Southlake City in Texas is known by many as a day-trip destination for people coming in from Fort Worth and Dallas.
Nestled near Lake Grapevine’s southern edge, this small city offers you the best of both worlds.
Many people from Texas prefer this suburban area as a perfect place to settle down for many reasons.
Despite its small-town vibes, Southlake City is known as a leisure destination because of its plush shopping centers, outdoor attractions, parks, and outdoor activities.
If you combine all of this city’s parks, it spans more than a thousand acres.
It means countless fun outdoor activities are waiting for you there.
So, what’s in store for a traveler like you in this small but charming Texan city?
Below are the 15 best things to do in Southlake!
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The Southlake Town Square in Grand Avenue is one of the premier shopping centers in the Denton-Tarrant Counties.
If part of your itinerary is shopping, this is the best place you need to go on a shopping spree.
Southlake Town Square is a beautiful open-air shopping center featuring more than 120 retailers and more than a dozen restaurants.
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Everyone in the Denton-Tarrant Counties knows how well-known this shopping center is.
Thus, it’s definitely worth checking out when you’re in Southlake.
Experience shopping with today’s best mainstream brands and spend quality leisure time with its mixture of fine-dining and local restaurants.
There are many things to enjoy in Southlake Town Square aside from shopping that you need to spend an entire day to satisfy yourself with all its offerings.
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The Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park along W Southlake Blvd offers you and your family a plethora of exciting activities.
Kids and even kids at heart are surefire to have fun spending their entire day playing different-themed attractions in this adventure park.
One of its main attractions is the battle beam arena, where you need to showcase your balance and skill to emerge as the champion.
In addition, you can play with your child at the dodgeball court equipped with a trampoline that adds more fun and challenge to the game.
If you’re looking for a more exciting activity, proceed to its bumper cars area or the warrior’s obstacle course.
The Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park is the perfect place to start your travel adventure in Southlake, especially with your loved ones.
The Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve is a charming 758-acre nature preserve home to a diverse species of flora and fauna.
More than 700 plant and animal species are found in this nature preserve that can be accessed through E. Bob Jones Road in Southlake.
For outdoor activities such as hiking, nature photography, and wildlife viewing, the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve is the best destination in Southlake to visit.
Since opening in 2008, the Bob Jones Nature Center has become one of the top outdoor destinations in Southlake and the Fort Worth and Dallas area.
It boasts more than 20-miles of hiking trails for various outdoor activities like hiking and nature viewing.
Aside from outdoor activities, kids can have fun through the Cross Timbers Forest Preschool.
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A few miles northeast of Southlake takes you to Lake Grapevine, a popular destination for waterborne activities.
This sprawling 8,000-acre lake in the neighboring city of Grapevine is known for its beautiful camping grounds and boating facilities.
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Outdoor activities such as boating, windsurfing, and waterskiing are just a few of the many things you can enjoy at Lake Grapevine.
In addition, its rolling shoreline and around nine miles of trails offer visitors more options to enjoy their experience there.
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The Bicentennial Park along W Southlake Blvd is one of the city’s best places to enjoy outdoor activities and sports.
As a premier park facility in Southlake, it has numerous sports facilities and beautiful features.
The park has a baseball field, basketball court, and a tennis court for sports enthusiasts, while its vast green fields are perfect for other sports.
Being one of the most extensive parks in Southlake, the Bicentennial Park also has a children’s playground.
In addition, it’s home to the “Liberty Gardens,” where you can relax and have a picnic with your loved ones or your travel buddies.
The Marshall Creek Ranch is one of the most incredible trails in Texas for equestrians.
The entire trail covers 2,200-acres over 39 miles of scenic landscape in the Denton-Tarrant Counties.
The trail traverses through scenic landscapes teeming with local wildlife and to the shores of Lake Grapevine.
You’ll come across numerous wildlife such as turkey vultures, blue herons, coyotes, and whitetail deer.
Visit the ranch and book a schedule of its horseback riding tours available for all skill levels.
Overall, Marshall Creek Ranch’s horseback riding experience is not just your typical tour; it’s also an excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing.
If you’re looking for the most extensive park in Southlake, head to Bob Jones Park.
This park spans nearly 500-acres and is also home to Texas’ native tree species, the Cross Timbers.
Like most parks in Southlake, this one also has sports facilities for soccer and softball, while its 6-acre pond is a popular fishing spot for local and visiting anglers.
In addition, Bob Jones Park has a trail for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Moreover, Bob Jones Park has a playground for kids, an amphitheater, and a separate dog park, making it a great place to hang out.
The Grapevine Botanical Gardens along Ball St. in Grapevine is considered a hidden gem in Dallas-Fort Worth area.
If you appreciate the beauty and the peaceful ambiance of gardens, head to the neighboring city of Grapevine, roughly a 10-minute drive from Southlake.
