Things to do in Scarborough Faire Area

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I know this is crazy, since it's so early, but I'm a planner.  Steve and I are coming to RenDezvous next April.  We got $120 round trip tickets from Chicago, and are flying out on Wednesday (we wanted Thursday but the seats were sold out on that day and Friday).  So we will have 2 full days of sightseeing before the RenDezvous activities begin.

We've never been to TX, and would like to do some sightseeing.  I've found a place called Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where you drive in your car and there are African animals, like a drive through safari.  It sounds like fun, but I'd rather hear it from someone who's been there.

Southfork, where the TV show Dallas was filmed - worth a visit?


Anyone have any other suggestions?  Thanks for your input.

[Aiacha]

I actually don't know much of sightseeing spots in Dallas, but I've made the time a few times to go to Medieval Times.  It's about a 30-45 minute trip up from Waxahachie, it can be pricey, but the dinner is pretty good and the production values are better than other dinner shows I've been to.

http://www.medievaltimes.com/index.php

There is on in Kissimmie (FL), and one in Schaumburg (IL) so you may have already been.  But if not, it blends in nicely with Rendevous.

(Also, it says that the friday night shows during Rendevous are sold out...I would call, I just can't see how they can be sold out already!)

[dbaldock]

There are corporate-type discount tickets available for the shows at Medieval Times, and some of your friends here on the Forum may be able to get some for you.  In the late 90's, Medieval Times allowed you to attend in costume (without weapons), which I did with some friends at least twice.  If that sounds interesting, you should probably call (214) 761-1800 and check on their current policy.


I've heard about Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, but never visited when I lived in north Texas.  I know families really enjoy Fossil Rim, and there are a couple of dozen reviews on TripAdviser.


Another nice place to visit is the Dallas Arboretum.  There are beautiful gardens, and they've got a "Cool Thursday Concerts" series next Spring, with a show by The Kildares on the Thursday before RenDezvous.

u]Dallas Arboretum - Cool Thursday Concerts (PDF)[/u]"]
April 22
The Killdares
Blending traditional Celtic playing skills, power-pop accessibility, and straight up rock 'n' roll hooks, The Killdares have created a fresh new sound that's filled with an infectious, powerful energy.

Take Care,
David Baldock

[Aiacha]

There are corporate-type discount tickets available for the shows at Medieval Times, and some of your friends here on the Forum may be able to get some for you.  In the late 90's, Medieval Times allowed you to attend in costume (without weapons), which I did with some friends at least twice.  If that sounds interesting, you should probably call (214) 761-1800 and check on their current policy.

Unless they've changed very recently, they do allow costumes.

[raevyncait]

Medieval Times DOES allow costumes, though there was an issue on the trip I was there, because apparently our pub wench had decided that because we were in costume, (and frankly, dressed better than she was) we were not going to tip because "Pirates don't tip well". What she didn't realize was that enough of us in our group (we had about 25 of us) were, had been, or had family members/close friends in the restaurant or bar biz, and so we tip VERY well... as our food server learned!

Also in the D/FW area are:

Dallas Zoo http://www.dallaszoo.com

Fort Worth Zoo http://www.fortworthzoo.com

Ripley's Believe it or Not & Wax Museum http://grandprairie.ripleys.com/

Box zoos are excellent, however my personal preference is for the Fort Worth.

I haven't been to Southfork in YEARS, literally, so I have no idea what it's like anymore.
T
There are several good shopping areas, indoor & outdoor in the area: Grapevine Mills, Galleria, Southlake Town Center, Arlington Highlands (which is the closest to Waxahachie.

[bellevivre]

IN Waxahachie itself, you need to make a trip downtown (follow the road from Scarby) The Ellis county Courthouse is a sight to behold. There's good antiquing down College Street just off the square, the Ellis county museum has some really interesting and bizarre things, there's a nice hike/bike trail down that way as well, and you HAVE to have at least one meal (if not all) at the Chisolm Grill http://www.chisholmgrill.com/ (also on the Square)

[ArielCallista]

I've been to Fossil Rim several times! Its fun but you will be putting your car at a bit of a risk (get insurance if you're renting!) because you drive down a dirt road and the animals WILL stick their head in your car unless you roll up the windows. Its pretty cool tho cuz you can buy some food and the animals will lick it right out of your hand...plus they have a nice restaurant at the top of the hill...Its pretty fun.



I live in denton which is about 2 hours northish of where Scarby is...I've been to pretty much any touristy thing in the DFW area so if you've got any other questions...I'll let you know about anything i hear about going on that weekend if you'd like.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

I live in denton which is about 2 hours northish of where Scarby is...I've been to pretty much any touristy thing in the DFW area so if you've got any other questions...I'll let you know about anything i hear about going on that weekend if you'd like.

My mother-in-law lives in Lake Dallas (isn't that close to Denton?) - anyway it only took an hour to get to Scarby - was I driving my carriage too fast ?

