Since moving to Texas in 2022, I have become more intentional about exploring everything the state has to offer. That means even unplanned road trips have become more ritual than random.
Denison, like so many other Texas towns, popped up on my Instagram feed one day. So, I waited for the weekend and hopped in the car to drive an hour from Dallas. I had to see it for myself.
“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ― Ruth Reichl
Technically in Sherman, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge gave us our first taste of the region.
In case you didn’t know, Texas is huge. Like, extremely huge. So, anytime I plan to visit a new place relatively far away, I check for other attractions in the region that my family might find interesting. I stopped by Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge before making my way to Denison. It was about 25 minutes West.
I’m glad we added it as a pit stop because it is such a beautiful place! The 11,320-acre refuge is a haven for migratory birds, wildlife, and plants, situated between Oklahoma and Texas on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma. Lake Texoma is an attraction in and of itself, but we didn’t stay long.
We had a late start that morning for reasons I can’t recall now. By the time we made it to Hagerman, it was too hot for an exploratory walk. But, we were in luck! The refuge offers an audio tour that helped us locate a few of the 300 species of birds that live there and guided us through postcard-worthy scenes of wildflowers and butterflies.
The volunteers were extremely warm and welcoming and loaded our arms with brochures and information on upcoming events.
We made our way to 410 Collective + Coffee in Denison, smack dab in the middle of nap time.
Hello, air conditioning! 410 Collective + Coffee offers more than just physical space to host classes and workshops. Here, artists and creatives come together to sell art, teach creative skills, sip lattes, and hold space for collaboration and community.
While my daughter napped in her stroller, I meandered through artistic displays of wearables, knick-knacks, stickers, prints, and household treasures. This place is definitely my kind of place, and my 90’s themed Reptar matcha latte was especially delicious. The blueberry syrup is made in-house!
I love supporting local creatives, especially when those creatives give back to the community in such invaluable ways. The folks at 410 are doing a great job creating an inclusive space for creativity and sharing, and I’m glad my little one woke up from her nap a bit early to hang out.
Wander This Way
- Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman, TX 75092
- 410 Collective + Coffee, 410 W Main St, Denison, TX 75020
