by Hunter Lanier

You’re starting to get that feeling. Work is piling up, the lawn needs to be mowed again, there’s dog hair all over the living room even though you vacuumed two days ago. It’s time for a break—and not just a night out to the same place you always go to, but a full-on, real-deal getaway.

That dream vacation to Iceland isn’t exactly in the cards quite yet, but the great thing about Texas is that you can take off in any direction and find a totally new culture—a city with a character all its own. That’s certainly true with Addison, a northeast nook with a thriving outdoor culture, an “eatertainment” scene to rival any big city, and an emphasis on public art that rewards those who love to explore new cities on foot.

Plan out your weekend in Addison by checking out these three unique reasons to pack your bag, fill up the tank, and hightail it to one of Texas’ finest little towns. We’re not saying you’ll love it so much that you’ll never want to leave, but you may want to bring the whole family along, just in case.

I’ll Have What Addison’s Having

At the end of the day, what’s better than going out to eat? You get freshly made meals cooked by professionals, served to you by someone that must pretend to like you or they’ll get in trouble. It can’t be beat! But with over 200 restaurants in Addison, where do you start?

When you visit a new place, we think one of the best ways to experience it is by visiting the local mom-and-pop spots. One of the locals’ favorites in Addison is Nate’s Seafood & Steakhouse. This is the place to go when you’re looking for that elusive Cajun flavor. For southern comfort like only Texas can, swing by the mystical Ida Claire, which serves up everything from homemade biscuits to seasonal cobblers. Oh, and the ambiance of Ida Claire is a vibe that must be experienced firsthand. If there were Michelin stars just for seating and interior design, Ida Claire would have enough for their very own culinary constellation!

The star of Addison’s foods scene just might be its “eatertainment” options. Puttshack pairs mini-golf with craft cocktails, Batbox lets you swing away in batting cages between bites and beers, and Sidecar Social is a massive playground of games, TVs, and drinks that’s basically a year-round party everyone’s invited to. It goes without saying that Addison’s dining scene is a buffet of culinary bliss. Grab a plate, ready your sporks, snap on that bib, and dig in.

For an upscale dining experience, head over to Fogo de Chão. Just so you know, this isn’t any ol’ Fogo de Chão—it’s the very first Fogo de Chão in the entire United States! Fogo de Wow is more like it!

Great Times in the Great Outdoors

Nothing relieves stress quite like spending time in the fresh air. And there are few more convenient ways to enjoy the fresh air than Addison Circle Park. It’s often said that arts and culture are the soul of a city, which makes Addison Circle Park the beating heart. You’ll find 10 acres of beautiful greenery, food trucks, and live music. It’s the place to go to either read a good book under the warmth of the Texas sun or break a sweat on the trails. As host to Taste Addison, Kaboom Town!, and Addison Oktoberfest, the park is a year-round hub for Addison’s most exciting events.

Then there’s Vitruvian Park, a dreamy escape with 12 acres of green space and stylish waterways. Beyond being well-known among locals for how well-maintained and close to restaurants it is, Vitruvian Park is host to its own lineup of can’t-miss events. During the holidays, it’s a serene oasis by day and a kaleidoscopic Christmas card by night. Oh, and we can’t forget about the Vitruvian Salsa Festival that takes place in the summer, complete with salsa lessons, food trucks, and live entertainment. We all need a little more salsa dancing in our lives. Also during the summer: live from Addison, it’s Vitruvian Nights Live! This is a live music event that happens every other Thursday from June to August, which also includes food trucks!

Addison: The Public Art Capital of Texas

Everyone loves a good art gallery, but you can’t beat the accessibility about public art. You don’t need to buy a ticket, dress up, or whisper—you can simply stumble upon a masterwork as you’re walking from point A to point B. That democratic spirit is pivotal to Addison’s identity—so much so, the town wears its title as the Public Art Capital of Texas like a glistening crown.  

With over 20 installations peppered throughout the city, the town itself acts as something of an open-air gallery, inviting you to admire, ponder, and, yes, snap a few photos. Take, for example, Blueprints at Addison Circle, one of the most iconic sculptures in the city. At four stories tall and 130 feet wide, this massive steel structure earns its name from the real blueprints of the city’s buildings and parks that are incorporated into its body. Each of the sculpture’s columns starts at its base alone, then as the columns get taller, they spread out, ultimately creating an interconnected web between them. Blueprints tells the story of a community of individuals, coming together to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

If you’re looking for a good photo to send back to the family, we recommend the Meditation sculpture from Coloradoan artist, Joshua Tobey. It’s a five-foot-tall bronze bear in the lotus position, surely channeling his chi for an upcoming honey run. Best of all, the sculpture includes an empty space beside the bear, anticipating the arrival of the greatest work of art: you! Adopt the lotus position yourself, but maybe keep one eye open—you are doing yoga with a bear, after all.

While there are dozens of more public artworks we could talk about, part of the fun is discovering them yourself! If you’re wondering if there’s a way to take a self-guided tour, there’s already one in your pocket! Download the Otocast app for a free self-guided tour of Addison’s public art, narrated by none other than the artists themselves.

Set Your Next Road Trip for Addison

Well known for its prime location between Dallas, Frisco, and Plano, Addison is more than just an affordable home base for some DFW-area exploration. It’s a destination all its own, growing every single year.

So what’s the hold up? Pack light, bring an appetite, and don’t let another moment go by before planning your much-needed—and well-deserved—weekend in Addison, TX. In fact, we’ll make it easy with this selection of Addison’s coziest hotels.

About the Author: Hunter Lanier is the head writer for Tour Texas. When he isn’t writing about the many great places in the state of Texas, he’s writing books and screenplays. He's also a member of the Houston Film Critics Society and reviews films on his YouTube channel, Feature Underground.