By Amy Reisner
If your summer plans includebrriding a roller coaster or feeding giraffes, then go have a blast. Or if you intendbrto bask by the pool with a magazine in hand, that's great, too. However, ifbryou're looking for activities not found on the usual lineup of places to go andbrthings to do, we have you covered. While these ideas may not top the charts of localbrsummer bucket-list blogs, they're sure to make your summer a hit.
FOOD
1. Eat a Wicked Pig at abrTexas Rangers Game
Baseballbrand summer—they are almost synonymous. Throw in ballpark food and you've gotbrthe perfect trifecta. If you find yourself at a Texas Rangers game at GlobebrLife Park in Arlington this summer, make sure your taste buds visit the 557brSmokehouse in section 49. For $27, you can pig out on a truly wicked sandwich.brThe Wicked Pig is a Hawaiian roll layered with pulled pork, thick-cut Danishbrbacon, a split sausage, prosciutto and thick-sliced ham, covered in barbecuebrsauce, and topped with coleslaw and pork rinds. It's a splurge in every sensebrof the word, but it's so worth it. TexasRangers.com
2. Grab Some Grub at Klyde Warren Park
Who knew an outdoor oasisbrcould exist amid the hustle and bustle of downtown Dallas? If you're going tobrvisit Klyde Warren Park this summer, do so with purpose. We've got a great ideabrfor an afternoon lunch to share with the family or friends. A variety of foodbrtrucks line up each day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the park, serving everythingbrfrom pizza and barbecue to sandwiches and salads. KlydeWarrenPark.org
3. Don't Let Your Steel City Pop Melt
A Steel City Pop isn't yourbraverage summer treat, and to let the heat melt your ice pop before it can bebrthoroughly enjoyed would be a shame. The Fort Worth location of Steel City Popsbris located on Currie Street just south of West 7th Street. Grab a famous flavorbrsuch as Fruity Lavender Lemonade or Creamy Coconut and explore downtown FortbrWorth—and try not to let your pop melt in the Cowtown heat! SteelCityPops.com
4. Be a Pepper Lover at Milwaukee Joe's
The Texas summer heatbrcalls for a truly Texan way to cool off—a scoop or two of Dr Pepper ice cream,brmade from authentic Dr Pepper syrup. And you don't have to travel to Waco tobrget your spoons on this one. Milwaukee Joe's Gourmet Ice Cream in SouthlakebrTown Square serves up a variety of unique flavors daily, including this specialbrrecipe. The family-owned and -operated eatery makes every batch of ice cream atbrits Colleyville creamery. MilwaukeeJoesIceCream.com
ART AND MUSEUMS
5. Discover the Outdoor Murals of Denton
Once a hidden gem known onlybrto locals and college students, Denton has made a new name for itself as abrwell-known music venue and art hub. Take a driving tour of the city to see thebrmyriad outdoor murals. Through the Keep Denton Beautiful initiative, localbrartists are commissioned to paint these murals ranging in style from realisticbrto abstract. One of our favorites is located at the corner of Bell Avenue andbrSherman Drive (pictured) and was completed by Travis Sykes in April. KDB.org
6. Visit a Collection of Collections
Baseball cards? Shoes? Whatbrtickles your collection fancy? Surprisingly, what the Eye of the Collectorbrexhibit at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas shows us is that ifbrsomething can be amassed, people will amass it. Peek into the lives of collectorsbrand see what makes their minds tick. See Dallas Cowboys memorabilia, PEZbrdispensers and the largest Star Wars collection in the world. PerotMuseum.org
7. Take a Trip Down Memory Lane
Remember those long days of summer you spent playing yourbrfavorite video games either at the arcade or at home? Spend this summerbrchecking out the National Videogame Museum in Frisco and take a trip downbrmemory lane. Featuring more than 100,000 videogame consoles, games and artifactsbrplus more than 25 years of historical documents and data, the museum is 10,000brsquare feet of nostalgia. Among the many visual exhibits, there is anbrinteractive game room that allows for friendly competition among family membersbrand friends. NVMUSA.org
