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With “exceptionally hot” becoming the new normal for San Antonio summers, indoor activities are going to be key for kids when school lets out.
The city experienced 75 triple-digit days last year, beating out the 59 it saw in 2022 to make 2023 the city’s hottest since meteorological record-keeping began in the late 1800s.
Meteorologists are expecting us to face another brutal summer this year and are warning residents to make sure they’re ready for the extreme heat.
“During the past couple of years, we’ve gone through two of the hottest summers on record,” Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon said in a recent statement. “That has altered the trend of 100-degree days, making the increase even more dramatic than it had been.”
A newly updated assessment that predicts extreme weather in Texas shows a significant uptick in extreme temperatures and droughts, especially in the summer months. Those trends are expected to continue and intensify through 2036, when Texans will likely experience quadruple the number of 100-degree days seen in the 1970s and 1980s, Nielsen-Gammon said.
With children being exceptionally susceptible to extreme heat, finding different ways to keep kids occupied, active and learning this summer indoors or in temperature-controlled outdoor settings is becoming a necessity in a city like San Antonio.
Here’s everything you can do with your kids this summer to have fun out of the sun.
Visit a kid-friendly museum
San Antonio is home to many museums, including kid-friendly ones like The Doseum and the Witte. Both offer family membership options, as well as events and workshops.
Keep an eye on The Doseum‘s event calendar to see when they have free family nights, or visit the Witte from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesdays, when kids get in free. If you have a future scientist at home, make sure to check out Witte’s STEAM Sundays as well. Membership deals at The Doseum start at $120 for a year for two people, while general admission starts at $18 per person. At the Witte, membership starts at $50 for an individual for a year, while general admission tickets start at $11 for children.
If your child is interested in art, there is the McNay Art Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) or the Briscoe Western Art Museum, each of which showcases fantastic paintings, sculptures, drawings and more. General admission for adults is $20, $22 and $14 respectively for each, while admission for children 12 and under is free for each.
The McNay also offers free general admission every Thursday from 4-9 p.m. and the first Sunday of each month from noon to 5 p.m., while SAMA offers free admission for Bexar County residents Tuesdays from 4-7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon. The Briscoe offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month.
For the child in your life who loves the strange and weird, be sure to check out Ripley’s Believe It or Not! where the kitschy comes to life. Here you will find Louis Tussaud Wax displays, oddities including shrunken human heads and rare animal skeletons, and interactive exhibits sure to keep them entertained for hours. Tickets start at $25 for adults, $20 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for children 3 and under.
For the kids who are history buffs, there’s also UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures (which will soon be temporarily located within Frost Tower while UTSA pursues constructing a new permanent space), the Texas Transportation Museum and the San Antonio Fire Museum, each showcasing fascinating facts about the city’s history. Admission to the Institute is free but there is a suggested donation of $12, while tickets for the Texas Transportation Museum are $10 for adults, $8 for children 4-12 and free for children 3 and under. Admission to the San Antonio Fire Museum is $10 for adults, $4 for children ages 3-12 and free for children under 3, although the museum also offers free admission for Bexar County residents the first Tuesday of every month.
Take a field trip
Just because school’s out doesn’t mean the learning has to stop! San Antonio offers several great spots to take an indoor family day field trip.
Visit the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT) at Port San Antonio, where your future scientist can check out Area 21 inside the Boeing Center at Tech Port, a high-tech industry showcase center where your child can fly a plane or prepare for a mission to Mars. While here you can also explore SAMSAT’s History Museum, which showcases more than 100 years of evolving technology from a working Tesla coil to modern-day cybersecurity computers. Entry is free for all, although donations are accepted.
For your blossoming environmentalist, check out the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s new Education Outreach Center, where your student can learn all about how our local aquifer system works. From seeing which unique critters call the Edwards Aquifer home to creating clouds and mixing rocks, this is a great way to teach your child about the importance of water in Central Texas. Admission is free, although you must schedule your visit in advance.
If your little one is more of a stargazer, be sure to visit the Scobee Education Center at San Antonio College. This 22,000-square-foot facility includes the Scobee Planetarium, the Challenger Learning Center and a rooftop star deck and observatory. Get your gaze on, learn more about what went wrong with the Challenger expedition and more at this awesome educational site. Prices for the planetarium vary and can be purchased up to a week in advance.
