San Antonio’s “Central Park,” Brackenridge served as a Confederate tannery, stone quarry, and a key part of the city’s waterworks before the heart of it was deeded to the city by George Brackenridge in 1899. The park is home to lofty tree canopies, the San Antonio River’s headwaters, bicycle trails, bits and pieces of the old Spanish acequias, and an assortment of excellent day-trip options such as the San Antonio Zoo, the recently restored Japanese Tea Garden, a golf course, and playground, as well as being sited just downhill from the San Antonio Botanical Garden to the East. The Witte Museum, with its kid-friendly historic and hands-on exhibitions, is located adjacent to the park, too.