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
8. Have a Tea Party in the Garden
ThebrFort Worth Japanese Garden, located at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, consistsbrof 7.5 acres of cherry trees, Japanese maples, magnolias, bamboo, bridges andbrponds that are home to more than 1,200 Koi fish. Mark your calendars for thebrthird Saturday each month to take part in an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremonybrset in the garden from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Fort WorthbrJapanese Society, event tickets are $30 per person. FWBG.org
9. Stop a Train Robbery
This summer, set yourbrsights on adventure! Give the kids a chance to participate in a GreatbrTrain Robbery at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. As the train departsbrGrapevine and heads toward Fort Worth, train robbers thwart the journey. It isbrup to the deputies, a.k.a. your kids, to capture the outlaws so the train can continuebrits course. Robberies are held Saturdays and Sundays through September 3. GrapevineTexasUSA.com
10. Catch a Concert or Movie Under the Stars
Why waste your summerbrevenings indoors when you can enjoy jazz and other entertainment under the starsbron a picnic blanket? Pack a picnic dinner and head to Addison Circle Park forbrthe city's annual Summer Series. Every Saturday in July, starting July 9, enjoybrChristmas in July events in Beckert Park. Enjoy photos with Santa on vacation,bractivities for the whole family, and more! Family-friendly, holiday-themedbrfilms will be projected onto a giant outdoor screen once it is dark, aroundbr8:30 p.m. AddisonSummerSeries.com
11. Go on an Adventure with Alice at Gaylord Texan
Things are getting curiouserbrand curiouser at SummerFest at Gaylord Texan. Grab a pair of 3D glasses andbrjourney with Alice on a 4D Wonderland Adventure that includes colorful lights,br3D artwork and more. If your kids are up for solving some riddles, they can gobron a blacklight scavenger hunt to find hidden Cheshire Cats. And if they wantbrto embrace their inner artist, they can paint a tea cup or an Alice-themedbrcanvas. Times and ticket prices vary. GaylordTexan.com/SummerFest
12. Take Your Movie Night Outdoors
Grab some blankets and lawnbrchairs and catch a free flick with your family during Movies at The Marq. Therebrare two Thursday-evening showings this month: “Norm of the North” on July 14brand “Avengers” on July 28. (Be sure to have your kids dress up as theirbrfavorite superhero for this one!) Movies begin at 7 p.m., but there's fun to bebrhad all evening with complimentary inflatables, crafts and popcorn. Food trucksbrwill also be onsite with snacks and drinks for purchase. TheMarqSouthlake.com
SIGHTSEEING ANDbrSHOPPING
13. Shop Local at Flower Mound's Farmers Market
While thoughts of fruits andbrveggies cross your mind when a farmer's market is mentioned, you'll discover muchbrmore than food in the area's many open-air marketplaces. Spend a summerbrSaturday browsing fresh produce and locally made artisan products at FlowerbrMound's farmer's market or those in nearby Grapevine, Coppell and Keller. You'llbrtake home more than just a tomato or two—perhaps some handmade soap or candles.brTXFarmersMarket.net
14. Travel on a McKinney Avenue Trolley
See the Uptown Dallasbrstreets from inside a trolley car this summer along the M-Line. The McKinneybrAvenue Transit Authority runs the M-Line and its air-conditioned (and heated)brrestored vintage trolleys. While it serves as free public transport first andbrforemost, the trolley has an historic ambiance not lost on passengers ridingbrfor purpose or pleasure. There is no official starting or stopping point alongbrthe M-Line; just look for one of the 38 signs to catch a ride. MATA.org
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
15. Sip an Umbrella Drinkbrat a Swim-Up Bar
