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There’s lots to do in Dallas-Fort Worth, but sometimes, you want to explore other parts of the state. Luckily, Texas has no shortage of beautiful spots when a weekend getaway is calling your name.
While Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are common getaways, we’re looking at other places on the map for this guide. Here are five charming long weekend getaways within a 2.5-hour drive from Dallas-Fort Worth.
Dublin
Soda aficionados will have a field day in Dublin. The first bottling facility for Dr Pepper launched here, and today, Dublin Bottling Works provides a wide selection of sodas to visitors and locals alike. The green apple and orange sodas are particularly loved, and collecting the different bottle caps is a fun bonus. There’s also an enormous soda bottle nearby to pose with.
After you’ve quenched your thirst, head to the Rodeo Heritage Museum and chat with the staff. They have endless stories, and you’ll learn plenty about the cowboys and cowgirls over time. Younger visitors can take a turn on the practice saddle. The Dublin Historical Museum is a veritable treasure trove of memorabilia, such as old-fashioned farming tools, paper dolls, and a comic book collection. The Ben Hogan Museum of Dublin is another place worth checking out — it pays homage to the local golf legend.
Before departing, visit Veldhuizen Cheese, a few miles outside of the town center. Serving the Dublin community since 2000, Veldhuizen offers farm tours and a variety of cheeses made from sheep and cow’s milk. Try a sample or join the cheese club to learn your favorites.
Not everyone in Dublin has an accent, though the town is still the official Irish Capital of Texas. If you visit around St. Patrick’s Day, you can enjoy food, drinks, and lively music. And, of course, snap a photo next to the town’s “welcome” green clover.
Photo courtesy of Dublin Bottling Works via Facebook
Tyler
Tyler is the Rose Capital of Texas. And while you absolutely should stop and smell the roses at the Tyler Rose Garden — which features more than 38,000 rose bushes — there’s lots more to check out.
Tyler Berry Farm, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state’s oldest blueberry farm. Depending on the season, the multigenerational U-Pick farm also features strawberries, flowers, and hayrides. It sits right next to Plantation Pines, a pumpkin and Christmas tree farm.
The bar scene is thriving in Tyler, too. The Plaid Rabbit is an Alice in Wonderland-inspired speakeasy. Grab the latest password from the bar’s Instagram, and don’t miss out on the bread pudding or the quirky bathroom decor (ideally in that order). True Vine Brewing started in a home garage before becoming a community mainstay in the thriving Mosaic District. The Salud is a refreshing Mexican lager, and the brewery recently introduced new twists on the classic, including watermelon and pineapple-infused options. For live music — and a bit of dancing, if you feel so inclined — grab a nightcap at Rick’s on the Square.
For lodging, the Greyhound Inn has been converted from an old bus station into a hotel. Each room has photos from the past accompanied by a modern, sleek aesthetic. Finally, no trip to Tyler is complete without a visit to Tyler State Park, which features ample hiking and biking trails, wildlife, and one of the most pristine lakes in Texas.
Photo courtesy of Tyler Parks and Rec via Facebook
Wichita Falls
The product of a town lot sale in 1882, Wichita Falls soon became a thriving city. First, it was a railroad hub driven by farming and ranching, then a rich land of oil, and later, a “Factory City” due to its abundance of manufacturing companies, wholesale outlets, and retail stores.
Today, Wichita Falls boasts a mix of arts and culture, highlighted by two impressive theatres owned and operated by nonprofits. The Wichita Theatre was first built in 1908, though remnants of the early architecture still exist today. The theater, renovated into an Art Deco design in the 1930s, hosts productions of Broadway shows, primarily musicals. Established in 1971, Backdoor Theatre is a newer addition to the Wichita Falls scene, though the community theatre has quickly acclimated, producing more than 600 productions and concerts. Check out a show on the Main Stage or enjoy a tasty meal alongside your entertainment while visiting the Dinner Stage.
Outdoor enthusiasts can head to Lucy Park, which features a shaded hike to a 54-foot-tall waterfall, rebuilt in 1986 after a flood damaged the original a century earlier. Lucy Park also includes a log cabin activity center, duck pond, and public swimming pool.
For a more quirky experience, visit the World’s Littlest Skyscraper, a four-story red brick building that stands 40 feet tall and has 118 square feet per floor. Built in 1919, the skyscraper has grown to legendary status over the past century. The Alley Cat Vintage Mercantile is an excellent opportunity to head home with a souvenir. Wichita Falls’ largest mall welcomes over 100 dealers — and, true to its name, two cats — selling antiques, vinyl records, pottery, vintage clothing, and other “good junk.”
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Henderson/CC BY 2.0
Paris
Get a taste of France a mere couple of hours away, in Texas’s northeast corner. For a bonus, watch the 1984 film “Paris, Texas” before your weekend getaway. Never mind that most of the movie was shot in West Texas — it’s still an intriguing watch.
If you can stash your bike in the car, Paris sports five unique biking trails worth riding down. The Tour de Paris, hosted annually in July, has been a mainstay since 1984. Today, more than 1,700 cyclists convene to ride 80 miles, with plenty of stunning views along the way.
The Lone Star Paris has its own magnifique Eiffel Tower standing 65 feet high. Sure, the tower in France is about a thousand feet taller, but this version has a red Stetson cowboy hat on top just begging for a howdy from passersby.
The Red River Valley Veterans Memorial Museum honoring military veterans is next to the Eiffel Tower. Victorian history is nearby at the Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site, and the Lamar County Historical Museum presents major moments throughout Texas’s past. For even more historical education, visit the Valley of the Caddo Museum and Cultural Center. Housed inside a former train depot, the museum displays artifacts and shares genealogical research.
Photo courtesy of Adavyd/CC BY-SA 3.0
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Located in Sulphur, OK, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area is across state lines, but it’s worth putting any Texas-Oklahoma rivalries to rest for a weekend. Grab a camping spot at The Point campground and head to the Travertine Nature Center to learn about hiking, swimming, and spectacular views.
A handful of trails offer unique experiences; their names sometimes indicate what you might see along the way. Spot bison on the nearly two-mile West Bison Pasture Loop, while the half-mile Flower Park goes through enchanting wildflowers. Most paths wind alongside (or over) streams, creeks, and waterfalls.The Lake of the Arbuckles is a hotspot for fishing, with the Arbuckle Mountains as a gorgeous backdrop. Bring a swimsuit to take a dip in Little Niagara Falls, a great beach area with picnic tables for refueling in between activities.
Photo courtesy of B. Anderegg/NPS via Facebook
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
