Irving is in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Texas. The city is home to the National Scouting Museum, the official museum of the Boy Scouts, and the Irving Arts Center, a 10-acre visual and performing arts center.
From Campion Trails, a greenbelt that stretches for 22 miles along the Trinity River, to Las Colinas, an area that includes Mandalay Canal and Lake Carolyn, Irving is a must-visit for lovers of outdoor and water activities.
California Crossing Park features 30 acres of verdant land along the East Fork of the Trinity River. The Campion Trails are renowned for their natural beauty and are ideal for both biking and hiking.
The Mandalay Canal offers romantic Venetian-style gondola rides, as well as stand up paddle boarding, and the Trinity River Mountain Creek Preserve provides a canoe launch.
The National Scouting Museum showcases over 600,000 scouting artifacts, including oil paintings, uniforms, patches, photos, letters, and films, as well as life-size replicas of campsites.
The Main Gallery of the Irving Arts Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, showcases more than 20 exhibits a year. The Dupree Theater and Carpenter Hall host simultaneous live performances of plays and musicals.
Texans take their barbecue seriously and Irving is no exception. Post Oak Smokehouse specializes in brisket, shoulder clod, pork ribs and chops, and homemade sausage. Fred's Pit Barbeque offers smoked meat sandwiches and barbecue by the pound.
The best months to visit Irving are April to October when temperatures average 77 to 96 degrees.
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), 20 minutes from Irving, services 226 destinations, including 56 international and 170 domestic locations. The Dallas Area Rapid Transit provides bus service to downtown Irving.
Several highways bypass Irving, including the Airport Freeway, which runs east-west through downtown, and the LBJ Freeway, as well as the John W. Carpenter Freeway and the President George Bush Turnpike, which crisscross the city.
The closest Greyhound bus station to Irving is in Dallas, 25 minutes from downtown, which has connections to Houston.
The Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas offers a gym, spa, and five restaurants. The Homewood Suites by Hilton Irving, near the airport and the business district, features rooms, as well as suites equipped with a full kitchen.
Bear Creek - Bear Creek, the oldest African-American community in Dallas County, features three different museums, which document the time from the end of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement.
Irving Heritage District - the Heritage District in Irving dates back to 1903 and is home to numerous antique shops and thrift stores, as well as a classic soda shop and pharmacy. The district is also home to Heritage House, built in 1912, which features J. O. and C. P. Schulze family antiques, as well as gifts from other founding Irving families.
Las Colinas - Las Colinas, home to the Mandalay Canal and Lake Carolyn, hosts the Irving Music Factory, featuring 250,000 square feet of entertainment, retail shops, restaurants, and a movie theater.
Irving is serviced by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which provides bus, light, and commuter rail service. Local day passes are $5.
Irving has several taxi companies, including Irving Taxi. Fares start at $2.25.
Irving features several car rental locations. Daily rates start at $33.75.
Irving has several prominent shopping areas, including Galleria at 13355 Noel Road, which has high-end shops, department stores, casual and upscale restaurants, as well as an ice skating rink.
Tom Thumb features staples, as well as a deli, fish market, sushi bar, and olive bar. La Michoacana Meat Market has meats, produce, baked goods, and a tacqueria. The cost of living in Irving is slightly below the national average. A gallon of milk is $2.77 and a loaf of bread is $1.91.
LAW, a traditional American steakhouse, specializes in bone-in ribeye, short ribs, and a 9oz flank steak. Entrees average $40. The Keg Steakhouse and Bar serves top sirloin, Alaskan King crab, and Atlantic lobster tails. Entrees average $40.