Capitalize on free or inexpensive family movie times
Going to the movies with a child doesn’t have to be a stressful experience if you capitalize on local theaters’ family showings. Santikos, Regal and Alamo Drafthouse all offer specialty showtimes for families, especially for parents with littles.
Catch a free flick at one of Santikos summer specials or see an early showing sensory-friendly film at Regal with tickets starting at $5.
If you like your movie with in-house service, check out one of Alamo Drafthouse‘s Alamo for All showings starting before 2 p.m. on Tuesdays. Tickets and food costs for Alamo Drafthouse vary.
Head to your nearest library
There are over 30 public libraries in San Antonio, each stocked with books, computers and daily activities including highlights like PJ story times, read to a dog, teen time and family story time.
Find your nearest library here or go big by going to the San Antonio Central Library. Membership to all San Antonio Public Libraries are free to Bexar County residents.
Get your build on at LEGOland
If your future little engineer loves building and tinkering, make sure to check out LEGOland this summer. This indoor discovery center includes rides, a play zone, and amazing LEGO displays that will be sure to inspire. Tickets start at $30 per person for ages 2 and up while children under 2 are free.
Fly sky-high at a local air park or iFly
Jump up, jump up and get down at one of San Antonio’s dozen trampoline parks. These parks offer littles tons of space to jump around and give them a space to try out their favorite flips and tricks. Whether your child is looking for a fun place to bounce with a buddy or looking to jump through unique inflatables and obstacles courses, these indoor parks can kill hours on a hot summer day. Check out Urban Air ($12-31), Airtopia ($6-23), Altitude ($17+) and the Rush Fun Park ($15+) for starters.
For a truly one-of-a-kind experience, you can also visit iFly with your child — an indoor wind tunnel that will give your kid a chance to skydive without the jumping-out-of-a-perfectly-good-airplane part. If you have a little daredevil on your hands, this can be a truly fun experience for you and your family. Flights start at $70 per person.
Indoor swimming lessons
Skip the sunblock and find an indoor swimming pool near you this summer. San Antonio has lots of options for indoor swimming, including pool places that specialize in swim lessons for kiddos such as Aqua Tots, Elmer Swim School of San Antonio and Goldfish Swim School. Pricing for these schools varies; call directly for more details.
Check out options offered by your local school district as well; many local school districts offer inexpensive swim lessons and/or community swim days during which they open their natatoriums to residents in their district.
Get your game on
With a boom in esports over the last decade, San Antonio has seen a lot of gaming lounges pop up in the 210. If you’ve got a gamer in your life and they’re looking for somewhere to stay cool for the summer, make sure to check out the YMCA’s Tech Hub ($10 for a day pass), The Tech Port’s LAN Gaming Center (PC playtime is $5 for the first hour, $2 per additional hour), the Valhallan Esports Hub (cost varies by league), The Tournament Esports Lounge (pricing starts at $13) or eSix Gaming at SixFlags Fiesta Texas (pricing starts at $10 for an hour).
Bowl a strike
Become a big bowler this summer with a summer season pass to one of the local bowling alleys such as Bowlero (starting at $38 per person) or Main Event (kids bowl free with registration). With new bowling alleys popping up in San Antonio such as PinStack ($26-60 per hour), Round1 ($25-33 per hour) and Bowl & Barrel ($10-32 per person for an hour), there’s plenty of competitive fun to be had this summer.
Something’s fishy
Love the zoo but hate the heat? Awe the little animal lover in your life this summer with a visit to one of San Antonio’s indoor aquariums. San Antonio has two indoor aquariums where your little can see sharks, seahorses, penguins and more.
Check out the San Antonio Aquarium in Leon Valley to see thousands of animal species, including amazing land animals such as sloths, tropical birds, lemurs and armadillos. Or check out the SeaLife Aquarium downtown to see San Antonio’s only “sea tunnel” aquarium, meet rescued sea turtles or pet a stingray. Tickets for the San Antonio Aquarium start at $25 for adults, and $20 for children ages 3-12, with children under 3 being free. Tickets to the SeaLife Aquarium start at $17 per person ages 2 and up.
Lace-up
Skating — both roller and ice — has long been a favorite activity for San Antonians.
If you’re more inclined to enjoy the AC and some wheels on wood, visit one of San Antonio’s famous Skateland rinks ($7-$12 per person), Car-Vel locations ($10-15 per person) or Rollercades ($10+ per person) to boogie like a ’70s star.
