Prairies and Lakes

The Prairies and Lakes Region is located in the north central part of Texas. It is home to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States. This region also has a beautiful countryside with ranches, "bed and breakfasts", and many recreational lakes. Whether you're looking for the excitement of a big town (shopping, dining, nightlife), or for a more leisurely time in the rural areas, you'll find it here in the Prairies and Lakes Region.

Regions

Map of Prairies and Lakes

The Prairies and Lakes region of Texas is divided into 3 bands which run roughly northeast to southwest, plus the metropolitan area of Dallas-Fort Worth.

Cross Timbers - from the Oklahoma border west of Lake Texoma to southeast of Fort Worth, including areas north, west, and southwest of the Metroplex.
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex - wedged between the Cross Timbers and the Blackland Prairie, includes Dallas and Tarrant Counties.
Blackland Prairie - from the Oklahoma border east of Lake Texoma to just north of Austin, covers the northeast, east, and south sides of the Metroplex.
Post Oak Savannah - from the edge of the Piney Woods down into the cradle between Austin and Houston.

Cities

32.957778-96.8351 Addison - Over 170 restaurants in 4 square miles (10sqkm).
32.705033-97.1228392 Arlington - Amusement parks and the Texas Rangers. "Fun Central"
30.111944-97.3169443 Bastrop - Home of Texas' Lost Pines.
30.6335-96.34064 Bryan-College Station - Brazos Valley. Home to Texas A&M University.
33.216667-97.1333335 Denton - University town with a vibrant music scene and easy access to the Texas Motor Speedway.
32.779167-96.8088896 Dallas - The Arts, the dining, the nightlife... Dallas has it all.
32.756389-97.33257 Fort Worth - "Where the West begins".
29.5089-97.44788 Gonzales - "The Birthplace of Texas Independence" Historical sites, festivals, good eats, and shopping
32.811667-96.9508339 Irving - Home of the Las Colinas Urban Development Center, and (until 2009) the Dallas Cowboys.
32.78278-96.6097210 Mesquite - The Mesquite Championship Rodeo.
31.551389-97.15583311 Waco - Cattle, cotton, corn, collegians, and culture.

Other destinations

32.25325-97.8185861 Dinosaur Valley State Park
32.827317-97.4789132 Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

Understand

Get in

Get around

See

Do

Many rivers and lakes are in this area. Camping and RV'ing is very popular here.

Hike, bike or ride the Northeast Texas Trail from Farmersville northeast of Dallas to New Boston, just west of Texarkana.

Events

32.20038-96.894491 Monolithic Dome Institute Open House, 177 Dome Park Place, Italy, Texas, ☏ +1 972-483-7423. Many of the buildings and features at the Institute complex will be open for viewing. Refreshments will be served. Free.

Eat

Drink

This region travel guide to Prairies and Lakes is an outline and may need more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow!