Did you know??? Fun facts from Atlas Obscura- When Jetson's…read morehome comes to fruition. Fewer than a hundred of Finnish architect Matti Suuronen's sci-fi-inspired Futuro Houses were ever produced, and now fewer than 50 remain, making the odd spaceship vacation home crumbling away in a Royse City, Texas field more sought after than it would appear.   Designed in the late 1960s, the prefabricated Futuro Houses were meant to be a cheap, durable, and stylish little dwelling that could be placed in any environment. Made of fiberglass and plastic, the homes could be broken down into 16 individual pieces and bolted together wherever the owner wanted, from a snowy mountainside to a sunny beach. Unfortunately, the space age design may have been a bit too ahead of its time for most communities, which along with an oil shortage, cut the future of these bulbous vacation shacks short.  Almost from the installation of the first Futuro house in Suuronen's native Finland, locals seemed to decry the strangely shaped buildings. While almost a hundred of the pieces were created and placed around the world from America to New Zealand, a number of them were shot down by zoning laws, or demolished. The oil crisis in the 1970s made the use of plastic prohibitive and production of the houses was stopped. Despite the objections of some, architecture aficionados took to the buildings and were able to preserve many of them, while those without protection simply fell into ruin. The Futuro House sitting in Royse City is unfortunately one of the latter. The interior has been gutted and is now covered in graffiti. The exterior has weather and stained with age, although as of late 2014, it seems to have received a fresh coat of bright orange paint. The inside however is still a mess. A far cry from the Futuro Houses which are well-preserved in private collections around the world, this vacation ship looks like it has crash-landed, but can still be located on Highway 276, approximately six miles east of Rockwall, Texas.

This is a rare site to see! We happened to see a green futuro house years ago driving around…read moreLivingston Illinois, never expected to see one here near the Dallas area! There's only 100 of these futuro homes in the world! Originally designed to be a ski chalet. Wish that it wasn't vandalized. The orange color is a little faded and worn but the structure was all there. The little door was opened but we didn't climb in. What a fun little adventure in the area!

Just Go (#19) In…read moreJuly 2016 from New Mexico we went East and explored a little bit of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Salt Flat TX. But my most memorable trip in The Lone Star State was during the Yelp Spring Break in San Antonio on May 2017. It was my 2nd YSB experience before Yelp discontinued them (not sure if they did permanently). Most of the events were centered in San Antonio. We held events in Downtown and the River Walk: * The Vistana - rooftop pool party * Food Tour that included samplings from Ocho (inside Hotel Havana), TacoLand Riverwalk, Paesanos Riverwalk, La Boulangerie, and Zinc Bistro & Wine Bar * Briscoe Western Art Museum - Dia de Los Muertos themed Fiesta for Cinco de Mayo * UYE at the Hard Rock Cafe * The St Anthony Hotel - masquerade ball * Hemisfair * UYE brunch at the Pigpen ... it was hott, hott, hott in San Antonio but we had so much fun! Everything's BIG in TEXAS! Our home away from home was at WorldMark New Braunfels. The unit had a maximum occupancy of 6. It was a freakin' house. LoL Between the YSBSA events we did a little exploring on our own: AT&T Center - Home of the San Antonio Spurs (at the time of our visit the Spurs were away playing Game 3 in Houston) San Antonio River Walk - iconic landmark The Alamo - historic! Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo Tower of the Americas Observation Deck / Chart House Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo Texas has a plethora of delish and famous foods, but the main two are Chili and BBQ. There's a first for everything... it was my first time having a kolache when we stopped at Shipley Donuts. Had Texas-style BBQ at Rudy's Country Store & BBQ in Selma and not too far from it we found a Boba Tea Lounge and got my boba fix ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Thank you, Great State of Texas! Review #2470

I've driven through Texas from West to East. It's huge! I have lots of cool Yelp Friends from Texas…read morethat keep me up to date on the attractions, food and so much more. There's so much to do and see in this state. It's such a diverse population there's plenty to enjoy. My favorite tourist destination is the Alamo. If I return to Texas I would go elsewhere. Until I can visit again I'll enjoying seeing this beautiful state on Yelp. I've seen enough of it by car! Next time I'll fly.

