Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and explore Wine Country. | Photo by @kdsplaces2c
It’s starting to cool down and the weather is just begging to be enjoyed — and what better way to do that than with a little road trip getaway?
Texas is a big state, y’all, so we called in reinforcements from our pals at FTWtoday, ATXtoday, and SATXtoday to help us with this round-up.
Explore these 10 Lone Star State destinations for a short road trip from Dallas.
Foodie forays
Fredericksburg | ~4 hours southwest Plan a weekend trip to the Texas wine capital and explore vineyards and tasting rooms.
Boerne | ~4.5 hours southwest Work up an appetite for fresh farm-to-table recipes at The Dienger Trading Co. after a cave tour.
Houston | ~3.5 hours southeast Take your pick of James Beard Award-nominated restaurants after perusing the museum district.
Artistic escapes
Waco | ~1.5 hours south Stop by Magnolia Market at the Silos and the Dr. Pepper Museum.
Luckenbach | ~4 hours southwest Thanks to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, this small Central Texas town is a country music haven.
Marfa | ~7.5 hours southwest Drive into the sunset for this West Texas artist paradise with larger-than-life roadside art and the miniature fake Prada store.
Outdoor adventures
Dinosaur Valley State Park | ~1.5 hours southwest Hike through history in Glen Rose + peek in the Paluxy River for sauropod tracks from the land before time.
Colorado Bend State Park | ~3.5 hours southwest Explore 35 miles of trails and hike to a 70-ft waterfall in Bend.
Jacob’s Well | ~4 hours south Drive down to Wimberley for a dip in this enchanting swimming hole.
Galveston Island | ~4.5 hours southeast Look for shells along the Gulf of Mexico.
Sounds of Summer: Time Machine | Friday, Aug. 30 | 8-10 p.m. | Grandscape stage and lawn, The Colony | Wear your favorite white outfit at this outdoor concert featuring a performance by local band Time Machine.
TBAAL Riverfront Jazz Festival | Friday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Sept. 1 | Times vary | Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas | $49-$1,500 | Cee-Lo Green, Cassandra Wilson, Ginuwine, and The String Queens are just a few of the artists performing at this three-day music fest.
Saturday, Aug.31
PlantCon Dallas | Saturday, Aug. 31+ Sunday, Sept. 1 | 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel & Convention Center | $38-$217 | This plant-centered experience includes 150+ booths, a live reptile petting zoo, presentations, auctions, and kids activities.
512: The Selena Experience | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 8 p.m. | Arlington Music Hall | $22-$63 | Step back in time to 1995 at this tribute to the Queen of Tejano.
Sunday, Sept. 1
Ravs & The Akrlyx (Popilistic Soul) | Sunday, Sept. 1| Times vary | The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge | Local Dallas band Ravs & The Akrlyx will bring their pop-centric soul sounds to this Dallas jazz spot.
Dallas influencer Nara Smith has taken over the internet with her from-scratch baking and fashion. Rolling Stone named the influencer the fourth most influential creator on their 2024 Most Influential Internet Creators list.
Opening
A new shop is opening in Dallas’ North Park Center to satisfy all your chocolate cravings. Family-owned Läderach Chocolatier Suisse will open its doors Thursday, Sept. 12. It will be located on Level One near Dillard’s. (CultureMap Dallas)
Trending
Dallas influencer Nara Smith has taken over the internet with her from-scratch baking and fashion. Rolling Stone named the influencer the fourth most influential creator on their 2024 Most Influential Internet Creators list.
Coming Soon
One Chicago taco shop has plans to take over the Big D. Cilantro Taco Grill will open its first Texas location in Celina in late fall. The menu will include dozens of taco filling options from Mexican BBQ to fried pork. (CultureMap Dallas)
List
Local art studio Brad Oldham Sculpture ranked No. 10 on the Top 50 Public Artists list by CODAworx. See artwork from founders Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin throughout the nation — or right here at home with Oldham’s “Traveling Man” sculpture on Gaston Avenue. (PaperCity Magazine)
Sports
Women’s soccer team Dallas Trinity FC will go against FC Barcelona Femeni today at the Cotton Bowl. Get to know the roster with WFAA’s Digital Journalist Paul Livengood.
Listen
The Dallas Cowboys roster picks are finally complete. Who will be the big names to watch for? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Learn
Calling all lifelong learners. Just 13 hours of study with Rosetta Stone is equivalent to a full semester of college Spanish. Ready to hone your skills between meetings, on your commute, or even replace some mindless social media scrolling? Get 50% off.*
Theater
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. What do fairy dust, glass slippers, and hilarious step sisters have in common? They’re all integral parts of this beloved performance headed to the stage at Winspear Opera House on Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 15. Grab tickets for an enchanting evening.*
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