Allen, TX Outdoor Activities

As one of the original 10 members of the MLS when it began in 1995, FC Dallas has had plenty of time to build a few storied rivalries. Every year, the team faces off against its Texan brethren, the Houston Dynamo, and competes in the heated (and fan-promoted) Brimstone Cup with the Chicago Fire—a tradition ignited in the days when FC Dallas was known as the Dallas Burn. The shouted blessings of steadfast supporters echo among the 20,500 seats of FC Dallas Stadium, which has had attendance records broken last year and season ticket holders double each of the last two years. The club's stars dismantle opponents with the spectacular footwork that earned them a trip to the 2010 MLS Cup and an honorary stint in Riverdance.

Commended for its preservation of the natural Texas landscape, Twin Creeks Golf Club features an 18-hole course that seamlessly integrates native trees and two flowing creeks into a pristine, 6,840-yard layout. All of the picturesque par 72’s difficulties are brought to bear on the par 4 13th hole, where a strong headwind may nudge rightward drives into a rippling creek and an immense green makes any two-putt a tricky proposition. Golf carts glide across the immaculate meadows, occasionally spinning their wheels and wailing their reverse alert in distress as passengers approach the hidden lake of the 17th hole, called the “Devil’s Elbow.” Golfers can calibrate their swings at the course's practice center, which includes a driving range, bunker, chipping area, and putting green, an ideal spot to covertly test any remote-controlled balls. After a day spent making sand angels in every bunker, guests can recess to the rustic confines of the Elkhorn Bar & Grill, where Southwestern fare sates diners resting at patio tables or under the 50-inch flat-screen TV located indoors.

A coalition of ice arenas endorsed by the Dallas Stars, Dr Pepper StarCenters help nurture athletes of all ages and skill levels with activities on or off the ice. Dr Pepper StarCenters house NHL-regulation ice-hockey rinks that host hockey leagues for players of all ages, eradicating the need to play on dangerous frozen lakes dotted with irritable frozen geese. StarCenters' skate schools instill students with the fundamentals of ice hockey or figure skating, allowing them to progress to hockey leagues and local skating competitions if they choose. To warm up after laps around the Euless ice rink, skaters can check out the onsite baseball stadium, batting cages, soccer fields, and Texas Star Golf Course. All locations are open for birthday parties and special events; see each location's website for details.

Grasping hands constantly seek means of ascent as climbers scale the towering crags inside Exposure Rock Climbing's expansive gym. Route setters Kyle Clinkscales and Stan Borodyansky regularly put their USA Climbing certifications to good use, rearranging the colorful hand- and footholds that populate each wall to create fun and challenging routes that appeal to dedicated climbers and beginners alike.

The gym's experienced staff provides gravity-defying guidance during private lessons for climbers of all abilities and unlocks early interest in climbing with classes for juniors. The same savvy instructors have led Team Texas—Exposure Rock Climbing's competitive junior climbing team—to four USA Climbing national championships, including the 2012 title. The facility also hosts group and birthday-party packages and team-building programs for corporate workers, youth groups, and gravity deniers.