10 fun summer staycation ideas in Flower Mound, Argyle, Northlake and other cities near Canyon Falls

Summertime is fun time at Canyon Falls, when our highly regarded schools are on break and our amenities like the Canyon Falls Club and Hay Barn are abuzz with resident events and impromptu play.

Airplanes and highways are expected to be jampacked this summer, so why not take advantage of a fun staycation close to home? After all, the immediate area surrounding our convenient location offers so many things to do, it would take many summers to enjoy them all. For inspiration, we’ve rounded up our Top 10 picks for summer fun close to home, with a focus on kids and families. Many are free, while some require admissions.

July 4 Festivities

Nobody celebrates July 4 with more gusto than North Texas, and Canyon Falls is surrounded by plenty of opportunities to show your patriotism. On July 4, Flower Mound’s Independence Fest 2023 features live music by the Eli Young Band, winner of No. 1 “song of the year” from Billboard and the ACM Awards. A children’s parade, vintage car show, and more activities round out the festivities, ending with a fireworks extravaganza. On July 3, Roanoke’s All American Fireworks & Festival has live entertainment by Emerald City, plus bounce houses, face painting, contests, giveaways and a giant fireworks display. Also check out July 4 festivities in Grapevine, Southlake and Fort Worth.

Flower Mound Fun

The Town of Flower Mound has a lively event calendar for Summer 2023, with activities including Summer Chalk the Walk Contest, the Community Activity Center’s 15^th Birthday Bash and the brand-new Sink or Sail Regatta. As mentioned above, Flower Mound has a full day of July 4 activities, including the Independence Day Children’s Parade and the Stars & Stripes Splashtacular. Flower Mound’s Seniors in Motion program has several events including the National Senior Citizen Day Party on August 21 and the Senior Citizen Month Party on September 5. Flower Mound’s Summer at the Library has the theme of “Summer of Secrets,” with a reading challenge and other fun activities for kids.

Have a safari at the Heard Museum

Many of our residents know the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney because they have been our wonderful partner in the summertime Explorer Series at Canyon Falls. 

Their amazing location in nearby McKinney is worth a visit, offering everything from a 487-foot zip line to a wetland canoe trail within its 289-acre site. Summer is an active time at the Heard, with camps including Camp Hoot Owl, Nature Art Camps, Keeper Camps and Magic Planet Camp. The bounty of experiences includes the Animal Encounters Trail, the Native Texas Butterfly House, Texas Nessie, the Richardson Wooly Mammoth Exhibit and much more.

Cross Timbers Nature Camp and more

In addition to great shopping, dining and entertainment, nearby Southlake is home to the Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve, which has more than 20 miles of hiking trails meandering through 758 acres of pristinely preserved Cross Timbers habitat, and neighboring 500-acre Bob Jones Park. The Summer Cross Timbers Nature Camp is perfect for young naturalists and explorers from ages 5-11. The eight-week camp has fascinating field trips to places including the Fort Worth Zoo, Perot Museum and Dallas Arboretum, and presentations on topics such as Forest Friends, Survival Skills and Birds of a Feather.

Texas Motor Speedway

Just a few miles from Canyon Falls, Texas Motor Speedway offers action-packed events nearly every day of the year. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series each run two races a year at the track in addition to an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race. It is currently the fastest track on the NASCAR circuit, with speeds nearing 200 mph. With a capacity of 191,122 spectators, it dwarfs the next biggest venue in Texas and can fit four Cowboys Stadiums inside. It includes 144 luxury suites, the Lone Star Tower housing offices and condominiums, and a members-only Speedway Club that features a restaurant, fitness center, spa, press box, and the Time Warner Cable Broadcast Center. Go behind the scenes with a No Limits, Texas Track Tour, and drive a NASCAR race car by yourself for the ultimate thrill. Love to camp? Check out their campsites for RVs and tents.

The Unique Dining Capital of Texas

When it’s too hot to cook, make any day or night a getaway by visiting the quaint town of Roanoke, the self-proclaimed Unique Dining Capital of Texas. Just a few minutes from Canyon Falls, Roanoke deserves its title, with more than 60 restaurants serving everything from Texas favorites like BBQ and chicken-fried steak, to Italian, Thai, Cajun and more. Roanoke’s popular Evening on Oak Street Concert series continues in summer, along with its July 3 Independence Day celebration. On Saturday mornings, Roanoke hosts a lively Farmer’s Market. See their 2023 event calendar.

Hawaiian Falls Roanoke

While we’re on Roanoke, did you know that its outpost of Hawaiian Falls is one of the best-rated water parks in Texas? Built with family in mind, this Hawaiian-themed water wonderland invites you to play with the kids in the Wave Pool, hang out in the Lazy River as they float by, or watch as they go down their favorite rides like the Pineapple Express. The Mega WaterWorld attraction, the largest aquatic play structure in the world, is equipped with body slides, dump buckets, a three-line racer, and a family raft ride. The Roanoke location boasts Beach Blasters, the world's first multi-tube slide where participants race to the finish line. Lifeguards and EMTs are on site to ensure safety.

Summertime in Grapevine

Grapevine bills itself as the Christmas Capital of Texas, but summer is just as special, with events and activities every day through Labor Day. Summertime in Grapevine includes indoor and outdoor adventures for the entire family, including water parks, the SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium, colorful characters on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, LEGOLAND Discovery Center and Peppa Pig World of Play. Great Wolf Lodge offers the nostalgic fun of summer camp with its Summer Camp-In, and the Grapevine Pioneers Summer Passport will teach you to live like a pioneer at historic Nash Farm.

Denton – Hip and Historic

Home to the prestigious University of North Texas as well as Texas Woman’s University and North Central Texas College, Denton combines the youthful personality of a college town with the attractions and sophistication of one of the state’s most creative cities. Denton’s live music scene is recognized as one of the nation’s best, with live music nearly every night and music and art festivals almost every month. Take that, Austin. Some of Denton’s most popular annual events include the Denton Juneteenth celebration, Make Music Day, Summer Hangout and Denton Comic Art Explosion. From its historic award-winning downtown district to natural attractions like the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, Denton offers something for every member of the family.

Lovely Lewisville

Located near the shore of 29,000-acre Lewisville Lake, the city of Lewisville offers everything from water sports and festival, to live music and historical sites. The official “Urban Bass Fishing Capital of Texas,” Lewisville Lake has 233 miles of shoreline with a plethora of parks and trails, including 622-acre Lewisville Lake Park. Popular summer events include the Sounds of Lewisville live music series. Old Town Lewisville offers a delightful step back in time to the 1800s, with live performances at two theaters, an urban park with water features and public art, ghost tours, a distillery and winery, vintage shopping and Southern comfort food.

Learn more about Canyon Falls’ location and see what else is near your new home.