The Fort Worth Botanic GardenIf you’re looking for some peace and quiet in the middle of the city, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden offers a place to picnic with friends or reflect in solitude. Go at the right time and you might see one of the many weddings the Garden hosts.

With more than 11 separate gardens both indoors and outdoors, the Garden features everything a nature enthusiast might want.

The Oval Rose Garden is a charming place to relax.

The Garden also features an on-site restaurant and gift shop.

Hours differ between gardens, but the Garden begins to close around 7 p.m. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is located at 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.

-Darren White

Fort Woof Dog Park

For students with canine companions, the Fort Woof Dog Park is a place to stretch your legs while your dog plays.

Let your puppy play catch with other pets or even in the water sprinklers.

The park also has picnic tables and park benches.

Before you grab the leash, make sure you have your dog’s papers in order because Fort Woof requires proper vaccinations for health and safety. Once inside, dogs can run free.

For the smaller dogs, the park is split into two parts, one for dogs larger than 40 pounds and one for dogs smaller than 40 pounds.

The park is open from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and is located at 1700 N Beach Street.

-Darren White

Intramural Sports

From soccer to handball, the University Recreation Center offers a wide range of team and individual sports. While registration for most of the team sports starts early in the semester, many teams continue to recruit players well into the season.

Competing in intramurals can work off late-semester stress, as well as help even the most socially solidified senior meet new people.

For team sports, the Rec offers male, female and mixed leagues, as well as competitive and noncompetitive brackets. For the individually minded, the Rec Center also puts on single-weekend tournaments in everything from poker to billiards.

To register for intramurals, go by the office in the Rec Center.

-Darren White

Trinity River Trails

With more than 35 miles of paths stretching from Lake Worth to Benbrook, the Trinity River Trails have plenty of room for many outdoor activities. But if you really want to roll down the river, the best way to do it is on a bicycle.

With smooth, paved surfaces, the trails are optimal for both road and mountain bikes. The trails provide ample room for a group of riders, as well as others to enjoy the trail. The best ride, however, is from Trinity Park into Heritage Park just outside of downtown. The ride features a perfect mix of urban architecture with rural freedom.

The Trinity River Trails are open daily. The closest access from campus is on University Drive at Riverfront.

-Darren White