Between Dallas And Fort Worth Is A Charming Family City With Water Park Thrills, Trails, And Small Town Vibes

The Metroplex continues to explode. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has been the fastest growing metro area in the U.S. this decade, and shows no signs of slowing down. Already the fourth-largest in the entire country, DFW is also home to four of the five fastest growing towns in America, with several of its suburbs and exurbs growing by double-digit percentages every year. And as these towns grow, they bring not just more people to Dallas-Forth Worth, but also more cool things to do, too — including the water park and copious walking trails in the charming small city known as North Richland Hills.

This relatively young city dates to the 1950s, but has grown quickly, with a current population of just over 70,000. Less than 12 miles from Fort Worth and not quite 30 from Dallas, North Richland Hills is conveniently located near both cities, and sits not even 14 miles from DFW Airport. Despite its size and proximity to major cities, it has retained an easy-going, small-town feel, ranking in the top 50 in SmartAsset's 2025 list of the Most Livable Small Cities in America. In a 2025 survey, over 80% of North Richland Hills' residents rated it positively as a place to raise kids, and a massive 98% endorsed the overall quality of life.

North Richland Hills is clearly a good place to raise a family. Its attractions make it a good place to take a family vacation, too. Here's why it should be on your to-visit list.

With average highs in the 90s from June through August, it's important to find a way to cool off in North Richland Hills, and fortunately the city has a world-class water park for that very reason. The nationally-acclaimed NRH2O boasts almost two dozen attractions across its 17 acres. With a score of 4.4 after 200 reviews, it's unsurprisingly the top-ranked thing to do in North Richland Hills on TripAdvisor, and has been called one of the best water parks by Fox News. Whether you're looking for high-speed thrills or a leisurely soak, you'll want to splash down into NRH2O during your stay in town.

NRH2O is a thrilling Texas water park that takes care of all ages and activity levels. The whole family can enjoy its wave pool and lazy river, whereas action lovers will flock to the Viper "megatube" slide and the Accelerator, where guests race on mats on a slide that's 200 feet long and three stories tall. Blue Sky is a calm, lengthy water slide appropriate for most riders, whereas the Sidewinder is a beast that starts with a 60-foot freefall drop out of a trap door. Meanwhile, the littlest ones will want to spend their time at Frogstein's Splashatory, a playground full of all manner of interactive water fun. And as a city-owned site, it's relatively affordable, with tickets running under $34.

And NRH20 isn't the only theme park in North Richland Hills. It's also home to one of two American locations of the Peppa Pig Theme Park. This park is as pint-sized as the audience of the popular British cartoon it's based on, with 5 rides, 9 play areas, and a live show. Between NRH20 and Peppa Pig, you can have a whole weekend of amusement park fun in North Richland Hills.

If you don't get enough walking in at NRH20, don't worry: North Richland Hills has over 800 acres of parkland, with 30 miles of trails for walking and cycling. That's two dozen parks full of sports fields, playgrounds, and walkable greenspace, along with a paved trail system that doesn't permit any motorized vehicles. Yes, this town will keep you on your feet.

If you're not looking for anything strenuous, start with the Capp Smith Park Trail. This paved sidewalk loops around a pond for 1.3 miles, and with minimal change in elevation, it offers a scenic walk which isn't that taxing. If you're looking for a longer walk, the John Barfield Trail is almost three times as long at 3.6 miles. It runs through much of North Richland Hills, with access at multiple parks and connections to several other trails; it also provides a front-row view at the city's different ecosystems. And if you really want to explore the nature around North Richland Hills, consider the Colleyville Nature Center Trail. Much of this path is tree-lined, making it a good choice on a hot day, and it passes through several different types of terrain, from meadows to wetlands. If you're a birder, and especially if you're into waterfowl, this is the trail for you; you'll walk by nine ponds across its 1.37 miles.

There are only three of the many trails you'll find in North Richland Hills, in parks like Green Valley Park and Cross Timbers Park. It might not be known as the "trail capital of Texas," but there's still a bounty of rewarding, energizing trails to explore here.