Outdoor fun/adventure near Dallas?
 

I just posted a note looking for a nice, celebration dinner spot in Dallas and since this question is a bit different, I decided to just give it its own space in a separate topic.

In any case, my wife and I will be traveling to Dallas next month when she takes her medical boards exams. we are both in our early 30's with no kids. This means there will be a few days when I am "on my own" while she studies, preps, and takes the exam and then a few days we can enjoy Dallas together after she is done.

I am looking for things to do in the Dallas area. Mostly, I would love to find some outdoor adventure-type activities to take in. We both enjoy these activities... usually more mild ones for both of us while I will go more extreme solo. As an example, she would do a 2 hour horseback trail ride while I will go for the 8 hour.

Anyway, my interests are varied. I love horseback riding and enjoy water activities like kayaking, fishing, and so forth. I also like hiking or exploring natural parks and other areas. We've done jeep tours and the such before, too, and enjoyed them. I would love to be outdoor and active while in Dallas so I welcome and appreciate any and all suggestions!

If there are other "must-see" places or activities you recommend, too, please feel free to share those too. I had hoped to see a rodeo of some kind down there or get my "cowboy fix" in somehow but it doesn't look like one is going on during our stay.

Thanks, in advance, for your helpful tips and recommendations...

Are you heading to Dallas in Oct or Nov? If it's October, you can catch the State Fair which is pretty fun http://www.bigtex.com/sft/

I can't help with hiking trails near Dallas - it's extremely flat there. But at nearby White Rock Lake, you can rent kayak or canoe or stand-up paddleboards http://www.whiterockpaddle.com/

If you head to Grapevine, there are wineries in that area, as well as nature trails
https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/Th...5/Default.aspx
https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/Th...2/Default.aspx

I guess one info would help is how far you're willing to drive?

My personal "must-see" places for Dallas are its Art Museum, and the Nasher Sculpture Center next door. And the Sixth Floor Museum. Over in FW, I like the Kimball Museum and the FW Museum of Modern Art.

You might enjoy Lake Ray Roberts State Park. It's about an hour north of Dallas. Here is an official Texas Parks and Wildlife Video about it: http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasPar...03/fIeW2R0vhXo Hiking and horseback trail rides are available here. http://www.blackmustangranch.com/index.htm I'm not sure what the area is looking like right now with the drought, but Pilot Point is normally a beautiful area with lots of horse farms. I'm not sure if kayaks will be available to rent when you will be here or not, their website says they are temporarily unavailable.

As yk mentioned there is kayaking on White Rock Lake. You might also enjoy the Dallas Arboretum while you are in that area. http://www.dallasarboretum.org/

Not sure how far you are willing to drive, but there is a place that does ziplining in New York, Texas (yep, New York). http://www.goziptexas.com/

Thanks, this is much appreciated already!

I am fine with driving. In fact, as crazy as it may sound, I plan to drive north into Oklahoma on one of my days. I am one of "those people" determined to set foot in all 50 states and Oklahoma has not been checked off yet. Neither has Arkansas, but that looked like a longer drive.

So, if I am willing to drive to the OK border just to cross in for a short visit, driving to other destinations shouldn't bother me too much! =)

Thanks again and I look forward to the other suggestions!

Oh, and I am going November 7-13

www.hightrailscanoe.com for kayak canoe

or Hill Country awesome if time.

Get stop-by-stop directions for a driving tour of the Hill Country in Texas from National Geographic's Ultimate Road Trips. Head down south for a visit to Texas's famed ...
travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/hill

I have lived in OK(for 40 years). There is some hiking here and then places like Big Bend, Guadalupe are great in Texas.

However, Arkansas has some outstanding places to visit. Buffalo River area is my favorite. Mount Nebo, Mount Magazine, Petit Jean are all good. I prefer most of these when there has been rain(springtime is best). The waterfalls would all be dry right now.

Since you're planning on driving up to Oklahoma anyway, I highly recommend a visit to Lake Murray State Park. Again, I'm not sure how it's looking with the drought, but it is normally a very beautiful lake and area. Plenty to do there including fishing, boat rentals, horseback riding, easy hikes, golf, putt-putt golf, and more. I don't think you would regret a visit to this nice Oklahoma State Park! I've always enjoyed myself there.

Oops, forgot to add the link: http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.4358

Much appreciated... nice having that destination in OK rather than crossing the border and thinking "Now what?" =)

Lake Texoma has a lot to offer, also. We have lots and lots of State-owned property/lakes/parks here.

Check out the Texas Parks website:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/

Oklahoma has some pretty parks, too. Turner falls is doable: http://www.turnerfallspark.com/index.php

I second the suggestions for White Rock Lake. Nice hiking/biking trails as well as kayaking. You can also rent a bike very close by: http://www.whiterocklake.org/?page_id=525

The weather this time of year should be awesome. We've had a heat wave all summer, but the temps will be cooler that week, for sure. But not cold. :) 60's-70's or higher.

Do plan on a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum. It is informative and moving, without being maudlin. http://www.jfk.org/

Please note that Fort Worth is close (30 minutes from Downtown to Downtown) and has much to offer in its own right. The Botanical Gardens are beautiful and the Stockyards offer that "cowboy" atmosphere you're hankerin' fer. hahaha
http://www.fortworth.com/visitors/ There is a regular Friday or Saturday night rodeo at the Stockyards. Check it out.

Finally, between those two cities lies Arlington, home of the "Death Star" (the local slang for the new Cowboys Stadium. It does kind of look like the Death Star when lit up at night.) There are tours available and you might even check out a local sporting event. (Cowboys play Buffalo on the 13th at noon.) There are usually college games on Saturdays. Check out the website: http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/ It is an awesome thing to behold...just sayin'. :)

Have a great trip and good luck to your wife on her exams!

to add a link to sarge's rodeo suggestion:

http://www.cowtowncoliseum.com/