Best Places to Cool Off in Victoria This Summer – Amory’s Top Five

Summertime just isn't the same when there's no lemonade involved. Taqueria El Rodeo has one of the best glasses of lemonade around. A perfect mixture of tart and sweet, Rodeo's lemonade is served ice cold in a huge glass. It's the perfect compliment to some of the best Mexican food in town and a great way to forget just how hot it is outside.

I can honestly say I have never had a better milkshake than the ones you can get at Dairy Treet. They use soft serve ice cream and just the right amount of flavor for a milkshake that isn't too thick or too watery and isn't overpowering. One of my favorites is the butterscotch and it's a great way to cool off on those long hot drives you're in for this summer. There's a ton of flavors to choose from and while there's no drive-thru or dining room, it's a small price to pay for the great service and a frosty treat sure to cool you down.

I'd be remiss if I didn't list at least one place to get a cold adult beverage. Texas Roadhouse has particularly good margaritas and one of their best is the Razzlesnake. It's a blend of cool flavors with enough of an alcohol kick to remind you not to get too carried away. It's not too fruity or sugary that you feel like you're drinking a bottle of fruit extract and it's just cold enough to provide that nice brain freeze if you drink it too fast. Try one, you won't regret it.

I'm not real big on most smoothies. They're generally over priced, made from a frozen pre-mixed batch of fruit, and too thick to drink comfortably right off the bat. Gone Bananas, however, has the fruit smoothie down to an art. You can watch them prepare the fruit fresh right in the back and the mixture is never over-powering in its flavor. The milkshakes aren't half bad either and if you're not in the mood for a cool drink, you can always order a chilled fruit cup made with, again, the freshest fruit. It's a small shop and usually pretty busy but it's always worth the wait and the service is top notch.

There is, of course, still room on the list for some ice cream. Choose your flavor, choose your ingredients, and watch them put it all together right there in front of you on their signature marble slab. Go as sweet, or as light, as you want. When my sweet tooth gets the best of me in the summer days, I head to Marble Slab and put together ice cream treats that border on debauchery. It's hard not to feel like a kid when you're tearing into a waffle cone filled with vanilla ice cream loaded with chopped up candy bar. Live a little. It's absolutely worth it.