Top 15 Attractions in San Angelo, TX - Lonestar Locals (2024)

Whether you are considering making a move to San Angelo or are just looking for new ways to enjoy your weekend, you should have a good idea of all the local spots that tourists often neglect to visit.

There is no shortage of things to do in the San Angelo area whether you are interested in history, art, or outdoor recreation.

Start your visit to San Angelo with a stop at the Visitor Center to get some more ideas. From here, you can visit the International Waterlily Collection, the art installations downtown, or sign up for an art class. The San Angelo Nature Center or State Park is also a great way to pass the time.

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Top 15 Attractions in San Angelo, TX - Lonestar Locals (1)

These top 15 attractions in San Angelo, Texas will help you fill the weeks with some fun activities and history.

Are you planning on buying or refinancing a home in San Angelo? Click here to get pre-approved for a home or call 325-650-5899 to speak to a local mortgage loan officer.

Top 15 Attractions in San Angelo

Plan your visit to San Angelo with some of these top choices for the best attractions in the area. Where will you go first?

1. San Angelo Visitor Center

If this is your first time visiting San Angelo, you won’t want to skip a quick stop at the San Angelo Visitor Center.

Not only does it have beautiful scenery with manicured grounds and a waterfall, but there are also art installations and gorgeous stonework to take in.

Not to mention, the expert staff who work here can help you find the best attractions in San Angelo for the rest of your visit.

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  • 20 Free Things to Do in San Angelo, TX
  • What is San Angelo, TX Known For?

2. ASU Planetarium

Depending on what time of the year you are in San Angelo, one of the top things to do in the area is to spend an afternoon in the cool air conditioning of the ASU planetarium.

This dome theater can project half a billion stars, and they put on several great programs that are educational while still being beautiful.

Keep in mind that the planetarium is only open when classes are in session at Angelo State University.

3. International Waterlily Collection

In the warmer months of spring and early fall, the International Waterlily Collection is worth a visit.

Located at the famous Civic League Park, this collection showcases some of the beautiful types of waterlilies in their botanical gardens.

The best time to visit the Civic League Park is from April to October if you want to see the flowers in full bloom. In addition to this collection, there is also a nature trail, artwork, and a rose garden to explore.

4. Fort Concho

History buffs will love visiting Fort Concho which now houses a museum and is identified as a national historic landmark.

This scenic location dates back to 1867 and includes several restored buildings that represent the barracks, hospital, and officer’s row. While there is plenty to explore and soak up in this historic location, going on the weekends offers even more entertainment.

You may be lucky enough to catch actors firing off cannons or playing a good old-fashioned game of baseball.

5. Miss Hattie’s Bordello Museum

Miss Hattie’s Bordello Museum is a blast from the past, set up as a museum in the same building where it was originally located in 1896.

The story behind this bordello is quite fascinating, as it was created by a female entrepreneur right above the saloon that her ex-husband ran.

Each of the rooms you can explore allows you to tap into the stories of the women who worked there. Both group tours and private tours are available in the afternoons.

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6. San Angelo Nature Center

Are you an animal lover? If so, you won’t want to skip visiting the San Angelo Nature Center. You will experience the best that San Angelo has to offer with popular attractions like a bobcat, reptile house, and a porcupine. It functions as a small animal sanctuary where visitors can learn more about their favorite animals from friendly staff members.

7. San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts

Art aficionados won’t want to miss out on the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.

Home to three impressive galleries, you can explore a wide range of artistic pursuits including oil paintings, glass, and silver.

However, the main draw to the Museum of Fine Arts is its expansive collection of sculptures and pottery.

Before you leave, be sure to head up to the roof to take in the city of San Angelo from a different view.

Are you planning on buying or refinancing a home in San Angelo? Click here to get pre-approved for a home or call 325-650-5899 to speak to a local mortgage loan officer.

8. Chicken Farm Art Center

Along the same lines, you may want to plan a visit to the Chicken Farm Art Center if you want to see locally-made work with an always-rotating collection of the finest pieces of art.

Founded in 1951, the Chicken Farm Art Center showcases the work of several local artists as well as offering classes and workshops. Learn how to make your own masterpiece under the tutelage of one of their experienced teachers.

Plan your visit right and you may be able to experience a festival with music and food too.

9. Pops of Color

For those who can’t find a class they will enjoy at the Chicken Farm Art Center, they may want to pay a visit to Pops of Color.

These classes are designed for everyone from the very beginner to a more experienced artist. Bring a bottle of your favorite wine to sip while you participate in their interactive classes.

They feature classes that run the gamut from cookie decorating to painting and sketching, so you are sure to find something that appeals to you.

10. Historic Murals

Visitors who are looking for something free to do in the San Angelo area will want to add the historic murals in the downtown area to their to-do list.

This outdoor art gallery gives you a real and tangible sense of the most monumental occasions in San Angelo history.

You can walk the area on your own or hire a guide to give you the full background on each of these massive paintings.

11. Paintbrush Alley

While you are exploring the downtown area, you might want to take a short detour to see the amazing Paintbrush Alley.

Located in an alley between Twohig and Concho, these outdoor art exhibits are the collection of more than 50 local artists.

