There’s nothing better than breathing fresh air and getting in touch with nature. State parks, botanical gardens, trails, lakes, and farms are exactly the place to do it – and this area is full of them.
Take a look at all the options within driving distance – you’ll be surprised at how close your next adventure is. We provide the driving directions, but the sunscreen’s on you!
3200 W Red Bird Ln
Dallas, TX 75237 Directions
Hike or bike on one of the best recreation trails in the area in Boulder Park. Mountain bikers swear by the long uphill stretches and birders rave about the beauty and diversity of species that can be found there.
1570 FM 1382
Cedar Hill, TX 75104 Directions
Take in the the gorgeous 1,826 acre urban nature preserve known as Cedar Hill State Park. You can enjoy plenty of outdoor activities here like mountain biking, bird watching, hiking, jogging, boating, fishing and swimming.
8525 Garland Rd
Dallas, TX 75218 Directions
Get back to nature and spend sometime outdoors at the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. You'll marvel at the spectacle of plants, flowers and vegetation, all against the gorgeous backdrop of downtown White Rock Lake and the Dallas skyline.
The Dallas Arboretum is among the best in the nation, situated on 55 sprawling acres on White Rock Lake. In fact, the gardens are listed among the top three in the U.S. by Southwest Spirit magazine.
The arboretum opened in 1984 and features a stunning array of thousands of species throughout more than a dozen different gardens. Thanks to the temperate Dallas weather, visitors can always find plants in bloom all year long.
You'll find a sea of blooms in the azalea collection that includes 2,400 varieties. Other plant collections showcase ferns, holly, and a 6.5-acre color garden.
Other gardens include the DeGolyer Gardens, Jonsson Color Garden, Lay Ornamental Garden, Boswell Family Garden, Paseo de Flores, McCasland Sunken Garden and The Palmer Fern Dell.
Recently, the Dallas Arboretum unveiled the Women's Garden, a gift from the center's Women's Council. The recent addition includes several small garden rooms. The most dramatic feature of the Women's Garden is a reflecting pool that overlooks White Rock Lake.
The Dallas Arboretum also includes a visitor's center with a gift shop, meeting room, and a patio area overlooking White Rock Lake.
3721 N Jupiter Rd
Plano, TX 75074 Directions
Visit us at the new Lucky Layla Farm Store located at Lavon Farms. You can buy our delicious dairy products at the farm and see championship cows at work. They make delicious Drinkable Yogurts, wonderful Golden butter, creamy Carmel Milk and versatile Yogurt Cheese.
3601 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Dallas, TX 75210 Directions
Take an outdoor stroll around the 7.5 acres of lush tropical greenery and native plants at the Texas Discovery Gardens. Visitors also delight in the Butterfly House, which features hundreds of free-flying butterflies from around the world.
2400 Turtle Creek Blvd
Dallas, TX 75219 Directions
Head outdoors and explore the scenic Turtle Creek Leisure Trail. Not prone to overcrowding, the trail is a favorite among joggers and hikers. Reverchon Park serves as the trailhead and is essentially known as the "Central Park" of Dallas.
1152 N Buckner Blvd
Dallas, TX 75218 Directions
White Rock Lake is a reservoir located in north-east Dallas known as it's "urban oasis" providing hiking, running and bicycling. There are several fishing piers and sailing is permitted.