Water Attractions in Texas

Texas – as you may know – gets hot in the summer. Not only does this state get hot, but the summer heat persists into what many other parts of the country might consider “fall” or “autumn.” If you find yourself lamenting the Texas heat, consider the possibility that you might be missing an opportunity. You can sit and sweat while you wait for cooler weather to arrive — probably at some point in November — or you can beat the heat with any of the following ways to keep cool.

Texas Swimming Holes

If you have your own pool or access to a nearby community or public pool, that’s great. You can cool off almost any time you want. Texas has many swimming holes located throughout the state that offer naturally cool (or quite cold) water year-round. We can’t possibly list them all, so here are just a few:

• Balmorhea State Park, Balmorhea: The nearby San Solomon Springs feed this legendary pool located near the Davis Mountains in West Texas.

• Barton Springs, Austin: Located just south of Austin’s Zilker Park, this pool has a year-round average temperature of 68-70 degrees thanks to the natural springs that feed it.

• Burger’s Lake, Fort Worth: This one-acre spring-fed lake offers swimming, diving, and other aquatic adventures.

• San Pedro Springs Park, San Antonio: The San Antonio City Council established San Pedro Springs Park in 1852, making it the second-oldest park in the country. The springs have provided water for residents of the area for at least 12,000 years.

• Scott's Ridge Swim Site, Montgomery: Located a one-hour drive from downtown Houston, which is close by Texas standards, this area of Lake Conroe has designated areas for swimming and picnicking.

Kayaking & Paddleboarding

Maybe you want to be close to the water without actually getting into it. Texas has many options for you in that department. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the state has fifteen major rivers and over 3,700 streams, offering countless opportunities to get out on the water. Kayaking and paddleboarding are particularly popular activities on Texas lakes, rivers, and streams:

• Buffalo Bayou, Houston: Ambitious paddlers, kayakers, and canoers can attempt this 26-mile paddling trail, although shorter options are also available.

• Lady Bird Lake, Austin: Running through the middle of the city, this lake offers eleven miles of paddling trails.

• Mission Reach Paddling Trail, San Antonio: This eight-mile paddling trail begins just south of downtown and follows the San Antonio River through the mission area of town.

• Trinity River, Dallas: This stretch of the Trinity River between Dallas and Fort Worth has a 10.2-mile paddling trail.

Texas Waterparks

Rivers, streams, and spring-fed pools are great, but sometimes you just need a man-made waterpark. Texas has plenty of those, too.

• ​​Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, Grand Prairie: This 80,000-square-foot facility is open year-round thanks to a retractable roof.

• Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels and Galveston: The Schlitterbahn brand has achieved international renown. The first Schlitterbahn water park opened in New Braunfels in 1979. Beginning in the late 1990s, the park won the “best water park” honor from Amusement Today magazine every year for over two decades. It currently has two locations: the original park in New Braunfels and a location in Galveston.

• Water Rampage, Lubbock: This park has kept people in Lubbock cool for more than thirty years. It’s open seasonally from late May through late August.

• Hurricane Harbor, San Antonio: Hurricane Harbor is part of the Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park, typically open from April through August. Admission is included in the price of a Fiesta Texas ticket.

Beach Spots

Texas has hundreds of miles of coastline, some of which include beaches you can visit. While no beach in Texas can compare to Hawaii or the Caribbean, you’ll find plenty of places to relax, swim, or even surf a bit. The best beaches in the state tend to be located on barrier islands. From north to south, the three major beach areas are:

• Galveston Island: Located southeast of Houston and near the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel

• Mustang Island: Located east of Corpus Christi, this island includes the City of Port Aransas and Mustang Island State Park.

• South Padre Island: Located at the southern end of Padre Island, which is Texas’ longest barrier island at about 113 miles.

Create your own oasis!

Host parties, take a dip in your own pool, and set up water slides for the kids. It’s all yours when you own a home. We’re here to help you through the mortgage process. Get started on your free pre-qualification today!