Enjoy Small Town Charm At This Underrated Texas City For Shopping, Hiking, And Dining

Dallas and Fort Worth have become synonymous with one another since the two officially became a single giant metropolitan area back in 1973, although the two Texan cities are very different. Dallas is an affordable warm-weather destination with glitz and glamor, and Fort Worth is more of a textbook blue-collar city, but the sprawling conurbation between can seem a bit of a blur to the untrained eye. To put it another way, the dash in Dallas-Fort Worth is 35 miles of suburbs and smaller communities that, glancing at a map, appear to have been absorbed by the vaguely dystopian-sounding metroplex. Yet many of them have still retained their distinct small-town charm. One such underrated place is Colleyville, an affluent suburb of greenery and luxury that makes for a leisurely escape from Dallas' city life.

Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Dallas and 20 minutes from Fort Worth, the city of Colleyville (population: 26,000) started out as a rural farm community before booming significantly, growing from just 1,500 residents in 1960 to around 20,000 at the turn of the century. The increased residential development has made Colleyville every inch the leafy suburb. Although the city is bisected by the Grapevine Highway, the town has plenty of green spaces, from its numerous parks to the acres of woodland and trails at Colleyville Nature Center. This outdoorsy aspect of the town makes it a great spot for hiking, while the city's malls and restaurants also offer a range of shopping and dining options.

One of Colleyville's most popular outdoor attractions is the Colleyville Nature Center, an oasis of greenery in the middle of the city that provides welcome shade in the summer and displays gorgeous fall colors later in the season. The park sprawls across 46 acres with multi-use trails for walkers and cyclists, nine ponds, a splash pad, and a pavilion with grills for those hot weather cookouts. It's a haven for anglers with good stocks of fish, and twitchers will love spotting the abundance of birdlife. For more sporty activities, head over to Colleyville City Park, which is home to a variety of baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and basketball facilities.

Colleyville hosts a range of events throughout the year. The Bunny Brunch and Lunch in the spring is great for the kids, with Easter egg hunts, a petting zoo, and a range of other fun activities. Tickets for the event sell out quickly, so book them in advance. Each summer, the Colleyville Stars and Guitars concert welcomes top country singers and lights up the night sky with a spectacular fireworks display.  In the fall, the Colleyville City Hall hosts an annual Harvest Festival with more family fun, food trucks, and Halloween-themed attractions. There is more spooky goings-on in the woodland of Colleyville Nature Center at the Haunted Trails Fest, which also offers costume competitions and carnival games.

Downtown Colleyville has several malls to choose from for a little retail therapy, plus a range of boutique stores selling everything from fashion to home decorations. One of the best one-stop options is Town Center Colleyville, a large shopping center just off Colleyville Boulevard in the heart of the city. The spacious mall hosts over 30 well-known retail brands and a varied selection of food options. As the name suggests, Town Center is community-focused, with spaces to mingle and regular events. If you want to get yourself decked out in brand names for less, head over to Uptown Cheapskate, an outlet selling high-quality second-hand fashions.

If you are feeling a bit peckish after exploring Colleyville's green spaces and malls, the city also boasts a diverse culinary scene. For delicious breakfasts and lunches, Benny's Cafe provides a touch of modern flair to American classics. NAPA Thai Asian Cuisine is one of Colleyville's top-rated spots on Tripadvisor, matching stylish plates with hand-crafted cocktails and a fine selection of wine. Heart-warming European fare can be found at Loveria Caffe, a classy restaurant run by a husband-and-wife team offering authentic Italian dishes, and the Londoner Pub, a cozy chain serving up classics from across the pond like fish and chips and chicken tikka masala. All in all, Colleyville makes for a refreshing break from the hustle and the tourist traps of Dallas and Fort Worth.