It’s summertime, but the urge to hop on a jet or cruise ship to faraway places has been curbed this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. That doesn’t mean we have to stick around the house the whole time. There’s plenty of adventure to be had in our own backyard if we only look. When queried, many New Yorkers will say that they have never visited the Statue of Liberty, for instance. Here are a few ways to enjoy a “wilderness” adventure that’s just around the corner.

Cabins on Bearpen Creek

9588 County Road 2422, Royse City. 469-260-6450.

This informal property located in the thick woods of Hunt County is about an hour from downtown Dallas, offering rustic cabins, complimentary breakfast and woodland views. Located in Union Valley, it is close to Poetry, Royse City, Terrell, Quinlan, Rockwall and Greenville. The cabins are conveniently located near the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Tawakoni and not far from Lake Fork. There are four cabins with one or two bedrooms on 10 acres, including a fishing pond and fire pits. The Victorian-style Heth House cabin can accommodate eight guests and comes complete with an outdoor fireplace and Bearpen Creek views from every angle.

For more information, visit CabinsOnBearpenCreek.com.

Greer Farm Lakeside Cabins

444 County Road 1125, Daingerfield. 903-452-9738.

A short drive from Dallas or Shreveport, the Greer Farm has been a traditional farm stay retreat for more than a decade. With four log cabins nestled among stands of towering pine, oak and pecan trees on a lake and a barn loft apartment, visitors can maintain a safe distance from others while enjoying cooking classes, dining, catering and more. Each cabin has a kitchenette, complete with all the basic necessities behind a private, 11-acre lake. Paddleboats and canoes are available for free use, in addition to great fishing and wildlife. There is also volleyball, bocce and bicycles. Greer Farm is a working berry farm and cattle ranch. Those staying on the farm can help feed the animals and working quarter horses, plus Pepper the zebra. During the warmer months, they offer a vegetable CSA and sell vegetables direct to subscribers, at farmers’ markets and at the farm. 

For more information, visit GreerFarm.com.

Inn on Lake Granbury

205 West Doyle Street, Granbury. 817-573-0046.

An adults-only lakeside B&B with plush quarters, an outdoor pool and a hot tub, located less than 90 minutes from Dallas and 45 minutes from Fort Worth, the inn is an upscale lakefront retreat that offers luxury accommodations on three acres of landscaped grounds. With 15 guestrooms or suites, two guest houses and a saltwater pool with waterfall, they offer eight rooms in the main guest house, four suites with balconies and two guest cottages. Just a block from historic downtown Granbury and its historic attractions and restaurants, walking-distance attractions include the Granbury Opera House, Granbury Town Square and Hood County Jail and Historical Museum. Lake Granbury Marina is two miles away, and Squaw Valley Golf Course is a 15-minute drive.

For more information, visit InnOnLakeGranbury.com.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center & Lodging

2299 County Road 2008, Glen Rose. 254-897-2960.

Lodging at Fossil Rim blends comfort, scenery and luxury. Guests feel like they are in their own home, especially at the lodge, with its five unique guest rooms. The seven cabins at Foothills Safari Camp sport a second-floor observation deck that allows an expansive view within the two-acre fenced area inside the main pasture. Each cabin has two twin beds, a bathroom, central heat and air, and a California king bed plus full-size hideaway bed in the Peregrine Room, one of the special bedrooms in the lodge. A breakfast buffet is included for all lodging guests. The cabins are for people that want to be closer to nature and the beautiful watering hole. It’s peaceful, with an amazing nighttime view of the stars, where patrons can watch animals come up for a drink from the ponds.

For more information visit FossilRim.org.

The Range Vintage Trailers

325 Slate Rock Road, Ennis. 817-713-8231.

The Range Vintage Trailer Resort is a new outdoor hotel featuring restored Airstreams and vintage trailers on 30 acres along the Ennis Bluebonnet Trail. Located 30 minutes south of Dallas in the town of Bristol, it features six renovated Airstreams and vintage trailers to rent, and 12 open sites for guests to bring their own Airstream or vintage trailer. A cedar timber barn for weddings and events, a farm-to-table restaurant and custom Airstream bar are planned soon. All sites are situated more than 100 feet apart among trees and walking trails.  Campers may fish for bass, watch the turtles in the ponds, hang out on the private deck, go to the nearby drive-in movie theater, relax and recharge. The Range is passionate about their low-waste philosophy and repurposes as much as possible. This reuse mission is visible throughout, with the rusted Texas oil piping fence, flat rack containers converted into bridges over the ponds, reclaimed vintage doors on many of the buildings and restored vintage trailers dating back to 1953.

For more information, visit TheRangeVTR.com.

High Hope Ranch

3353 County Road 2009, Glen Rose. 254-898-4296.

Guests can wander in wonder throughout this 900-plus-acre ranchland sanctuary and eco-friendly retreat an hour-and-a-half south of Dallas-Fort Worth, exploring miles of trails while staying at any one of the three distinct guest houses. Trail experiences include forested hillsides, lush pastures and overhang caves. High Hope is a working ranch and wildlife sanctuary with many places to explore via guided and unguided trails. High Hope’s emphasis is on the environment, incorporating green practices such as solar power, organic land management, recycling, green cleaning, native landscaping and wildlife habitat preservation. Nearby attractions include Dinosaur Valley State Park, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Creation Evidences Museum and Historic Downtown Glen Rose Square.

For more information, visit