Nightswimming, Barton Springs.

For this non-native Texan, one of the worst things about working and living in Austin is the summer heat. It starts early – we’ve already had six days of triple-digit temperatures – and ends late. Kids typically swelter through the first month and a half of school before things cool down in October.

Thankfully, GSD&M sits a mere mile from Barton Springs Pool, a three-acre spring-fed jewel that averages 68º F year-round. I know a few co-workers who jog or bike over there during lunch to dive in for a few invigorating laps. Nothing like the shock of that cool water to jolt you out of a heat-induced, idea-stunting stupor.

One of my favorite things to do lately is head there around 8:45 pm. The sun has just set, and there’s free admission from 9 – 10 pm. Swimming the springs illuminated by just a few overhead pool lamps and the moon is a wonder everyone should experience. The water’s crystal clear and the fish seem a bit bolder as they dart among the rocks and plants, almost as if daring swimmers to follow them.

Whether you go by day or by night, a swim in the springs is guaranteed to refresh you and your outlook – at least till the next day, when that mercury starts its steep ascent once again.

Come on in. The water’s fine.