Great start for this inaugural event! My family had a blast and all for charity! They had jumped…read moreand rad hatter for the kids, swag bags for the kidgits VIP program, and great representation of food in the area. Avocado California Roll & Sushi, Cristina"s, Edible Arrangements, Fuzzy's Taco Shop, Hyatt Place Garland, I Heart Yogurt, Nothing Bundt Cakes, OPA! Greek Taverna, Pete's, and The Flying Fish were some of our favorites! They also had a band playing hits from yesterday which even my kids were dancing to! Great job Simon Mall for a great food festival! Can't wait until next year! #amyrocks

If I had to do it all over again. I would not purchase a home in Forney, Texas. It has a deep…read morehistory that goes back to the 1800s. It's always been a town of business and desiring prosperity. I've lived here for almost 5 years, and what I have discovered is that the city will simply not listen to its residents no matter how they vote, and they will build the city in the way that they want. It was through the school of hard knocks that I discovered that the city of Forney, the builders of the homes, and the HOA's are all working together. Basically, they are building according to the kickbacks, and the people have no voice. To offset the people, not having a voice, they have several Facebook pages for people to complain and blame one another. It's almost like talking to a wall to get any results from the city, the HOA, and even to the level of the builders. For example, I had a problem with the builder's construction where they were playing very loud music. It took me six months to find out who to call to get some results on the noise pollution. If you live outside the city limits, you can count on everyone passing the buck. If there is a problem, they have constables. If there is an animal found outside the city limits, the city will not accept that animal, even if they have room in the shelter. Basically, what I feel the city did is they had low housing prices to draw a whole bunch of people. Plus they use Covid for their advantage. Now, due to high taxes, they are able to build the city in the way that they want. The city is very Inconveniently laid out and it is hard to maneuver in the city now that so many people have moved here. It is very congested in the main areas. Basically, they are building new businesses and places that they really don't have the space to build. The motto of the city of Forney is " a city without limits," This motto is so contrary to the truth because basically, the city is turning into a couple of blocks of congestion and all real estate. from my understanding. There is a little accountability in the leaders on every level. They all seem to have an elitist attitude, and make nothing but excuses while treating you like you're a peasant. For example, I called and on a dog potential dog park and I was treated as if I was unknowing and incompetent. They promised a dog park, but what it turned out to be was a builders kickback. They made a tiny dog park in a residential area. I do not like to go to dog parks in other neighborhoods, because I feel like I am encroaching on there neighborhood. I don't feel like it's fair to them, because they are paying dues just like we are. They are spending a ton of money on education, and really on other cities for people to go to for their day-to-day needs. The taxes are higher here and many neighborhood have an HOA. Basically, if I had to do it over again, I would stay far away from Forney and buy elsewhere. Now, we are waiting on my husband's retirement until we can finally leave Forney.

Great local art show with food trucks and musical stage. Local artists perform over the weekend…read more They encourage pets and family fun.

I look forward to this Huffhines Art Trail Festival every year! I can walk from my home to attend…read morethis Event. It's only 2 days long & is always in October. It's a great date for couples & families. Excellent shopping! One of my favorite booths for the pass 4 years has been Penny B Pottery. She's a true Artist! There always some awesome music to listen to and cold beer to sip, or glass of wine. If you can't make it to the State Fair you can get your corn dog fix here for sure! Make sure you mark your calendar every October for this one of a kind Art Festival!

The people here are incredibly kind, which is why I'm leaving five stars. However, after visiting…read morethe Stockyards earlier in the day, Grapevine felt significantly more "sleepy." It felt like I went from Santa Fe to Santa Ana. Speaking of Santas, it's known as the Christmas Capital, but in the off-season, the only thing Christmas-like was me thinking, "Jesus Christ, these long stretches of sidewalk feel empty" Granted, it was the midday lull, and many of the shops and restaurants seemed spread out or closed as early as 5:00 PM. It's a nice, free place for a slow-paced stroll, but a bit underwhelming if you are looking for a vibrant atmosphere.

Downtown Grapevine is one of my favorite areas to visit, there are numerous local shops, a farmers…read moremarket, art gallery, museum(s), restaurants, a book store, trinity metro Tex rail station etc. Downtown grapevine has various community events throughout the year and is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas. There are statues and benches throughout the downtown area that add to the charm of historic downtown grapevine. Some of my favorite areas in the historic downtown area are talking animals (book shop), house of shine (non-profit/museum) and the farmer's market of grapevine. I look forward to my next visit.

