Converse is a budding city in Bexar County, Texas, a few miles from downtown San Antonio. It started as a small town along Farm Road in northeastern Bexar County. The area was named for Major Converse, the chief engineer of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He purchased a vast tract of land in the area, including the townsite. In 1879, Converse received its first post office. The town had a grocery store, a saloon and two gins by 1896. Its population grew to 175 in 1946. By 1965, Converse boasted 22 businesses and a population of about 900. Its population rose to about 11,500 in the early 2000s with nearly 350 businesses. Today, Converse is a thriving city with over 27,000 residents. It is also part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.
When in Converse, visit Converse City Park. This park features a pond, a playground, ball fields, cycling paths and hiking trails, so it's ideal for outdoor recreation. Other outstanding parks in and near the city include Converse North Park, Woodcrest Park and Pickrell Park. If you love history, be sure to visit the Alamo, a historic place with a fortress and artifacts relating to the Battle of the Alamo. Anglers can go fishing in Converse North Park Lake. Animal lovers can visit San Antonio Zoo, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, and Clearsprings Aviaries & Zoological Gardens in the nearby cities. Converse is also home to numerous restaurants serving delicious cuisines, including Papa Dante's Italian Restaurant, El Sabrosito Mexican Eatery, Taqueria El Huarache and Salsa's Café.
Campgrounds Near Converse, Texas
Traveler's World RV Resort is an excellent campground along the picturesque banks of the San Antonio River, 25 minutes southwest of Converse. It sits next to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and an enormous golf course area. The facility has a swimming pool, a hot tub and showers. It is also pet-friendly and charges $49 per day, $290 per week or $595 per month.
San Antonio / Alamo KOA Holiday is another impressive campground in downtown San Antonio, just 15 minutes southwest of Converse. It is part of a 40-acre property comprising an AT&T Center, a greenway and a golf course. This destination has everything for everyone given its spacious fields, biking trails and resort-style pool. It has 300 RV sites with access to full hookups, and its prices range between $40 and $50 per day.
Thirty-five minutes southwest of Converse, Alamo River RV Resort is a veteran-owned and family-operated RV campground with 90 RV sites. It offers plenty of recreational activities, such as fishing, hiking, picnicking and horseback riding. In addition to a swimming pool and a hot tub, the facility is pet-friendly with a dog park. It charges $30 to $44 per day.
State Parks Near Converse, Texas
Guadalupe River State Park is a great outdoor recreation spot 45 minutes north of Converse. This park offers canoeing, fishing and swimming opportunities in the Guadalupe River. You can build a sandcastle or read a book along the river's bank after hours of water-based activities. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are other popular activities in the park. In addition to numerous bird species, this park hosts armadillos, gray foxes, skunks, raccoons and white-tailed deer, making it an ideal destination for viewing wildlife creatures.
An hour north of Converse, Blanco State Park is an unforgettable place to visit, particularly for RVers who love fishing. Anglers can catch Guadalupe bass, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and channel catfish in the Blanco River. The river is also open for swimming and tubing. Blue herons, squirrels, turtles and toads are wildlife creatures you can encounter in the park. Aside from selecting sites with full hookups or electricity and water only, guests can reserve a screened shelter overlooking the Blanco River for an awesome camping experience.
Lockhart State Park, an hour northeast of Converse, has a nine-golf golf course where you can enjoy teeing off. The Clear Fork River flowing through the park is abundant with many fish species for anglers to catch. Boating and swimming are also possible in the creek. You can relish the latter in the park's swimming pool, which was constructed in the 1950s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Hiking while viewing wildlife living in the park is always fabulous. Carry a good camera to take pictures of the park's bridges and stone water tower.
National Sites Near Converse, Texas
Travel 25 minutes southwest of Converse to visit San Antonio Missions National Historical Park to see four missions — Mission Concepción, Mission Espada, Mission San Jose and Mission San Juan — that were constructed by Catholic missionaries in the 1700s along the San Antonio River. The missions also preserve various artifacts used by the apostles. Travel along the Hike and Bike Trail, which connects all the missions, to take in beautiful panoramas of the national site. You will want to hike the pet-friendly McAllister Park Blue Loop Trail in the spring to see wildflowers.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, an hour and 25 minutes north of Converse, is an astonishing site showcasing the 36th president's early days and final resting place. Stop by the site's modern exhibit center displaying his family's settlement history and cattle business. Take the LBJ Walking Trail to marvel at historical buildings while learning more about their background. If you want to see animals and beautiful landscape views, try out the 5.4-mile Wolf Mountain Trail. Vereins Kirche Museum and Pioneer Museum are also within the park.
An hour and 20 minutes northeast of Converse, the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail was instrumental in many historical events, such as the cattle ranching trade in the Mexican period. Following the 2.5-mile Floresville Hike and Bike Trail will take you through 18th-century Spanish settlements. You can stop by Gator Country LA Alligator Park to see and feed alligators, lizards, snakes and turtles. If you are a history buff, you can drive to Fort St. Jean Baptiste Historic Site, which was once a French trading and military camp, to glimpse ancient buildings and log walls.
National Forests Near Converse, Texas
Sam Houston National Forest, three hours and 40 minutes northeast of Converse, is a fun hiking destination thanks to its multiple trails, including the 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail, the 8.4-mile Winters Bayou Trail and the 2.5-mile Sweetleaf Nature Trail. Lake Livingston is a lovely place for fishing bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass. Fishing and other water-based activities are also possible in Lake Conroe. Guests can spot woodpeckers, wading birds, songbirds, bald eagles, deer and squirrels in the forest.
Davy Crockett National Forest is a beautiful getaway destination four and a half hours northeast of Converse. Thousands of people flock to this forest every year to see cardinals, herons, kingfishers, woodpecker raptors, waterfowl and other birds. Feral hogs and deer are also popular spectacles in the woods. You can engage in small- and big-game hunting if you have a permit. This park has many trails for hiking. The 2.8-mile Ratcliff Lake Trail provides a stunning view of wildflowers and wildlife while the 20-mile Four C National Recreational Trail takes visitors through soaring pines and lush vegetation.
Five hours and 40 minutes northeast of Converse, Sabine National Forest sprawls over 160,600 acres. You will want to explore several geocaches tucked away in the Indian Mounds Wilderness Area. This national park flanks the Toledo Bend Reservoir, making it a great place for catching catfish, crappie and bass. Identifying flora is another activity you can enjoy in this forest as it is home to over 42 types of forest herbs. Visit the area in the winter to see migratory bald eagles from New England.
