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Garland is not the most exciting city in Texas. If you find yourself in Garland you either just moved here, are visiting a friend / family, or were somehow convinced to be in Garland for work (though the later is incredibly rare). Local radio jockeys joke about the sleepiness of the community frequently and enjoy poking fun at residents who choose to live here, but the jokes are in many ways totally unfair. For starters as part of the Dallas – Fort Worth metroplex, Garland is just a few minutes away from a bunch of exciting event venues, tourist attractions, and public spaces and often has lower rents than Dallas or other nearby cities. Secondly, in recent years Garland has made strides in creating public works of art and offers plenty of fun for residents day and night. Thirdly, Garland is steeped in Texas history and tradition which can make for a good weekend of exploring.
Here are some ideas for things you can do in Garland right now
Visit the Top Garland Tourist Attractions – Tourists visiting Garland have a lot to see and explore in and around the city including outdoor ar and parks.
Find Someting in Dallas To Do – Garland is just northeast of Dallas and shares a border with Dallas, Rowlett, Sachse, and Richardson. Being located here allows quick access to restaurants, outdoor spaces, public art, event venues and more. Find something to do in the nearby area with our always updating list of things to do in the Dallas area.
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Visit the Top Garland Tourist Attractions
These are the top tourist attraction in the city limits of Garland, TX
Resistol Hat Plant and Resistol Outlet Store
Take a tour of the oldest cowboy hat manufaturer in Texas which has been in Garland since 1938. Then look over their massive assortment of hats in their outlet store and pick up a little Texan culture for your head. Resistol is also the largest hat manfuacturer in the world, quite an achievement in our modern times.
Spring Creek Park
Get outdoors to enjoy some fresh air and nature at this hidden green gem of the Dallas metro region and one of the cities best attractions, Spring Creek Park in Garland. The park sits just south of President George Bush Highway. The park is split up into 3 separate sections that each offer something different. The Spring Creek Greenbelt section offers covered picnic areas, playgrounds, a fishing pond with a pier, grills, and a 0.33 mile walking trail. The Spring Creek Park Presserve has a 0.8 mile long walking nature trail and uncovered picnic tables. The Spring Creek Forest Preserve allows you to walk among tress that are over 300 years old down a 0.5 mile nature trail and also has another 0.33 miles of concrete paths to walk.
Lakewood Brewery and Taproom
Opened in 2012 this local craft brewery has its roots in Belgium and East Dallas. Wim Bens, the founder, originally started making his own craft beers when he was an SMU student living in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas. Born in Belgium Wim wanted to recreate the taste of beer from his home country here and started on a journey that led him to create the Lakewood Brewing Company. The Brewery today creates small batch, handcrafted beers, they say are full of exciting and unique flavors.
The brewery gives free tours on the weekends and discusses the history of the brewing company while explaining how they make the beers. Guests then go to the beer garden to taste and drink their favorite seasonal beers. With over 4,000 square feet the beer garden has plenty of room for folks to be comfortable while discovering a new favorite beer.
Firewheel Town Center
One of the newer additions to Garland is this open-air outdoor shopping center which features over 110 shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Firewheel offers something for everyone with its massive selection of entertainment and dinning options. For entertainment visitors can select between e-sports, movie theaters, kids obstacle courses, indoor kids playground, painting classes, and escape rooms. Dining options include a locally owned burger place called Pete’s Burgers Wings and Drinks and an assortment of national chains that provide Yogurt, Bubble Tea, Tex-Mex, American fare, Fast food, Pizza, Tex-Med, and Wings.
Especially for nice weather days, Firewheel is a great option to do a little physical brick & mortar shopping, get some exercise walking around, and eat delicious food.
Elements of Life Sculpture
Located at the intersections of Main St and 5th St in Downtown Garland stands this public artwork by sculptor Ricardo Paniagua which was first erected in November of 2018. Elements of Life is a bright, bold piece that refuses to blend in to the background of the surrouding homogeneity and decaying oldness of the surrounding city. Almost as if it alone is bringing all of the elements needed to create new life in Garland. Elements of life is a must see in-person artwork and is one of 12 pieces of public art scattered around Garland for your visual enjoyment.
Landmark Museum at Heritage Crossing
Hawaiian Falls Waterpark
Downtown Garland
Rowlett Creek Preserve
Duck Creek Golf Club
Firewheel Golf Park
Surf and Swim
Bass Pro Shops
Still bored and looking for something in Garland, TX to do? Consider broadening your search to nearby Dallas, TX. Here’s a list of events and activities to consider for your cure to boredem. If you need more ideas check out our list of things to do in Dallas, TX.
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