Besides holing up at home with a gallon of rocky road and Fargo on repeat, it’s hard to deal with the triple-digit temps. From adult snow cones to beach volleyball, here’s how to distract yourself from the sweat running down your back.
The Knox-Henderson institution is known for hot dogs and creamy frozen custard (our favorite is pistachio). Mix it up with a concrete — custard blended with your choice of nuts, fruit, or candy — for a knockout sugar buzz.
Wild About Harry’s, 3113 Knox Street (214-520-3113 or wildaboutharrys.com).
Dallas keeps acting like Austin, and the Katy Trail Ice House is prime evidence of that. The outdoor beer garden and burger house channels the capital city with a crushed granite patio, picnic seating, live music, and dozens of Texas beers and liquors.
Katy Trail Ice House, 3127 Routh Street (214-468-0600 or katyicehouse.com).
Besides beer and stiff drinks, the Deep Ellum watering hole also serves spiked frozen treats on Fridays and Saturdays. Turn a hot night cooler when you watch a local band play.
LaGrange, 2704 Elm Street (214-741-2008 or lagrangedallas.com).
Yes, the food may be a little wintry (the lamb pot pie is delish), but with 40 draft beers and a long list of wines and cocktails, the sheet metal-clad bar inside the dark-wood den is a fine place to chill.
Meddlesome Moth, 1621 Oak Lawn Avenue (214-628-7900 or mothinthe.net).
When the thermometer sends you reeling, remember the indie movie theater option — where the air conditioning is cranked and the beer is served ice cold.
Angelika Film Center Dallas, 5321 East Mockingbird Lane (214-841-4713 or angelikafilmcenter.com).
Nothing says cool like a huge body of water, even if it’s in the middle of downtown. Visit the indoor museum for its latest exhibit — a 400,000-gallon walk-through tank filled with sharks, rays, and sea turtles from the Yucatan Peninsula.
The Dallas World Aquarium, 1801 North Griffin Street (214-720-2224 or dwazoo.com).
From an AMC theater to indoor water fountains, a fro yo dispensary, and loads of shops, the swanky mall has plenty to keep you busy morning till night — and every inch is blissfully air conditioned.
NorthPark Center, 8687 North Central Expressway (214-363-7441 or northparkcenter.com).
Yes, there will be gaggles of kids nipping at your blades. But you’ll be cool, burning calories, and primed for a frosty margarita at adjacent Mi Cocina.
Ice Skating Center at the Galleria, 13350 Dallas Parkway (972-392-3361 or galleriaiceskatingcenter.com).
Perched on the third floor of the popular Mexican food restaurant, this six-table watering hole lures businessmen and ladies in tennis threads alike. Opt for the slushy Mambo Taxi (frozen lime margarita with a sangria floater) to blend in with the crowd or go against the grain with a martini.
Mi Cocina Monkey Bar, 77 Highland Park Village (214-521-6426 or mcrowd.com).
Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from the Lakewood biz and leave landlocked heat waves behind. Just be sure to slather on the SPF.
White Rock Paddle Co., 315 East Lawther Drive (469-888-0620 or whiterockpaddle.com).
Hotel guests can reserve a cabana for the day to cool off in the downtown hotel’s intimate rooftop pool, which cantilevers over Main Street. Come sundown, nonguests can drop by for a poolside cocktail and hang with the pretty people at the outdoor bar (Thursday to Saturday).
The Joule Pool, 1530 Main Street (214-748-1300 or thejouledallas.com).
Channel the Caribbean at the new Deep Ellum bar with sand pits that lure serious beach volleyball tourneys. Or skip the workout and order an islandy drink and pretend you’re in paradise.
Sandbar Cantina & Grill, 317 South Second Avenue (214-647-1424 or sandbarcantina.com).
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