This trip, I'm here for the Trinity River Run (Half Marathon, 10K and 5K). It is a beautiful…read moreafternoon and the evening would get even better as the moon rose over Dallas! This area has SO many attractions and events. The restaurants go from sandwiches, fantastic burgers, BBQ, to international fares from around the world! Desserts include exquisite chocolates, cakes, Asian shave iced, fried pies, fine baked pies and ice cream. Let's not forget the drinks of fine wines to super craft beers! There is the Kirk Pedestrian bridge nearby which makes this spot special for the kids! It has a playground nearly the full length (lots of kid friendly spots the full length) besides the intended kid playgrounds. There are places to sit and lounge. Places to sit and converse. And a long pathway to run, walk, gab and sight see. The BEST attraction at Trinity Groves is the view! In daylight, the view of the Margaret Hunt-Hill Bridge is gorgeous with the back drop being the city of Dallas skyline. At night, is the ULTIMATE attraction, the fanciful and delightful ever changing colorful neon/LED building lights behind the well lit Margaret Hunt-Hill Bridge. This trip, the full moon over this view made it spectacular! Bring a date, bring the kids, bring your dog or come alone. It is impressive! You will enjoy it!

Fun rotating mix of new restaurant concepts. Has a little bit of everything, so good for indecisive…read moregroups

When in Dallas, you must check out the Reunion Tower. There isn't a whole lot to do while you're up…read morethere except enjoy the spectacular views and beautiful landscapes. We were fortunate there was no cloud cover! You could see for miles from the Ball's point of view at 470 feet up. The Reunion Tower itself is a 561 ft observation tower in Dallas, and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. We spent about 30 min checking out the views and eventually made our way back down the elevator. Overall, it was a nice experience! But for the price we paid, I did expect a bit more! Side note: Remember to download your free group picture at the kiosk before you leave!

I always try to visit an observation tower when I visit a different state. So I had to visit the…read moreReunion Tower whilst in Dallas. The Tower looked like a lollipop and was only 20 mins walk from our hotel. At one point we found ourselves on the train tracks and could see the Tower but couldn't quite see how to get there as there was no signage or directions. Eventually, we had to walk around and go under a bridge to get to the other side and walked towards the Tower. Even the entrance had no signage. It did have the name of the restaurant Crown Block and also Hyatt Hotel but nothing about the Tower. Anyway, we walked in and went downstairs. Tickets were $19 and can be bought from the kiosks. As we walked to the line, you get to have your photo taken with a green screen. There are props you can use on the right counter if needed. In the elevator you can see outside as you are going up. I just wished the glass was facing the city instead of Trinity river and the two Margaret sister bridges. You can see all the freeways overlapping like spaghetti. At the top, there is a little area with a few tables and chairs. I guess you can bring a lunch or snack whilst enjoying the views. The restrooms are really clean up there. Outside, there are telescopes available and info about the skyline. However, it was awfully windy and cold in January. The staff were really friendly and helpful with any questions you have. We found out the photos taken earlier, could be viewed at the kiosks by scanning the barcode on your ticket. They email the photos to you for free or you can buy a physical copy from them. Overall, it was a nice visit. Have to say, there were hardly any people around. I guess it was off peak tourist season, so it was nice not having the crowds and long lines.

Fireworks at Lake Carolyn - known as Sparks and Stripes from the City of Irving is their annual 4th…read moreof July celebration for residents of Irving. This year the city hosted a festival with live music and food vendors, but this review will only focus on the fireworks show. My Overall Rating - 5 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Fireworks, Return) Atmosphere - There are few places as pretty as Lake Carolyn when the sun sets. The lake is very big, and the city allows visitors to sit in any of the public places. We ended up sitting in the lawn area in south corner. While not we weren't as close to the fireworks as other parts around the lake, we had an amazing view of the buildings in the back. 1 Star. Service - The City of Irving had buses shuttling people from the fireworks show to the parking garages at the Toyota Music Factory. The lines were long, so we paid $10 to park in one of the nearby garages. You pay for convenience, but it's hard to get out of parking garage. It is what it is. 1 Star. Fireworks - You have to be a grumpy person to not like fireworks. The show was great, with plenty types of fireworks. There was music piped in through speakers in our area. The finale could have been better, but hey it's a fireworks show. 2 Star. Will I Return? - Yes. This was my first experience with fireworks but not my last. I really loved the spectacular views of the firework above the lake. Best of all, it wasn't extremely crowded and a fun time overall. Well done, Irving! 1 Star.

Fantastic fireworks show with a drone show beforehand. Love sitting on the shore of Lake Carolyn to…read morewatch!