Where do I start?
Ask yourself: Can I get away for a day or longer?
As parents, it can be so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. Sports, School, and various activities. I think most of us have gotten accustomed to being busy. We fall into bed at night and wake up the next morning to do the same thing. I know I have many days like this! I realized recently that I choose my busy. I realized I needed to make a priority for self-care; not only for me, but for my family. We’ve slowed down our lives and it feels manageable.
So, you’ve decided you’d like to get away. Where do you go? Do you want a local day trip? A small-town getaway? First decide how long you have and how far you’d like to drive. Once this is established, you can narrow down the geographic. You may decide you want a nice hotel and want to be in the city. You may decide that you’d like to be in nature. Or, maybe somewhere in the middle. Once this is decided, you can begin your search in finding the best option for you and your family.
So, you’ve decided you’d like to get away. Where do you go? Do you want a local day trip? A
small-town getaway? First decide how long you have and how far you’d like to drive. Once this is
established, you can narrow down the geographic. You may decide you want a nice hotel and
want to be in the city. You may decide that you’d like to be in nature. Or, maybe somewhere in
the middle. Once this is decided, you can begin your search in finding the best option for you
and your family.
Deciding where to go
This past weekend, my husband and I were given the rare opportunity to sneak away for a quick
get-away for our anniversary. We needed to stay local, so we drove North. I am a small-town
kid, so I have always enjoyed the feel of a small-town. There are plenty of these locations
surrounding the DFW area. Both my Husband and I also enjoy exploring and love the outdoors.
From the places we have explored North of DFW and even a few hours East, you come across
many quaint towns with idyllic Main streets, places to eat and trails to be explored. There are
many locations that would make a wonderful day trip in the DFW area. Some locations will even
pull you back in time! In many of these places, you and your family can enjoy fishing or
swimming on many of the surrounding lakes, Horseback rides at Rocking A Ranch in Pottsboro,
or hiking at Beavers Bend State Park. There are many options for hiking in the DFW area. Both
Dallas and Fort Worth offer their own unique experiences. And, depending on what you are
looking for, a real adventure can be made wherever you decide to go!
Reasons to make it a day trip in the DFW area
When people think of a trip or vacation, they often think it needs to be several days long. Most
people aren’t able to take the time off work, or it’s just not in the budget. However, there are so
many fun places to explore locally; places you can easily create the same type of wonderful
memories! There are several places to go hiking, exploring small towns, or simply trying a new
place for lunch. You can even bring a picnic and find a quaint place and eat. There are so many
options within an hour or two from DFW, so, don’t be afraid to take off for the day and see
where the adventure takes you!
Reasons to make it a weekend or longer
Not everyone has the time to get away from the busy, but, if you do and you like to explore, you
should definitely find time to explore locally. Exploring DFW is a great start! Being able to get
away for more than a day will greatly open up your options. If you have several days, you can
explore many areas in DFW or stay in one spot. Decide if you’d like to visit places along the way,
or have one destination. Or both! There are still ways of making a trip over several days budget
friendly. If the place you are staying offers a fridge and kitchen, you can bring a lot of your own
food. You can spend time outdoors instead of doing several activities that cost a lot. You can
decide on one activity the whole family is excited about and go from there.
What are some things we can do locally or places we can visit in the DFW Area?
What are some things we can do locally or places we can visit in the DFW area? There are
several places within the Metroplex that you can get to easily! Here are some ideas that are
within an hour or two and can accommodate activities for those that come for the day or places
to visit/stay, should you decide to stay longer.
Pottsboro, TX.
Horseback Riding: Rockin A Ranch at Tanglewood | Texoma Connect
Dining: Frank’s (franks289.com)
Napolis restaurant and bar
Menu — THE POINT RESTAURANT (eatatthepoint.com)
Camping/RV’s/Cabins: Events – Lighthouse Resort & Marina
Hiking: Best Hikes and Trails in Lake Texoma State Park | AllTrails
Best 10 Hikes and Trails in Beavers Bend State Park | AllTrails
Dennison, TX.
Historical Tours: Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site – Denison (discoverdenison.com)
Places to visit: Dennison’s quaint Main Street and eateries
Waco, TX.
Shops at the Silos | Boutique Stores by Magnolia in Waco, Texas
The Silos offer a fun experience for the whole family! You can plan on spending most of your
day there as they offer dining, shopping, a yummy bakery, and a grass area with plenty of games
to keep the kiddos busy! There are even wonderful stores to visit off site where you can find
some wonderful and rare gems! Looking to dine at The Magnolia Table? Just make sure you
make a reservation as this place can be quite busy. And, there strawberry butter is to die for!
Please note that they are closed on Sundays.
Fort Worth, TX.
Rodeo and the Cowtown Coliseum: Stockyards Championship Rodeo Tickets (tickets-center.com)
Dining/Activities: HOME – Truck Yard Alliance
If you have lived in Texas any amount of time, you have noticed that Dallas and Fort Worth have
a very different feel. If you and your family would like to experience an authentic Texas
experience, you’d enjoy a day or evening at the Stockyards. There are several places to dine and
you can also attend the Rodeo that happens every weekend. Just make sure you get your tickets
in advance. If you get there before the Rodeo starts, you can also enjoy the “Cattle Call” where
ranchmen walk the Longhorns down Main Street. Should it be just you and your spouse, there
are several places to visit to give you the nightlife experience. Billy Bobs also offers a fun
environment with music, a dancefloor and a pool hall.
Dallas/Uptown
Places to stay: Hotel Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas, United States of America – Lowest Rate
Guaranteed! (hotelsone.com)
Places to eat: Katy Trail Ice House: The best patio and burgers in Dallas, Texas. (katyicehouse.com)
State and Allen | American Restaurant in Dallas, TX
Snooze A.M. Eatery: Locate The Restaurant Nearest You (snoozeeatery.com)
You decide what works best for you and your family and be bold enough to make it happen!
Explore DFW and the surrounding areas and see them through different eyes. Life will always be
busy. Decide what you want your busy to look like. Here’s my challenge to you: Find time to get-
away. Only bring your phones out to take pictures and capture the moments and memories and
enjoy some time away!
From one Mama to the other,
Heather Sorenson
