Top Things to Do in Highland Village, TX This Year
The local real estate market reflects that demand - homes have recently sold at a median price around $588,610, spending roughly 25 days on the market. Whether you're shopping for a house in the Copper Canyon area or just putting together a weekend itinerary, there's more to fill your time with here than most people expect.
Exploring Local Parks and Lewisville Lake
Lewisville Lake is the defining natural feature of the city, full stop. Residents use it year-round for boating, fishing, and hiking, and the city maintains several public access points and community parks that make the most of the waterfront and surrounding green space.
There are two main recreational hubs worth your attention, and they serve pretty different purposes - one puts you right on the water, the other is built for sports and daily community use.
Spending Time at Pilot Knoll Park
Pilot Knoll Park at 218A Orchid Hill Rd is your primary access point to Lewisville Lake. Day-use admission runs $15 per vehicle per day, and if you're going to be back regularly, annual passes are worth looking at - $35 to $40 for residents and $60 to $100 for non-residents.
The park is generally open daily from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm for day use, though the gatehouse is only staffed from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Seasonal hours shift things a bit: 7:00 am to 10:00 pm between April and September, and 7:00 am to 8:00 pm from October through March. Overnight camping is available at $35 per night for residents and $45 per night for non-residents.
Active Afternoons at Unity Park
Unity Park is a 38-acre community park at 2200 Briarhill Blvd, right next to Briarhill Middle School. It's built for activity - baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, and pickleball courts all share the space, along with a dog park, a fishing pier, a playground called Kid's Kastle, and connecting trails. There's also a covered pavilion, grills, picnic tables, and exercise equipment.
Entry is free. It's one of the better arguments for the city's parks system.
Dining and Shopping at The Shops at Highland Village
Highland Village doesn't have a traditional historic downtown square, and there's no point pretending otherwise. The Shops at Highland Village is what fills that role - it's the primary commercial and lifestyle center for the community, concentrating retail, restaurants, and entertainment into one walkable district. Residents from neighborhoods like City Center and Highland Village West treat it as their default gathering place.
Top-Rated Local Restaurants
A few dining spots consistently come up when people talk about eating well in this city. Hillside Fine Grill holds a 4.6-star rating with over 1,200 reviews - the kind of number that reflects real, sustained consistency, not a lucky opening month. For a more formal evening, Bistecca An Italian Steakhouse carries a 4.4 to 4.5-star rating and is well known in particular for its Tuna Salerno. Shoal Creek Tavern rounds out the regular recommendations at 4.3 stars, with brunch pancakes and holiday buffets drawing repeat visitors.
Annual Events and Weekend Activities
The city's flagship event is Celebrate Highland Village, held every June at Doubletree Ranch Park. The lineup includes a 5K and fun run, a fishing derby, a fire truck pull, live music, food vendors, a Kid Zone, and a fireworks display to close out the evening. The month before, in May, the Highland Village Art Festival brings local artists and vendors into the retail district at The Shops at Highland Village.
Two distinct events, two different audiences - worth knowing if you're planning around them.
Planning Free and Low-Cost Outings
Unity Park costs nothing to enter. Dog park, trails, Kid's Kastle playground - all of it, free. Pilot Knoll Park's $15 daily vehicle fee covers everyone in the car, which makes it a reasonable full-day option if you're fishing or hiking along the shoreline. Neither one requires much planning, and both deliver a legitimate morning or afternoon near the water without much spending.
Organizing a Full Day in the Area
Highland Village is just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, which makes it an easy drive in either direction. A typical day here starts at Lewisville Lake - pay the day-use fee at Pilot Knoll Park and take a few hours on the water or along the trails. Move over to The Shops at Highland Village in the afternoon, browse the retail stores, and finish with dinner at Hillside Fine Grill or Shoal Creek Tavern before heading back south toward Dallas or Fort Worth. It's a straightforward day, and it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Highland Village, TX known for?
Highland Village is primarily known for its access to Lewisville Lake and its municipal park system. The Shops at Highland Village is also a central part of how the community functions day-to-day.
What are the best things to do in Highland Village, TX?
Boating or camping at Pilot Knoll Park and playing sports at the 38-acre Unity Park are the most popular options. Shopping and dining at The Shops at Highland Village rounds out most people's regular routine here.
How do I spend a full day in Highland Village, TX?
Start your morning at Pilot Knoll Park on the water, then head to Unity Park for the trails or sports courts. End the day at The Shops at Highland Village for dinner and some browsing.
Does Highland Village, TX have a walkable downtown area?
No, there's no traditional historic downtown square. The Shops at Highland Village is what serves as the main commercial and walkable district for the city.
Are there any free or low-cost activities in Highland Village?
Unity Park is completely free - dog park, fishing pier, and Kid's Kastle playground included. Pilot Knoll Park requires a $15 daily vehicle fee, which covers the whole car, for access to Lewisville Lake.
What are the best things to do with kids in Highland Village?
The Kid's Kastle playground and fishing pier at Unity Park are reliable options. In June, the Celebrate Highland Village festival at Doubletree Ranch Park includes a dedicated Kid Zone, a fishing derby, and a fireworks display.
What are the best easy day trips near Highland Village, TX?
Being in Denton County puts you within quick driving distance of the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. You can head south into Dallas or Fort Worth for major entertainment, or explore other parks around Lewisville Lake without straying far.
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