Somehow,bra Mai Tai tastes better when it's sipped from a poolside bar. While this mightbrseem like a luxury reserved for a beach vacation, you can sip your beveragesbrthis summer at Jade Waters, a world-class, resort-style pool new to the HiltonbrAnatole in Dallas. The three-acre water facility has it all: a beach-entrybrfamily pool, two 30-foot slides, luxury cabanas, recreation areas and plenty ofbrwalking and green spaces. No need to renew your passport for this summerbrescape; just take a jaunt over to Big D. HiltonAnatoleHotel.com
16. Watch the Sailboatsbrat White Rock Lake
You'll have to arrive earlybron summer weekends, as it seems everyone in town is at White Rock Lake Park. Butbrwatching sailing and sailboat races (or even getting into the captain's seatbryourself) on the 1,250-acre lake is a summer bucket list item for sure. Locatedbrin northeast Dallas, White Rock Lake Park features green space for picnics,brtrees for hanging hammocks and trails for hiking, biking or unicycling (ifbrthat's your thing). WhiteRockLake.org
17. Go Stand-Up Paddle Boarding in Irving
Stand Up Paddle North Texasbrclosed their Grapevine location this year due to unpredictable water levels,brbut you can still get your paddle on in nearby Irving. Bring your own or rentbrone and glide along the Mandalay canals, waterfalls and fountains. Kids asbryoung as four can navigate their own boards, and toddlers can sit on an adult'sbrboard—wearing a life jacket, of course. SUPNTX also offers fitness classes,brmoonlight tours and more. SUPNTX.com
18. Swing from the Trees at Go Ape
Plano's latest outdoor attraction,brlocated at Oak Point Park Nature Preserve, will give you something to swingbrabout. The Go Ape Treetop AdventurebrCourse contains zip lines, obstacles and Tarzan swings and takes about two tobrthree hours to complete. Participants are given an initial training course andbrinstructors make themselves available throughout so there is no need for priorbrexperience. Only kids 10 years or older can use the course, and individualsbrunder the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. GoApe.com
19. Rent a Bike to Ride the Katy Trail
The historic Katy Trail inbrDallas is 3.5 miles of tree-lined terrain that makes a perfect backdrop to yourbrbiking excursion this summer. No bike? No problem. There are plenty ofbrplaces to rent a bike for a leisurely ride along the trail. Partbrof the City of Dallas park system, the trail is built on an old railroadbrline. There are lights along the trail that turn on at 5 a.m. and thenbragain at sunset until midnight. KatyTrailDallas.org
20. Watch a Summer Sunset on a Saddle
Thebrfolks at Marshall Creek Ranch will take you on a horseback ride through thebr12,000 wooded acres that surround Lake Grapevine and if you are lucky enough tobrarrive as the sun sets, you're in for a treat. Some of the best moments ofbrsummer are spent watching a sunset, and the views here don't disappoint. Ifbryou're in the mood to witness the sun going down in the evening Texas sky, whybrnot experience it at Lake Grapevine with the help of Marshall Creek Ranch inbrSouthlake? MarshallCreekRanch.com
21. Treat Your Furry Friend to a Summer Frolic
Don'tbrlet Fido miss out on summer fun. The largest of its kind in NorthbrTexas, NorthBark Dog Park is a 22.3-acre off-leash dog park locatedbrin far north Dallas. The park includes a six-foot-wide loop trail, anbrexpansive lawn area, a dog beach adjacent to a doggy lake and a doggybrshower. Fido will be much obliged to meet new friends and get out of the housebrevery once and awhile. The park is closed on rainy days and on Tuesdays forbrmaintenance. DallasParks.org
22. Feed the Animals at Homestead Farms
Don't settle for a simple summer hayride at HomesteadbrFarms in Fort Worth; take a full tour of the farm and learn how the cowbreats cabbage. A reserved tour of the farm includes a hayride and also abrchance for the kids to feed the animals and get a hands-on lesson of how a farmbrworks. The tour takes about one hour, and tickets must be purchased inbradvance. Homestead-Farms.net