ParksandGardens, Durango

Lake Casa Blanca is located in Laredo, just minutes from the Mexican border. Here you will find outdoor fun on water and land—and the perfect place for a family outing! https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lake-casa-blanca

The Laguna del Carpintero promises unforgettable experiences. Your first stop is the Metropolitan Park, a few blocks from the House of Culture. It is surrounded by green spaces and places dedicated to relaxation. https://www.visitmexico.com/en/main-activities/tampico/enjoy-the-laguna-del-carpintero

Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park is the oldest and largest urban park in Latin America, and one of the oldest urban parks in the world. Originally sited on the outskirts of the city, today this large forested area is completely surrounded by the urban center. Containing nine museums, a zoo, an amusement park, and a variety of green recreational spaces located near popular commercial districts, Chapultepec Park is an invaluable ecological oasis, and a cultural, social, and civic space for the city residents and its visitors. Up to 15 million people visit the urban park each year, often keeping to a few of the more popular areas. https://www.wmf.org/project/chapultepec-park

FLORA, FAUNA and FUN are keywords for the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, one of the Coastal Bend’s major visitor destinations and leading nature tourism facilities! http://www.visitcorpuschristitx.org/see-and-do/22/south-texas-botanical-gardens--nature-center

Washington Park is one of the oldest, best loved and most widely used parks in Portland. It features more than 400 acres of trees, gardens, attractions and playgrounds and 15 miles of trails. Washington Park is home to the Oregon Zoo, the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden, the Portland Children’s Museum, the World Forestry Center and the Hoyt Arboretum. http://explorewashingtonpark.org/

Discover the amazing underwater worlds of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond at the Texas State Aquarium. Travel on an aquatic journey from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico out into the open sea to encounter thousands of animals representing more than 360 species. http://www.visitcorpuschristitx.org/see-and-do/890/texas-state-aquarium

Ascarate Park is the largest public-use recreational park in El Paso County and is dedicated to sports, picnicking, fishing and other recreational activities. Spanning over 400 acres, Ascarate Park plays host to the Ascarate Golf Course which sits on 280 acres, and is adjacent to the 48 acre surface lake within the park. The Golf Course features an 18-hole, 72 par golf course and a 9 hole executive course called the Delta 9. With a lakeside boardwalk, Ascarate Lake allows visitors to take in the sights via canoe and pedal boat rentals. Ascarate Park allows for a variety of recreational activities including picnicking, playgrounds, basketball, tennis as well as handball. In addition, the park includes five softball fields, one baseball field and two soccer fields, available for league play or practice, please contact park personnel for rates and availability. https://visitelpaso.com/places/ascarate-lake

Created in 1936, the Centennial was the first museum in El Paso and one of the earliest buildings at the College of Mines, now UTEP. Permanent exhibits focus on the Chihuahuan Desert region, the largest desert in North America. https://visitelpaso.com/places/centennial-museum-and-chihuahuan-desert-gardens

The park is packed with family thrill rides and attractions, such as the popular steel roller coaster El Bandido, and Tsunami that shoots up a massive 50 feet generating an enormous 70 ft. tidal wave that refreshes onlookers! The park also offers great food, games, prizes, a low general admission fee and an unllimited ride pass. https://visitelpaso.com/places/western-playland-amusement-park

McKinney Falls is a 641-acre park features over 80 campsites, including developed (RV) and hike-in sites. Screened shelters, group shelters and a group dining hall are also available. Outdoor recreation opportunities include hiking, mountain biking, bicycling, swimming, birding and wildlife observation. Onion Creek, which flows 1.7 miles through the park, offers both swimming and fishing opportunities. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/mckinney-falls-state-park/2895/

Tucked away on 26 acres of Austin’s Zilker Metropolitan Park, Zilker Botanical Garden is a lush sanctuary of koi ponds, live oaks, and prickly cactuses of all shapes and sizes. Composed of multiple themed gardens, this natural retreat offers something new around every corner. Witness the colourful blooms of the Mabel Davis Rose Garden and explore the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden, complete with a stone gate gifted by Austin’s Sister City (Oita, Japan), a teahouse, and numerous Japanese maples. https://www.austintexas.org/listings/zilker-botanical-garden/1754/

NLand is the only inland surfing destination in North America with waves for everyone from pros to groms. The NLand Training Center offers world-class coaching with an accelerated learning curve. Blue Prairie, a scratch kitchen, features locally-sourced, innovative dishes. The surf shop carries top-of-the-line apparel and equipment with specially-trained experts to give you informed opinions and advice. http://nlandsurfpark.com/

