LEISURE DAY TRIPPING

SUMMER IS here, and the long days stretch ahead just begging to be filled. For those who crave outings with a bit more panache than Six Flags or White Water, we’ve scoured the highways and byways and pulled together a variety of places to go and things to do within a five- or six-hour drive from Dallas.

“Day tripping” requires only that you have a car. After that, the possibilities are almost limitless. Take a ride on an antique train pulled by a steam locomotive, tour a sleepy riverside town, walk the Gingerbread Trail in Waxahachie or ride the rapids in New Braunfels. Ours is but a sampling of the summertime treats in store.

We’ve chosen sites and activities that have a wide general appeal and should attract families looking for interesting and educational jaunts with the kids as well as couples hoping to find a romantic spot. So, get out your maps and calendars, gas up the car and prepare to sally forth to sample some of Texas’ delights.



FAMILY OUTINGS



The Texas State Railroad, Rusk-Palestine. Here is the ideal way to introduce your jet-age children to the more leisurely railway travel of yesteryear. Just a three-hour drive from Dallas, the Texas State Railroad runs between Rusk and Palestine, a 50-mile round trip through piney woods. An antique steam locomotive pulls several vintage coaches (including a refreshment car) on a delightful tour of the park area, where wildlife abounds. The train runs regularly in the spring, summer and fall, with the summer schedule starting May 30th and running through August 28th from Thursday through Monday. The ride takes about four hours and costs $6 for adults and $4 for children. For reservations and additional information, call 800-442-8951. One cautionary note: During the summer, make your reservations at least six weeks in advance -the train fills up quickly.

Jefferson. Only a three-hour drive east on Interstate 20 to Highway 59, Jefferson was once Texas’ biggest city and inland port. In recent years, citizens have begun restoration projects, and Jefferson is now a charming replica of another age, filled with antique shops, small inns and places of interest. The House of the Seasons, built in 1872, is a Victorian gem studded with stained glass and fresco paintings; the Carnegie Library is a classic revival structure housing one of the best antique doll collections in Texas; and the Jefferson Museum contains the collection of the Jefferson Historical Society. If you fall under the town’s spell and want to stay the night, choose from a variety of small inns and bed-and-breakfast establishments such as The Pride House (214-665-2675), Terry House (214-665-3674) or The Excelsior Hotel (214-665-2513). Other points of interest in the Jefferson area include Lake o’ Pines and Caddo Lake, the Freeman Plantation, the Captain’s Castle and Jay Gould’s private railroad car. Another interesting side trip is T.C. Lindsey & Co. (214-687-3382), the general store in nearby Jonesville, which has been in operation since 1847. It offers a wide variety of hard-to-find goods and antiques and was the filming site of two Walt Disney movies. Located on Farm Road 134, the general store is about half an hour from Jefferson and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. And mark your calendar to attend Jefferson’s Annual Historical Pilgrimage next spring.

Ride the rapids, New Braunfels. If the Texas heat is getting to you, jump in the car and drive for four hours south on 1-35 to New Braunfels on the Comal River, where, for a nominal charge, you can rent an inner tube and ride the rapids. Best spot for shooting the rapids: where the river passes Camp Warnecke. Call 512-625-2385 for more information.

Granbury Opera House, Granbury. Granbury is a quaint old Victorian town just 37 miles south of Fort Worth. It is best known for its theater, the Granbury Opera House (817-573-3779), which offers a series of musicals throughout the summer. This season’s program includes Carnival, Oliver! and Showboat, along with a farce called Natalie Needs a Nightie. Walk about the town, then dine at the Cuckoo’s Nest, the Carmichael Inn or The Nutt House. And if you’re too tired to drive home after the show, reserve a room at The Nutt Hotel, adjacent to the Nutt House. It’s pure Victorian, so prepare for a real nostalgia trip. Granbury Opera House box office is 817-572-0881. And don’t forget, you’ll pass Fort Worth on the way, and our sister city has a lot to offer, including the Fat Stock Show and two excellent museums, the Kimbell and the Amon Carter.

Kowbell Indoor Rodeo, Mansfield. The Kowbell Indoor Rodeo (817-473-1128) has been held every Saturday night (literally) for 24 years. This is one of Texas’ most authentic rodeos, featuring the classic events – team roping, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping and a calf scramble for kids under 6. Mansfield is less than an hour’s drive west on I-20 to Hwy 157; take the south exit to the Business 287 intersection and turn right. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Another weekend rodeo, the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, runs from April through September.

The Brazos Queen, Waco. Now here’s a fantasy to live out: a sultry evening cruise on an old-fashioned riverboat. The Brazos Queen is a lovely old stern-wheel paddle-boat that takes you for a one-and-a-half hour cruise down the Brazos River. The Queen is available for private parties or individuals; excursions run at 2 and 6 p.m. After the cruise, dine in style at the Brazos Landing, an 1870 riverboat landing-cum-restaurant. Other interesting sites in the area include Fort Fisher, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and a variety of historic houses. Call 817-752-5800 for more information.

Louisiana Downs; Bossier City, Louisiana. Betting may not be legal yet in Texas, but you can drive for three hours and place your bets at the thoroughbred horse racing track at Louisiana Downs. Just past Shreveport, Louisiana Downs is a large track with racing throughout the season every Wednesday through Sunday from April through October 16. Post time is 1 p.m.; racing usually ends by 7 p.m. For additional information, call 318-742-5555.



