Hannah Riding
Arbor Hills
Yeah, yeah, we know. It’s in Plano; this is Best of Dallas. Can't we all just get along? Besides, the Observer gives plenty of love to the (Relatively) Great Trinity Forest, Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve, etc. This year we're giving the nod to Arbor Hills because, despite what you might read in your local alternative weekly, our neighbor to the north is not a dystopian suburban wasteland of lawn Nazis occupying single-family homes. You'd know that if you've ever been to Arbor Hills Nature Center, which is 200 acres of blackland prairie and riparian and upland forests that just happen to be nestled in the heart of a suburban landscape of lawns and single-family homes. We're not saying it's perfect, but it does have 3 miles of paved hiking trails, another 3 miles of unpaved hiking trails and nearly 3 miles of off-road biking trails. It’s also home to a pavilion, fields of wildflowers and stands of native trees, plus it's a certified Audubon cooperative sanctuary site. So, birds, nature, things like that. Also, from certain vantage points, you might be able to peek in a Plano homeowner's window and learn that they are just like us, though not as cool, of course.