
Somewhere in the far west end of Fort Worth,near a highway named after a professor, isa little nature preserve near Lake Worth.About 10 miles west of downtown on theJacksboro Highway is the Fort Worth NatureCenter & Refuge. Inside this 3,600-acre parkis Canyon Ridge Trail. The 3.25 mile trail takesin almost all forms of Texas scenery.There are rolling hills, limestone outcrops andviews of the shores of Lake Worth. If you arelucky, you can find some fossils buried in thesecretaceous period rocks, but watch out for thePrickly Pear Cacti.The trails unlock a natural beauty that is lost in theever-expanding Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.ICE at The Parks at Arlington3815 S. Cooper St.It’s spring time in Texas and summer is quicklyapproaching. What better way to escape thanon a 210-foot patch of ice?For only $9, the general public can rent skates andhit up ICE at the Parks at Arlington, an Olympicsizeskating rink.Open for interested skaters, birthday parties,skating lessons and hockey leagues, the rink,which is located in The Parks mall, has become alocal staple for youth and adult time-killing.Of course, for some, moving on ice with bladesattached to their feet might seem like a foreignor even intimidating concept.No need to worry. The ice is occupied byskaters of varying skill. It has got the standardWildlife on the trails is hit or miss depending onthe time of day you arrive. If you reach the trailsbefore 9 a.m., the odds of seeing deer are a littlebit higher, and for the most part the animals donot scare easily. This is not advocating walkingup next to the wildlife in a Ghillie Suit, but if youare quiet, you could spot a small fawn.If you are a fan of bird-watching, some hawksdrift overhead throughout the day, giving anotherpeaceful addition to the trail. The crowningmoment of wildlife searching at the trails is thebison preserve in the Nature Center.A few hours spent away from the sounds of thecity is all it takes to find tranquility in the harshreality of the daily grind, and Canyon Ridge Trailis the place to find that peace of mind