Seaworld

10500 SeaWorld Drive (78251)
Sail into SeaWorld San Antonio and explore new depths of fun in 2002, including new shows, a splashier water park, extra-special events all season long and an expanded operating schedule stretching all the way to the end of November! SeaWorld previously completed its season at the end of October, but the 2002 season begins March 9th and ends December 1st but, not before offering added fun for everyone on November weekends, plus the Friday after Thanksgiving.

See rock-and-rollers on water skis fly across SeaWorld San Antonio's scenic Water Ski Lake in the new "Rockin' Ski Party." The show will include daredevil feats performed to the sounds of rock-and-roll music. Marvel at "Viva!," a white whale and dolphin show, which blends the acrobatics of amazing Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales with the artistry of aerialists, synchronized swimmers and high divers. See incredible domestic animals in "Pet Tales," a heartwarming new show starring dogs, cats, birds and other creatures, many of them rescued from animal shelters.

If you have a keen interest in animals, then register for one of SeaWorld’s Adventure Camps, which include the new Adventure Camp for Adults. Also, 2002 will feature weekend Adventure Camps designed especially for grandparents and grandchildren and for parents and children. Campers live on-site in SeaWorld dormitories and interact with whales, dolphins, sharks, penguins and other animals alongside members of the park’s professional zoological staff. During the warm weather months, bring your swimsuit for a wild and wet time at the Lost Lagoon water adventure area and its new Splash Attack, a 3-story-tall fun house, plus the Lagoon’s huge wave pool, sky-high slides, sunny beach and water play areas for kids and adults.

As you enter the world’s largest marine life adventure park, meet the majestic Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale horses in their spacious new home near SeaWorld’s main entrance. Inside, you’ll quickly discover SeaWorld San Antonio actually offers you four parks in one – a world-class marine animal park, a spectacular show park, an exciting rides park and a splashy water park – with more than 25 major attractions that put smiles on every member of your family. See world-famous Shamu like never before in "Shamu Visions," an eye-popping show that combines the live action of magnificent killer whales with incredible above- and below-the-water close-ups on a giant video screen. Enjoy Shamu in another spectacular show, "Shamu’s Hollywood Night Magic," the glitzy finale of SeaWorld’s "Hollywood Night Magic" family entertainment extravaganza presented each evening May 25 through Aug. 11.

Also stay late for the glittering "Hollywood Live on Ice" show with professional figure skaters and singers and "Clyde and Seamore’s Movie Madness" show, a side-splitting cinematic spoof with comical sea lions Clyde and Seamore. Dive deep on not one but two state-of-the-art, heart-pounding coasters – "The Steel Eel" hypercoaster, with its "eel-ectrifying" 15-story drop, speeds of almost 65 mph and sudden spells of weightlessness, and the Eel’s twin "terror of the deep" – "The Great White" inverted coaster, which "bites" with spine-tingling loops, corkscrews and aerobatics. Laugh up a storm as those salty sea lion comedians Clyde and Seamore star in the hilarious do-it-yourself show, "Fools With Tools!," along with their otter and walrus sidekicks.

Cheer on your favorite team during "The Intensity Games," pitting SeaWorld athletes against each other in a thrill-a-minute water ski and sports competition. Let the kids drop anchor at Shamu’s Happy Harbor so they can splash, climb, jump, slide, squirt, build, explore and enjoy new rides among three acres of colorful, creative play elements. Twist, turn and churn down the wild and wet Texas Splashdown and Rio Loco water rides. Slip into a wetsuit and into the water for unforgettable encounters with sharks and stingrays during the Shark Interaction Program, California sea lions during the Sea Lion Interaction Program or beautiful white whales during the Beluga Interaction Program (on selected dates year-round for an additional charge). Call (210) 523-3900 for complete details.

Go backstage and sit poolside at Shamu Stadium during Dine With Shamu, a bountiful buffet and unforgettable photo session with killer whales (on selected dates for an additional charge). Explore the marine sciences through behind-the-scenes tours for all ages, Camp SeaWorld summer day camps for kids and, as mentioned previously, in-residence Adventure Camps for middle and high school students, teachers and adults. Call (800) 700-7786 or (210) 523-3608 for costs and other details.

Have even more fun at…the Dolphin Cove, where you can touch and feed playful Atlantic bottlenose dolphins…habitats housing tropical fishes in a rainbow of colors, mysterious sharks, "cool" penguins, flashy flamingos and talkative sea lions, harbor seals and endangered Hawaiian monk seals…the lively Games Center, with its motion-based simulator and other interactive delights…the Anheuser-Busch Hospitality House and much more. Come together with family and friends to experience sensational SeaWorld San Antonio, the quality alternative to the everyday theme park.

Location: 16 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio at Ellison Drive and Westover Hills Boulevard, off State Highway 151. Information: 210/523-3611; Educational Programs: 210/523-3606 or 210/523-3900.
www.SeaWorld.com

Six Flags

Located just 15 minutes from downtown and the famous Riverwalk, I-10 West at La Cantera Parkway exit north Loop 1604, PO Box 690290 (78269-0290)
Home to Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes pals, this is a 200-acre family theme park. Shows, 22 rides and skill games, are built around themes celebrating Texas and the Southwest. Themed areas: Los Festivales, a Hispanic village; Crackaxle Canyon, an early western town; Spassburg, a German town, and the 50’s style Rockville. Attractions include: "Poltergeist" a twisting, spiraling LIM thrill coaster; "The Rattler" a classic wooden roller coaster; the "Superman Krypton Coaster" is the largest steel and only floorless coaster in the southwest; "Armadillo Beach," "Lone Star Lagoon" the largest wave pool in the state; "Boomerang" a forward and backward super coaster; "Scream" where you can experience 4Gs and a 200-ft. turbo drop and more. Shows include: concerts, "Rockin the Country," "Odyssey," "Rockin at Rockville High," the "Lone Star Spectacular" laser-history lesson and many more.

The "DC Comics Super Heroes Live" stunt show brings fantasy to life. Special effects, the latest theater lighting technology and stunts are featured. Fiesta Bay Boardwalk includes an indoor arcade with a 27-element play activity and a 90-ft. Ferris wheel. Included in admission and accessible to the physically challenged is the Ol’ Waterin’ Hole, a 1 1/2 acre activity area featuring 16 water rides. The park features a kennel, lockers, strollers, wheelchair rentals, and foreign currency exchange. It is one of the most ADA accessible theme parks.

2001 Operating Schedule: Open Mar-Oct. Open weekends in the spring and fall; and daily during the summer. Other special seasonal event include "Fright Fest." General Admission: Special group discounts are available. Special events, picnics and catered outings available for groups of 100+.

For more information click on above picture to visit the Six Flags Fiesta Texas web site or call 210/ 697-5050 800/ 473-4378. Please call for rates.
www.sixflags.com/sananton

Splashtown

3600 IH 35 North (78219)
With 18 landscaped acres of cool, clean water excitement, this family water-park has something fun for every age - from Kids Kove to the Siesta del Rio offering a relaxing ride down a lazy river to major water rides. StarFlight is designed for space age thrills, plus there are new rides and attractions throughout the park. No charge for tubes or life jackets. Free parking. Hours: May and September open weekends, daily throughout summer. Admission: adults $19.99; children (under 48" tall) $14.99; after 5:00 p.m. $11.99 for everyone; seniors (65+) and toddlers under 2 free. Group rates available. Special rates for school and church groups.
210/ 227-1400, www.splashtownsa.com