Featured image of Founders’ Plaza at DFW International Airport by Ken Slade
Remember long ago when you would dreamily look into the eyes of your beloved and not care where you were or what you were doing, as long as you were together? Ah, the joy of new found love! Or maybe that’s the stage you’re in right now. As time marches on, at some point or another, reality has a way of breaking through our reverie in the form of busyness or children or financial commitments. Then, you may just find yourself looking for great ways to spend that time together without opening your wallet! No problem; we have membership in that club too!
Bonus Fun Stuff:Euless Restaurants the Locals Love.
First off, congratulations for continuing to make your relationship a priority! Carving out time just to be together and let the noise of the world melt away for a bit can be refreshing to your soul and energizing to your perspective! It also affirms your commitment to each other! Never quit fighting for it!
Second, I invite you to join me in checking out some options that fit this bill! Here are 15 fun ideas that are fantastically free! Some are quite self-explanatory while others have a few specifics to help with the creativity. Feel free to personalize these to your interests or city. Have a great time! Smile and laugh together! You never know where it might lead!
1
Peruse a local art show!
This is a bit hit or miss, but you can watch for them to pop up! Also, many don’t know but the Kimball Art Museum’s permanent collection is FREE! https://www.kimbellart.org/
Location
3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Ft Worth, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
If you feel like splurging have some coffee or even dinner in the cafe. You will be surrounded by beauty while you dine.
2
Attend an outdoor concert!
Here’s a long list that’s sure to have something to tickle your ears! Many of the towns in the mid-cities area have calendars specifically for concert goers and music lovers. Summers especially are good for free evening music for the whole family:
- City of Hurst Parks & Recreation
- City of Southlake
- Levitt Pavilion in Arlington
- Euless Parks & Community Services
- NRH Parks & Recreation
- Bedford Parks & Recreation
- ArtsCouncil Northeast Masterworks Concerts
3
Get Outside!
Photo Credit: River Legacy Park
Go on a bike ride or take a hike together to burn some calories and take in some sights!
River Legacy Park in Arlington is a fun choice!
Location
703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd.
Arlington, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
Eight miles of paved hike and bike trails winding through thick forest and expansive greenbelts.
4
Make A Plan!
Why not pack a picnic lunch and head off to the Bedford Boys Ranch? You can sit on a park bench together, enjoy a beautiful evening and plan your dream vacation.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust
Location
2801 Forest Ridge
Bedford, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
You can take a walk around the pond, and enjoy the new remodel and watch the ducks.
5
Grab a blanket and watch the night sky!
Photo Credit: Frisco Common Parks Website
While not in the mid-cities, Frisco’s Common Park is beautiful and just far enough away from the big city lights for great star viewing. The Texas Astronomy Society sponsors Frisco StarFest with public access to a dozen high-powered telescopes on the second Saturday of each month! Don’t forget to download the Sky View Free App so you know exactly what you’re looking at!
Location
8000 McKinney Road
Frisco, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
2016: June 10, July 9, Aug 13, Sep 10, Oct 8, Nov 12, Dec 10 from sunset til 10:30p. Check their fb for last-minute weather changes.
6
Explore Local
Explore the rich history of your town on a self-guided tour! Have you stepped into the first jail in Grapevine or seen the first log cabin in Euless?
Grapevine’s old calaboose
By Wildstoo [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Grapevine’s old calaboose
Photo Credit: City of Euless
Want to know more about Dallas, they’ve got a free mobile app to help you explore!
Photo Credit: markheybo
7
Explore A Book Store
Drive on over to a bookstore or library and share some “favorites” with each other! The insight you will learn about your significant other will be a treasure trove! Find your favorite children’s book, love poem, or place you’ve been. Then cuddle in a corner and share with each other! OR find out new info to share like a cool biographical fact about someone, an up and coming new exercise trend or a book off the NYT best seller list!
Check out our list of Best DFW Used Bookstores for Your Wallet
8
Make A Difference
Photo Credit: Just Serve
Participate in a service or volunteer project! There is an amazing energy and sense of accomplishment when you use your time to give back! Find something you can put your muscle into or a cause you can get behind! Making a difference is great on so many levels!
9
A Dreamy View
Cuddle and watch the sunrise or the sunset! Near a lake might give an unobstructed view!
Photo Credit: credit with www.GrapevineTxOnline.com
Location
2520 Oak Grove Loop South
Grapevine, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
Lake Grapevine is also a wonderful place to camp. You get the feeling of being away without the long drive.
10
Revisit The Old Days
Visit a college campus!
Ready to visit yesteryear or to make a plan for the future! UT Arlington, UT Dallas, TCU, SMU, UNT…with beautiful, pedestrian-friendly campuses, you can walk around, investigate, admire or if you plan ahead, you might be able to sit in on a free concert. There will definitely be lots of stories to share!
Image Source City of Grapevine’s website
11
Take A Tour
Take a tour and see how something is made! Like, money, money, money!
Admission is free and reservations are not required. Self-guided tours are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location
9000 Blue Mound Road
Ft Worth, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
Where else can you find a gift shop that has fresh uncut sheets of cash?
The North Richland Hills library maintains a space with equipment that helps families ignite their creativity: long-arm sewing/crafting machines, 3D printers, Mac computers, a grand piano, woodworking tools such as a scroll saw and bench, and more. Take a tour to plan a DIY day with your spouse – they have free classes, too!
Location
9015 Grand Avenue
North Richland Hills, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
It’s on the second floor of the library. You need an NRH library card to use the Maker Spot – click here for details.
12
Scavenger Hunt
Photo Credit: Jim Swenson
In a grocery store, take 26 pics of each other holding an item that begins with every letter of the alphabet. Or create a list like something old, something new…. Etc. Or maybe 10 pics of you with a professional like a librarian, firefighter, store owner, barista… you get the idea!
13
Take In A Sight To See
Watch planes arrive and depart from airport at DFW International Airport. It’s kinda cool! You can even listen in on air traffic control!
People came to founders plaza at DFW Airport to watch the BIG moonrise. More on the SuperMoon on FOX4News pic.twitter.com/NJc2d68ajo
— Bob Hawman FOX 4 (@kdfw13) August 11, 2014
Location
1700 N. Airfield Dr.,
Irving, TX | Route Map
Spotlight
There is something incredibly peaceful about just watching the planes come and go together.
I challenge you to pick an activity and a day and go make the most of it! Did anything peak your interest? It IS hard to set aside your demanding technology, but I believe in you! You CAN do it! And you CAN try something new! The bonus is it’s FREE! Living for a few hours outside your daily routine may turn out to be one of the best decisions you make all week!
