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Will Travel for Lattes

Will Travel for Lattes

Day Trips From Dallas: Celina Travel Guide

Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, even if just for the day? You should look no further than Celina when planning your day trips from Dallas. Located just 42 miles from the city center, you can be there in just under an hour!

Established in 1876, this once rural town that was surrounded by farms and ranches is growing rapidly and is on pace to continue as one of the fastest growing cities in Texas. While it is changing as it grows it still maintains that small town feel for now.

When researching things to do in Celina before our visit, I found a lot of articles that listed places that are not actually in Celina. In fact, some of the recommendations I saw are 30 minutes or more from Celina! You will not find that here. I have personally been to all of the places I recommend, and they are in fact located within the town of Celina.

What To do in Celina on Your Day Trips From Dallas
A white gazebo in a park at the edge of downtown Celina, Texas

Historic Downtown Square: 302 W. Walnut St, Celina, TX 75009 (free)

Spend some time walking the square in downtown Celina. There are several shops and restaurants worth checking out! Here are a few of our favorites:

  1. Willow House Boutique
  2. Annie Jack (closed Sunday and Monday)
  3. Hey Sugar Candy Store
  4. Summer Moon Coffee
  5. Buff City Soap
  6. Lucy’s on the Square (closed Monday)
  7. Toasted Walnut Table and Market (closed Sunday and Monday)
  8. Tender Smokehouse (closed Sunday and Monday)
  9. Terramania (closed Monday)
  10. Hairy Gorilla Snowballs (open late spring through summer and hours vary)

Insider Tip: There is a small park one block from the square that has a playground, gazebo, horseshoe pit, tennis and basketball courts. A great spot for the kids to burn off some energy! Founders Station Park: 132 N. Louisiana Dr, Celina, TX 75009 (free)

Front exterior of coffee shop Summer Moon on the historic Celina square, close enough for day trips from Dallas
A woman walking the historic Celina square with shopping bags on day trips from Dallas
Front exterior of Tender Smokehouse in downtown Celina, the perfect place to stop for barbecue on day trips from Dallas

Celina Area Heritage Association Museum: 211 W Pecan St, Celina, TX 75009 (free, donations welcome)

This little museum is actually pretty fascinating if you love history like me. It is filled with historical artifacts from Celina and the surrounding area, consisting of a few small rooms to walk through.

Insider Tip: I wouldn’t exactly call this museum kid-friendly, although children are welcome. There are lots of fragile things within arms reach and I had to watch my four year old carefully. Something to keep in mind if you are traveling with small children.

Old Celina Park: 12670 FM 428, Celina, TX 75009 (free)

Old Celina Park is a nice big park with lots of amenities including baseball fields, multi-purpose sports fields, catch and release pond, covered pavilion with lights and electricity, restrooms, playground with park benches, and walking paths. There is also plenty of parking, which is always a plus.

This park does host most of the local youth and adult sports activities, and can be very busy on weekends so keep that in mind when you are planning day trips from Dallas.

Front exterior shot of Little Wooden Penguin, a bar and shop in Celina TX, the perfect stop on day trips from Dallas.
Interior shot of Little Wooden Penguin in Celina, Texas
The Greens at Little Wooden Penguin, an 18 hole putting course, in Celina TX.

Little Wooden Penguin: 212 N Oklahoma Dr, Celina, TX 75009 ($$)

Kid friendly, pet friendly “experience space” close to downtown Celina that is fun for the whole family! Come try one of the rotating beers and wines on tap while listening to live music, or trying your hand at the 18 hole putting course. There is a succulent bar, shop, as well as indoor and outdoor tvs if that is more your style, and they have rotating food trucks if you want a bite to eat. They also host various workshops and events, which you can find out more about here.

Insider Tip: Food truck availability varies, so don’t come expecting to eat without first checking their Facebook page for the latest updates. There was a food truck on site when we visited, but it was not taking orders.


Does Celina sound like a place you want to consider when planning your day trips from Dallas? Let me know what you think in the comments, I love hearing from you!

Want more recommendations for where to eat, drink, or grab a coffee while in Celina? Check out my list of the best restaurants in Celina, Texas.

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4 Comments
  • Jeanette
    September 13, 2022

    Sounds like a fun place to visit.

    Reply
    • Tracy Green
      Jeanette
      September 13, 2022

      Thank you for the comment! Yes, there is plenty of fun to be had on a day trip to Celina!

      Reply
  • Madeline
    September 26, 2022

    Never heard of Celina before, thanks for the great recommendations!

    Reply
    • Tracy Green
      Madeline
      December 5, 2022

      Happy to help!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Tracy Green

Hi, I’m Tracy Green

I am a coffee, food and travel blogger currently based in Dallas, Texas. Come explore the world with me!

willtravelforlattes

willtravelforlattes
Top 3 tips for riding the tram ⬇️1. Fare is Top 3 tips for riding the tram ⬇️1. Fare is $2.75 each way. If you have a 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard be aware that if you swipe your card and then decide you want to go grab a photo (or whatever), you will not be able to use the same card again “for awhile”. How long is “for awhile” you might ask? I don’t know 😂 This scenario happened to us, and when I asked an NYC cop standing nearby what that meant the answer I was given was a sarcastic one at best. We ended up buying single ride cards for the return trip rather than wait for an undetermined amount of time.2. During the week the best time to ride is between 10:00am-3:00pm if you want to avoid rush hour and a crowded cabin. If that is not possible don’t worry too much, we were smashed in on the way to Roosevelt Island and couldn’t see anything. But only a handful of people were there for the ride back.3. For the best view of the tram passing overhead disembark and walk down below the lines. You can watch the trams coming in and leaving from there.📍2nd Avenue, between 59th Street and 60th Street (Manhattan side)What do you think? Would you ride this aerial tram? I’m not afraid of heights, but I can see that being an issue for someone who is.Follow @willtravelforlattes for destination recommendations from wherever we roam!#rooseveltislandtram #nycforever #nycviews #nycexplorers #travelblogs #thingstodoinnyc #thingstodoinnycwithkids #bucketlistnyc #bucketlisttravel #travelersforlife
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@urbanbackyardnyc
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Top 3 tips for riding the tram ⬇️1. Fare is Top 3 tips for riding the tram ⬇️1. Fare is $2.75 each way. If you have a 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard be aware that if you swipe your card and then decide you want to go grab a photo (or whatever), you will not be able to use the same card again “for awhile”. How long is “for awhile” you might ask? I don’t know 😂 This scenario happened to us, and when I asked an NYC cop standing nearby what that meant the answer I was given was a sarcastic one at best. We ended up buying single ride cards for the return trip rather than wait for an undetermined amount of time.2. During the week the best time to ride is between 10:00am-3:00pm if you want to avoid rush hour and a crowded cabin. If that is not possible don’t worry too much, we were smashed in on the way to Roosevelt Island and couldn’t see anything. But only a handful of people were there for the ride back.3. For the best view of the tram passing overhead disembark and walk down below the lines. You can watch the trams coming in and leaving from there.📍2nd Avenue, between 59th Street and 60th Street (Manhattan side)What do you think? Would you ride this aerial tram? I’m not afraid of heights, but I can see that being an issue for someone who is.Follow @willtravelforlattes for destination recommendations from wherever we roam!#rooseveltislandtram #nycforever #nycviews #nycexplorers #travelblogs #thingstodoinnyc #thingstodoinnycwithkids #bucketlistnyc #bucketlisttravel #travelersforlife
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Let me set the scene…We got up at 3:15am to ca Let me set the scene…We got up at 3:15am to catch our flight to NYC. With a few minutes to spare, we grabbed a croissant at the airport before taking off.Our plane lands in Newark at 10:30 and we hop in a taxi to drop our bags at our hotel before going to lunch. This is where we hit a snag. Due to construction delays we end up sitting in traffic for over an hour.We finally reach our hotel, check in and drop our bags. We then head to the subway to buy our Metrocards.I don’t know if it’s the lack or sleep, or the lack of food (and coffee), but I have the hardest time understanding the directions Google is giving me. We spend 15 or 20 minutes trying to figure out which train we want and where it is located.By this time we are both getting hangry and I decide I’ve had enough and head back to the street to walk. Twenty minutes later we arrive at @jojubanhmi and place our order.We eat our sandwiches and agree that they are one of the best things we have ever tasted in our entire lives. Were our opinions potentially affected by how hungry we were? Maybe. But I still say this was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had!📍555 5th Avenue, New York, NYWe recommend:
- Beef Bulgogi Banh Mi
- Ginger Seitan Bites Banh MiBoth sandwiches were on a toasted baguette with mayonnaise, cucumber, pickled daikon-carrot, and cilantro.What’s the best sandwich you have ever eaten?Follow @willtravelforlattes for foodie recommendations from wherever we roam!#vietnamesesandwich #banhmi #nycrestaurants #nyceatstagram #travelingfoodie #cameraeatsfirst #traveltoeat #foodiefinds #foodietravel #foodieblogger
One of our favorite hotel stays ever was here at @ One of our favorite hotel stays ever was here at @virginhotelsnyc📍1227 Broadway, New York, NY 10001I really don’t have a single negative thing to say, we loved our stay! I definitely want to stay at some of their other locations in the future.Have you ever stayed at a Virgin Hotel?Follow @willtravelforlattes for boutique hotel recommendations from wherever we roam!#nyctrip #newyorktravel #newyorkcityview #newyorkgram #newyorkexplored #travelblogs #travelgirlsgo #besthotelsintheworld #letsexplore #nycexperience
One of the things I love about NYC is the endless One of the things I love about NYC is the endless list of of incredible restaurants and coffee shops to try! We tried all new (to us) places on this trip, with the exception of Fabrique.Places featured in this reel:
@jojubanhmi
@remi.nyc
@levainbakery
@spotdessertbar
@unregularpizza
@fabriquebakery
@urbanbackyardnyc
@faiccosnyc
@funnyfacebakery
@alimama.nycWhich one would you most like to try?Follow @willtravelforlattes for foodie adventures from wherever we roam!#nyceatstagram #eatingnewyork #newyorkfood #travelingfoodie #foodadventures #sheeats #foodieblogger #foodiefinds #foodietravel #foodieadventures
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