Finding the best corporate team building activities in San Antonio can be tough, but our goal is to make the process of planning your next company outing just a little bit easier.
Team building is important to us here at Team Building Activities San Antonio. Why do we love it so much? Here are our top three reasons why you should team build regularly: 1) Regular team building boosts employee engagement, loyalty, and retention. You already hire the best people; now it’s time to focus on keeping them; 2) Your employees will benefit from increased collaboration, communication, creative thinking, and problem-solving; and 3) if you choose the right team event, then you’ll have a great time (and your employees will be appreciative).
So, how do you choose the right corporate event for your business? We know that what works well for one company may not be the right team building fit for another. That’s why we’ve listed a variety of different corporate events below. All are fun and effective; where these team outings differ is in the approach, style, and type of event (think escape room vs. scavenger hunt or guacamole-making competition vs. storytelling workshop or professional development skills workshop vs. museum tour).
With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at our list of the best company team building activities in San Antonio, New Braunfels, La Vernia, Seguin, Universal City, Von Ormy, and Boerne.
1. The Great Guac Off
The Great Guac Off is a fun guacamole-making competition that doubles as a team building event. Team bonding comes into play with friendly competition, delicious food, and fun games and activities mixed into your company outing.
Here is what you can expect:
- 90 minutes with world-class facilitators
- avocado-themed icebreakers and mini-games
- high-quality guacamole ingredients and dippers
- an optional secret ingredient to shake up the competition
- a spirited guacamole-making contest
Host your Guac Off with any group size at your office or at th San Antonio venue of your choice. The Great Guac Off is a great choice for companies looking for team building events with food.
Learn more about The Great Guac Off.
2. Gingerbread Games
Gingerbread Games is the best holiday-themed team building event out there! Your team members will have a holly jolly good time at this epic gingerbread house-making competition. This team event is fun, festive, and worth making an annual tradition as part of your company holiday party.
Gingerbread Games includes the following:
- 90 minutes with festive holiday hosts
- holiday mini-games like gingerbread self-portraits and trivia
- a high-energy gingerbread house-building contest
Each house will be judged, prizes will be handed out, and all will have a merry time. Include snacks, drinks, catering, or BYOB. Gingerbread Games will even decorate your office for the festivities. Host your team event at your office or at a San Antonio venue of your choice. All group sizes are welcome.
Learn more about Gingerbread Games.
3. VRus
VRus offers immersive VR games in a huge free-roam arena! Games usually last around 45 minutes, and players get to move around freely as they work together to play different VR games.
Here are some of the available games:
- Safe Night: Teams look for shelter during a post-apocalyptic zombie invasion.
- Shmooter Space Battle: Players become soldiers defending a space station from invaders.
- Island Assault: Teams fight and collect items to protect their home island.
Also, VRus offers VR escape rooms! Difficulty levels range from beginner to expert, and themes include sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and holiday.
Learn more about VRus.
4. XFactor Paintball Park
Paintball is a great way to spend an afternoon! This activity is perfect for team building, as players need to communicate and trust each other to win. XFPP has several paintball fields, including a two-story Alamo, woods field, and air ball.
For private events, teams can choose from two- and three-hour experiences. XFPP also offers corporate packages for larger teams. All the necessary safety equipment is included in each reservation. Whether staff are paintball newbies or experts, they will have a great time at XFPP!
Learn more about XFactor Paintball Park.
5. Spring Creek Stables
For a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, consider stopping by Spring Creek Stables! Despite being ten minutes from the highway, the stables have created a county feel. This 25-acre venue is home to a large outdoor arena, perfect for lessons. During lessons, knowledgeable instructors show attendees how to handle, groom, and ride horses. Riders can learn Western, English, and barrel racing styles. Teams can ride for 45 to 60 minutes. This venue is a great place to get some fresh air and unwind from the stresses of the workday!
Learn more about Spring Creek Stables.
