Outdoor Dallas

Greet the morning with a drop-in yoga class at Klyde Warren Park. The urban park, perched atop an eight-lane freeway, is the city's living room and has a terrific view of the Dallas skyline. Meander through the park, which includes a playground, dog park, spray ground and kiosks with local periodicals and games to use. Check out a croquet set and create your own course for a morning match.

With a fresh and creative approach in an urban, upscale setting, Yolk has taken the breakfast and lunch scene by storm. Take your pick from their impressive selection -- the Iron Man skillet, a filling serving of egg whites, mushrooms, avocados, onions and peppers, goes nicely with one of their many choices of fresh-squeezed juices.

Take your love for the outdoors to trees at the Trinity Forest Adventure Park, located south of Downtown in the nation's largest urban hardwood forest, the Great Trinity Forest. The aerial park, which includes more than 20 zip lines, has military-style obstacle courses set in the trees, so test your agility as you maneuver from one challenge to the next. Bring the kids too -- there's fun-sized courses for them to enjoy as well.

Spend the evening at Trinity Groves, a foodie destination in West Dallas, where you can relax in Adirondack chairs on the shady patio before dining at LUCK. The restaurant, short for Local Urban Craft Kitchen, emphasizes Texas-sourced ingredients and flavors. Don't miss the impressive local craft beer list, with options from more than a dozen area breweries -- they even have beer ice cream.

After dinner, take a walk across the Trinity River toward downtown on the Ron Kirk pedestrian bridge. The bridge runs parallel to the Santiago Calatrava-designed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which soars 400 feet tall and offers terrific views of Dallas' neon-accented skyline.

Head to BuzzBrews for a hearty breakfast to start the day. This eclectic spot is open 24 hours and features a flavorful menu of omelets, pancakes and veggie sausage. Treat yourself to the all you can drink coffee, or have a glass of orange juice before heading out for the day.

Rent stand-up paddleboards or kayaks from White Rock Paddle Boarding and explore Dallas' White Rock Lake. Called "The People's Playground" in the 1930s, the serene lake is surrounded by leafy neighborhoods, offering a dramatic view of the skyline peering above the towering pecan and live oak trees. Explore the meandering shoreline as you spy ducks, heron, egrets and more than 200 other species of birds.

Head to the lake's eastern shore for a visit to Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Pick up lunch to go at one of the many restaurants along Garland Road (Goodfriend Burger House is one of our favorites) before wandering through gardens for the perfect lunch picnic spot, or grab a table at the at historic DeGolyer House for an elegant lunch. The arboretum draws crowds with several special events each year, especially the springtime Dallas Blooms, the largest floral festival it the Southwest. Check the schedule for evening concerts on the lawn during warmer months, and enjoy the breeze off White Rock Lake. The arboretum is also one of 6 Dallas attractions on the Dallas CityPASS program, so the visit is that much easier with a prepaid discounted admission ticket.

Take a mid-day break with a horseback ride. Just 15 minutes from Downtown is the Texas Horse Park, located in the Great Trinity Forest. Trail rides are available for cowboys at all levels, and there are even pony rides for the little ones. Escape the city as you wind through hardwood forests, past serene ponds and bucolic meadows.

Stop at HG SPLY CO for dinner. The restaurant has a focus on hunted and gathered foods and their rooftop bar is perfect for enjoying a Moscow Mule or a Fall Storm, a custom HG creation made up of run, lime, pimento dram and ginger beer.