Adventure Outings

Fitness adventures that beat the Houston heat: Get an adrenaline rush without losing your cool

If you're looking for a little fitness adventure this summer but don't want to face the Houston heat, here are five exciting ways to get an adrenaline rush and still keep cool because they're all indoors.

Climb a rock wall

Enjoy the thrill of scaling a mountain, minus the heat, at Texas Rock Gym. Go with a friend and take advantage of any of the 42 rock stations or go at it alone using an auto-belay station.

Day passes are $25 for first time climbers, but the gym offers half-priced passes for women, public servants, and students on varying days of the week. For more information visit the website.

Go Kart fever

Take a spin in a Honda-powered go kart at Track 21 indoor racing track. Children must be at least 8 years old to drive a junior kart. Track 21 offers specials for members each day of the week. To become a member, simply go to the front desk and fill out a membership form.

The track also has $10 kart racing and $5 laser tag during happy hour from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Each kart race last 10 minutes and laser tag games last 15 minutes.

Find a target

If you're an experience marksman (or woman), rent a hand gun for $12 or a rifle for $16 at Memorial Shooting Center. Customers must be 21 years old or accompanied by a parent. Those without experience must take a training course or be come in with an experienced shooter.

The range fee is $15, which includes a target and eye and ear protection. Range fees are half off every Wednesday.

Jump up and down

Feel the excitement of being air born at Sky High Sports. The trampoline floors and walls are perfect for family fun or enjoyable solo exercise. A regular hour-long session is $11, with specials on varying days of the week.

Jump for only $7 every Tuesday or buy two hours of jumping and a pizza for the family on Thursdays for $40.

Take an indoor dip

Perhaps it's not as adventuresome as other excursions we've listed, but it sure feels good to relax in the sauna or hot tub at the Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA or take a dip in the four-lane indoor lap pool. If you don't have a membership to the Y, take advantage of the suspended running track, sports courts, and various group exercise classes like Body Combat or TRX with a free 7-day trail or by purchasing a day pass for $20.

Ladies get half off day passes after 6 p.m. Monday nights at Texas Rock Gym.

Texas Rock Gym Facebook

Ladies get half off day passes after 6 p.m. Monday nights at Texas Rock Gym.

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a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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