Best Ways to Beat the Summertime Heat in Dallas, Texas

Even for hardcore Texans, it can get a little sizzling during the summer months. But never fear — Dallas rises to the challenge with some very cool ways to beat the summertime heat.

When you've had some fun in the sun and are looking for other things to do in Dallas that let you keep your cool, don't sweat it. Check out these seven fun ways to chill out, no matter what the thermometer says.

Take a Walk in the (Water) Park

Waterparks come in all styles and sizes in the Dallas area, but Bahama Beach really does seem to have it all. From the fast-paced, 300-foot mat-racing slide and the 45-foot-tall water slides to the much tamer interactive water playground for smaller family members, this park can keep a family of all ages and adventure levels thoroughly entertained. Close to downtown Dallas, this giant outdoor family waterpark manages to let you get away from it all without having to venture far from the city, and it's a great place to enjoy a whole day of waterplay.

Get Wet Inside

Only paying overnight guests are allowed at Great Wolf Lodge's indoor water park. If you have little ones with you, it's worth a night's stay. This 80,000-square-foot water park includes a four-story tree fort, nine water slides, and six splash and play pools. It's enough to tucker out even the liveliest of children, and there's a spa where moms and dads can relax at the end of the day.

Discover Popsicle Paradise

Nothing says "cool it" in the summertime quite like a great popsicle, and Berrynaked has it down to an art form. Not only are the popsicles super tasty, they're also packed with nutrition and made from organic fruits and vegetables, superfoods, and all kinds of great ingredients, including fiber, vitamins, and great flavor. If you don't like your cool treat on a stick, then try one of the signature puree bowls. Flavors change with the season, and you will never look at a popsicle the same way again.

Hit the Ice

Ice skating isn't readily associated with either summer or Dallas, but Galleria Dallas' indoor skating rink is just the thing to help beat the heat on a Texas summer day. The Ice Skating Center is open year-round and draws a surprising number of elite skaters, but novices are welcome too. When you're done skating, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the Galleria's many shops and restaurants — all in air-conditioned comfort.

Take a Leap

If skydiving is something you've always wanted to try, then why not do it in a place where the weather is always perfect? At iFLY Indoor Skydiving, you can enjoy all the thrills of skydiving without worrying about the heat or other weather inconveniences. There's no parachute and no jumping out of a plane; it's just you floating on a cushion of air inside a vertical wind tunnel.

Go Underwater

When you step inside the Dallas World Aquarium, you can enjoy the great outdoors and stay comfortable at the same time. In the upper level, you walk through a replica of the Orinoco Rainforest, where you see amazing creatures native to the rainforest. Such birds as toucans and scarlet ibis fly above you while you watch the only Antillean manatees and three-toed sloths in the U.S. Other native animals include poison dart frogs, tamarins, vampire bats, and Orinoco crocodiles.

Leave the rainforest for the lower level to be immersed in an aquarium environment with 10 super-sized tanks brimming with sea animals from around the world. Before you leave, be sure to visit the massive Mundo Maya, an eight-story exhibit that brings the culture of the Maya to life and includes a 400,000-gallon walk-through exhibit filled with sharks, rays, and sea turtles of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Get Medieval

It's just like old times at Medieval Times, where the main event is 11th century-style jousting. Serving wenches bring you your dinner, and while you feast in an old-style stadium, six knights in armor battle it out in the arena below. Jousting, sword fights, and hand-to-hand combat are all in a day's work for these knights, and the crowd is brought in to liven up the action. The show begins with an incredible display of falconry that spotlights the cool factor of this age-old sport, and the entire event is set in a Spanish-style castle. It's an evening full of pageantry and entertainment that's great for the whole family. Think "Game of Thrones" meets the Super Bowl.

What's your favorite way to beat the summer heat in Dallas or in any city? Tell us about it on Facebook.