The Grapevine Botanical Gardens is home to a network of a stunning collection of plants, and flowers, with a series of streams, ponds, and trails, making this place a spectacular setting for a photoshoot.
You can bring your better half to this beautiful garden if you’re looking for a romantic destination during your travel adventure in Southlake.
Overall, an afternoon stroll through this garden is always worthwhile.
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The White’s Chapel United Methodist along S. White’s Chapel Boulevard in Southlake is widely known for its extensive church that fits more than a thousand people.
It’s a place of worship for many in Southlake, but it’s also a popular tourist destination for many reasons.
The White’s Chapel United Methodist hosts a highly-entertaining concert featuring the Worth Symphony Orchestra during the holiday season.
The orchestra plays classic Christmas melodies and songs.
Whether you’re a religious person or not, spending some time at the White’s Chapel United Methodist is worthwhile. Appreciating its beautiful architecture inside and listening to the hymns of its choir during service is the best way to experience this place.
The Widowmaker Trail Rides may sound intimidating at first, but you’re going to change your mind once you’re saddled up with its long horseback riding tours around Southlake and Grapevine.
This horseback riding touring company situated on Quail Creek Ct. in Southlake is known for its long but worthwhile tours that take you through scenic landscapes.
The ride usually lasts two hours or longer, but the entire experience is very memorable.
The horseback riding tour takes you to dense forests, meadows, rolling hills, creeks, and the Lake Grapevine shores.
The Timarron Country Club along Byron Nelson Parkway is a top golf course in Southlake if you’re looking for an invigorating golf session.
Opened in 1994, the Timarron Country Club is known throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area because it was designed by golf legend Byron Nelson.
The 18-hole golf course mainly highlights the natural beauty of the area.
The scenic rolling hills, wooded terrain, and a long-winding creek add technicality to the course.
After a tiring golf session, treat yourself to a mouthwatering meal at its club restaurant.
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The Dragon Stadium is a famous football stadium in Southlake.
It’s home to the vaunted Southlake Carroll Dragons, a many-time state champion in high school football.
Opened in 2001, the Dragon Stadium offers football fans a top-notch football stadium and amenities capable of hosting various sports.
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In fact, the stadium became a temporary home pitch to the Major League Soccer’s Dallas Burn in 2003, while mainstream sports brand Under Armour chose it as their film setting.
With its massive video board, multiple concessions, press box, elevators, and a quality drainage system, the Dragon Stadium is considered one of the best high school stadiums in the United States.
To add more excitement to your visit to Southlake, don’t forget to check out Dragon Stadium.
Who knows?
You might catch one of the Dragons’ games.
The Obstacle Warrior Kids-Southlake along E. State Highway is a popular indoor obstacle course and ‘ninja’ school for kids and even kids at heart.
If one of your childhood dreams is becoming a stealthy ninja, you should visit this place in Southlake.
During the training course, you’ll be taught different ninja techniques through the facility’s obstacle course.
If you want more challenges, you can choose either the intermediate or the extreme ninja warrior classes.
Overall, the Obstacle Warrior Kids-Southlake is an exciting and wholesome place for family bonding during your visit to Southlake.
Everyone is still fascinated by the infamous outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde, up to this day.
If you’re one of those who are fascinated by this infamous duo, check out the 6-foot historical marker commemorating the death of Edward Wheeler and H.D Murphy along Dove Road in Southlake.
These two state troopers were killed by Bonnie and Clyde on April 1, 1934, while patrolling the highway in Southlake.
The historical marker details the events that transpired on that tragic day that claimed two lives based on the eyewitness’s statement.
Polk Ivy, a fellow state trooper, noticed that Murphy and Wheeler weren’t trailing him while traversing the highway.
Instead, they turned onto Dove Road to help a motorist in trouble.
He decided to turn back only to find out the two lifeless bodies of Wheeler and Murphy.
According to the eyewitness, he saw the state troopers gunned down by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.
Today, it remains a fascinating place to visit and trace back what made Bonnie and Clyde, who became outlaw media stars in the 1930s.
Southlake’s high humidity and warm climate make it a perfect place to grow grapes.
Thus, it’s not surprising that numerous vineyards and wineries are found in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.
When you’re in Southlake looking for a top-notch winery, check out the Delaney Vineyards and Winery along Champagne Blvd.
This winery gives you the ultimate experience of North Texas wines by having an educational tour of its winery and vineyard.
Wrap up your visit by proceeding to its tasting room, where you can pour a glass of its freshly-bottled wines.
So, before heading home, reward yourself with quality leisure time at Delaney Vineyards and Winery.
With tons of attractions and exciting things to do in Southlake, having a blast would be an understatement for your travel experience there.
Whether you’re alone or with your travel buddies or family, there is something good waiting for everyone in Southlake.
Before packing up, make sure to bookmark this page as your itinerary in Southlake.
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