By Erin Robbins
Spring is arguably the most beautiful time of the year to visit SMU and a perfect season in Dallas. Everything is in bloom, the weather is perfect, and there are tons of things to do outdoors. One of my favorite things to do on a sunny 78-degree day (like today) is head out to the Katy Trail. I love enjoying some fresh air and vitamin D after a long week of classes and studying!
The Katy Trail is a great 3.5 mile jogging/walking and biking trail that starts near SMU and runs through the Uptown area of Dallas. This trail follows along the greenbelt that the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad used for over 100 years. in 1997, a nonprofit organization called Friends of the Katy Trail was created to convert the abandoned railroad tracks into the trail it is today as part of a national “rails-to-trails” initiative.
Throughout the trail you get to see some great views of downtown and green landscapes (yes there are trees in Texas for those of you from far away)! However, my favorite part is seeing all of the Dallasites out with their dogs, which is a huge plus when I’m missing my dog at home. Another popular activity among SMU students is rollerblading, and there are places to rent them for your afternoon on the trail. You would never expect that such a tranquil place existed in the midst of the most densely populated part of the city. The Katy Trail is so accessible and a great outlet for enjoying these beautiful spring days in Dallas! Here is the Katy Trail website if you’re interested in some of the construction they’re doing to expand: www.katytraildallas.org
With weather like this there is nothing to keep you from getting out and exploring Dallas!