Beat the Summer Heat at These 5 "Cool" San Antonio Attractions

Some things just naturally go together: Macaroni and cheese. Han Solo and Chewbacca. San Antonio summers and heat. One is simply not the same without the other. When the temperature routinely heads north of 90 degrees, it can be too exhausting to be outside. Here are some of our favorite places to go for cool, refreshing fun.

Brindles is routinely recognized as the best ice cream in San Antonio. Deciding on an order from their extensive menu options is no small feat, but it's an excuse to spend a few more minutes in the air-conditioned coolness. More than 20 of their homemade flavors are featured each day. Choices may include customer favorite Bacon Walnut, the habanero-laced Kick, or decadent Guinness Chocolate gelato. Be sure to try an affogato, which is your favorite flavor spiked with a shot of espresso.

Four locations in San Antonio and New Braunfels

While theater/restaurant mash-ups are not a new idea, Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse is the gold standard. The calendar includes the latest Hollywood films as well as themed events such as sing- and quote-alongs, Girlie Night and Kids Camp. Full food and beverage service is available, and the New Braunfels location has a taproom where you can enjoy a drink with friends anytime.

3. Texas Ski Ranch
6700 IH 35 N
New Braunfels
830.627.2843

Don't cut back on your active lifestyle because of the heat. Texas Ski Ranch is a 70-acre playground where you can wakeboard and waterski on a boat lake or three cable systems. Other activities include trampoline jumping, skateboarding and paint ball. Wahoo's Restaurant is a beach-side eatery serving made-to-order tacos and burritos along with beer and wine. For more laid-back types, the beautiful beach is open to the public with no admission charge.

The small ice house purchased by Melvin and Aurora Davis in 1956 has grown to become a San Antonio tradition, centered around the famous 32-ounce frosted schooners of beer. Pair your ice-cold beverage with one of the classic dishes such as chicken-fried steak, fried Alaskan pollock or an iconic tortilla-wrapped crispy dog. M.K. Davis is open beginning at 11 a.m. seven days a week.

Ripley's is home to three highly entertaining one-of-a-kind attractions:

• The Odditorium highlights a collection of bizarre artifacts accumulated by Robert Ripley, who became famous for his Believe It or Not! newspaper feature and TV show. Exhibits range from shrunken heads to 19th-century vampire-killing kits.
• Louis Tussaud's Waxworks houses more than 200 life-like replications of celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr., Lady Gaga and the cast of The Wizard of Oz.
• Ripley's 4D Moving Theater puts you in the middle of the action with motion seats and digital special effects.

Don't feel like driving? Head out for a refreshing dip in the resort-style pools of our Springs San Antonio luxury communities!