You will be amazed at the variety and elegance of some of the colorful paintings that are on display in this exciting part of San Angelo.

Read Also:

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12. Concho Riverwalk

Take in the beautiful scenery and spend a day near the water with a leisurely stroll along the Concho Riverwalk (sometimes also referred to as the San Angelo Riverwalk).

This four-mile path is the ideal spot for going for a jog or taking a quick bike ride.

Depending on the time of year, the Riverwalk is also home to several local festivals and has an outdoor amphitheater for live music and concerts.

13. San Angelo State Park

Along with the Concho Riverwalk, the San Angelo State Park is a great way to spend an afternoon in the best that nature has to offer in San Angelo.

The state park is quite spacious with more than 7,500 acres that are filled with cabins for rent, trails for walking, and ranger programs to help you learn more about the area.

It even features a campground if you want to save on the costs of a hotel.

14. Railway Museum of San Angelo

Those who want to take a deep dive into history will want to plan a stop at the Railway Museum of San Angelo before they depart.

Here, you can tour the old depot and learn more about the trains that used to run through the area.

During certain times of the year, you will also find their staff dressed in period costumes to make your experience as authentic to history as possible. Of course, you can always conduct the tour on your own without the help of a guide.

15. Kirby Park

Take a day to unwind at Kirby Park, a beautiful urban park with plenty of space for you to have a picnic or take a leisurely stroll.

They have sports courts, a skate park, and even a small playground where your kids can get out some of their excess energy. Grill up some lunch in their picnic areas or unpack that picnic basket you brought.

No matter how you choose to spend the day, you can soak up the great weather and atmosphere that San Angelo has to offer.

Read Next: 10 Reasons San Angelo, TX is a Great Place to Raise a Family

Buying a Home in San Angelo?

Once you spend some time touring the main attractions of San Angelo, you may find yourself ready to make the move to this gorgeous area.

There is no shortage of things to do and explore in the city itself. If you are thinking of buying a home in San Angelo, it is time to take the first steps toward purchasing a home.

You need to get prequalified for a loan before you do anything else.

Getting prequalified for a loan is essential so that you know what you can afford before you start touring homes with a local real estate agent.

It gives you greater insight into your buying power with a new property.

Are you planning on buying or refinancing a home in San Angelo? Click here to get pre-approved for a home or call 325-650-5899 to speak to a local mortgage loan officer.
Top 15 Attractions in San Angelo, TX - Lonestar Locals (2024)

FAQs

Top 15 Attractions in San Angelo, TX - Lonestar Locals? ›

But for many, the city is best known as the site of one of the largest rodeos in the country in terms of competitors, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.

Is San Angelo famous for anything? ›

But for many, the city is best known as the site of one of the largest rodeos in the country in terms of competitors, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.

What area of Texas is San Angelo in? ›

Welcome to San Angelo, an oasis in West Texas! San Angelo is in the Concho Valley, a region of Texas between the Permian Basin to the northwest, Chihuahuan Desert to the southwest, Osage Plains to the northeast and Central Texas to the southeast.

What is the history of San Angelo Texas? ›

The townsite, originally a trading post, evolved in tandem with nearby Fort Concho, established in 1867 along the banks of the Concho River. Twenty-three of the original forty native limestone fort structures survive, earning National Landmark status and providing a remarkable legacy of the region's frontier past.

What are three main employers in San Angelo, Texas? ›

Major Employers
  • Goodfellow Air Force Base. Military Training Center. ...
  • Shannon Medical Center. Hospitals & Clinics. ...
  • San Angelo ISD. Public School System. ...
  • Angelo State University. Colleges & Universities. ...
  • City of San Angelo. Municipal Government. ...
  • San Angelo State Supported Living Center. ...
  • Tom Green County. ...
  • Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson)

What is the ethnicity of San Angelo Texas? ›

White: 71% Two or more races: 15.65% Other race: 6.8% Black or African American: 4.55%

Why do people live in San Angelo? ›

With a low cost of living; arts, culture, and outdoor adventures in abundance, and a violent crime rate that is lower than the national average, San Angelo might just be the right place for you to relocate.

What is the crime rate in San Angelo Texas? ›

With a crime rate of 32 per one thousand residents, San Angelo has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 31.

What does the name San Angelo mean? ›

Italian (southern):: habitational name from any of numerous places especially in the south named with reference to a local shrine or church dedicated to Saint Angel (Italian Sant'Angelo) as for example Sant'Angelo a Cupolo (Benevento) Sant'Angelo a Fasanella (Salerno) Sant'Angelo all'Esca and Sant'Angelo a Scala ( ...

Why are there so many sheep statues in San Angelo? ›

Downtown San Angelo Inc. created the Sheeptacular Art project as a tribute to the burgeoning sheep industry that has been crucial to the growth of San Angelo over the years. Not only has the sheep industry been an important facet of San Angelo's history, but it is also a key part of West Texas heritage.

What is the mohair capital of Texas? ›

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Residents of San Angelo, Texas, a city heralded as the former wool and mohair capital of the world, have been surprised with the arrival of a controversial art installation — a sheep statue advocating for an end to the wool industry.

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