When you need a place to clear your head and commune with some koi, head over to San Antonio’s Sunken Gardens, officially named the San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden.

The gardens are just down the road from the San Antonio Zoo in Brackenridge Park, so you can make your visit a two-for-one (garden/zoo), three-for-one (garden/zoo/miniature train) or four-for-one (garden/zoo/miniature train/park) adventure. Notice, however, that the gardens are a given. Don’t miss them! They have quite an interesting history. Plus, you won’t have to shell out any dinero. Admission to the gardens is free. Click on the photos below to enlarge.

Sunken Gardens, 3853 N. St. Mary’s, is open from dawn until dusk. Call (210) 207-3053 for more information. If you plan it just right, you can pick up a pulled-pork sandwich ($4.99) at Augie’s Barbed Wire Smokehouse, 3709 N. St. Mary’s, to enjoy before, after or during your visit to the gardens.

If BBQ doesn’t suit you, Demo’s Greek Food at 2501 N. St. Mary’s isn’t far away. Or if Tex-Mex is more your speed, El Milagrito is also just down the road at 521 E. Woodlawn at St. Mary’s.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!