There are plenty of fun things to do in San Marcos, both indoors and out. If enjoying the natural beauty of the great outdoors is your idea of a good time, San Marcos will certainly keep you busy. If you enjoy finding super bargains in some of the most famous stores in the US, San Marcos will give you ample opportunities to spend, spend, spend as you save, save, save. Want good restaurants? Got 'em. An entertaining night of local music? No problem. Whatever it takes to provide a good time, San Marcos has got it, in spades.

In addition to being a great spot for swimming, fishing, tubing and other recreational enjoyments, the San Marcos River is also home to a number of exceedingly rare flora and fauna. Biologists, other animal science specialists, and thousands of the intellectually curious make trips every year to Aquarena Center in San Marcos to witness firsthand these rarities of the animal and plant kingdom. In addition to the scientific aspects of the Aquarena Center, visitors can take glass bottomed boat trips--enjoying underwater visibility similar to that of the Caribbean--and visit the aquarium.

The many outlet malls of San Marcos provide recreational shoppers with plenty of happy distractions. Armani, Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, and Ralph Lauren are but a few examples of the fine clothing stores; Royal Doulton, Le Creuset and Wedgwood are among the fine housewares represented. Even entire stores have their "outlet equivalents," such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Pottery Barn and Old Navy.

From "Bon Appetit" to "Git It While It's Hot!"

Any college and tourist town can always be depended upon to provide its folks with a great variety of enjoyable restaurants, and San Marcos is no different. Palmer's, with its tree-shaded courtyard and fine dining menu featuring steaks, ribs, and even local Tex-Mex specialties, is one favorite. Another is the Den, a college hotspot that features frosty beverages, reportedly great wrap sandwiches and a fun, casual atmosphere. There are loads of spots, from Thai to Mexican and French to Italian, to satisfy even the most sophisticated palates.