Finding some green peace and quiet, both in and around Texas’s urban centers, is a great way to balance any trip.

Visiting some the Lone Star State’s exciting cities comes with numerous options. There is so much to do and see. But sometimes you just want to get away from it all. Many of the state’s major urban centers also offer wonderful “green” spots for a respite. Parks, natural areas, waterways, and wildlife viewing are all available — either a short walk, a quick car ride, or a half-day adventure away.

Houston

Armand Bayou Nature Center, south of downtown, is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the country. Visitors are invited to roam much of the 2,500 acres of wetlands forest, prairie, and marsh ecosystems found here. It’s also home to more than 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Spy bald eagles, turtles, armadillo, and more as you hike one of the five trails of varying lengths here. Kayak through the preserve along the pristine Armand Bayou Paddling Trail, or take a pontoon boat cruise. For a unique experience, join in an “Owl Prowl,” a special guided night hike to look for owls.

Buffalo Bayou Park near downtown features gardens, hike-and-bike trails, public art, and more. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and paddle down the bayou, observing the native landscaping, birds, and wildlife.

Memorial Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024. This 1,466-acre park offers visitors not only tree-shaded trails on which to wander or pedal, but also includes a golf course, an arboretum, and botanical gardens.

San Antonio

The San Antonio River Walk Mission Reach is surrounded by 400 acres of restored ecosystem, 16 miles of hike-and-bike trails, and eight miles of river paddling. Plus, the trail provides access to four of the city’s World Heritage Mission Sites.

San Pedro Springs Park just north of downtown, is the second oldest park in the country, established in 1729. The park has gardens, a short walking trail, and a spring-fed pool lined with shade trees.

The Japanese Tea Garden is a colorful carpet of greenery, trees, and floral displays. There are walkways throughout, along with stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall, and Koi ponds.

Natural Bridge Caverns offers a breathtaking underground adventure. Explore vast chambers filled with stunning rock formations, or test your courage on the canopy zip lines and ropes course above ground.

Dallas

Lake Whitney State Park is 23,500 acres located an easy drive south of Dallas. On the lake, you can boat, swim, or fish, while in the park you can hike, bike, camp, stargaze, or geocache.

Great Trinity Forest, also south of Dallas, is the largest urban forest in the country (6,000 acres). Not only can you hike and bike the half-dozen or so trails there, you can ride horseback along some of them as well.

White Rock Lake hosts boaters, swimmers, kayakers, canoe enthusiasts, windsurfers, and more. The surrounding park is home to the Dallas Arboretum as well. A 9.33-mile trail is great for walking, running, biking, or just meandering beneath the trees.

Fort Worth

Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge is a collection of prairies, forests, and wetlands. Within its 3,600 acres are 20 miles of trails, canoe and kayak rentals on Lake Worth, and a Prairie Dog Town next to the Bison Range. Yes, bison! In fact, you can even join in on a Bison Feeding Hayride.

The Water Gardens are right downtown. Designed by famed architect Phillip Johnson, this is a geometric puzzle of water and stone. A variety of water features dot the cascading design, creating a flood of sensations for the eyes and ears.

Tandy Hills Natural Area is a 155-acre showcase of hundreds of native plant and animal species. This protected area offers walking trails that lead through fields of wildflowers, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.

Austin

Lady Bird Lake is adjacent to downtown. A hike-and-bike trail runs along the shores of the lake through a landscaped park. A variety of watercraft are for rent here. And don’t miss the bats emerging from under the Congress Avenue Bridge each evening at dusk, from mid-March to mid-April, and late-July through August. With 1.5 million animals, it’s the largest urban bat colony in the world!

Emma Long Metropolitan Park, also known as City Park, hugs the banks of Lake Austin. Along with a beach for swimming, there are picnic tables, volleyball courts, and campsites.  Just beyond the campsites are some picturesque hiking trails.

Reimers Ranch Park is in the nearby town of Dripping Springs. The park is popular with rock climbers — limestone cliffs flank the Pedernales River — and with mountain bikers. Reimers also has a beach for swimming or wade-fishing, along with great birdwatching and an observatory for stargazing (it’s an International Dark Sky Park!).

El Paso

Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site is a treat. Not only can you see ancient rock paintings from the area’s earliest inhabitants, but there are trails for hiking, “tons” of rock-climbing opportunities, excellent birdwatching, and equally excellent stargazing.

Franklin Mountains State Park is the place to see “miles and miles of Texas.” Take a hike or a mountain bike to explore some of the park’s 27,000 acres. Designated rock-climbing areas are available, and if you’re up for a challenge, the highest peak reaches 7,192 feet.