Our Guide to Arlington

Arlington — aka the Entertainment Capital of North Texas — is an urban playground nestled in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

While a premier dining, shopping and entertainment center in its own right,Arlington benefits from a prime location just 20 minutes from big sisters Dallas and Fort Worth. This translates into an easy commute to both downtowns.

Many families make their homes in the master-planned communities surrounding Arlington. A stand-out among them is Viridian. The 2,000-acre community is one of the top 50 master-planned communities in the nation. Notable features include more than 1,200 acres of protected wetlands and open spaces, a 20-mile trail along the Trinity River, lakes and more. An amenity complex boasts five pools, a pavilion, and a small amphitheater. The exclusive new Islandportion of Viridian features water view homesites.

As befits a large city, Arlington is served by excellent school districts. Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD is ranked among the top 50 school districts in Texas by Niche.com. HEB ISD also is the No. 1 district in Texas for academic performance and financial efficiency, as rated by the Education Resource Group. It is one of only 58 districts to earn the prestigious post-secondary readiness distinction from the Texas Education Agency. It also has been listed among the Best Communities for Music Education for 11 consecutive years.

Arlington ISD prides itself on offering a “whole-child” approach to education. Several high schools offer both Advanced Placement and an International Baccalaureate World School Programme. Elementary schools sport two STEM labs and children are introduced to science, technology, engineering, art and math concepts from pre-K on. Named one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education, the district provides uniforms and instruments free of charge to all students.

No discussion of Arlington would be complete without a list of its attractions. The city is home to two sports stadiums. The Dallas Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium and the Texas Rangers make their home at Globe Life Field.

Thrill seekers spend weekends riding the roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas. For those that prefer their thrills with a splash of water, there is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Families can see the stars at the Planetarium at UTA.

Nature lovers enjoy hiking, biking and exploring River Legacy Park along the Trinity River. Crystal Canyon Natural Area is mecca for budding geologists. Lake Arlington is a great place for fishing and paddling.

When it comes to dining, most families head over to Texas Live! Combining restaurants and entertainment nestled between Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium, the 200,000-acre facility is the heart of the city’s entertainment district.