For those looking to really cool off in the summer’s heat, check out the city’s sole year-round ice skating rink, the Ice & Golf Center At Northwoods (call directly for pricing information).
Indoor mini golf
Who said mini golf has to be outside? San Antonio has two indoor family-friendly mini-golf courses that will let you practice your putt-putt game while staying cool.
For your brave littles, try Monster Mini Golf, complete with spooky monster-themed holes, black lights and a glow-in-the-dark ball ($12-14 per person), or for the less-brave check out Cosmic Mayhem, a space-themed mini golf course that includes glowing decorations, fun intergalactic characters and a full bar just for you ($13 per person).
Indoor arcades
San Antonio is home to dozens of indoor arcades including classics like Chuck-E-Cheese, Main Event and Dave & Busters.
If you have a tween or teen looking for something more exciting, check out Andretti’s Indoor Karting and Gaming, where their inner Mario Kart driver can shine on a real indoor race track.
For the true littles in your life, there’s always Peter Piper Pizza, Incredible Pizza or Santikos and EVO entertainment centers.
Diversions Game Room, Bowlero, Round1 and Pinstack also have tons of games and crane machines for you and the family to enjoy.
Cost for all arcades varies.
Get locked in
Test out your inner Houdini and see if you and the kids can make an escape from one of San Antonio’s many escape rooms. These immersive games lock you, your friends and perhaps some new-friends-to-be in a themed room together, giving you one hour to figure out how to get out.
San Antonio has lots of different escape rooms to try. Check out Escape the Room, The Escape Game San Antonio, Get Out of My Escape Room, Great Room Escape and the San Antonio Panic Room if you’re not sure where to start. Cost varies by room, location, and group size.
Head to the range
Prepare your family for the zombie apocalypse at one of San Antonio’s ranges.
See who has better aim when it comes to throwing axes at one of the city’s many axe-throwing locations, where you and your friends or family can see who would survive in the Hunger Games while playing many unique games. Whether you visit Axe Escape, Class Axe Throwing or Axe Master Throwing, you’ll be sure to have a blast. Cost varies by location and group size.
If you’ve got a future marksman in training, check out Airsoft Revolution 15, an airsoft gun shooting range that has an array of mazes to face off against friends and family in a safe, indoor environment. Cost varies by group size.
Catch a show
Whether your little likes classical ballets, showstopping Broadway performances or rocking it out at a concert, San Antonio is a city of shows.
You and your little can catch a truly unforgettable performance at the Tobin Performing Arts Center or at the Majestic Theatre; can see which amazing artists are performing at the Alamodome, Tech Port or Aztec Theatre; or can see a child-friendly play at the Magik Theatre to be entertained for hours while keeping it cool.
Bonus idea — find some cheap tickets to a Spurs game at the Frost Bank Center to give your kiddos the true Puro SA experience.
Ticket prices vary by show and seating.
Go on an ‘indoor’ adventure
While it’s not technically inside inside, you and the kids can definitely still go on an “indoor” adventure this summer by visiting Natural Bridge Caverns. Located just north of San Antonio, Natural Bridge Caverns is the largest cavern in Texas and offers a multitude of tours, events and experiences for excited visitors to explore. Get deep underground here and see the wonders of caving and the unique world below us. Pricing for tours starts at $32 for adults and $21 for children ages 3-11.
Another adventure you and your family can do while keeping cool “indoors” is the drive-thru safari experience at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. Explore this 400-acre wildlife rehab refuge and get up close and personal with giraffes, bison, antelopes, monkeys, zebras and even a real live cheetah. Pricing for tours starts at $32 for adults and $21 for children ages 3-11.
Get active
Keep your kid active but out of the heat this summer by visiting one of San Antonio’s many indoor gyms or recreation centers.
You and your child can try out the newest booming sport, pickleball, by visiting Chicken N Pickle (pricing starts at $45 per court for an hour and up), the Walzem Family YMCA (free for YMCA members) or Factory of Champions (call directly for pricing information).
Try indoor rock climbing or bouldering at Armadillo Boulders, or check out the indoor batting cages at D-BAT, Walk Off or HitTrax.
Get crafty
Give your little artist a chance to shine while creating their own masterpiece. Check out Clay Casa or the Painted Plate, where he or she can paint ceramics to take home later, or visit Artworks Art Studio, Kidcreate Studio or Ms Sue’s Art Studio to find a local kid-friendly art class. Cost varies by project, location and group size.