Hidden high in the southern Arizona Mountains with its endless Sonoran Desert vistas, rich history, and authentic Wild West vibe, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is a destination for the adventurous at heart. https://www.visittucson.org/business/colossal-cave-mountain-park-0?clientid=76

Smithsonian Magazine has named this Lubbock landmark one of the top five destinations to see evidence of first Americans. In fact, evidence of human life from 12,000 years ago has been uncovered at the Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark. http://www.visitlubbock.org/visit/attractions/#attractions

Houston’s most photographed site, this dramatic 64-foot U-shaped fountain has water rushing down its inside and outside walls.Designed and created in 1985 by the internationally acclaimed architectural team of Philip Johnson and John Burgee, the Water Wall pumps 78,500 gallons of recycled water every three hours and 20 minutes. More than 180 live oaks shade the three-acre area that plays host to families and couples out for a stroll, picnic, or even a game of Frisbee. https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/water-wall/20713/

Focused on the preservation of the Sonoran Desert, The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will turn your idea of a museum inside out. Guests will experience a quintessential Sonoran Desert experience which includes: an unforgettable fusion zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum, aquarium and art gallery. https://www.visittucson.org/business/arizona-sonora-desert-museum?clientid=25386

The Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife. It has over 6,000 permanent residents (an animals) for whom the Zoo provide housing, meals, medical care, and even education! Each year over two million guests come to experience its incredible variety of animals and ecosystems as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. The Houston Zoo dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the well being of residents and guests. https://www.houstonzoo.org/

Hermann Park has a bountiful assortment of entertainment: a golf course, an outdoor theater, a jogging track, a beautiful rose garden, picnic spaces, a butterfly exhibit, and even a museum.Hermann Park, presented to the City of Houston by George Hermann in 1914, is Houston's most historically significant public green space. Over the years, the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden and Hermann Park Golf Course, one of the first desegregated public golf courses in the United States, all have added to the Park's importance as a recreational destination.Hermann Park, located minutes from downtown Houston, is a cultural and recreational hub surrounded by the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, the Museum District, and various residential neighborhoods. The entrance to the park is at the intersection of Main St. and Montrose Blvd. Upon arriving at Hermann Park the visitor is greeted by a statue of one of Houston's founders, General Sam Houston. He points in, towards the park, leading the park visitor in the direction of it's many amenities. https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/hermann-park/20202/

Discovery Green is a beautiful, vibrant 12-acre park in the heart of downtown Houston that opened to the public in April 2008. The park was envisioned by several committed Houston philanthropists, who saw the space as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an urban park that would redefine the landscape of downtown. In less than four years, the site that became Discovery Green was transformed from an undeveloped, concrete eyesore into a beautiful and vibrant destination adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center. https://www.discoverygreen.com/

Chandler unveiled another dynamic, mixed-use facility in April 2008 with the Veterans Oasis Park and Environmental Education Center located in the northeast corner of the city at the intersection of Lindsay and Chandler Heights Roads. The center includes four classrooms for wildlife preservation and environmental awareness, exhibit areas, outdoor amphitheatre, nature store and an urban fishing lake, all surrounded by more than four miles of trails. A primary purpose of the facility is to recharge reclaimed water into the ground for later use. The staff works with local schools to develop nature-oriented activities that complement their curriculum. Programs offered for residents and visitors cover topics such as birdwatching, green living, gardening, water conservation, nature photography, orienteering, alternative energy and stargazing. Entrance to the Environmental Education Center is free and visitors are welcome to view the exhibits and walk the trails around the urban fishing lake. https://www.visitchandler.com/listings/veterans-oasis-park-and-environmental-education-center/276/

Wildlife West Nature Park is a 122-acre wildlife refuge & an enhanced rescued wildlife zoo featuring over 20 species of native New Mexican animals. The zoo features cougars, wolves, bear, elk, deer, javelina, fox, raptors & more. http://wildlifewest.org/wwblog/

Chandler's Bear Creek Golf Complex is a 36-hole inland links golf facility consisting of both a championship course and an executive course. Both golf courses and practice area at Bear Creek Golf Complex were created by the Nicklaus Design Group and architect Bill O'Leary. https://www.visitchandler.com/listings/bear-creek-golf-complex/672/

We’re ‘Recreational Shopping!’ 1600 shopping spaces. More than a mile of great small businesses and shops (under one roof!) you won’t find in any other mall in Arizona. Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks! Free live entertainment, FREE admission, & FREE parking. https://www.visitmesa.com/listing/mesa-market-place-swap-meet/600/

