DFW Summer Fun!

Have you seen the weather forecast for this week? I mean I understand it's July. It's Texas. It's always hot in the summer. That being said, I this is just another level!! I said something about it being abnormally hot this week to my dad, and he immediately started reminiscing about the summer of 1980 when apparently DFW was basically the surface of the sun. Every summer when it gets hot he says, "it's nothing compared to the summer of 1980." I wasn't alive then, but based on how much he talks that heatwave up, it's for the best!

At this point in the summer, even if it's not "the summer of 1980," even the pools in DFW are warm. Your best bet is a lake! Since they're so big, they don't get as warm, and on a hot day are SO refreshing! But without a boat it's a wee bit difficult to fully enjoy the water! Enter SUP!

No SUP is not some teenage slang for "what's up." (Even though it used to be!) It stands for Stand Up Paddle board. SUP is super easy to do, and is a great (but not too strenuous) full body workout. Courtney and I recently visited DFW Surf on Grapevine Lake, and rented some paddle boards! DFW Surf also has locations in Frisco and Little Elm.

About to head out to enjoy the sunshine and refreshing water!

We paddled and chatted our way around the lake. You are allowed to go as far as you please. You can stay close to the shore, paddle over to the little "lagoon," or even head on out to the actual lake. On this particular day the wind was blowing SO hard, which kept us from going too far. We had to sit down quite a bit to keep our body from acting as a sail and working against our paddling.

If the wind is blowing pretty hard, it's easier to kneel on the board!

We made it to the lagoon that is closest to the entrance to the main part of the lake and decided to swim around a bit and enjoy the cool water! As we were swimming we were watching planes land overhead at DFW. All of a sudden I realized it was aboout 1:15, which mean the Qantas flight was on it's way in. (To read all about the fun free family friendly way to watch it come in, read this post: DFW Free Family Friendly Activity) Sure enough, it was just on the horizon! 

See it just above the trees? It is the largest passenger plane in the world...so it's much larger than it looks here!

As we swam around, the wind would push us back towards the boat lanes, so we'd get back on and paddle, then jump back into the water! 

At one point we even just laid on our backs and enjoyed the sun! As our time started winding down, we started making our way back to the shore. We fought the wind back, but when we reached the shore we were refreshed and happy! It is a great way to spend the afternoon. 

DFW Surf also offers a Friday Firework Paddle board tour. In case you aren't already aware, Grapevine shoots off fireworks every Friday night between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Fireworks happen to be one of my very favorite things, so combine that with paddle boarding (because I've fallen in love with it) and you have a GREAT time! The bonus is that it is at night, so it's obviously not as hot! 

You meet around 8:30, and about 8:45 they gather everyone up and give any first timers a crash course in paddle boarding. They give everyone a flotation device, a lit paddle, and then they attach LED lights to the front and back o the board. 

The LED lights give you plenty of light!

Once everyone is set, they start launching them into the water. There are several guides that are also with the group to lead and help.

There were probably 40-50 people in the group!

See all the little lights? Those are more paddlers.

Everyone paddles out to the entrance of the main part of the lake. Once there, you have some time to get situated, take pictures, enjoy the last few minutes of the sunlight.

The fireworks shot off right between those two people. We had a perfect view for the fireworks!

The fireworks tour is what she wanted to do for her birthday!

All the feels for this girl, paddle boarding, and fireworks!

Right at 9:30 the fireworks show begins!

Perfection!

The show lasts about 10-15 minutes, then its time to head back to the shore! You leave pretty quickly to try and beat the boats because they all start trying to get into the marina pretty quickly after the show ends. It is a perfect way to enjoy the fireworks!

At DFW Surf, paddle boards rent for $25 per hour and the fireworks tour is $40 (even though it says $45 on the website). It is worth every penny to have an activity that is fun and refreshing!

I said I've fallen in love with paddle boarding, and I have! I have done it at DFW Surft 4 times, and it is my new favorite activity!

What do I suggest today?

1. Check out SUP at DFW Surf (link to website: https://dfwsurf.com) for the daytime or the fireworks tour. They make you take a beginners class if you tell them it's your first time. If you are confident in your abilities (it is so easy) then you could probably just go for it. Also book online to ensure you have a board...especially on the weekends!
2. Check out the fireworks at Grapevine Lake! Obviously, you don't have to do the paddle boarding to see them. There are many parks around the lake to watch them from! You can see them from Rockledge Park (there is an entrance fee, but the best view), Lakeview Park (no entrance fee), or Oak Grove Park (no entrance fee, but he biggest crowds). For more information, go to http://www.lake-grapevine.com/fireworks!
3. While you're out there, you can check out Big Daddy's Ship Store restaurant. They have great burgers, fried pickles, fried shrimp, grilled oysters, and other dive type food. It's great before or after paddle boarding, or you can catch the fireworks from here if the nighttime paddle boarding freaks you out!