There aren’t many towns where one can get up close and personal with endangered species, walk in dinosaur tracks and eat a chicken fried steak with bikers while listening to live Texas Country. But Glen Rose has it all. An hour drive southwest of Fort Worth, it’s a short trip that takes you years away from everyday life. After a long day spent exploring Dinosaur Valley State Park, The Loco Coyote Grill is the perfect spot for traditional Southern fare and music. There is sawdust on the floor, Willie Nelson on the wall and a unique blend of clientele from motorcycle club to ranch hand and everyone is having a good time. Hand-feed exotic wildlife at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, a 1,700 drive-through refuge with around 1000 individual animals, belonging to 50 different native and exotic species from camel and giraffe to zebra and buffalo. If paleontology is your thing, you can check out some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world at Dinosaur Valley State Park or picnic at Dinosaur World, where you can roam the earth with more than 150 life-sized dinosaur statues.

Looking for a place with all the fun camping activities without the hassle? Saddle-up and head on out to The Hideaway Ranch and Retreat. Whether you stay the night or stay the week, Hideaway staff will take care of you and your family. With a ton of activities from archery, wagon rides, horseback riding or fishing. Want to hang out in the hot tub and do nothing? That’s available too.

Flowing through Glen Rose is the Paluxy River. The Brazos River merges with the Paluxy River and Squaw Creek creating a picturesque view known as tres rios that is worthy of a visit. There are also kayak, canoe and tube rental services for the adventurous at heart and a number of campgrounds and cabins on the water.