6. Embassy Mini Golf
Mini golf is a great way to connect with your team. Consider checking out Embassy Mini Golf for your next mini-golf experience! This 18-hole outdoor course has fun animal mascots and beautiful waterfalls. Embassy can work with you to plan a corporate outing or fundraiser, even offering a full course buyout for a three-hour tournament! To enjoy beautiful views and a fun activity, be sure to stop by.
Learn more about Embassy Mini Golf.
7. Great Room Escape
Great Room Escape is a top location in San Antonio for team building events. Groups of any size can get together to collaborate and escape various rooms!
Here are some examples of room themes:
- Bomb Squad: Your team must find a bomb and disable it before it goes off.
- Anubis: Based in an Egyptian tomb, the Anubis room places a curse on you, and you must solve the puzzles to break the curse.
- Orient Express: You can step into this classic Agatha Christie novel and uncover the killer’s identity.
Experiences are always private, so you and your team can focus on working together. To boost teamwork and communication, be sure to add Great Room Escape to your team building list.
Learn more about Great Room Escape.
8. GO RIO Cruises
One of the best ways to unwind as a team is by going on a river cruise! GO RIO offers two options, which are narrated river cruises and river shuttles. Narrated river cruises are the perfect way to learn more about the city! For 35 minutes, experts will guide you along the river, teaching you about culture, history, and architecture. Visitors will get to see the city’s first neighborhood, La Villita, and Old Mill Crossing, where Teddy Roosevelt led his Rough Riders. Shuttles are a great way to get from downtown to Museum Reach.
If you are interested in a private charter, then you can also reach out to book a one-hour outing. Also, you can upgrade your outing with a dinner cruise! GO RIO works with a wide range of caterers to fit your team’s needs.
Learn more about GO RIO Cruises.
9. Sisters Grimm Ghost Tour
Teams who love the spooky season will enjoy a tour with Sisters Grimm! This firm offers a few ghost tours, including a haunted bus tour! This two-and-a-half-hour journey features stops at The Menger, a historic cemetery, and other rotating sites. If you are looking to get your steps in, then check out the walking tour. This 90-minute walk includes stops at The Alamo, The Spanish Governor’s Mansion, The Menger Hotel, and The Old Bexar County Jail. For dark storytelling performances and amazing historical tales, book a trip with Sisters Grimm!
Learn more about Sisters Grimm Ghost Tour.
10. Alamo Helicopter Tours
San Antonio has some stunning views, and one of the best ways to see them is from the sky! To take your team on an adventure of a lifetime, consider checking out Alamo Helicopter Tours.
Examples of tours include the following:
- Missions Tour: Views of the San Antonio Missions
- San Antonio Hill Country: A tour of the Alamo, River Walk, downtown, and Hill Country
- San Antonio Ultimate: An 80-mile tour featuring views of the whole city
Locals and visitors alike will love seeing San Antonio from this new perspective.
Learn more about Alamo Helicopter Tours.
11. Japanese Tea Garden
Tea is a great way to unwind, and teams can experience a relaxing outing at the Japanese Tea Garden. The beautiful space is home to year-round flower displays, a 60-foot waterfall, and an amazing koi pond. Teams can walk through the gardens to get some fresh air and unwind. If you are looking to host a private event, then the tea garden is an ideal space, perfect for up to 300 guests. When folks get hungry, they can stop by Jingu House for snacks and, of course, tea!
Learn more about the Japanese Tea Garden.
12. The San Antonio Museum of Art
The San Antonio Museum of Art is one of our favorite museums in the country, and it’s an unexpected site for your next company outing. Treat your team members to a morning of exploring one of the best museums around before heading over to the Riverwalk for a great lunch. Wrap up the day by letting your team members head home early. If you want to add a few more team-bonding elements to the day, then consider adding a scavenger hunt at the museum to encourage collaboration, communication, and competition.
Learn more about The San Antonio Museum of Art.
13. Class Axe Throwing
Much like scavenger hunts and escape rooms, axe throwing is an increasingly popular choice for company outings. Your team members will receive a quick lesson on how to throw an axe before launching into a competition to see who in the office has the top axe-tossing skills. Enjoy spending a few hours releasing any pent-up aggression and learning something new together.
Learn more about Class Axe Throwing.
