Oooh, tough one here. Truth is, for all-purpose sports stores, the basic low-cost choices are big-box national behemoths like Academy Sports and Outdoors, Dick's, etc. Then things narrow down to more specialized shops — assorted gun shops, tennis shops, bike shops, REI for camping, Bass Pro and Cabela's for hunting and fishing, the list goes on. So why pick a store that's devoted to running for this general category? Besides the fact that Dallas is apparently a city of endless 5Ks, in most casual sports — i.e. walking — a key to get yourself out the door is comfy feet, and these guys know feet and how to find the right shoes to fit them. Even if you never run a step, Run On's reliable, well-trained, low-pressure staff will check your gait, measure carefully and send you out the door in footwear that's perfect for the court, fleeing zombies or a weekend walking the mall. Hey, that counts as exercise, even if you stop for a pretzel and gelato. You may leave with indigestion, but your tootsies will feel fine, and that's a start.

Readers' Choice:REI5929 E. Northwest Highway, 214-368-1938, and other locations

Not long ago, what made a gym popular in Dallas was probably more about the size of the facility, the amenities it provided and the cost of the membership. Today, gyms are more likely to be measured by the way they make you feel, the sense of community they provide and whether their offerings address the mind, body and soul. Now, a stellar workout is about total wellness, which is why GRIT Fitness tops our list. Founder Brittani Rettig believes in developing the whole person. A graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Business School, Rettig, who goes by Brit, found her passion in fitness and developed a holistic approach through classes that include traditional weights and cardio, athletic training — Did we mention Brit was the captain of the Cornell women's basketball team? — as well as dance, yoga and other tailored programs. Dallas corporate types, and many more, are finding balance with Brit.

Readers' Choice:24 Hour Fitness700 N Harwood St., 214-220-2423, and other locations

Jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing and karate — when integrated, they call it mixed martial arts, MMA for short. It's not for the faint of heart, but as UFC popularity continues unabated, more people are adding self-defense to their fitness routines. At Octagon MMA, you don't have to aspire to be the next Conor McGregor to reap the benefits of their MMA training facilities and the wide variety of classes and training options. Octagon instructors are among the best in the city and incorporate multiple disciplines into personal and group training sessions. Want to compete? They'll help get you competition-ready too. Good luck, badass!

Is your financial outlook already indicating that the lil' ones are going to need an athletic scholarship if they ever want to go to college? We understand. But keep in mind, the moolah won't be easy to come by if you already have to beg the coach to put him in. Here's some advice: You have to spend money to make money, and many North Texas soccer parents already know that an investment in a personal coach can make all the difference. For goalkeepers, former Dallas Sidekick Sagu is who you need to gain the edge. Through weekly personalized and group training sessions and summer camps, the no-nonsense native of Brazil — and goalie for its 1999 national team — will drill in the physical and mental keys to successful goalkeeping. Sagu is tough but compassionate, which is why his goalkeeping academy is so popular. And isn't it a fact that someone who goes by one name is probably pretty darn good at his work?

This is not your mother's spin class. Darkness and pulsating beats are just two precursors to the drenched condition you'll find yourself in 45 minutes after you begin your Soul Cycle class. This high-intensity workout requires only nominal coordination, good news for the less coordinated fitness enthusiasts among us. Once class kicks into gear, you're rarely "in the saddle" (read: seated). Instead, you're doing "jumps" (which are exactly what they sound like) or hovering a pinkie's length above your seats. Get excited to attempt pseudo-push-ups off the handlebar and somehow juggle 2-pound hand weights all while spinning. It hurts. But it hurts so good.

Readers' Choice:Soul Cycle

For those who love golf but are more Caddyshack than PGA Tour, Top Golf is the place to go. You can work on your form in a low-pressure environment that encourages fun over frustration, with a climate-controlled bay serving as your base of operations while you aim for arcade-like targets on the range. You can bring the whole family to enjoy the games and extensive menu, or make it an adults-only night by sampling the offerings from the bar while you compete to see who woulda, coulda been the next Tiger Woods.

Yoga is where we go to zen out, but for some of us hip-hop can have the same effect. The folks behind hip-hop yoga classes at V12 Yoga Studio have figured out that when you combine the two, you get a new, fun way to connect mind, body and spirit. Led by Dallas fitness enthusiast Ade Hazley, hip-hop yoga flow infuses breath, alignment and meditation with culturally relevant music. The energy is sure to get you centered. If not, just dance.

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.

With 11 slides, a swimming pool, a lazy river and an aquatic playground under a retractable roof, this new 80,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor waterpark provides year-round family entertainment. Thrill-seekers (who are at least 48 inches tall) can drop at high speeds on the Lasso Loop, experience a sense of zero gravity on the Yellowjacket Drop or compete with friends on the E-Racers. And since swimming is the only reasonable outdoor activity to participate in during Texas’ triple-digit summer heat, there’s also an outdoor wave pool open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Wall-to-wall trampolines, extreme dodgeball, a trapeze, battle beams, a foam pit and fitness classes: At Altitude Trampoline Park, they've come up with every possible way kids and adults can have fun while jumping, though we probably need to caution anyone over the age of 30 that attempting a back flip on a trampoline is probably not a good idea. Not to worry; repeatedly launching yourself into the air along with dozens of little people is certain to make you feel young again. The attentive staff help make it a safe, high-energy destination for birthday parties, summer camps and even fitness classes. Don't be surprised if your first visit to Altitude isn't your last.