Texas Discovery Gardens is a 7.5 acre organic botanic garden featuring native and adapted plants. Inside, our two-story Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium transports you to a tropical rainforest, complete with hundreds of free-flying butterflies. https://txdg.org/

Zero Gravity Dallas is the world's only "Thrill Amusement Park" featuring 5 different extreme thrill rides. We offer the Bungee Jump, the Nothin' But Net, Texas Blastoff, the Skycoaster and the Skyscraper. https://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/venue/view/6908/Zero-Gravity-Thrill-Amusement-Park.html?ttd=1

Located along the Rio Grande River near downtown Albuquerque, the ABQ BioPark consists of: The ABQ BioPark Zoo, Botanic Garden, Aquarium and Tingley Beach. Welcoming more than 1.5 million visitors per year, we are the top tourist destination in the state of New Mexico. ABQ BioPark Zoo established in 1927 is home to more than 900 animals from around the world. Many of these animals have been part of successful conservation plans and captive breeding programs. Botanic Garden opened in 1996, and has grown to 32 acres of exhibits, and showcases plants from the American Southwest and around the world. The Botanic Garden’s BUGarium is one of the most elaborate exhibits dedicated to bugs and arthropods in the country. Since its opening in 1996 alongside the Botanic Garden, the ABQ BioPark Aquarium has showcased a kaleidoscope of colorful fish native to a variety of ecosystems found throughout the United States. The popular Shark Reef Café offers spectacular views into the 285,000-gallon oceanic tank, providing an unforgettable dining experience. Tingley Beach is the gateway to the Bosque. Three fishing ponds and a model boat pond offer a respite from the city. A mile-long walking trail loops around the ponds, and the nearby bike path provides access to the Rio Grande. Pedal boat rentals are available during the summer. https://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/biopark

Just minutes from downtown on the shore of White Rock Lake, we feature 66 acres with 11 lush display gardens that offer seasonal color all year long. Home of Dallas Blooms Spring, the Southwest's largest outdoor floral festival, we provide a tranquil oasis where visitors are surrounded by the beauty of all four seasons. https://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/venue/view/6881/Dallas-Arboretum-and-Botanical-Garden.html?ttd=1

No golf skills required! Test your swing and challenge your friends! Topgolf is the ultimate entertainment venue with fun, point-scoring golf games for all ages and skill levels; perfect for a family gathering, birthday party, professional event or just a relaxing afternoon! https://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/venue/view/7098/TopGolf-Dallas.html?ttd=1

Spread across 140 acres in Papago Park, Arizona, the Desert Botanical Garden was opened in 1937 by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society and established at the current site in 1939. At this amazing botanical garden you will find the best collection of arid-land or desert plants from across the world. The garden is home to more than 50,000 plants that include as many as 139 endangered or rare species. https://www.dbg.org/

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, a section of the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Natural Resources Division, was donated to the city in 1924 and a museum was opened on the site in 1929. https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/arts-culture-history/pueblo-grande/about-the-museum

The original Pioneers' Cemetery Association was formed in 1938 for the purpose of preserving the seven historic cemeteries near the State Capitol Complex. These cemeteries, which now comprise the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, were in use from 1884 to 1914 and hold the remains of many of Phoenix's pioneering families. http://www.azhistcemeteries.org/

The Myriad Botanical Gardens is one of Oklahoma City’s most beloved public spaces, offering its visitors a 15 acre natural escape in the very heart of the metro known as downtown Oklahoma City. A children’s garden, an off-leash dog park, “splash fountains,” as well as paths for walking and jogging provide guests young and old with a place in which to find solitude with nature or seek community and the company of others. The Myriad Gardens provides an elegant backdrop for events both large and small, ranging from concerts at the Bandshell to intimate weddings in the Crystal Bridge Conservatory. Additionally, the Myriad Gardens offers a variety of horticultural education programs for adults and children. Classes range from story reading, making chocolate, wreath-making workshops to the annual Oklahoma Gardening School and more. http://oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/plan-your-visit/crystal-bridge-tropical-conservatory/

Whether you want to train like an Olympian or just have some fun, the Boathouse District along the Oklahoma River is a hotspot for outdoor recreation. Located within walking distance of the Events, Attractions & Fun | Bricktown Entertainment District, it’s the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site for rowing and canoe/kayak and hosts numerous regattas throughout the year. https://www.visitokc.com/about-okc/okc-districts/boathouse-district/