[dbaldock]

...
There are several good shopping areas, indoor & outdoor in the area: Grapevine Mills, Galleria, Southlake Town Center, Arlington Highlands (which is the closest to Waxahachie.

Another good place for shopping and entertainment is the Dallas West End Historic District.

Another something Historic to do is visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District and then taking a ride on the Vintage Steam Train between the Stockyard Station and Grapevine, TX.

Also, for dining in Waxahachie, you might try the College Street Pub.  A group of folks ate there on Friday or Saturday evening on the weekend I drove up to Scarby in 2004.  Can't remember exactly what I had, but I know it was good. 

Take Care,
David Baldock

[ArielCallista]

I live in denton which is about 2 hours northish of where Scarby is...I've been to pretty much any touristy thing in the DFW area so if you've got any other questions...I'll let you know about anything i hear about going on that weekend if you'd like.

My mother-in-law lives in Lake Dallas (isn't that close to Denton?) - anyway it only took an hour to get to Scarby - was I driving my carriage too fast ?

2 hours is kind of a generalization its prolly more like 1hour 45 min...Denton is about 15 minutes north of Lake Dallas...I guess most of my rides have driven slow...haha...

[Trillium]

Dallas has a lovely aquarium.  They have manatees!!!

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Thanks for the input.  I'll start getting tourist info from the places mentioned, and if anyone has more, please jump in, because since it's so early, of course, we won't decide what to do until it gets closer, but I want to get the information pulled together so when we are ready to decide, I'll have all the info at my fingertips.  

We have been to Excalibur in Las Vegas, and there is a Medieval Times just outside of Chicago, so that probably won't be a place we'll visit, but we love animals, so the fossil rim and the both zoos sound great -although, never thought of what driving on a safari could do to a rental car!

I've always wanted to go to Texas since I was a little girl, and so I'm really looking forward to visiting the state as well as going to RenDezvous.

I forgot to ask this.  How far is San Antonio from the Scarborough area?  I've always also wanted to ride a boat on the Riverwalk, and since we're getting there on Wednesday afternoon, we have 2 full days until we want to be back to our hotel on Friday for the Rendezvous activities.  We fly into Dallas, so is it feasible to get in the rental car that afternoon and drive to San Antonio and spend a couple of days there?  Thanks.

[eloquentXI]

Scarby is really only about an hour from Denton, Ariel.   Poor girl, whoever was driving you is slow!  

You're in luck, because you'll be an hour away from a lot to do in both Dallas and Ft Worth. You'll be about 4 hours away from Austin and about 5 hours away from San Antonio though. There is a lot of fun stuff to do between and there if you are wanting to head South. I'm not sure if ya'll are wanting to put that much mileage in a couple days before spending all weekend at faire though.

I loved Fossil Rim the two times I went as a kid, there is a lot to explore and see, and if you can, take one of their rides through the park so that they can tell you all about the animals and in some areas, you get to feed them.

I don't know much about Dallas but, I was raised in the Fort Worth area.
Something you will definitely want to check out is the Historical Stockyards, there is shopping, food, and a lot of historical little tidbits down in the area, with museums and a train ride that can take you down to Grapevine and back (can't remember exactly where it will take you or the cost.) My out-of-state family really enjoys going down to the stockyards when they're visiting.

From the Stockyards, since you're close, I'd also say just take Main Street down to Downtown Fort Worth. There is a lot to see and do, shopping and different restaurants in Sundance Square. On most nights there is live music and sometimes events including concerts, there are a couple comedy clubs in the area, and I've heard the Flying Saucer is a great place to stop and have a beer at. There is a movie theatre and also the Bass Performance Hall, which if you don't catch a show, at least go and walk around outside and try and step inside if you can. Its a beautiful building, both from the inside and the out.

I hope this helps, I'm going to poke around and try and find some other stuff for you! And if you want, if you stay in the DFW area before faire, let me know what you guys are up to. if I'm not working one of those nights, I'd love to come down from Denton and meet ya'll for dinner pre-faire!  

[ArielCallista]

Hahahaha...well I guess Cortney drives slow...O well I'll be driving myself from now on...

[dbaldock]

Downtown San Antonio is really fun to visit, with the Riverwalk, the Alamo, and the tour of the old Spanish Missions.  But as Megan said, it's at least a 5 hour drive, if you stop for ~30 minutes total for meals & fuel.  I just had Google Earth calculate the route from the DFW Airport Northern Parking / Car Rental Lot, to the Holiday Inn on the San Antonio Riverwalk, and the distance is 291 miles.


Just for fun, I also had Google Earth calculate what looks like the longest "straight" drive in Texas, starting from the DFW Airport.  It's 651 miles taking I-20 down to I-10 and on to the TX-NM border on I-10.

The longest drive in Texas appears to be from the North-West corner (where US-87 enters TX), to the southern tip (Boca Chica Blvd / TX-4 E) at a beach east of Brownsville on the Gulf of Mexico.  The distance is 937 miles.


You could always change your flight to one week earlier, and then you'd have plenty of time for sight-seeing!      

Take Care,
David Baldock