Experiencing Culture in Small Town Texas

The Dallas area is well known for its urban skyline and bustling city center. But in my opinion as a lifelong native to DFW, one of the most special things about this area is the surrounding smaller towns. Each one has its own unique culture and community, with treasured annual traditions and charming small businesses to discover. And Wylie, TX is no different.

Whether you are new to the area and looking for a chance to experience the charm of small town Texas or you’re a long-time Dallas resident who hasn’t made a trip out to the burbs in a while, you might be surprised at how quickly you’ll fall in love with Downtown Wylie.

Last month the Discover Wylie team invited us on an overnight staycation to experience all of the best dining, shopping, and entertainment in their community. Here are 10 fun things to do in Wylie, Texas that we loved during our experience!

 

10 Fun Things to Do in Wylie, TX

1. Start with the most important meal of the day.

Kick off your day full of Wylie adventures with some hearty breakfast. We loved Ballard Street Cafe (which has been serving up steaming hot plates of country homestyle food since 1997) for their comforting flavors, generous portions, and fantastic prices. Try the breakfast tacos or the chicken fried steak with a stack of pancakes on the side. (Remember, calories don’t count when you’re supporting a local business.)

 

2. Grab a cup of joe for extra energy.

After breakfast, swing by one of Wylie’s two excellent downtown coffee shops to caffeinate for a big day ahead.

Shoemaker & Hardt is a charming coffee and gift shop located right on Ballard Ave with an extensive menu of creative flavor combinations like Almond Joy, Milky Way, Chocolate Covered Cherry, English Toffee, and so many more. We were especially impressed with their holiday menu items when we visited just a few weeks before Christmas!

Coffee at the Hub is stationed in a cute little historic house on the edge of Ballard Ave and doubles as a nonprofit organization raising money for global mission work through Youth With a Mission.

 

3. Hang out with beautiful big cats. (And support a local nonprofit!)

Lions and tigers and leopards, oh my! If you are fascinated by wild animals, you will love visiting local big cat sanctuary In-Sync Exotics.

In-Sync was founded as a nonprofit to benefit abused and abandoned exotic animals from all over the United States. When an illegal exotic animal facility is shut down, the big cats can’t be released into the wild for their own safety and they desperately need a place to live out the rest of their lives with love, enrichment, and dignity. That’s where In-Sync comes in.

In-Sync rescues these neglected animals and provides them with a beautiful new life. Every single animal benefits from specialized diets, on-site veterinary care, and daily play time and mental stimulation. In-Sync never buys, sells, trades, or breeds any of their animals. Their only goal is to give them the most fulfilling lives possible.

It’s such a moving experience to see how much the In-Sync team cares about these big cats, and its definitely one of the most unique things to do in Wylie. The requested donation fee for visitors is $15 per adult and $10 per child or senior. All of the profits directly benefit the animals and help fund their food and equipment.

 

4. Travel back in time.

After a trip into the wild, you can also travel back in time! Or at least, it will feel like it when you visit the Wylie Historical Society’s beautiful Brown House Visitor Center inside a 1905 Queen Anne Victorian home. Its stunning wrap around porch makes a lovely spot for some pictures, and inside there are local treasures that tell the story of Wylie’s community.

The Historical Society also hosts fun local events like the annual Haunts & History Ghost Tours and Ghostly Gossip Live Show during the Halloween season. During the holidays, they have a beautiful display of Christmas trees inside the center.

 

5. Treat yourself to something sweet.

Once you’re ready for a snack, Downtown Wylie is ready to deliver. My recommendations?

  • Traditional and modernized Mexican pastries at Panaderia la Esperanza. (I love their Nutella Empanadas.)
  • Decadent cookies and cakes at Say it With Sugar Cake Shop. (I am obsessed with their Tie Dye Sugar Cookies.)
  • Homemade ice cream and piping hot fried hand pies at OMG Creamery. (I routinely daydream about their gooey apple pie with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream.)

 

6. Love the wine you’re with.

Downtown Wylie is also home to one of my all-time favorite wine bars in the DFW area: Landon Winery. Sample from their enormous selection of lovely wines with a $20 tasting, nosh on a delicious charcuterie spread, cool off with a frozen Wine-a-Rita or warm up with a spicy cup of Mulled Wine. This one of our favorite places to just sit and talk on a nice date or with a couple of friends!

