Irving, Texas, is renowned for being the home of the headquarters of five Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of other thriving businesses. There are numerous things to see and do in Irving ranging from museums to art installations and family-friendly amusement attractions.
This quickly-growing region of Texas is bursting at the seams with entertainment options, but beyond all of the man-made draws, Irving is also home to some of the top-rated nature trails in the state. It also is famed for boasting one of the most unique music and live performance venues in the world.
Irving is a lively and inviting community located at the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth region. It’s home to many cultural venues, entertainment centers, and restaurants. Irving is also known for having a vibrant nightlife scene that features a wide range of live music venues.
A few of the most-visited and highest-rated attractions include the Dallas Arts District, the Toyota Music Factory, and the Irving Arts Center.
There is a lot to appreciate in Irving. Young or old, there is a little something for everyone in this flourishing Texas town. If you’re planning a visit or just curious about what makes Irving such a popular city to visit with tourists, keep watching to see Viewcation’s picks of the best things to do in Irving, Texas.
Toyota Music Factory
Located conveniently directly across from Texican court, this unique attraction has a lot to offer. Try your hand at ax throwing over at Stumpy’s Hatchet House. If you’re hungry, grab a delicious bite to eat at one of the many restaurants onsite which include a Japanese eatery as well as a Salvadorian-Mexican fusion joint.
The Toyota Music factory features an open-air pavilion and hosts numerous concerts and live events that run throughout the year. Be sure to check their website before visiting to see what’s on the schedule.
The complex’s arena can hold up to 8,000 people. The music theater has 4,000 indoor seats, and there is an additional smaller theater that seats about 2,500.
There are more than 20 bars, restaurants, shops, and movie theaters onsite. We recommend visiting the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, where you catch a film while sipping a craft beer or cocktail and nibbling on an appetizer.
Go Paddle-Boarding At SUP NTX
Stand Up Paddle of North Texas can be found on the Mandalay Canal. Here you can participate in a number of water sports, including kayaking and, of course, paddle boarding. You can opt to take a full-body training course or sign up for a guided tour of the waterfalls and fountains.
This is without a doubt one of the best places to go paddle boarding, take a yoga class, or participate in team building activities in Irving. Private one-on-one lessons will teach you how to properly paddle, stand up, and keep your balance. You will also learn how to master various paddle styles and other abilities required to swim with confidence.
The Ruth Paine House Museum
If you’re a history lover, then by visiting this house which has since become converted into a museum, you can learn what really went down with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Ruth Paine House is extremely significant in terms of US history. It was here that gunman Lee Harvey Oswald spent the night the evening before killing JFK in 1963.
The 1,250 square-foot residence was rebuilt in 1963. It was later converted into a multimedia museum meant to document the events leading up to the assassination. The local government bought the house in 2009 in order to maintain it’s historical integrity. In the years that have followed, it has become a popular tourist destination.
The awful story of the presidential assassination is told through a range of projected scenes inside the home. The multimedia museum explains how Ruth and Michael Paine became integrally involved in the sinister plot to kill the president.
Bowl A Perfect Game At Pinstack
This attraction is home to a wide variety of indoor activities and attractions for people of all ages to enjoy. It’s a highly-rated entertainment center that features a restaurant and large bowling alleys. Besides those two features, Pinstack also boasts several arcade games, a laser tag arena, a rock climbing wall, and bumper cars.
The onsite restaurant features a chef-inspired menu that emphasizes local and seasonal cuisine. There is also a full-service bar as well as an exclusive dining area for Pinstack guests.
The bar serves up numerous custom handmade cocktails as well as a large selection of craft beer and wine. It’s the perfect spot in Irving to go if you’re planning a social event, birthday party, or team-building gathering.
The Irving Arts Center
If you’re in search of a great vacation to take in the arts and culture, then a visit to the Irving Arts Center is a must. It can be found within the Dallas/Fort Worth area, just a short 15-minute drive from the airport.
This 10-acre sprawling complex includes several theaters, galleries, and even a sculpture park. There are also several multipurpose rooms and practice spaces used for classes and other art-oriented events.
Since it’s opening in 1999, many people have come out to the Irving Arts Center to celebrate the arts. In the last two decades, it has become a spot to appreciate the arts while also appreciating where art and music meet at a crossroads. The center features several exhibits that show off the work of both regional and national artists. The two-acre sculpture gardens gives guests the chance to observe art within a more natural environment.
