Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

True, Dallas has plenty of towering skyscrapers and traffic-heavy highways. But it's also rich in green space. Case in point: The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, which occupies 66 acres in White Rock Lake Park northeast of central Dallas. Forget about the city's hustle and bustle with a stroll through the Jonsson Color Garden, where one of the nation's largest collections of azaleas blossom in the spring and several acres of chrysanthemums come to life during the fall. Several historic homes surround the lake, tucked away in numerous patches of natural forest; take some time to visit them and escape the blazing summer heat.

Expect admission fees between $7 and $10 to enter the arboretum, plus an additional parking fee. On the bright side, the ticket booth will give you a free-day pass (good for three months) if your visit is dampened by rain.