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.
The Hotel Saint Augustine has checked into Montrose.
Photo by Julie Soefer