It’s Texas. It’s summer. Over the past 40-plus years, that combination has pointed many a dad and his offspring toward the park – specifically, toward Globe Life Park – where, this year, your Texas Rangers are vying to win their third consecutive American League West Division title. Even if you and your father aren’t big baseball fans, you’ll find good food, good folks and good fodder for those special kind of memories that are born at the ballpark. The club is playing host to the Seattle Mariners on Father’s Day (June 18), but one of the great things about having a major league team in your hometown is that you can simply order tickets for any game (at texasrangers.com) and present them as your special present to Pop.

You and Dad can spend an evening under the stars – even before the stars come out. The University of Texas Arlington Planetarium has weekend shows scheduled throughout the summer – there are programs that begin at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Father’s Day proper. OR … you can find another date that suits both your calendars, purchase tickets in advance at uta.edu/planetarium, and then spend some quality time watching the show and then discussing afterward just how awesome your universe is – because you just witnessed some of its wonders in person.

What dad doesn’t enjoy a good concert? On Father’s Day Weekend, we have two – and they are free! On Saturday, The LOT Downtown in Mansfield will feature a performance by the Peterson Brothers at 7 p.m. This Austin-based teen duo possesses a uniquely modern blend of blues, soul and funk that has made them a musical force in a state known for producing musical forces. Then, on Father’s Day proper, the Levitt Pavilion (pictured) will feature Los TexManiacs with Flaco Jimenez at 8 p.m. This band combines a hefty helping of Tex Mex conjunto with several parts Texas rock and a daring dash of well-cured blues and R&B riffs. Translation: Dad will be rockin’.

Now the race is on, and here comes Pride up the backstretch. Heartaches are goin’ to the inside. My Tears are holdin’ back. They’re tryin’ not to fall. My Heart’s out of the runnin’. True Love’s scratched for another’s sake. The race is on, and it looks like Heartache, and the winner loses all … OK, we’re just trying to set the mood for Dad’s Day Option No. 4 with the only horse racing-themed song we could think of. While the poetry is a bit of a downer, you have to admit that the tune is pretty catchy. You also have to admit this: Father’s Day at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie is an off-the-beaten-path but potentially delightful experience – even if you’re not into wagering. Watching the emotional ebb and flow with each race is almost as fun as watching the ponies, and there’s always a good “I WON! (or, more likely, an “I came THAT close to winning!”) story to share with family members after your trip to the track. Father’s Day races start at 2:35 p.m.

The region has plenty of hustle and more than its share of bustle. This Father’s Day, you can help Dad get away from all that – without getting away very far. We suggest a picnic breakfast/lunch/dinner at Arlington’s River Legacy Parks or Mansfield’s Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park (pictured). Your father will appreciate the luscious, natural scenery at both locales– and he certainly will appreciate the opportunity to spend his day with loved ones in places none of us visit enough. Two suggestions, though: Be sure to bring something to keep mosquitoes at bay, something to keep the sun from spoiling the outing afterward and something to take pictures of the many joys the parks have to offer.