Best Weekend Trips
from Dallas, TX

Dallasites who haven't ventured west of DFW in a while will find plenty to occupy them for a weekend in Fort Worth, including world-class museums, rich cultural heritage, and nationally-recognized cuisine. Born of a cowboy past (one of its nicknames is "Cowtown"), Fort Worth also still showcases that authentic Texas flair—think ten-gallon hats and custom-made boots—that many tourists (especially international ones) come here to experience.

It's easy to shake off city life in these two picturesque towns, set near each other in the southwestern part of North Texas' Plains and Lakes region. Here, among a hilly landscape lush with juniper, pecan and sycamore trees, the outdoor possibilities include everything from hiking among dinosaurs footprints and kayaking along the Brazos River to a lazing on a lakeside beach and even overnighting at a wildlife refuge.

In the heart of Texas' scenic Piney Woods region, you'll find magnolia, cypress, pine and oak trees lining the roads; come spring, wisteria and azaleas add vivid bursts of color. Nestled here is the town of Palestine (pronounced "pal-uh-steen"), notable for its architecture, rich history, and scenic dogwood trails.

About 95 miles from Dallas, this city of about 120,000 residents is both pretty—it sits on the Brazos River and is full of green spaces—and pretty interesting, with museums for a wide array of interests, a noted zoo, and even important prehistoric finds.