This hearty breakfast will fuel the fam for a walk or bike ride along Mesquite Heritage Trail, a 4.25-mile path that leads to city parks, sports fields and other destinations. The trail starts at Towne Centre Drive and Franklin Drive and ends just west of the Greenbelt Parkway; three trailheads also access the route. For a relatively small town, Mesquite has an outsized number of parks. It counts 60 athletic fields, leash-free dog parks, fishing lakes, disc golf courses, and water-play areas.
Lunch calls for a trip to the family-owned Joe’s Pizza and Pasta, which has been a local favorite for more than a decade. The homemade pizza is cooked in an authentic brick oven, and you can order large for the family or let everyone order their own 12-inch pizza and customize the toppings. For those who like Chicago-style, Joe’s also offers a stuffed pizza that’s sure to fill any appetite.
In the afternoon, choose your adventure among the places children love. Celebration Station lives up to its name as a one-stop fun shop. It has bumper boats, arcade games, batting cages, miniature golf, go-karts, laser tag, paintball, and more. At Kids Empire children climb a multistory play structure with slides and ball pits. The birthday party bounce house gets a serious upgrade at Aim High, with a full-scale inflatable world for children to explore.
“This concept revealed itself over time and in the end gelled together like no other,” according to restaurant founder Antonio Swad. “It’s a blend of contemporary and classic Southern touches with a real social, comfortable, fun atmosphere. And it’s all about the soul foods we love and crave.”
On the menu, you’ll find standards like chicken-fried steak, slow-smoked brisket, and fried catfish. The restaurant features a large outdoor patio (with actual porch swings!) and has live music Friday and Saturday nights. Enjoy a full bar (Lemon Hooch, anyone?), and if you don’t have room for one of its seven signature pies, you can buy a whole one to take home for later. You won’t be disappointed.
In the evening, visit the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, home of professional rodeo events since 1957. The action-packed summer rodeo season (Saturday nights from June to August) features saddle bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing, team, roping, and other exciting events. Children can try their hands at rodeo stardom with Mutton Bustin.' Outside of the action-packed summer rodeo season, the arena also hosts the Cowboys of Color Finals Rodeo in October and the Hip-Hop Rodeo every March. For more thrilling action, the dirt track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway hosts a weekly championship car racing series from March to October
Explore mesquite on Sunday