The Paris You've Probably Never Heard of but Should Visit
Get ready for a Paris adventure, Texas-style. Located 4,833 miles away from France’s famed City of Light, this Texas spot is a small town with big charm. It’s situated in the center of the Dallas-Oklahoma City-Little Rock triangle and, because it’s an easy drive from those big cities, Paris, Texas, is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Need more convincing? We have a few Texas travel ideas that will compel you to gas up the car and head for Paris.
See a Tower with Texas Flair
You don’t need a passport to see the Eiffel Tower, because Paris, Texas, has its own version. It’s a 65-foot-tall replica topped with—what else?—a big red cowboy hat. Advertised as the “second largest Eiffel Tower” in the “second largest Paris,” the town added the cowboy hat to clear the height of another landmark—the Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, Tennessee.
Cycle the Tour
Each summer, Paris, Texas, hosts the Tour de Paris Bicycle Rally. Not unlike the Tour de France, cyclists from across the South gather for a fun ride. It’s part of the European Tour of Texas Challenge, a four-leg cycling adventure through Texas towns. Don’t forget your helmet.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Paris has outdoor activities aplenty thanks to green spaces, parks, and water features such as the 1,060-acre Lake Crook. (Bring your fishing pole to take advantage of that one.) Enjoy a nice, long walk with the locals along the 10.5-mile Trail de Paris. The trail also runs through the nearby towns of Reno and Blossom.
Watch Hot Air Balloons
Check out the 2017 Paris Balloon and Music Festival held in July. Hosted by the Paris Area Arts Alliance and the Paris Blues Society, hot air balloons take to the sky to the soundtrack of live music on the festival’s main stage.
Explore Victorian Architecture
While in Paris, explore the Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site. For architecture buffs, this will be a highlight. The structure was built in 1868 in the Victorian Italianate style.
Visit the Theater
There’s no need to brush up on your French to experience the arts in Paris. Get tickets for the Paris Community Theater, which puts on several popular shows a year. The current season’s productions include A Streetcar Named Desire and Steel Magnolias.
Even the Cannes Film Festival loves Paris, Texas. The film of the same name, directed by Wim Wenders, won the Palm d’Or in 1984. You’ll be charmed by this small town, so plan a trip soon.