Escape to the "Dinosaur Capital" of Texas on a day trip from Dallas April 15, 2014 // By Denise Brandenberg

By Denise Brandenberg
Dallas Local Expert April 15, 2014

Planning on visiting Dallas during the beautiful spring season? There's no better time to take a scenic drive through the Texas countryside, where the state flower of Texas, the bluebonnet, and other wildflowers are in full bloom. While visitors have many day trip choices, one of the most peaceful and scenic drives is to the little town of Glen Rose, located about an hour and a half south of Fort Worth. The drive features a winding road through hilly landscapes full of pecan, sycamore and juniper trees. 10Best is ready to take you on a gorgeous day trip to the countryside! Fossil Rim Wildlife Center — Photo courtesy of Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Before heading out on the road, make an early breakfast stop at Crossroads Diner in Dallas. This favorite restaurant features some of the best warm sticky buns and other breakfast treats in all of "Big D." Then, head South on US-75 and take US-67 South all the way to Glen Rose.

After driving about 45 minutes, make a quick stop in Cleburne at the Chisholm Trail Museum. This outdoor museum features local history exhibits and even Native American artifacts. It will take about 30 minutes to see the entire museum. Then get back on US-67 and take it all the way to Glen Rose, about a 30-minute drive.

When you arrive, make your first stop at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center off US-67. This nature preserve allows visitors to drive through a nine-mile loop in their own vehicles while viewing (and feeding!) the more than 1,100 wildlife species, including giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, rhinos, antelopes and bison. It usually takes about 2.5 hours to go through when stopping and feeding the animals. Giraffes at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center — Photo courtesy of Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

After you've worked up an appetite, quench your own hunger at the onsite Overlook Cafe at Fossil Rim. This restaurant features low prices, breathtaking views and even a petting zoo for the little ones.

The second half of the day can be spent at Dinosaur Valley State Park. This amazing park features real-life dinosaur tracks and trails with informative markers. It also has huge dinosaur models sure to delight kids.

Another great aspect of this park is that you can take a cool dip in the river after you've worked up a sweat by hiking around the park. Depending on how much you enjoy exploring, you could spend anywhere from two to four hours at this attraction.

By now, the sun will start setting, so you'll want to get back on the road to Dallas to enjoy the scenery at dusk. But don't leave Glen Rose without making a stop at Pie Peddlers in the downtown area. This local bakery is touted as having the best pies in the "Lone Star State," with specialties like buttermilk pie, strawberry rhubarb pie and coconut cream pie.

Buckle up, and enjoy the ride!
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