Sometimes San Antonio’s summer heat feels less like weather and more like a hostile presence. When stepping outside feels like opening an oven door, it’s time to start looking for creative ways to avoid spontaneous combustion.
Luckily, the Alamo City offers plenty of ways to chill out without spending the entire day inside your house with the AC cranked to the max. From swimming holes and splash pads to frozen treats, icy drinks and gloriously refrigerated indoor escapes, here are 20 ways to stay cool when it’s hot AF outside.
Break the ice at the Alamo IceBar
Vibes don’t get much more chill than at the Alamo IceBar (200 River Walk, Suite 120, alamoicebar.com), a downtown drinkery where patrons are invited to “chill, snap and sip in style” at a bar literally made of ice. Tickets are required for the experience. And, yes, they provide you with coats.
Take a scenic swim at San Pedro Springs Park Pool
It may seem more convenient to hit up the neighborhood pool, but there are few better ways to beat the heat than a soak in the picturesque pool surrounded by regal old trees at San Antonio’s historic San Pedro Springs Park (2200 N. Flores St., sanantonio.gov).
Pick out a summer read at Nowhere Bookshop
Choose a summer beach read while enjoying cool refreshments at Nowhere Bookshop (5154 Broadway, nowherebookshop.com). Whether you’re a bookworm year-round or just need a paperback to enjoy while working on your tan at the coast, Nowhere Bookshop is bound to have something on its shelves that suits your needs. While browsing, you can enjoy summery drinks — including beer and wine — along with snacks from the cafe’s menu.
Kayak the San Antonio River
Mission Kayak (various locations, mat-tx.com) provides rentals for guided and unguided trips along scenic stretches of the San Antonio River, including the downtown and Museum Reach sections of the River Walk.
Treat yourself to a raspa or mangonada
What better cure for a hot day than a brain freeze? San Antonio has plenty of delicious cold treats to enjoy, like puro slushies, raspas and mangonadas available at homegrown businesses including Aloha Shaved Ice (11761 Blanco Road, instagram.com/alohashavedice) and Las Nieves Fruit Cups & More (multiple locations, lasnieves.net).
Experience on a GO RIO River Cruise
The River Walk makes a great way to beat the downtown heat, especially if you’re actually on the water. GO RIO River Cruises (goriocruises.com) offers a variety of ways to become a tourist in your own city via standard narrated cruises or a variety of options that even include drinks and dinner.
Tube the Comal River
There’s a reason tubing down the Comal is considered a Texan rite of passage. The cool waters of this river in New Braunfels are perfect for a leisurely float while you sip a refreshing beverage. Just make sure to double check the rules before you go.
Do a cold water plunge at wellness spa
For those who take their cooling down seriously, San Antonio has a number of wellness spas that offer cold plunges using Norwegian immersion tanks to drop your core temperature way down. Transcend Health Spa (914 E. Elmira St., Suite 204, transcendsa.com) is one of those that offers the experience.
Go ice skating at the Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods
Ice skating is available year-round at Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods (17530 Henderson Pass, northwoodsice.net), and what better way to take your mind off the heat than to engage in a traditional wintertime activity? If you’re up for braving the scorching outdoor temps, there’s also mini golf, or you can stay inside and enjoy the arcade.
Explore outer space with the Smithsonian Starstruck Exhibit
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience (849 East Commerce St., smithsonianstarstruck.com/san-antonio) opened this summer at the Shops at Rivercenter, offering a virtual-reality journey through space designed to bring scientific discovery to the public. The new exhibit, developed with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory research center, lets visitors explore galaxies, black holes and the lifecycles of stars through an interactive, free-roam format. Real astronomical data and research create a walkable, sensory environment featuring not just visuals, but also sound and touch.
Take an indoor swim at Atanacio Garcia Natatorium
Atanacio Garcia Natatorium (1430 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., sanantonio.gov) is a great way to get wet without having to expose yourself to the blazing summer sun. Consider it the best of both worlds.
Go underground at Natural Bridge Caverns
Discovered in 1960 by area cavers, family-owned and operated Natural Bridge Caverns (26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, naturalbridgecaverns.com) bills itself as the largest cavern in the Lone Star State. The geological attraction offers five cave tours of its two distinct caverns along with above-ground activities, including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor maze and more.
Cool down with the kids at a splash pad
Splash pads keep the young ones entertained, and nobody’s going to blame you if keep an eye on them from a close enough distance to get a little damp yourself. Many San Antonio parks have splash pads, including Pearsall Park and Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair, and you can also find them at Pearl near the Bottling Department.
Visit a swimming hole
Finding a secluded swimming spot is a great way to cool off before the fall weather arrives. Swimming holes such as the Blue Hole in Wimberley and Krause Springs in Spicewood are just a scenic drive away, and they offer a great way to enjoy a hot afternoon.
Slip and slide at the Sunset Hills Park Pool
If getting the family into a commercial water park isn’t in the budget, Sunset Hills Park pool, 500 Inspiration Drive, sanantonio.gov, features a spiral slide that offers a mini-water park experience without the admission price.
Splash down at a nearby waterpark
If the free slide just isn’t enough to placate the kids — or yourself — the San Antonio area has some great waterparks, including Aquatica (aquatica.com/san-antonio), Fiesta Texas (sixflags.com/fiestatexas), Morgan’s Wonderland (morganswonderland.org) and Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels (sixflags.com/schlitterbahnnewbraunfels).
Browse for a book at the San Antonio Public Library
Whether you go to your local branch or take a trip to another San Antonio Public Library location, you can cool off and find something great to read. If you don’t feel up to browsing the shelves directly, you can also access the library’s ebook connection via its app.
Enjoy a cold one and a movie at Alamo Drafthouse
A cool movie in a cool theater is even better when you can have watch it while enjoying a cool — or cold, really — pint of beer. Good thing Alamo Drafthouse (multiple locations, drafthouse.com) has you covered on all three fronts.
Have a learning experience at the Witte Museum
Established in 1926, the Witte (3801 Broadway, wittemumeum.org) is dedicated to telling the stories of Texas, from prehistory to the present. The permanent collection features historic artifacts, Texas art, dinosaur bones, cave drawings and all sorts of fun stuff to explore in glorious air conditioning.
Meet your friends for a drink at a new bar
San Antonio’s nightlife scene is constantly evolving. New bars and taverns are constantly opening. Get out of your comfort zone and ask friends to meet you at one of a recently opened establishment such as Miles (1170 E Commerce St., milesbistro.com) or Moonshine Off Grayson ( 125 W. Grayson St., Suite 120, instagram.com/moonshine_satx). Or pick out a classic neighborhood dive you’ve always been meaning to try.