The sun is hot; the kids are restless; and a full day stretches ahead. That must mean it’s time to get out of the house, jump in the car, and explore one of the many possibilities for day trips in the DFW area. From animals to oddities, historical sites to shopping opportunities, the communities just outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton triangle offer something fun for everyone.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Love animals? Check. Have a full tank of gas and don’t mind driving at about 5 miles per hour for a few hours? Check. Always wanted to go on safari without even leaving the state of Texas? Jackpot!
Located about an hour south of Fort Worth in Glen Rose, Texas, the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is home to more than a thousand animals from more than four dozen species. After paying a modest entry fee or purchasing a year-long membership upon arrival, you’ll be set to begin following a 9.5-mile path through the park, where animals will come right up to your vehicle.
Want even more fun? Purchase a bag of animal feed at the entry point and feel giraffes, deer, zebras, and more nuzzle it right from your hand. And don’t worry — the big cats and other less people-friendly animals are separated from your vehicle by sturdy fences.
And before you head back north to DFW or head out on other day trips, take a bit of time to visit Dinosaur Valley State Park, also in Glen Rose.
First Monday Trade Days
Although referencing Mondays, Canton’s First Monday Trade Days is actually open from Thursdays through Sundays before each month’s first Monday. An enormous flea market, First Monday Trade Days originated in the 1850s and grows larger year after year. From purveyors of junk to sellers of unique items, schedule plenty of time — or even multiple day trips — to wander through and see all the wonderful things for sale.
Tyler Municipal Rose Garden
Head 90 minutes east of Dallas to Tyler, Texas, where you can stop and smell the roses — literally. The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden boasts almost 40,000 rose bushes representing 500 different varieties. Open during daylight hours seven days a week, you’ll want to schedule plenty of time to roam garden paths and enjoy the beauty of flowers.
Dr. Pepper Museum
Dr. Pepper is practically the official drink of Texas, so popular is the soda in the Lone Star state. Learn more about the history of this yummy beverage by visiting the Dr. Pepper Museum, an hour-and-a-half south of the Metroplex in Waco, Texas. Although no longer a working factory, this museum houses an enormous collection of soda memorabilia that will be fun for the whole family to explore.
Historic Granbury
Less than a half hour from Fort Worth, historic Granbury, Texas, boasts an honest-to-goodness historical town square that you can easily spend a whole day exploring. If shopping’s not your bag, take a ride around town in one of the roaming trolleys, sign up for a Ghosts and Legends tour, watch weekend entertainment like gunslingers in the center of the square, or take a dip in the town’s beautiful lake. If you’re up for a bit longer trip, book a night in one of the town’s bed-and-breakfast venues and enjoy multiple days of roaming through town.
Image Source: Flickr/LegendZ3
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