The beauty of Texas' nature can be experienced first-hand with a hike through this 630-acre (146-hectare) preserve. With guided and self-guided tours available along the ten miles of wooded trails, outdoor enthusiasts can wander up to the Escarpment Nature Preserve, the highest point in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Along the way you can view ponds, wildflowers and a butterfly garden before arriving at vistas and an observation tower. The trails vary in difficulty. All are natural terrain paved with rock, mulch, or dirt. They are designed for foot traffic only, and bikes or roller blades are not allowed. Hikes can last anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours, depending upon the trail selected. A snack bar, gift shop, and amphitheater are also located on the grounds.
Off the shores of White Rock Lake lies the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The 66 acres (26 hectares) of lush, perfectly manicured landscapes hold a treasure trove of trees, bushes, and flowers that are sure to make anyone green with envy. The DeGolyer House, a 1940s-style Spanish mansion, is also located on the grounds. Tours of the house and its sculpture garden are offered. The Jonsson Color Gardens, A Woman's Garden, and the Lay Ornamental Garden are all exquisite features of the picturesque grounds.
A visit to the Dallas Children's Theater is entertainment for the entire family. Introduce your little ones to the world of live theater by involving them in activities here. Classes are offered here, and are conducted by established artists. A number of excellent plays including Rumpelstiltskin, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and several musicals have been shown here.
If you're looking for fun outdoor activities in Dallas, head over to Klyde Warren Park. Built over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, this park gives city-dwellers a much needed green space. Dogs can run free through the water fountains in the dog park to keep cool. Concerts and other events open to the public are held here often. Bask in the sun, play some chess or ping pong, or take the kids over to the playground - make a day of it!
This historic site sprawls over 227 acres (918,636 square meters) and has one of the nation's largest collections of Art Deco buildings. Built in 1936, Fair Park is registered as a National Historic Landmark. It was built by the WPA to house the Texas Centennial Exposition, celebrating Texas' independence from Mexico. It boasts an inspiring list of museums including the African American Museum, Age of Steam Railroad Museum, Museum of Nature and Science, Music Hall At Fair Park, Dallas Aquarium and Dallas Horticulture Center. You will also find concerts at the outdoor Coca Cola Starplex, college football in the Cotton Bowl, and the annual State Fair of Texas. The Visitor Center shows a 10-minute film about the park and offers walking tours by appointment.
Dallas Zoo encompasses 106-acres (42 hectares) of exotic and traditional zoo animals. Visitors are greeted at the entrance by one of the tallest statues in Texas - a 67.5 foot (20.5 meters) giraffe. The Wilds of Africa attraction includes the chimpanzee forest, the gorilla center and an aviary on a quarter-mile nature trail where six natural habitats are featured: forest, mountain, woodland, river, desert and brush. A 20-minute monorail ride runs the course of the attraction and costs an additional fee. The ZooNorth attraction includes a bird and reptile building, children's zoo with touchable animals, cheetah exhibit, elephants, giraffes, flamingos and other traditional animals.
Neal Wilson Stadium or Neil E. Wilson Stadium is an outdoor and and indoor stadium built in 1999. The stadium is owned by Flower Mound high school and is the home ground of Flower Mound Jaguars. It is a multipurpsoe stadium and hosts soccer and track and field games for its home team. The stadium underwent renovation in 2003, in order to expand its boundaries and has field turf ground.
The popular Four Day Weekend comedy club is extremely revered by masses and their second location in Lower Granville in Dallas has everybody excited. This Comedy Club is a great place to unwind, but be careful: your sides might ache from laughter. Improvisation is what they specialize in so be ready to bear the brunt of a joke, or two. The 150-seat theater will feature everything from award-winning sketches, on the spot improvisation and funny musicals to entertain you. Gear up for an evening filled with laughter.
The Dallas Firefighters Museum is a historical landmark in the city. Built in 1907, this building was a functioning fire station for more than 60 years. The museum has over 2000 items on exhibit, including photographs and trucks. The most famous item here is a steam pumper from the 19th century which was pulled by horses. The visitors here are mostly kids in school groups.
Looking every bit like an over-the-top haunted mansion that it was intended to look like, the Munster House is the private home of McKee family. Big fans of the popular 1960s sitcom, the McKees designed their house to be an accurate copy of the set used on The Munster House. What's even surprising, is that since there was no blue print available to design the house, they got to it just by watching the episodes chronologically. Every room featured on the set is present in this house including the scary old oak at the entrance. Widely popular in the city, the Munster House is open for public only in October when it also provides venue for the community's Halloween Fund Raiser.