Self Care 101
San Antonio may not be home to a theme park that boasts of being the happiest place on Earth, but it does have Hopscotch.
Smiles and bonhomie were out in force the day my daughter and I visited. What’s not to like about a 20,000 square foot immersive art gallery that encourages play?!
Art is the language of the soul
Opened in October of 2020, Hopscotch has worked with a variety of local, national and international artists to create WOW moments for those who travel down their onsite rabbit hole.
Of the 14 art installations currently on display, it’s hard to pick favorites, but the Infinity Box by Matt Elson was worth the price of admission, in my humble opinion. Fun House mirrors without the warp!
RGB, which stands for red/green/blue, was a deceptively simple installation that lets you see different layers of meaning, depending upon the light. Every installation at Hopscotch has its own musical score, broadening the experience from purely visual to auditory, as well.
My daughter, a dance minor in college, took full advantage of the VJ Yourself installation, sort of like karaoke for dancers. Even non-dancers can play along, inspired by the sound!
Eleven thousand bulbs of suspended light and a dreamy soundscape await you in Unknown Atmosphere, where you feel like you’ve entered the Matrix, and Quantum Trampoline by Kuflex lets you “paint” while you jump in a spiral galaxy among the stars.
You get the idea. Hopscotch lets adults and children play, breathe, imagine and wonder. More of THAT, please!
Spirits, snacks, and shop
All that play can made you thirsty. Not to worry. Hopscotch has a full bar with seasonal themed drinks, like Aurora-Ritas, Cinnamon Snowfalls, Ziggy Stardusts and Northern Lights. Beer, coffee, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are also available, as is a gift shop with a carefully curated collection of coolness.
Hopscotch is located at 711 Navarro Street, Suite 100, catty-corner from the St. Anthony Hotel. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Tickets are $24 for adults; $20 for seniors, military, teachers, health care workers; and $15 for kids, ages 4-15. Timed entries purchased online are required.
Follow @letshopscotch on Instagram to stay up with the latest. If you want to schedule joy on a regular, unlimited basis, Hopscotch offers annual memberships.
Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June 2010. Follow 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!
