THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Love Is Just a Shot Away
Shotgun-wedding jokes aside, you never know what kind of sparks will fly once the two of you pick your sport-rifle or pistol range, skeet, trap, or dove flush. Elm Fork Shooting Park has undergone a complete face-lift, so the 458-acre facility set in a forest has two new impressive sporting clay courses with clay target games, plus a covered pavilion. And you don’t have to be Billy the Kidd or Calamity Jane to have fun – the park offers rental guns and lessons for first-timers. www.elmfork.com.
Paddle Your Honey
Canoeing down the Trinity River? On a date? You’d be surprised how lovely it can be to float down the much-maligned Trinity. Egrets and other wildlife abound. And on parts of the river, your view shrouded by elms and willows, you’d never guess you were in Dallas. Charles Allen can make it happen. He’s been running Trinity River Expeditions for a dozen years. For $45, he’ll meet you at the river, shuttle you to a drop-in point, and set you off in a canoe with paddles, life jackets, and a map. Trips last two to five hours. All you need are some basic paddling skills and a willingness to try something different. www.canoedallas.com.
Blue Birds and Happiness
Grab your partner and a good pair of binoculars and head to the rolling, rugged hills of Cedar Hill State Park in southwest Dallas County. This 1,826-acre urban nature preserve is home to almost 200 species of feathered friends, including the yellow-billed cuckoo, indigo bunting, yellow-rumped warblers, and the elusive painted bunting. Brown-bag a bottle of wine, take a blanket, and watch the Dallas skyline come alive as a reflection in Joe. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/cedarhil/. For other hot spots to bird watch, check out www.audubondallas.org.
On the Wings of Love
Get up early, eat your Wheaties, and head to Fort Worth Spinks Airport for some power paragliding, which combines paragliding with a backpack engine. A demo flight and half-day lesson later, an instructor will take you and your honey high in the sky. If you like what you see, the Fort Worth branch of Adventure PPG (the only office of the international Paramotor network in the United States) can set up a weeklong training course, so you two lovebirds can soar on your own wings. Flying works up an appetite, so pack a picnic and enjoy a celebratory lunch while you watch the planes take off. www.adventure-ppg.com.
Wild, Wild West
Throw on your snuggest Wranglers, round up a basket of Pinot and Port-Salut, and head west to Benbrook Stables for a day of horseback riding. Take a leisurely trail ride around Lake Benbrook and stop at one of the picnic areas for a snack and snuggle. After you dismount, try the two-step or catch a concert at Billy Bob’s Texas, where folks like Patty Loveless, Tracy Lawrence, and Mark Chesnutt perform. www.benbrookstables.com.
