If you lived in a roomy house that backed up to a wooded creek near (terribly cute) downtown Roanoke, would you pack up and move to Arlington?
We did exactly that two years ago, and I’ve never regretted it. As I was thinking about what to write for our “Love My Local” series, I realized contentment in my new ZIP code boils down to 1) a great central location 2) a unique neighborhood with quality of life 3) Rangers baseball, and 4) access to live music and nature. Let me explain . . . .
Location and Mobility
It wasn’t easy to leave Roanoke, but my husband had a long commute and frequent work-related travel. Life felt out of balance and relocating closer to Arlington was our way of addressing that.
DFW is home to a large number of people who have one heck of a commute, and we love no longer being one of those statistics. Our new home is 10 minutes from my husband’s work. We’re 15 minutes from DFW airport, and 30 minutes to Fort Worth or Dallas. We have easy access to I-30, 121, 183, 360—from here, we can go anywhere. As a homeschooling family, we take advantage of cultural and educational opportunities all over the place.
I like having options, and I discovered one that occasionally lets me avoid driving altogether! If you don’t know about it, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is a commuter train that runs between Fort Worth and Dallas. It’s divided into East/West zones; we live between the two, a short drive to the station. We hop the train West to Sundance Square, the Water Gardens, and the Main Street Arts Festival. We take it East to the American Airlines Center, Reunion Tower, State Fair, and the Dallas Zoo.
Here in North Texas, we’re long on pick-up trucks and short on public transportation. I like supporting the options we have, and I’ve found taking the train to be a means of teaching my ‘lil Texans to be a bit more city-savvy.
As much as I enjoy our local adventures, though, my favorite place to be is . . . .
Home Sweet Home
I like my neighborhood so much that I rarely want to leave. Viridian is a unique master-planned community. Those who call it home enjoy multiple parks, a lake, a Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD elementary school, resort-like swimming pools, and top-notch community events. In the next year or two, we expect completion of a marina for sailing and kayaking, tennis courts, and a walkable on-site retail village. There’s nothing “cookie-cutter” about Viridian— there are townhomes to custom homes and everything in between, including a diverse community of residents.
What I appreciate most about our community is its easy access to nature. We will eventually have 14 miles of jogging/biking trails that circle the neighborhood/lake and offer a direct connection to my favorite park, River Legacy.
River Legacy Park is a 1,300 acre oasis along the Trinity River. There are river overlooks, playgrounds, and miles of paved trails winding though tree-canopied forest. There are off-road trails, too. The Living Science Center offers a unique nature-based preschool, summer camps, classes for school-aged kids, and continuing education for individuals and families. River Legacy is truly an anchor of my sanity. It’s a peaceful, beautiful refuge where I head often to ride my bike, take walks, learn about nature, and restore my soul from the general wear and tear of living in a concrete jungle. Kids and adults need time in nature for healthy development; I believe city slickers need it all the more.
This reminds me of another local gem that feeds my soul:
Free Live Music at the Levitt Pavilion
Sitting in a folding chair under the stars, cold beverage in hand, listening to good music might be one of my favorite things. When it’s close to home, free, and I can watch my kids dance, laugh, and fill their hearts as well? There’s nothing I don’t love about that.
You can find this good vibe more than 50 nights a year at the Levitt, an open-air pavilion with a big grassy lawn in downtown Arlington. The music offered is diverse: Texas Country, Jazz, Indie, World, Gospel. Artists are often Grammy Award winners. Mamas: The Levitt, also offers a series of concerts geared specifically towards children. The summer concert series spans late May to mid-July. The Fall concert series kicks off this September 4 and runs through October 11. Check their website for more details.
Last, but not least . . . .
Baseball Town
As sports go, baseball’s always been my favorite. Growing up in New Mexico, I didn’t have a local professional team to call my own. When I moved to DFW six years ago, I gave my heart to the Rangers and I’ve never looked back. If you too are a fan, you know that’s given my heart quite a workout these past few years, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Interestingly, the current season coincides perfectly with my pregnancy—I’m expecting a baby late October. The other day I had a crazy thought. Wouldn’t it be so great to 1) make it to the post-season, and then 2) the Rangers do so well it sends me straight into labor? A little World Series baby? Rangers fan mamas, could I ask you to take a moment and collectively lift up this wish? For the team?
Thank you!
In solidarity,
-Karla, in Arlington
We, at FWMB, love our local so much we created Neighbor Groups for every corner of Tarrant county — and in between. You’ll also find topical groups, like adoptive moms, single moms, food allergy moms, etc. Join a Neighbor Group (or two) today and get connected with other moms in your area.
