Things to Do in The Colony

The Colony is a lively town on the southeastern bank of popular Lewisville Lake just north of Dallas and appeals to nature lovers, shoppers, and those who enjoy a challenging round of golf. Swim, fish, kayak, or go waterskiing on the lake; or pack your bag and stay at a cabin overnight near the water. Spend a day shopping at the nation’s largest retail experiences and local boutiques within Grandscape. While there, explore the latest culinary offerings expanding The Colony’s diverse food scene. There are so many things to do in The Colony. Below are some suggestions on where to begin your adventure.

Experience The Colony's Live Music Scene

The highly anticipated concert venue, Lava Cantina opened in 2017 along the evolving boardwalk within Grandscape. The live music venue spans nearly 28,000 square feet and welcomes concert goers with a Bourbon Street exterior. The interior provides both indoor and outdoor stages, multiple levels, VIP seating, retractable roofs and more. The massive concert venue, bar, and restaurant seats over 1,500 guests and hosts every type of music from local artists to major international acts.

Of course, Lava Cantina isn’t the only live music spot in The Colony. Kick back and relax at Truck Yard, a honky-tonk beer garden, bustling with Texas tunes. Named for its rotating food truck fare and known for its multiple bars, this venue is a true adult playground. Be sure to grab a craft beer from the adjoining microbrewery, or sip on a signature cocktail as you listen to regional artists strut their stuff on the rustic stage.

Windmills pairs house-made beers and international-inspired eats with a world-class jazz lounge and boundary-pushing artists, and The Shacks at Austin Ranch offers more casual performances with shows performed on their oversized, pet-friendly patio.

More live music can be found all across town. No two shows at each of these venues are the same, so visit them all to hear some of the best bands in North Texas.  

Shop Until You Drop

Spread out across 100 acres with 1.8 million square feet of showroom and warehouse space, NFM is not your typical furniture store. Browse a seemingly endless selection of trendy home décor and the latest tech on the market and check out high-end product demonstrations from the likes of Sony, ASUS, and MSI. Don’t miss NFM’s frequent events that feature live entertainment, giveaways, family-friendly activities, and celebrity guest appearances.

NFM isn’t the only Texas-sized retailer in The Colony. SCHEELS is the World’s Largest All-Sport Store and offers more than you can imagine, including a 65-foot indoor Ferris Wheel. Shop over 85 specialty departments ranging across sports and recreation to seasonal home décor and fashion footwear. Throughout the store enjoy entertainment for the whole family. A trip to SCHEELS wouldn’t be complete without a ride on the Ferris wheel, chat with an animatronic sports legends, or box of gourmet fudge from the café.

Located in the heart of Grandscape is a unique collection of small businesses known as The Homestead. Each charming storefront features handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, or creative wares curated by locals. Get your shopping fix with artisanal leather goods, handmade jewelry, and trendy accessories then treat yourself to a wine tasting at the bottle shop and gourmet snacks from the popcorn shop.

Earn the Highest Score

Experience virtual reality gaming like never before at Immersive Gamebox. The British attraction has brought cutting-edge tech across the pond to their first U.S. location. With innovative projection mapping, touch screens, and motion tracking; team up with friends for a headset-free VR experience. Step inside a private gamebox and feel transported to another universe full of aliens, ghosts, and illusions.

Go on a solo adventure or take on family and friends with a variety of attractions inside Andretti Indoor Karting and Games. Best known for its high-speed, multi-level racing, this entertainment destination offers endless fun for all ages. Put pedal to the metal for a head-to-head race, step inside virtual reality arenas, get suited up for a ride on the indoor zip line, or earn tickets playing classic arcade games. Grownups will appreciate refueling at the upstairs bar with connected outdoor balcony overlooking the fountain at Grandscape.

Topgolf is more than just golf and entertaining for all ages and skill levels; even if you’ve never taken a swing or don’t own clubs. Challenge your friends to an exciting interactive round where you’ll tee off from a private bay on one of three levels. Aim specialized microchip balls designed to track each shot and calculate scores based on distance and accuracy.

Savor Some Seriously Good Food

Dining in The Colony is more than just a meal. It’s a palate-pleasing, globe-trotting culinary adventure all its own. From steakhouses and barbecue joints to New American cuisine accented by craft cocktails, The Colony has it all. Try some of the best Texas barbecue around at Hard Eight BBQ, where brisket, pork ribs, sausages, chicken, ham, turkey, and a host of other goodies are slow-roasted by an expert pit master.

Beyond the kind of food you’ll find in The Colony, there are also a range of dining experiences on the menu. Dig into home-style cooking and seafood favorites at Rockin’ S Bar & Grill atop the floating patio on Lewisville Lake. Find a more refined dining experience at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse where you can delight in three-course dinners filled with aged steaks, handmade pastas, and fresh seafood.

There’s something delicious for everyone in The Colony, so make sure to bring your appetite.

Spend a Day on Lewisville Lake

Lewisville Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is an idyllic setting and provides visitors to The Colony with a wide array of things to do. When summers get hot — and you know in Texas they will — Lewisville Lake is the ideal place to cool off.

Enjoy a day out on the water when you launch a boat or rent a jet ski, pontoon boat, stand up paddle board, or kayak at Hidden Cove Park & Marina. For something a bit more relaxing, head to Stewart Creek Park and cast a line from the new fishing pier, splash at the expanded swim beach, play a game of sand volleyball, or fire up the grill.  

Lewisville Lake is a mecca of sorts for fishing enthusiasts. Find a shady spot on the bank and try your luck at catching a variety of bass, catfish, or crappie, all of which can be found in abundance in the lake. For other types of land-based fun, jog or bike along The Colony Shoreline Trail, 3.5 miles of exhilarating views, birding, and interpretive signs that tell you more about the flora, fauna, and history of the area.

Play a Round at an Award-Winning Golf Course

The Colony is home to three top-ranked golf courses that provide beautiful views of Lewisville Lake, unique layouts, and challenging play for golfers of all levels.

Designers Tripp Davis and Justin Leonard created Old American Golf Club to emulate the timeless golf courses of the “Golden Age of Golf Architecture,” between 1910 and 1937. Their careful attention to detail is evident in the course’s natural contours, hazards, native grasses, and green shapes reminiscent of the classics. 

Admire the throwback nature of the course, as well as all the spectacular lake views while you play through each of the 18 holes. Sink your last putt and you’ll understand why this course has been ranked among the best in Texas by such publications as Golfweek and Golf Magazine. 

Modeled after the sea-washed grasses and wind-swept dunes of Scotland’s legendary links courses, The Tribute Golf Links offers a playing experience unlike anything else in the Dallas and Fort Worth area. Not only does the 18-hole course take design cues from famous Scottish courses, it emulates famous holes from places such as St. Andrews, Prestwick, and Muirfield.

For even more picturesque views, head to Stewart Peninsula Golf Course, a nine-hole treat built on a peninsula jutting into Lewisville Lake. Featuring meticulous design details like the wind factor changing every two holes, Stewart Peninsula Golf Course is widely regarded as one of the finest nine-hole courses in Texas.

To learn about even more things to do in The Colony or to get help from the experts, contact Visit The Colony.