rainbow popsicle at Yanaguana Garden

12. The Slide Is EPIC

Really. It’s so fun! Kids of all ages love this epic slide.

3. Games For Teens, Too

Let’s be honest: getting preteens and teens involved in community events is hard (to say the least!), and so any public park that has activities for older kids gets my vote of approval.

Yanaguana Gardens added ping pong tables, corn hole, and an entire shaded play area for games that the older children will love. Plus it’s slightly removed from the playground so they don’t have to feel like they’re in the mix with all the babies.

4. A Nearby Coffee Shops For Your Caffeine Fix

As anyone who has young kids can attest, you are basically tired 100% of the day. Yanaguana Garden is unique in that the restaurants at Hemisfair are all a few steps away…including CommonWealth Coffee Shop.

One of my favorite treats is ordering myself a delicious latte (and probably a cookie or a pastry for my little ones) and then sipping it slowly while I watch them play nearby in the park.

Yes, I am unashamedly listing CAFFEINE as one of the reasons you’re going to absolutely love Yanaguana Gardens.

5. Lots Of Shade Covering

Great job on this one, San Antonio! Yanaguana Gardens has a lot of natural tree canopies, but they also added some additional shade covering with artificial canopies and large arched walkways covered in vines.

The weather in San Antonio can be a bit crazy (here’s what it’s actually like to live in the south Texas climate, according to a local), so it’s nice to know that if you’re going to visit Yanaguana in the summer months (aka most of the year), you’ll have a shady spot to stand.

6. One Of The Best Splash Pads In San Antonio

Splash pads are a great way to stay cool in the summer without worrying about swimming skills, pool admission, water safety, etc. The splash pad that they built at Yanaguana Gardens is lovely!

It’s a pretty large size, compensating for the many children who get excited to splash around. There are lots of chairs lining the perimeter (and all the parents said THANK YOU!) and plenty of nearby shade.

7. That Squishy Floor Under The Climbing Gym

It’s a safety precaution for sure, because the climbing structures are tall and need a soft and squishy landing in case of accidents…but it’s also wonderful, from a parent’s perspective, to have this soft place to stand while I”m watching my little ones run around.

That soft, squishy floor at the playground at Yanaguana is just one more detail that they thought through very thoroughly before building this beautiful space.

8. Beautiful Landscaping

Beautiful landscaping at Yanaguana Garden

The landscape architects did a beautiful job using native plants to make Yanaguana Gardens a visually beautiful place to visit.

I love plants and greenery, but I don’t do a great job keeping them alive in my own yard. It’s such a treat to visit a public garden that constantly has gorgeous landscaping that I get to enjoy year-round.

9. Yanaguana Garden Is Home To The Best Pizza in San Antonio

If you ask any San Antonio resident for the best pizza in San Antonio, you’ll most likely hear one answer: Dough. (Here’s my take on the 13 best pizza spots in San Antonio.)

Dough opened a second location at Hemisfair, and it’s on the corner of Yanaguana Garden. You can actually order your pizza to-go and enjoy it at the park with the family! It’s one more reason why you’re going to absolutely LOOOOVE Yanaguana Garden.

10. Lots Of Places To Sit

Lots of places to sit at Yanaguana Garden

Benches and tables and chairs all over! They really did an excellent job designing this place as a city hub where you can come to relax and hang out. (Pro tip: stop by this winery and get a glass of wine to enjoy out in the garden!

plenty of places to sit at Yanaguana Garden

11. Climbing Galore

So. Much. Climbing!

Yanaguana Garden is home to an insanely awesome climbing gym. Big kids love it because you can climb up really high, and little kids love it because it just looks so cool.

Yanaguana Garden really is the best park in downtown San Antonio. It’s a popular spot for San Antonio residents, but visitors love stopping by, too! With plenty of excellent local restaurants nearby and a whole host of family-friendly activities for kids, Yanaguana Gardens is going to be your favorite place to visit. That is, if you haven’t already been 10,000 times like I have. 😉

WEBSITE | 434 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205