Dallas/Fort Worth Area Travel Guide
Cities to Visit: Irving - Attractions

Cities to Visit: Irving, Texas
Points of Interest/ Attractions

The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau, 222 West Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1550, (800) 247-8464, (972) 252-7476; is a good place to get your bearings, including free information on local attractions and maps of the surrounding area. Open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find us online at www.irvingtexas.com.

Located along the shores of the Trinity River's Elm and West Forks, Irving's Campión Trails, (972) 721-2501, is a natural preserve ideal for jogging, hiking and equestrian activities. The northern section, Spring Trail Park, includes 3.5 miles of primary trail and 2.5 miles of equestrian trail and is accessible from the "top" of the Las Colinas Urban Center at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Spur 348 (Northwest Highway/Highway 114).

Mountain Creek Preserve, at Nursery and Hunter Ferrell roads, includes 1.5 miles of concrete trail, equestrian riding area and a canoe launch.

Centennial Park, (972) 721-2493, located along Delaware Creek in Downtown Irving, features Founders Plaza and a commemorative wall depicting the history of Irving through words and pictures etched in the wall.

Heritage House, 303 S. O'Connor Road, (972) 721-2655, was built in 1912, and is one of Irving's oldest homes. Nearby Heritage Park (Main at Second) features a historic train depot. Tours available daily.

Serving as a living history center, Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center, (972) 721-2426, 3929 Jackson Street, is one of the finest repositories of African-American culture and heritage in the state. It features the settlers' earliest homes and historical displays. Tours available by appointment only.

The Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., (972) 252-7558; is a splendid complex that includes two galleries and three theater/concert auditoriums for year-round exhibits and live performances, including the Irving Ballet Company, Irving Community Concert Band, Irving Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Lone Star Youth Orchestra, Lyric Stage, the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving and many other groups. Call (972) 252-ARTS for a schedule of events and exhibits. www.irvingartscenter.com.

Las Colinas, www.lascolinas.org, is a masterplanned community and the urban center of Irving. You'll know that you've arrived when you see the magnificent Flower Clock, Hwy. 114 and O'Connor Road, a working timepiece that is adorned yearround with fresh blooms and greenery.

Just down the street are the Mustangs of Las Colinas, O'Connor Road just north of Highway 114, www.mustangsoflascolinas.com, a breathtakingly realistic sculpture of nine bronze mustangs galloping across a prairie stream. Stroll across the plaza of Williams Square and visit the free Mustang Sculpture Exhibit, (972) 869-9047, West Tower of Williams Square, which includes an informative film about mustangs and the creation of this fabulous sculpture by Robert Glen.

Cowboys, equestrians and regular folks alike will enjoy the Las Colinas Equestrian Center & Polo Club, (972) 869-0600, 600 Royal Lane, www.lascolinasequestrian.com, www.lascolinaspolo.com. Polo seasons are May - July and September - October, with matches on Sunday evenings, (214) 373-8855. The facility is also home to the Las Colinas School of Horsemanship, the first Certified Riding Center in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Just down the block from the Mustangs is the Mandalay Canal Walk at Las Colinas, (972) 556-0625. Tree-lined, cobblestone walkways give this waterfront gem a European ambiance.

Gondola Adventures, (972) 506-8037, www.gondola.com, offers excursions on the Mandalay Canal and Lake Carolyn. Please call for hours of operation, prices and more information.

National Scouting Museum, 1329 Walnut Hill Lane, (972) 580-2100 or (800) 303-3047; is the official museum of the Boy Scouts of America and boasts high tech, virtual reality exhibits as well as the largest collection of Norman Rockwell's original Scouting-related art works under one roof. www.bsamuseum.org

Texas Stadium, 2401 E. Airport Freeway, (972) 554-1804; was built in 1971 as the home of the NFL's five-time world-champion Dallas Cowboys. The stadium seats more than 65,000 fans and is used year-round for concerts, high school football playoffs and other special events. One-hour guided tours are conducted daily (except on scheduled event days). Log on to www.dallascowboys.com for more details.

DrPepper StarCenter Ice Arena, (972) 831-2453, 211 Cowboys Parkway, off MacArthur Boulevard, north of LBJ Freeway, offers two sheets of Olympic ice for public skating and junior hockey.