Things to Do in North Richland Hills

A playlist of popular tunes absorbs the subtle clicks and wooshes of wheels on wood as skaters glide around the golden floor at Arlington Skatium. Open-skate sessions allow rollers of any age to rack up laps, while preschool/stroller skate sessions grant two-foot fledglings and baby buggies exclusive access to the floorboards. The center also hosts skating classes to help students shave seconds off of their morning commute. Between sets, blue neon lights show the way to the snack bar, where skaters can refuel with a pizza or soda before settling down for a nap in the arcade room.

Elk Castle Shooting Sports has a long history. Originally founded as the Ewell Cross Gun Shop in 1947, the gun store has grown into an all-encompassing firearm emporium with new, used, and consignment firearms and firearm accessories. The new owners also installed a public indoor pistol and rifle range, integral for customers to sample the merchandise or hone their marksmanship with one of more than 70 rental pistols, and they take pride in knowing all of their customers on a first-name basis.

That familiarity extends to the firearms as well. Elk Castle's gunsmith, lovingly nicknamed Big Dave, has most likely customized and repaired a weapon from every customer. He and his team tackle problems with warranties or malfunctions. They adjust recoil pads or stock length every Wednesday, and they proudly accept bribes of cheesecake and chili to speed up the process.

The staff members behind the counter, knowledgeable firearm owners themselves, are always prepared to offer advice on accessories or customization and can recommend scopes, grips, and holsters to help each gun better fit each individual. That very same staff also leads the range's self-defense classes and hosts regular educational videos on topics ranging from hunting to proper gun care.

Lynn Creek Marina has been lounging on the shore of Joe Pool Lake since 1990, granting visitors access to 7,500 acres of aquatic entertainment. The marina's 541 covered and uncovered wet slips house boats up to 50 feet, and its dry storage areas protect boats up to 28 feet long from squalls and water-balloon fights. Visitors can rent SunTracker pontoon boats, Sea Ray ski boats, 2011 Yamaha WaveRunners, and 14-foot fishing boats, or bring a boat in need of mending to the full-service marine repair facility. 

Additionally, the ships' store furnishes outings with a selection of marine accessories and gear, including fishing tackle and bait, snacks, and water toys, and the Oasis Restaurant and Lakeview Bar fuels boaters with grilled seafood and Tex-Mex fare. Lakeside breezes swirl through the rest of the marina's grounds, parading fresh air toward the swimming pool for slip lessees and their families, the driving range, the miniature-golf course, and the yacht club that hosts events and sailboat races, including the annual Mayday Regatta.

Originally leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1988, Meadowmere Park welcomes its guests to 250 acres of parklands and lakefront ripe for outdoor activities. As kayaks and paddleboats launch into Lake Grapevine and float across 8,000 acres of water, miles of trails surrounding the lake allow visitors to run, bike, and set world somersault records. As the evening sets in, tents sit beneath twinkling stars at campsites along sandy beaches, and special events unfold at a waterfront pavilion.

The guides at Fort Worth Tours & Trails seek out storied locales and dish out historical secrets of Panther City through the outfit's assortment of tours via bus or by foot. For walking tours, groups gather at one of two locations: the east lawn of the Courthouse for the Hell's Half-Acre to Sundance Square tour or in front of the Visitors' Center on Exchange Avenue for the Stockyards and Historic North Side tour. The former stops at several spots that figured prominently in the downtown area's early development, while the latter combs the brick streets of the historic north side, home to the Cowboy Hall of Fame and the world's only longhorn herd that hasn't succumbed to Internet stardom as a dancing flash mob. On both excursions, tour-goers have the opportunity to hear a plethora of little-known facts and cocktail party-worthy anecdotes from the city's rich history.