This Saturday and Sunday (June 4–5) marks one of the biggest Pokémon GO events of the season, GO Fest 2022!
I know we are all wrapping up the end of the school year insanity. AND, if you are anything like my family, you are trying to figure out how to keep your kiddos busy this summer. Maybe you are planning fun family outings or maybe your main goal is to make sure that your kids don’t eat all their snacks the first week home and don’t spend an excessive amount of time online. Either way, I’m here to help you and them get the best of both worlds!
I bet right about now, unless your kids have already roped you into taking them out to raid, you are thinking, “I don’t play video games, so this isn’t for me.” Hear me out though.
I am 100% not a video game person. I didn’t grow up with a game system in my house, and to be honest, I was atrocious at them anyway. So, believe me when I say, you do not have to be good at video games, trading card games, or even Pokémon GO to enjoy it. More importantly, I found out that this silly little app was something that our entire family could enjoy with a minimal learning curve on my part.
Not only does Pokémon GO get our kiddos out and active, but it also encourages my husband and me to engage them in a space where they already want to invest their time (being online). I also realized that some of the most active Pokémon hunting areas are places that I enjoy visiting. Talk about WIN-WIN!
I do have to add, though, that it is easy to spend money on this game. However, you do not have to in order to play. You can earn coins and take advantage of the free items the game offers. You can even participate in the free portion of the GO Fest event without dropping a dime. BUT, if you are anything like me, the minute you see a cute little Eevee or Vulpix and you’re all out of Pokéballs, you might cave.
If you really want to be prepared, HERE is an overview of the game that you can reference with download buttons for the different app stores.
Three of my favorite spots in San Antonio where the whole family can enjoy Pokémon GO Fest 2022:
- The River Walk
You wouldn’t believe how many Pokémon gyms and Pokéstops are in downtown San Antonio! You can travel along the entire length of the River Walk, staying mostly in the shade, and Pokéhunt to your heart’s content. Our favorite thing to do is park at the Shops at Rivercenter, get a snack and drinks, and then head to the river. One thing I’ve found very helpful is to look at the Parking & ADA Maps HERE to plan out the stroller and tired kiddo routes. Also, I found out that you can access additional elevators inside more of the hotels off the River Walk as well.
- The Brackenridge Park Area (including the San Antonio Zoo & Japanese Tea Garden)
If you want to stroll through a beautiful part of San Antonio and spin tons of stops, this is a definite hot spot. When we were there, we found lots of parking and great walking paths to enjoy while we hunted. Since the area has a lot of visitor traffic there are also great food trucks, or you can spend the day inside one of the area’s attractions.
- The Pearl Brewery
Now, I have to admit, this is my absolute favorite out of the three. Who can go wrong at the Pearl? I love that I can pay for parking on my app, I have a million options for eating, and if we go on a Sunday (like the last day of the event) I can Pokéhunt AND go to the farmer’s market. It’s basically the best that I know of!
If this sounds like something fun for your family, HERE is everything you need to know about Pokémon GO Fest 2022. The link even outlines the difference between purchasing a GO Fest ticket and playing for free, so you can be prepared. Just don’t be surprised if you end up like my husband and me, making our own Pokémon friends and even Pokéhunting on date nights!