14. San Antonio Detours
San Antonio is home to a lot of cool touristy things to do, and the top of the list includes touring San Antonio through the eyes of someone new to town. Treat your employees, all of whom probably call the San Antonio area home, to a tour of their city. San Antonio Detours offers a variety of different team building activities, like a Missions tour, a food tour, a wine tasting tour, and a BBQ and Brews tour. You could also put together a scavenger hunt of the city. Each tour of San Antonio ranges in length from three to five hours.
Learn more about San Antonio Detours.
15. Game Time
Monopoly, Chess, Checkers, The Game of Life — these are all board game classics, and it’s time to dust them off. Ask a few employees to bring a game from home and then take your coworkers out to the conference room for some fun, relaxing gameplay. Battle it out alongside Chipotle catering; your coworkers will enjoy having a break from their desks, eating a good meal, and having fun together, with no work talk allowed.
For a great local gaming experience, check out Knight Watch Games! Teams can visit to play in the store and check out their huge game catalog. Plus, folks can snack on some delicious game-themed meals!
Hint: We recommend giving your coworkers at least a week’s advance notice so no one is caught off guard by the break from work with a lengthy to-do list. The goal of this team event is to bond, relax, and have fun, not to stress your employees out by preventing them from meeting a deadline.
Learn more about Knight Watch Games.
16. Company Meetup
First: Let’s talk about what a meetup actually is. To us, a meetup is like a thank-you networking event that’s fun. Let us explain. A meetup is a way to say thank you, not only to your employees but to everyone who makes your business operate. Do you have clients, vendors, suppliers, etc.? Does your business interact often with your local community? Throw a massive event that includes them all!
Planning can be a lot simpler than you might think. All you need to do is 1) Settle on your guest list; 2) Find a location that can accommodate your group size (ideas include your office, the parking lot, a local park, or a rented-out venue); 3) Decide on food (BBQ, catering, etc.), and 4) Plan some fun activities that will help connect people, like Human Bingo (more on that below), a photo challenge, or a DIY scavenger hunt.
Here are some great places for a team meeting in San Antonio.
17. Bowling Party
Bowling! Bowling is a solid option for a team building activity that you need to plan last minute or with a strict budget. Bowling works for corporate team building activities because it’s simple, easy, and something most people on your team probably already know how to do. Most bowling alleys include food and drinks, so you can host a complete team event with minimal planning.
One great San Antonio option is Astro Super Bowl, which features 44 lanes, a cafe, and a full bar. You can even book a private party for the whole team!
Learn more about Astro Super Bowl.
18. Team Meal
Sharing a meal is a great way for people to come together and bond. Bonus: You can have this meal anywhere. It can be as simple as ordering take-out into the office and taking the lunch hour to enjoy each other’s company, or it can be a bit more intricate, like making reservations for a private room at the hottest dinner spot in San Antonio. For a fun San Antonio twist, consider delicious local options like 2M Smokehouse, which serves fantastic barbecue. We like this option for team bonding because just about everyone loves to eat, and time spent over the table offers more opportunities to make connections, find common interests, and improve relationships. That can translate to a big boost in morale back at the office.
Learn more about 2M Smokehouse BBQ.
19. Volunteer Day
Your local community is a hotspot of opportunities for volunteer work that includes corporate team building activities. You can do so many things to give back while team bonding; some companies offer official charity team building events, but it’s also possible to put together your own. Find a local organization in need of some helping hands, head to Build-A-Bear together to make stuffed animals to donate to a local children’s hospital, or head out for an afternoon of picking up trash around San Antonio. Host a fundraiser in the office, put together a clothing drive, or collect food donations for a nearby food bank. The possible charity team building activities you can do together are virtually endless.
Check out this list of volunteer opportunities in San Antonio.
Team Building Activities San Antonio: Final Thoughts
Team building is an important investment for any business. Finding the right team building activity means your investment will pay off dividends in the short term and in the long term. Our hope is, now that you’ve read our list, that you have a great idea of where to get started when planning your next corporate event. If you still have questions, then don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to help you plan the perfect team outing for your business.
