How to Beat the Heat in Dallas
Ward off the summertime blues with kayaking, ice cream and margaritas.
Summertime in Dallas is no joke! While we cannot change the temperature, we can at least try to enjoy it (or escape it) in the best ways possible. Here are six ways to beat the summer heat.
![Bridge in White Rock Lake Park with trees at sunset in Dallas, Texas](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=320&s=2817eaa34f6a13ae100fa10aacc04a90 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=540&s=0d8cd7f0e63eb4f8c3f18cd45f021b5d 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=768&s=dbf092f7b7056b2d4e3b2e08c5653c1f 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=1024&s=6a1e924df48ea6e2a755fd9918ff8ac3 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=1200&s=2fd07a7811f597ce838b922b64953392 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=1440&s=6525b3c1640973ce11aa19d5e44baae2 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=1920&s=c82c429b472c8e8f0ea90f6486c6bc12 1920w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/White-Rock-Lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50.72%2068.32&q=80&w=2560&s=468c58b3bd14a0555654d3cb28c0440c 1962w)
Escape to the Lake
White Rock Lake is an outdoor oasis in the Lakewood neighborhood. We recommend renting a stand-up paddle board from Dallas Paddle Company. Looking for where to start? The best place to dip into the water is on the north side of the lake. The calm water makes it easy to paddle and keep balanced as you head out to the middle of the lake. Just a heads up: no matter how hot you get out there, do not jump in the water. Swimming in the lake is prohibited.
Paddle the River
Many people don't realize there is a river that runs a mere mile west of Downtown Dallas! In fact, the Trinity River stretches 710 miles from the Red River to the Gulf of Mexico making it the longest river in a single state. The best way to explore the river is from the water. Grab a kayak and paddle part of the Trinity River Paddling Trail - a 130-mile-long National Recreation Trail with 21 launch sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Pack your phone in a dry bag to snap some great views of Downtown Dallas as you slowly make your way downstream.
![Group of people visiting the Dallas World Aquarium in Dallas, TX](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c7f569d1c09d660520dfbb18cd215fa1 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7b5117aa99d7c0f4137f019ca19b97a5 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=dfb62bbf6fa7bc5fd6f9a2922a214eae 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=daa352f730050d1e7665820a4fa1c621 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e1a974c72847fcad8801c49734db30fe 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=62bc22d26f46a28547a7953a4b789d2c 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=f2c706306f07f25020c43e87eb727419 1920w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=1772beb46e0e4833597919928dfb97a8 2560w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Dallas-World-Aquarium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=4ec8f28ad79869180d6547ad173168b9 3840w)
Visit The Aquarium
The best place to be when the temperatures break the 100-degree mark is inside a dark, cool building. The Dallas World Aquarium's Black-footed penguins, Giant River otters and several Two-toed sloths make this the perfect indoor attraction for the summer! With a lush three-level South American rainforest exhibit, a 20,000-gallon glassed-in tunnel exhibit with sharks circling overhead and a Mayan exhibit home to flamingos, storks and ocelots, the aquarium has more than enough to explore while you wait out the heat of the day.
Shakespeare in the Park
Shakespeare Dallas has returned to the Samuell-Grand Amphitheater lawn in East Dallas this summer. Check out their website for details on performance times and dates. Pack a light dinner, grab a bottle of wine (yes, it is B.Y.O.B.) and turn your next summer night into an evening of al fresco dinner theater.
Ice Cream Tour of Lower Greenville
Nutritionally speaking, it might not be the best idea to only consume ice cream during the summer months, but it sure sounds like a great idea. While Dallas has its' fair share of ice cream joints around the city, Lower Greenville has a high concentration of them! This means you can spend a full afternoon sampling frozen desserts up and down the street.
For a futuristic scoop, pop into Creamistry where they use liquid nitrogen to instantly freeze each order for ultra-creamy, decadent ice cream. For a frozen hipster treat, stop by Steel City Pops for an organic, craft popsicle made from locally sourced ingredients. Or, if you want to just blow your blood sugar levels out of the water, stop by Milk + Cream for an unbelievable double-decker ice cream-donut sandwich.
![](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2fd071f2ebf2c0568aceef8bc78c0dc0 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=18aa9a449be77996b42c52674f9d375e 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=b20004243371869c848868bd005c0362 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=5efe6e09c4796a56b27240c21d103721 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=60906c05d39b9a897f0cc3b146d2b9cd 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=a90dbd590ed30e53c91a588386441bab 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=033030ea71e7141f620838519c825b9c 1920w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=029e3ff53ebd923c4d79ebd4770f2ba1 2560w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/margarita-mile/beto_and_son.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=27fdd10f46bbc26ecf1d40dba263c64d 3500w)
Order a Margarita
There is no more quintessential way to spend a summer afternoon in Texas than finding a covered patio to enjoy a frozen margarita (or three). Dallas has staked its claim as the Official Home of the Frozen Margarita. Lime or strawberry, salt or tajin, frozen or rocks - everyone has their own favorite. Explore the Margarita Mile and find your favorite flavor!