I'll be in the DFW area for a few days next week and will probably have a day or two for hiking and photography. I'm hopeful I can combine the two. Any suggestions?
For hiking and general picture-taking opportunities in the Dallas area, places I have been (not really hiking but more of a nature walk) are White Rock Lake (nearest to downtown), Lake Ray Hubbard (outskirts in Rockwall), and recently I discovered a great park in McKinney (about 20 minutes north of Dallas on 75) with a nice nature trail. Dallas has the beautiful Dallas Arboretum, and the Dallas AND the Fort Worth Zoos are really nice. I am sure that some of the others from the DFW area can give you more suggestions, but those just came to mind right off the bat. Have fun...it's a nice place to visit! :o)
edit: Just so you can be an authentic Texan for a few days, you have to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards...buy a hat or some boots and you'll fit right in! Great photo ops down there sometimes. And the Dallas night life in the West End is fun to take in. Downtown is really pretty at night. And the Farmer's Market in downtown Dallas is fun as well. I'll shut up now! :o)
I'll look into the lakes/park(s) you mentioned and I've definitely added the Arboretum to my list.
(By the way, I'm willing to travel about 2 hours (one way) out of the city if that helps. After looking at the available state parks in the area, it looks like I won't have to go far to get much.)
Ah, yeah, I'm gonna be somewhere in TX this weekend for a wedding. I can't wait! Wedding photos and I get to go to TX (one of the states I haven't been to).
Oh, I almost forgot to mention these...there's Old City Park, Dealey Plaza & The Texas School Book Depository, Fair Park, the DMA, Dallas Aquarium, and tons of stuff I haven't even thought about yet...it could take days! It's surprisingly difficult to remember all the attractions in an area you have grown up around...it all gets too commonplace, I guess! But you will have a blast anyway...if it doesn't rain! :o)
We have an awesome aquarium that looks more like a rain forest, Theyhave all kinds of different animals and for many they don't have nasty cages to get in the way of pictures, I've been twice and will go again when they finish their extension of the place. Downtown Dallas it's self is cool just to walk around and take some shots, I've done that many of times. The Dallas Zoo is pretty cool, FT Worth zoo might be better. Also FT Worth has the water gardens but they might still be closed due to the past events if you all haven't heard already. I'm going on a blank now, hope I helped a bit, have fun...and I hope it doesn't rain on you.
