Beat the Heat
Ways to Stay Cool & Have Fun in Central Texas this Summer
By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos by SKEEBO, BLAIR DUPRE, LISA CARLISLE, JAVIE MARTINEZ and TYSON FRIAR\
Texas is nothing if not hot, and staying cool is of the utmost importance during the summer months. Luckily, there are countless ways to do just that while still having fun, whether that’s by spending a day at a water park, going for a swim, visiting a museum, or staying home and making some yummy summer snacks.
Outdoor Adventures
One of the best ways to stay cool is by swimming, and Texas has plenty of water parks to choose from. Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels is one of the most iconic water parks in Texas — it’s even been named the number one water park in the world for 24 years in a row. But if you’ve already been to Schlitterbahn, there are hidden gems that are just as fun (and much less crowded) closer to home. Lions Junction Family Water Park in Temple, Summer Fun Water Park in Belton, Lions Water Park in Killeen. Rock ‘N River Water Park in Round Rock, Typhoon Texas in Pflugerville, and Hawaiian Falls Water Park in Waco are also great options.
If you love swimming but don’t like the price tag that comes with water parks, Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow both have swimming beaches. You will even find people soaking in the refreshing waters of Nolan Creek in downtown Belton and Salado Creek in downtown Salado. For those in the Austin area, Barton Springs is a natural spring-fed pool located in Zilker Park. The pool measures about 3-acres and is always around 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it perfect for cooling off on a hot day. If you are looking for more of a magical experience while swimming, check out the Hamilton Pool Preserve, located in Dripping Springs. This natural pool is in a canyon surrounded by a grotto and sits below a 50-foot waterfall.
You could also grab some floats or a raft and spend an entire day floating down the river in San Marcos, Austin or even in Nolan Creek or Leon River in downtown Belton.
Museums & Aquariums
Some days are just too hot to spend outdoors, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t fun to be had. Central Texas has countless museums and aquariums that are sure to keep kids and adults entertained for hours.
The Railroad & Heritage Museum, Czech Heritage Museum and Cultural Activities Center are all great options in Temple. The Musick Alumni Center and Museum is located on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus. The Bell County Museum in downtown Belton has more than 12,000 historical items in its collection. The Mayborn Science Theater, located on the Central Texas College campus in Killeen, is the only planetarium in a 60-mile radius and includes a 30 meter dome to project movies. For those interested in military history, the National Mounted Warrior Museum includes more than 12,000 square feet of permanent display space and 1,000 feet of temporary display space.
To continue with fun and educational experiences, Central Texas boasts an impressive number of museums. Some of the most fun and unique are the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, the Blanton Museum of Art, and the Museum of the Weird, both in Austin.
The Austin Aquarium features tons of creatures from both the land and sea, and guests are allowed to participate in feeding stingrays, sharks, iguanas and more. This aquarium is also one of only two facilities in the country that allows guests to pet lemurs, which is an unforgettable experience.
The Dallas World Aquarium is large enough to spend an entire day without being bored. The five-story downtown building is an indoor tropical rainforest. One could probably explore all day and not see everything the aquarium has to offer.
Summer Fun at Home
Sometimes, staying home can be just as fun as heading out to a water park or a museum (and it’s definitely cheaper). There are countless ways to have summer fun in your backyard, including setting up a few sprinklers or filling a cheap baby pool to dip your toes in. To keep the kids busy, you could create your own Slip and Slide with a plastic sheet and some liquid soap, have a water gun fight or you could play a game of water limbo by using the stream from the water hose as a makeshift limbo stick.
Spending time outside in the heat can be exhausting, and it’s important to remember to stay nourished and hydrated.
Watermelon slices are a yummy and healthy snack that also provide hydration, while frozen grapes soaked in lime juice and covered in Jell-O packets taste just like Sour Patch Kids! Some more deceptively healthy snacks that are sure to cool you off are frozen fruit pops or frozen yogurt bites.
