An Introduction

I grew up on 15 acres in rural Oklahoma that I was free to explore. There were fields and forest, a creek, a fish pond, horses, great horned owls, beaver, deer, snakes, quail, herons, opossums, raccoons, and barns full of old junk.

My husband grew up in a tiny West Texas town of less than 300 people. There was an abundance of livestock, mountain lions, snakes, scorpions, caves, rocks, arroyos, and rivers. One year they even had a pet fox. We had the sorts of childhoods that many people bemoan that kids don’t have anymore.

We now live in Dallas, Texas with our toddler son, and we have often wondered “Is it possible to give kids that sort of freedom to explore in a big city?” And “If it is, where would they go? What is there to explore here?”

Dallas is a city celebrated for its business successes and built environment. It was recently ranked as America's “Worst Outdoor City” by Outside Magazine. While I’m among those disagree with that label, there isn’t a culture of enjoying the outdoors in Dallas. Many people I’ve talked to here are unaware of great nature spots near to their own neighborhood, and I’m not sure how much the city values or promotes its natural beauty.

In this blog, I have set out to provide a guide to those looking for nature areas to explore in the Dallas area. I particularly hope to be useful to families who would like to provide their kids with opportunities to explore, but don’t know where to start. If you have any suggestions or question as I go along, please leave me a comment.