ANTIQUING



Sunnyvale and Forney. These two small towns less than an hour’s drive from Dallas have shops that carry antiques from all over the world. This is the ideal day trip for antique buffs -you can spend the morning visiting Clements, Fisher’s, Christian Van Damme and the antique store and auction house. Then, have a delicious barbecue lunch at The Branding Iron before checking out Apollo’s, Little Red’s and others. Wonderful collections of stained glass, old doors and large-scale European antiques can be found here.

Canton Flea Market, Canton. The first Monday of every month and the preceding weekend, Canton holds a giant flea market, and farmers come from miles around to sell family heirlooms and antiques. This is a terrific place to track down hard-to-find items.



COUNTRY INNS



The Stagecoach Inn, Salado. There is romance in the very phrase “country inn” – it conjures up warmth, friendliness and the special cosseting quality of personalized service. Texas has its share of these, including Stagecoach Inn, which is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive south on I-35. Housed in the original stage stop of the Old Chisholm Trail, the Stagecoach Inn was once a tearoom but now serves both lunch and dinner; it specializes in prime rib, steaks and seafood. The menus are recited, just as they were when the stage pulled in back in the old days; prices range from $5.50 for lunch to $10.95 for a complete dinner. Located on Salado Creek just a few miles off I-35, the Inn also has overnight accommodations and club facilities. Call 817-947-5111 for reservations and information.

Hearthstone Manor, Lewisville. Hearthstone Manor, a Victorian showplace built in 1885 and surrounded by spacious grounds, is both a restaurant and a catering service. The staff at Hearthstone will cater private parties inside the manor, and it now also offers a service called Signature Weddings, which organizes and serves wedding receptions with the individual stamp of the hosts. The restaurant features American cuisine (including peppercorn steaks, fresh seafood and chicken) and desserts and breads that are baked daily in the Hearthstone kitchen. Call 214-221-4515 for reservations and information or take I-35 north to Lewisville, turn right at the Main Street exit, then follow the signs.

The Clay Pot, Krum. The drive is worth it, especially if you stop by some of the horse-breeding ranches in Denton and Pilot Point on your way to this restaurant that offers country-inn atmosphere and an excellent menu. 817-482-3927.



WEEKEND GETAWAYS



Hot Springs, Arkansas. This old-fashioned Southern resort complete with antebellum architecture is the perfect spot for a romantic escape. Stay at the Arlington Hotel (800-643-1502), the Majestic (800-643-1504) or Williams House Bed and Breakfast (501-624-4275) and try out the hot springs along Bathhouse Row, then go off for a day at Lake Ouachita or Lake Hamilton and an evening of nightclub-bing. Call the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce (501-321-1700) for a complete list of hotels, restaurants and things to do. The drive takes about six hours; take Interstate 30 to Arkadelphia, then Highway 7 north to Hot Springs.

Lake Texoma. This huge, man-made lake is only about an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Dallas, and it makes Lake Lew-isville look like a puddle. The many surrounding restaurants and clubs include Tanglewood Country Club, a private resort that also offers rooms to nonmembers at rates of $72 to $149, depending on availability. The club is on a hill overlooking the lake and offers golf, tennis and swimming. Call metro 268-0944 for reservations and additional information. The Eisenhower Yacht Club is located on another part of the lake and is fairly close to Denison, Dwight Eisenhower’s boyhood home, which is open to tourists.

Galveston. Not everyone knows that Galveston’s old town is a beautifully restored slice of Victoriana. Nearby South Padre Island and Corpus Christi are traditional tourist spots, but Galveston also has charming shops and places to visit along the Strand. The Marriott Hotel Galvez (409-765-7721) is an older hotel right on the seawall. Call 409-763-5326 for more information.

Aquarena Springs, San Marcos. It’s boiling hot, but there is water in Texas. Come to Aquarena Springs and take the family for a ride on the glass-bottomed boats on the San Marcos River. The ride takes 30 minutes, and the spring-fed San Marcos is so clear you can see straight to the bottom and watch the fish, flora and fauna. There is also an underwater show featuring water ballet plus a comedy starring Ralph the Swimming Pig. You also can take the Swiss Sky Ride, stroll through the Hanging Gardens or see the view from Sky Spiral. This 228-mile trip can be made in a day, but why not make a weekend out of it? Stay at the 25-room Aquarena Springs Hotel, which overlooks the headwaters of the river and offers swimming, golf and a restaurant. For further information, call 512-392-2441.



EVENTS



The Gingerbread Trail, Waxahachie. The 15th annual Gingerbread Trail will be held in Waxahachie on June 4th and 5th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This traditional festival is a showcase tour of some of Waxahachie’s loveliest old homes. This year’s tour will feature a Queen Anne Victorian mansion, a recently restored Twenties house, a bracketed American farmhouse with a double bay window, a remodeled bungalow and the Mahoney-Thompson House, a three-story Greek Revival estate that has been restored. Other trail activities include an antique show, an arts-and-crafts show and a display of antique and classic cars. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $4 for children, but tickets to individual houses also may be purchased at the door for $3. Wax-ahachie is about 45 minutes to an hour south on I-35. For further information, call Janette Loftis (1-937-3118 or metro 299-5611).

Great Texas Raft Race, Waco. Grab aninner tube, canoe, raft or anything elsethat floats and enter the Great Texas RaftRace on Labor Day. The starting line is theMcLennan Community College Marina;the finish line is at Fort Fisher Park. Therace is about two and a half miles long,there is no charge to enter and 35 trophieswill be awarded for everything from theugliest raft to the best decorated raft. Call 817-752-5222 for more details.