Ahhh, summer is here...

Swimming at the pool, watermelon, July 4th celebrations, and unfortunately - Ozone Action Days.

Want to get out this summer without contributing to the air quality problem?

Try DART, the Trinity Railway Express, and The T!

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) offers both bus and train service in Dallas and some of its suburbs.

The Lake Highlands light rail station will be open in December, and for now you can use the blue line service from White Rock Station (off Northwest Hwy. near the lake) or LBJ/Skillman (north of Interstate 635 between Skillman Street and Miller Road.)

If your final destination is found only on the red line and you don’t want to switch trains, you can use the red lines stations closest to Lake Highlands by heading to the Walnut Hill station (near Presbyterian Hospital) the Park Lane station (at Greenville Ave.) or the Forest Lane station (east of Central.) As a budget bonus, all of these stations offer free parking.

Where can you go on public transportation in Dallas?

DART has a list of suggested events and destinations here.

Be sure to check out the DART “Rider Insider” link with information on how to get to special events, including arts/science, theatre arts, music, and sports venues.

You can even subscribe to a notification called "Ride DART this Weekend," which gives suggestions about places to go and how to use DART to get there, by signing up via the “Email updates” link at the bottom of the main page on the DART website.

In addition, DART lists daily destinations each week in the top right corner of its website. A few examples of places you can go are: Fair Park museums, the Dallas Zoo, West End, and the American Airlines Center.

To plan your trip, visit the “Schedule and Maps” link at the top of the DART website or use the “DART Trip Planner.”

Be sure to read the signage on the trains and platforms before boarding. If you are heading south to downtown on the blue line, you want to be on the platform with final destination of Ledbetter.

Northbound trains go to Downtown Garland. If you are taking the blue line and want to switch to the red line, Mockingbird Station is a good place to do that. From blue line to green line, switch at Pearl Station downtown.

Feel like visiting Fort Worth?

Fort Worth has a lot to see as well, and the Trinity Rail Express and The T will get you there.

You take the TRE from the DART Union Station downtown (accessible from either the red line or the blue line.)

Nice traveler's bonus? Union Station offers clean bathrooms inside - a must for any traveler.

You can also take AMTRAK to other U.S. destinations from Union Station. Click here to check them out.

Be sure to check the TRE schedules carefully since service is much more limited than on DART.

The TRE doesn't not run on Sundays, but it's a fun ride in other day of the week.

Many of the TRE coaches are double-decker, so you can get a great view from the second floor. Bring a deck of cards or other small game, as some of the seats offer tables. The ITC Station, the second-to-last stop, is the place to get off to take the numerous buses in Fort Worth.