6. Trinity River Park, Fort Worth, TX

November 11, 2023 

It was a beautiful afternoon. It was mostly sunny, 67 degrees outside, and a light breeze blew through the trees. This weather is my definition of optimal outdoors weather, the kind of weather where one doesn't just want to spend time outside, but absolutely must because it is simply too perfect not to. So, with adequate time on my hands, I headed over to Trinity River Park off of West 7th Street to enjoy a mid-morning stroll through the park with a friend. The grass was still slightly damp with morning dew and the remnants of a previous days rain. My socks got wet and squished as the water leaked in through my wet tennis shoes. My friend and I laughed and caught up as we strolled along gravel paths that weaved in and out of the trees. Though November, most the trees remained a vibrant green, with only a few leaves on each tree starting to turn to a golden yellow color. It was a perfect fall day. The sun brought some warmth amidst the breeze. As we chatted my friend turned to me and said, "It's such a gorgeous day outside. How lovely is it to be able to be outside in nature with this weather." She's right. It was such a needed mental break for myself to get away from school, enjoy the sunshine without sweating or shivering, and spend time with a friend escaping from the world. For a second, off the gravel path that weaves through the trees, as we trekked through the damp grass and surrounding trees, I forgot that I was in Fort Worth. Something about being outside just brings me so much calm. Though it wasn't quiet outside: young children running along the gravel giggling and yelling, the sound of bells on bikes, and marching bands practicing on the other side of the river. Despite the noise, though it wasn't loud, it felt like an escape from the noise that so often comes from living in a city. For the first time in over a week, I got to rest and relax in the sereneness that nature so often provides for me. I guess everyone else in the city of Fort Worth decided that it was a perfect day as the park was full of children climbing and swinging with their parents supervising along the edge, bikers riding along the paths on the river, parents pushing strollers, and friends and families enjoying walks through the park. What a beautiful site to see: so many people relishing in the beautiful Texas fall weather and spending their Saturday morning taking it in. This is peak Texas for me. I don't think it gets much better, and based on the presence in today's park, I would say many other locals agree.