Lewisville, TX

If you love spending time outdoors, Lewisville's northern edge is anchored by two major natural draws: Lewisville Lake and the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA). Spanning around 2,600 acres along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, LLELA preserves native prairie, dense woodlands, and wetlands where you can hike miles of quiet trails, paddle a kayak, fish, camp, or spot local wildlife. It is also home to a restored 1860s log cabin that gives visitors a look at pioneer life before the lake was created. For boaters, paddleboarders, and campers, having such an expansive park and lake system right in town makes getting outside easy.

ATTRBrandon Cooper / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lewisville got its start in the mid-1800s, but its footprint shifted when the railroad arrived in 1881 and pulled local businesses east toward what is now Old Town. That railroad-era layout is still very much intact along Main Street, where century-old brick storefronts house local shops, cafes, and casual eateries. While Old Town holds onto its historic roots, the rest of the city has expanded around modern transit arteries. Interstate 35E runs straight through the middle of town, while State Highway 121 connects residents quickly to neighboring suburbs, DFW International Airport, and major employment centers across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

ATTRTj Campbell / CC BY 3.0

Living in Lewisville means having plenty of local career options alongside easy commuter routes. Major industries across the city include healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and retail, with commercial hubs clustered along the primary highway corridors. Medical City Lewisville sits right near the junction of I-35E and Highway 121, anchoring a busy healthcare corridor surrounded by corporate offices and distribution centers. Having commercial centers spread along the highways keeps heavy business traffic away from residential neighborhoods and allows Old Town to focus on being the community gathering spot.

ATTRMichael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0

Old Town is where locals head for weekend fun, community events, and culture. The Lewisville Grand Theater anchors the arts scene with live plays, concerts, and gallery exhibits, while the neighboring Wayne Ferguson Plaza hosts outdoor movie nights, lawn games, and live music. Every September, the streets fill up for the annual Western Days festival, bringing barbecue cook-offs, craft vendors, and regional country acts to the heart of the city. Getting around without a car is also an option, since the Old Town A-train station connects riders north to Denton and south to Dallas via the DART network.