Fritz Park Petting Zoo
Since opening in June 1970, this family-friendly destination has been providing visitors with an experience that is both educational and entertaining. Kids of all ages can meet their favorite animals at the petting farm. Visitors are able to see the animals in a serene, well-maintained, sheltered area.
Numerous species of animals call the farm their home. You can see everything from ponies, sheep, cows, goats, chickens, rabbits, turkeys and even the majestic peacock. Best off all, admission is extremely affordable!
California Crossing Park
If you’re interested in spending a weekend afternoon in a soothing, tranquil, and calm environment, then come on out to California Crossing Park. The park sits on top of 390 well-manicured acres. There are plenty of trails to explore. We recommend checking out the online maps while planning your visit.
Inside the park, you can enjoy outdoor activities like bicycling, jogging, and hiking. Come nightfall, you can even camp at the park’s well-maintained and feature-packed campground.
There are few places in Irving more peaceful than this lush, green park. There are hundreds of trees to sit under. Pretty much any time of the day you’ll hear birds singing their songs, and if you need a nice spot to read a book, there is an abundance of benches peppered throughout the park. If you’re traveling with your furry friends, you’ll also be pleased to know that the park is pet-friendly. Just remember to keep your four-legged companions on a leash and remember to clean up after them when nature calls.
Campion Trail
The Campion Route is the longest, and arguably one of the most beautiful, trails in Irving. Locals love coming here to hike, bike, skate, and jog. The pristine route takes you through the Dallas suburbs and gives you a nice little combo of both natural and urban vistas to take in.
The trail is 13 miles in length and is paved. There are also plans to create a 22-mile greenbelt trail along the Trinity River to join the north and south sections of the existing trail which at the moment aren’t connected.
Be sure to spend some time hiking or participating in other outdoor activities along the northern stretch of the trail that runs between the Las Colinas business district and Valley Ranch. The trail starts in Trinity View Park. There you’ll find picnic areas, shelters, sports fields, restrooms, and other basic amenities. The southern part of the route connects to the Lone Star Tail in Grand Prairie.
Mercury Studios
The remarkable building that houses the Mercury Studios has historically and currently still serves as a movie and TV production facility. Glenn Beck, the famous conservative radio and television personality, producer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, purchased Mercury Radio Arts in 2013. The studio subsequently underwent a massive transformation.
Today, you can visit the studio to see the works of master storytellers, artists, and Texas Business moguls who are both creative and passionate about their aims. Mercury Studios is meant to be a place that educates, entertains, and even empowers people. You can come here to learn all about the various aspects of the film and television industry.
The Irving Convention Center
Located at Las Colinas, this cutting-edge facility is used for conferences and events. It’s considered to be one of the primary components of Irving’s thriving business and leisure zone and houses one of the most technologically advanced facilities of it’s kind in the world.
The center, which is about 100,000 square feet in size, features architecture that will blow your mind. Floor-to-ceiling windows give guests breathtaking views of Lake Carolyn while letting just enough natural light in to keep things lively.
Meetings are made easy and efficient thanks to the innovative and modern technology featured in the space. Guests enjoy numerous amenities like nearby lodging, restaurants, and entertainment options.
The Mustangs Of Las Colinas
Located at the Las Colinas Urban Center on William’s Square, this stunning sculpture sits at the center of what is Irving’s most bustling business district. While Irving today is home to numerous fortune 500 companies, this piece of art is meant to remind people that back in the day, Irving was just a wild ranch.
Businessman Ben H. Carpenter commissioned artist Robert Glen to create this sculpture to pay respect to the region’s history. The mustangs can be seen galloping through a bubbling spring. Nearby, you can visit a museum that explains how the sculpture was created and how it took eight years to complete.
Irving, Texas is a city that you should keep your eye on. As companies continue to flee places like California in search of greener pastures, Irving increasingly has become one of the most flourishing business districts in the country. Not only is it the home of several of the top and most innovative companies in the world, but it’s also quickly becoming a cultural epicenter of the Lone Star state.
Whether you’re planning on just popping in for a weekend or a bit longer, Irving is one of the best cities in Texas to vacation. Hopefully, after watching this video, you’ll see why we think that Irving is going to continue to keep growing and evolving into one of the premier travel destinations in the southern United States.
What are you most excited to see when visiting Irving, Texas? If you’ve already visited before, what are some of your personal favorite things to see and do in town? Let us know in the comments.