Praries and Lakes

The Prairies and Lakes region of Texas covers major cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Waco. Located on the eastern side of the state, Prairies and Lakes region is bordered by Panhandle and Hill Country to the west and Piney Woods to the east. Why come to the Prairies and Lakes region? Besides having on the largest cities in the state, there are activities to appease every member of your traveling party. Cowboys at heart will enjoy the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Rodeo. The region is also the home of the annual Winter Games of Texas. Shopping, dining, and entertainment are other amazing activities that tourists enjoy.

The winter months are generally quite pleasant with highs in the 50s/60s and lows in the 30s. Because the weather changes from day to day, winter activities are usually held indoors. One exception to this is the AT & T Winter Games, a Texas sized version of the Olympic Winter Games. In the town of McKinney, every third Monday of the month finds locals and visitors hitting a gigantic swap meet where you can sell homemade goods or antiques to the general public. This event takes you back to the days when people bought locally and chain stores were a rarity.

By spring, flowers begin to bloom, people venture outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather, and the festival season kicks into high gear. In March, Denton holds one of the nation’s best storytelling events. Storytellers converge on the town to enlighten children with popular folktales, historic tales, and fictional stories. In the small town of Bastrop, cultures collide in the Yesterfest where many of Texas’s earliest cultures provide a look into the cultures that shaped the area. In May, professional golfers come to Fort Worth for the annual Crowne Plaza Invitation Colonial Golf Tournament, one of the most popular PGA Tour events. Finally, head to Dublin, Texas in June to celebrate Dr. Pepper’s Birthday. The popular soda has been bottled in this town since it was formulated almost 120 years ago.

Summers in the Prairies and Lakes region are generally hot with a touch of humidity. The summer months bring many enjoyable festivals to towns and cities throughout this region. In June and July, Dallas comes alive with Shakespearean actors who offer live outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Belton bustles with activity for their annual 4th of July Celebration and PRCA Rodeo. Gourmands will want to head to Dallas in July for the annual Taste of Dallas where local bands and area restaurants gather to showcase their talent. Diners can sample cuisine from all participating restaurants, so prepared to arrive hungry and leave stuffed.

In fall, the foliage begins to shift for the cooler winter nights. Days are generally warm and dry, while nights are slightly cooler and perfect for sleeping. Head to Grapevine in September to join in the merriment as local vineyards allow visitors to climb into vats of grapes and stop them to extract their juice before sampling the delightful local wines. The Annual State Fair of Texas is held in Dallas in late September through most of October. This month long fair features music concerts, fireworks, tons of food booths, livestock exhibitions, carnival rides, and midway games.

Shoppers will love the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Galleria Dallas is a huge four-story mall with an ice rink, on-site hotel, dozens of restaurants, and hundreds of stores. Dallas offers many family-friendly attractions including the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum, Dallas World Aquarium, and Dallas Zoo. Not to be topped, nearby Fort Worth also has a zoo, Japanese Botanical Garden, and the Fort Worth Botanical Garden.

In Grapevine, Texas, Grapevine’s answer to the Grand Ole Opry offers live music events throughout the year. Parker is home to the famous Southfork Ranch, setting for the popular nighttime soap “Dallas.” Arlington is popular with children and