10 Best Things To Do In Garland, Texas - Updated 2020

1. Learn more about the city at the Garland Landmark Museum

Housed in the former Santa Fe depot, the Garland Landmark Museum offers visitors a journey through time, from 1850 to the present. The museum collects, preserves and displays all of the city’s historical artefacts from early settlers, such as old newspapers, farm tools, clothes and other everyday items, that provided a glimpse of how the town folk lived their lives.

Garland Landmark Museum

Address: 393 N 6th St, Garland, TX 75040, USA

Website: Garland Landmark Museum

2. Fit in with the locals at the Resistol Hat Plant

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No visit to Texas is complete without getting an authentic cowboy hat. Instead of just purchasing one off the rack, head down to the Resistol Hat Plant. Visitors will be able to see how these iconic hats have been made, since the 1930s. The tour takes you through each process of the plant and will last about an hour. You’ll better appreciate the hats as you get your own at their onsite souvenir store.

Resistol Hat Plant

Address: 601 Marion Dr, Garland, TX 75042, USA

Website: Resistol Hat Plant

3. Visit the Rowlett Creek Preserve to commune with nature

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Rowlett Creek Preserve is one of Garland’s best parks, with gazebos, lush trails and picnic areas, great for a sweet date or family outing. It’s perfectly fine if you want to have a lazy day, but try one of the trails and you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the city. There are also decent biking trails for your fix of off-road adventure.

Rowlett Creek Preserve

Address: 2525 Castle Dr, Garland, TX 75040, USA

Website: Rowlett Creek Preserve

4. Enjoy an outdoor picnic at Spring Creek Park

If you have a young family, Spring Creek Park makes for a great option. The park has a playground, picnic spots, and a fishing pier, that is more suited for those with young children. There is also a relatively easy 0.8 mile (1.3 km) walking trail, that takes you to some of the local flora and fauna, some of which are over 300 years old.

Spring Creek Park

Address: 15012 Brown Rd, Tomball, TX 77377, USA

Website: Spring Creek Park

5. Shop till you drop at Firewheel Town Center

If you’re in need of some retail therapy, Firewheel Town Center is a whopping 1,004,000 square foot (93,300 square metre), open-air shopping mall, with more than 125 shops, ranging from women’s apparel to sporting goods. Should you get bored or hungry, there are dining options, such as Houlihan’s and TGI Friday’s, along with an 18-screen cinema, including an IMAX theatre, screening all the latest blockbusters.

Firewheel Town Center

Address: 245 Cedar Sage Dr, Garland, TX 75040, USA

Website: Firewheel Town Center

6. Spend a family day at Hawaiian Falls Waterpark

If you’re in Garland for the summer, cool off at the Hawaiian Falls Waterpark, which is one of the top-rated parks in Texas. This water themed park has over 10 rides, from exciting slides like the Rush and Hawaiian Halfpipe to relaxing areas, like Waikiki Beach and Kona Kooler. Whether you’re coming with friends or family, this is a fun way to escape the scorching summer heat.

Hawaiian Falls Waterpark

Address: 4550 N Garland Ave, Garland, TX 75040, USA

Website: Hawaiian Falls Waterpark

7. If your kids never stop running…take them to the Urban Air Trampoline Park

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Let them jump to their heart’s content at the Urban Air Trampoline Park. There are huge trampolines to accommodate all that bouncing around, amongst other on-site attractions, to bring a little challenge to the experience. There are dodgeball courts, the Slam Dunk Zone and Warrior Obstacle Course, to name a few. Adults are, of course, welcome to join, as trampoline parks are one of most effective ways in letting off steam.

Urban Air Trampoline Park

Address: 3046 Lavon Dr #129, Garland, TX 75040, USA

Website: Urban Air Trampoline Park

8. Try their local beer from Lakewood Brewery

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Founder Wim Bens loved craft beer so much he left his old job to start the Lakewood Brewing Company, in 2011. All the beers here are brewed on site, with free tours available on weekends, for visitors who want to find out how they are made. The brewery has its own beer garden, an impressive 4,000 square foot (372 square metre) venue, that offers more than 25 beers and can hold up to 200 guests.

Lakewood Brewing Company

Address: 2302 Executive Dr, Garland, TX 75041, USA

Website: Lakewood Brewing Company

9. Go fishing at Lake Ray Hubbard

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If you’re in the mood for some water activities, head to Lake Ray Hubbard. One of North Texas’ largest lakes, the lake is an idyllic spot for fishing, water skiing and even windsurfing. One of the most popular attractions here is Rockwall Harbour, a waterfront entertainment centre, offering great dining options, live music and walkways to enjoy beautiful sunsets.

Rockwall Harbor – Lake Ray Hubbard

Address: Rockwall, TX 75032, USA

Website: Rockwall Harbor – Lake Ray Hubbard

10. Play a round of 18 at Firewheel Golf Park

Alternatively, you can opt for a round of 18, at the Firewheel Golf Park. Opened in 1983, the park spreads over 600 acres (243 hectares), featuring three courses: the Old Course, Bridges Course and Lakes Course. The courses are ranked by difficulty. The park has a saying: “If the Bridges Course has teeth, the Lakes Course has fangs”.

Firewheel Golf Park

Address: 600 W Campbell Rd, Garland, TX 75044, USA

Website: Firewheel Golf Park

Escape the city

While you won’t see Garland featured on travel brochures anytime soon, it certainly isn’t lacking in attractions. If anything, those looking to escape the overcrowdedness of urban cities will find Garland’s popularity (or lack thereof), very attractive.