Irving’s sizable selection of parks, restaurants, and cultural attractions makes it easy to find a worthwhile adventure without breaking open the piggy bank. Here are 10 ideas for family-friendly, budget-friendly fun all around town.
Explore: Bird’s Fort Trail Park
5756 Riverside Dr
If you think birding is boring, think again! It's not just nerds that hit the trails in search of a rare bird. Plus, at Bird’s Fort Trail Park, you have a breadth of opportunities to enjoy the 58-acre preserve. You can hike the scenic 1.5-mile nature trail, birdwatch, go fishing, enjoy a picnic, or all of the above! And with mild weather almost year-round, outdoor adventure is always an option. So grab the binoculars, the outdoor kicks, pack a picnic and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you.
Eat Around the World: Empa Mundo - World of Empanadas
3977 N Belt Line Rd | (972) 746-4516
Would you like to send your taste buds on a trip to Argentina? Grab some delicious empanadas at Empa Mundo! This small bakery, with big, bold Buenos Aires flavors, serves fresh, cooked-to-order Argentinian gourmet empanadas for just $2.50 a piece. Best described as overly stuffed pillows of ooey-gooey goodness in a golden, crispy pastry crust, they are sure to make you and your crew happy.
Party on the Plaza: Toyota Music Factory
340 W Las Colinas Blvd
Food and drinks, music, festivals, fitness and fun collide on Texas Lottery Plaza, conveniently located in the Toyota Music Factory. Free yoga classes - Poses on the Plaza - are held every Saturday for the fitness fanatics. And live music will be firing up again in March, so you'll definitely want to grab a buddy and a blanket for the free Friday/Saturday Night Concert Series. Check out the full lineup of Texas Lottery Plaza fun now!
Step Back in Time: Irving Archives and Museum
801 W Irving Blvd. | (972) 721-3700
For just $7, the family-friendly Irving Archives Museum (IAM) takes you through some fascinating exhibits that tell Irving’s story. The museum also hosts traveling exhibitions, features a flight simulator and has an innovation lab for kids! The IAM is the first museum in Texas to feature a Smithsonian Spark!Lab where young visitors and their families step into the role of inventor in a hands-on interactive laboratory. Take the tots (for only $5) to discover, explore and invent at the Irving Archives & Museum.
Loop the Lake: Lake Carolyn
Lake Carolyn Pkwy
Residents and visitors alike are often seen enjoying the trail winding around Lake Carolyn. You can hop on a bike for a leisurely stroll, walk your pup to Homegrown Hounds Dog Deli & Bakery or get your run on enjoying the scenic views. The Lake Carolyn Loop is just 2.8 miles, but if you’re an avid runner, you can loop as many times as you like. Strolling? If you follow the canals that go in and among the buildings, you’ll find a lovely little waterfall.
Let the Good Times Roll: Mary’s Roll Ice Cream
3524 W Airport Fwy Suite 116 | (972) 313-9818
Trying a new dessert is always an adventure, especially when you get rolls of ice cream with yummy fillings and toppings! At Mary’s Fried Rolled Ice Cream, cold, creamy, rich vanilla ice cream is rolled in a thick coating of vanilla cookie crumbs, crushed cornflakes, a lil bit of sugar, and a lil bit of cinnamon; and then deep-fried in hot oil to crispy, crunchy perfection. They dollop the rolled, fried goodness with whipped cream, add sliced strawberries and churros, then drizzle the whole thing with chocolate sauce and affix the obligatory cherry on top! This is pure deliciousness, peeps. A sweet treat that's also a work of art ... roll with it!
Experience Art: Irving Arts Center
3333 N MacArthur Blvd. | (972) 252-7558
Immerse yourself, your partner, your kids in various forms of art with a visit to the Irving Arts Center, featuring rotating exhibitions, activities for kids, performing arts and so much more. The Art Center is renowned as a premier arts venue with six distinct galleries, a beautiful Sculpture Garden and special events. New exhibitions are continually rotating throughout the year, giving you the perfect reason to return time and again. The galleries at Irving Arts Center are free to view; no advanced reservations are required except for special events such as the center's free monthly guided tours, offered the first Saturday of each month. To reserve a guided tour, click here.
Capture the Beauty: Iconic Irving Landmarks
Strike a pose at some of our favorite spots for Instagram-worthy pictures: the Mandalay Canal and Mustangs of Las Colinas. You'll love the old-world architecture, tree-lined cobblestone walkways, romantic bridges and Canal Clock Tower along the Mandalay Canal. And judging by the number of bridal portrait shoots and teens commemorating proms and quinceañeras there, it’s safe to say that the canals are worthy of a spot on the list of best places for perfectly post-worthy photos.
And just a quick gallop away ... the Mustangs of Las Colinas, the largest equestrian sculpture in the world, depicts nine larger-than-life bronze mustangs charging through a river, appearing to splash water in the middle of Williams Square Plaza. These beauties have often been the location of choice for photo shoots and are best experienced at night, when the horses are magnificently lit up.
Cheers to Craft Burger Tuesdays: Bar Louie
360 W Las Colinas Blvd. | (469) 472-1050
Grab a delicious Bar Louie craft burger WITH tots or fries for half off every Tuesday! Now that's a bargain burger. Plus, this Toyota Music Factory favorite offers BRUNCH & SUNDAY FUNDAY ($2 Mimosas Sat/Sun til 3pm) and HAPPY HOUR (Mon-Fri, 4pm-7pm). With fire pits to keep you warm when there's a chill in the air and spring weather around the corner, their awesome patio will be the place to eat, drink and be happy!
Park It: The Heritage District
Did you know that the city of Irving schedules free entertainment events during the warmer months at the beautifully renovated Heritage Park? On Stage at Heritage features live musicians, movies, comedy acts, and more. Enjoy a picnic dinner with delicious eats from on-site food trucks. And while in the Heritage District, why not strike out on an adventure to find the Main Street mural tucked away in a parking lot nearby. Hint: On your mural search, stop by Di Rosani's for $3 pizza by the slice. It will make your adventure even more epic.
As you explore the city, remember to snap some fun pics and tag us @VisitIrvingTX and use the hashtag #IrvingRocks.
