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Swimming Holes
San Antonio has plenty of great places where you can cool off in the style that suits you best, from laid-back oases tucked 
Parks & Public Pools
San Antonio is sprinkled with parks and public pools, where a refreshing douse is just a splash away.
One that is evocative of sleepy summers is the lake-pool, surrounded by stately cypresses, at historic San Pedro Springs Park, the nation’s second-oldest city park. This swimming spot is located in the bed of an original lake fed by springs. There is no admission fee. Dozens of other pools can be accessed through the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department’s website.
Getting thoroughly and unabashedly wet in untold ways seems to be the goal at San Antonio’s many water parks and attractions.
SeaWorld’s new Aquatica water park is designed as a tropical oasis with terraced pools, sandy beaches, water slides and private cabanas—complete with a family raft ride, amazing animal habitats and undersea adventures. White Water Bay water park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas is equally devoted to getting you wringing wet with rides such as the Big Bender—there’s a 50-foot drop—and White Water Canyon. Also, don’t miss the massive wave pool carved into the shape of Texas.
Splashtown's 20 acres of fun offers more than 50 rides and attractions, including a five-story tower for twist-and-turn thrills and a wave pool for an ocean-like experience. At Schlitterbahn in nearby New Braunfels, check out the new 3, 600 ft. ride, The Falls, billed as the “world’s longest waterpark ride,” with rapids, waterfalls and giant waves.
Rivers
Just a short drive away, in the Texas Hill Country, numerous crystal, and cold, rivers lace the tree-lined countryside. During the summer, tubing and rafting are a must do.
The Guadalupe River has numerous outfitters to equip you for tubing and rafting under oak and cedar canopies. Upstream is Canyon Lake, billed as the “water recreation capital of Texas,” which has more than half a dozen shoreline parks and numerous boat ramps to put swimming, skiing, camping, hiking, fishing and more all within an easy one-stop reach.
Closer to San Antonio is Guadalupe River State Park, where activities range from tubing and canoeing to fishing and camping. The park recently opened a 5.3-mile horse trail that’s also open to mountain biking.
In New Braunfels, the tube chute on the spring-fed Comal River is “the longest in the world” and happens to be on Texas’ shortest river. Blanco State Park, within the historic town of Blanco, offers swimming and fishing plus tube, two-person kayak, and canoe rentals. And cool water flowing over limestone outcroppings is the draw for the cypress-shaded Frio River near Concan, Texas.
Hotels
Sunset, a rooftop pool, a margarita … it doesn’t get any better.
The Drury Inn & SuitesRiverwalk has an indoor pool and whirlpool plus a rooftop outdoor pool and whirlpool. The Hyatt Regency San Antonio’s rooftop pool and whirlpool, and the Grand Hyatt’s lap pool and sundeck also offer swimming and sunning in the city’s heart.
Hotel Contessa has a spa and gym to augment its heated rooftop pool, while the Westin Riverwalk’s pool area offers a spa, gym and poolside bar. And for lingering more, the rooftop pool at the Mokara Hotel & Spa features an outdoor café.
For notable ground-level pools, the historic Menger Hotel boasts downtown’s largest heated pool, and the Omni La Mansion del Rio, named one of the world’s best hotels for families by Travel+Leisure, has a relaxing courtyard pool, also heated.
Resorts
San Antonio resorts offer myriad ways to take a plunge. The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa combines a 350-foot river rapids ride, slides and children’s and adult pools. The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa features a four-acre water playground and river rides, and the Westin La Cantera Resort has six swimming pools of varying shapes as well as slides.
Inside Strokes
For a little more structured wet time, like swimming laps, lessons or water aerobics, you can head indoors. The Olympic-size San Antonio Natatorium is one the city’s aquatic crown jewels, and charges a modest $3 for adults and $1 for children, with private and group lessons and water aerobics also available.
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