 

7. Shop until you drop at dozens of small businesses.

With your inhibitions lowered, it’s the perfect time to do a little shopping. There are dozens of charming local shops with cute gifts, clothes, and home decor. Here are my personal favorites.

  • Dear Sorella for chic and trendy clothes. I was tempted to buy one of everything in the store last time I shopped there! This is where I found my favorite new hot pink sweater embroidered with the word “Local,” AKA my official new uniform for blogging.
  • Hope’s Gate for beautiful and unique handmade gifts. This store is a nonprofit that only stocks ethically made goods handcrafted by people in need across the globe. Their products are lovely, and every purchase helps make a difference!
  • The Blend on Ballard for accessories and graphic tees (and even some beloved locally-made beef jerky).

 

8. Indulge in delicious dinner.

If you’ve worked up an appetite from all the shopping, you’ll discover a plethora of options no matter what you’re craving. A few of my recommendations…

 

9. Pair a nightcap with some live music.

After dinner, go out for some cocktails at Herman Marshall Whiskey. On the weekends, you’ll find live acoustic performers strumming their guitars to set the ambiance at the bar. It’s a comfortable, friendly atmosphere with a seriously impressive menu of locally-distilled whiskey. I recommend the Bangin Blueberry or the Blackberry Smash if you like fruity cocktails, or the Old Fashioned if you want something more whiskey forward. They also have a flight of three straight whiskeys for only $15!

 

10. Celebrate the season at a local event.

If you’re planning a trip out to Wylie, why not combine some of these fun things to do with one of the annual community events!

  • Taste of Wylie is foodie paradise each spring, with dozens upon dozens of local restaurants serving (VERY generous) samples of their most popular dishes. Unlike some other local Dallas-area food festivals, you simply pay $15 upfront for this fundraiser and you can grab plates from as many booths as you wish. The event benefits local food pantries and nonprofits.
  • BBQ on Ballard is a competition between local pitmasters squaring up to compete for the best tasting smoked meat.
  • Bluegrass on Ballard is a music festival and jubilee featuring top bluegrass bands, arts-and-crafts vendors, giant car show, and a chili cook-off.
  • Downtown Sip & Shop happens a few times throughout the year and encourages visitors to support local businesses along Ballard Ave with exclusive discounts and glasses of bubbly provided by Landon Winery.
  • Hope Under the Stars is a lovely five course outdoor dining experience hosted as a fundraiser by Hope’s Gate each fall.
  • Haunts & History Ghost Tours and Ghostly Gossip are hosted by the Wylie Historical Society in the weeks leading up to Halloween to give guests a taste of something spooky paired with interesting local history.
  • Boo on Ballard is a trick-or-treating extravaganza where families can travel from booth to booth to pick up candy provided by the merchants at local shops and participate in classic fall carnival games.
  • The Wylie Arts Festival is a huge market with 200+ craft vendors and festival foods.
  • The Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting is an annual holiday event celebrated on Ballard Ave and in Olde City Park.

 

Bonus: Make it a staycation.

If you want to turn your day trip to Downtown Wylie into a full-blown staycation, relax in the cutest little historic cottage right off of Ballard Ave! We stayed the night at the Ballard Bungalow and loved that we could walk home from Landon Winery or Herman Marshall in the evening or step right outside to grab coffee next door in the morning.

 

If you’re searching for more fun things to do in Wylie, TX, check out the Discover Wylie website!

I was so thrilled to partner with Discover Wylie to highlight some of the coolest experiences in the area. If you’re curious about the dates for upcoming events, looking for a specific type of cuisine, or you’re just interested some of the most unique things to do in small town Texas, their website is such a great resource.

If you haven’t ever experienced the Wylie, TX community, I recommend adding it to your list! Everyone we met was so genuinely kind and friendly. Small business owners were sharing recommendations for each other, teaming up with nonprofits at no cost, and supporting community events everywhere we visited. The city of Wylie feels like a warm and welcoming family, and they’re saving you a seat at the table. Come on in and stay a while.