It takes about 90 minutes in the car to be far enough from Dallas where you can start using your hometown accent again without judgment. Here are a few of my favorite places outside the city.
Glen Rose, TX
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a drive-through safari experience.
Dinosaur World features 20 acres of life-size dinosaurs, a museum complete with replicas and fossils, a dinosaur fossil dig activity, a playground, and more. Bring a picnic lunch and look for coupons on the Glen Rose Convention & Visitors Bureau. Pets are also welcome as long as they are on a leash.
If camping is your thing, there's plenty of it in Glen Rose. Check out the cabins at Foothills Safari Camp at Fossil Rim, set up your own tent at Dinosaur Valley State Park, or sleep in an Airstream tralier or railroad car at Country Woods Inn.
And if glamping is your thing, get thee to Rough Creek Lodge. Rough Creek Lodge is what would happen if the Four Seasons put on a bright orange Beretta hunting vest. It's super pricey, but in this case, you get what you pay for.
Tyler, TX
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is a 173-acre animal sanctuary and wildlife preserve, home to dozens of lions, tigers, and other endangered species. You can choose from many tour packages, including sensory tours for children with special needs.
If you can't get enough animals, check out the Caldwell Zoo. Don't miss the petting pen or the giraffe feeding deck.
The Discovery Science Place is just awesome. Lots of hands-on exhibits. Caution: Discovery Science Place is closed on Mondays.
Canton, TX
Yesterland Farm has over 30 attractions ranging seasonally from pumpkin patches to corn mazes to carnival rides to petting zoos and beyond. It's about 60 miles East of Dallas, right on Interstate 20. Open seasonally on Saturdays and Sundays and on certain Friday evenings. Check the website for hours.
If your trip east lands on the weekend preceding the first Monday of the month, then you've hit the jackpot because that's when Canton hosts its First Monday trade days. Dubbed the "World's Largest Flea Market", trade days are in full swing the first weekend of every month.