By Tricia White 

When winter winds blow, when the days are crisp but not cold, when a comfy sweater and the great outdoors beckon. DART’s got you covered.

Take a wild excursion. One of the milder days in February would be the perfect time to head to the Dallas Zoo. Especially since every day of the month is a Penguin Day—meaning it’s only $6 admission to check out the exotic animals, creepy reptiles, and beautiful grounds that make the zoo such a gem. Dallas Zoo Station puts you at the front gate.

Snow tube like a Northerner. No matter the actual forecast, Frost Fest brings cold weather fun to Irving. Real (well, sort of) fluffy snow, a tubing hill, and other wintry stuff will be at Cimarron Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 1. Enjoy train rides, a photo station, and more at this free annual event. Bus Route 401 departs from North Lake College Station and takes you straight to this picture-postcard winter festival.

Go on the hunt. Discover the art, culture, and history that make the Downtown Plano Arts District such a cool, DARTable destination—by participating in a scavenger hunt. Let’s Roam is an app-driven activity that’s great for groups, and lets you select your own time. It’s perfect for a sunny winter day, and afterwards, all the shops and restaurants clustered near Downtown Plano Station await you and your crew. Check out letsroam.com for details.

Go small or go home. Nothing beats a day spent exploring a neighborhood and browsing independent, locally-owned shops and restaurants. On the first Saturday of each month, the merchants of Historic Downtown Carrollton go all out for Shop Small Saturday. The shops are all open, the atmosphere’s chill, and—hey—if you actually catch a chill, just go inside one of the district’s eclectic boutiques or eateries. The neighborhood lies just south of Downtown Carrollton Station.

Editor’s Note: For more DARTable destinations for winter fun, visit dart.org.