Love On the Run

Where to dance, train, and run together this February in Dallas-Fort Worth

Ballroom dance salsa dancer instructors man and woman couple dancing in shcool rehearsal room

The couple that dances together, gets healthier together.

Getty Images

February is not just about Valentine's Day — it's also American Heart Month, and it is possible to honor both. For couples looking to trade the usual dinner-and-drinks routine for something more energizing, Dallas Fort-Worth’s fitness scene offers no shortage of ways to sweat together, whether that means dancing, training side by side, or signing up for a run with a festive finish line.

Turn date night into cardio
This is Texas, so of course we have to start with a boot-scootin' good time. Billy Bob's Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards offers couples dance classes on Sundays for $10 a pair, and free line dancing classes on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons.

In Dallas, Cowboys Dance Hall offers a similar deal with free lessons on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, followed by live music where you can test out your new steps.

Kumbala Dance Studio in Farmers Branch specializes in the Latin rhythms of salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton, cha cha cha, and many others through daily group and private classes.

If you think you and your partner could be the next Robert Irwin or Whitney Leavitt, Fred Astaire Dance Studios on West 7th in Fort Worth, Arthur Murray Dance Studio in both Dallas and Fort Worth, and Image Ballroom Dance in Richardson can all have you doing the quickstep, tango, and waltz in no time.

Sweat dates for the competitive couple
If your idea of romance includes pushing each other through burpees and sprints, high-intensity interval training might be your love language. Dallas' PITFIT Workout offers fast-paced, high-energy sessions that combine strength and cardio for maximum efficiency.

For couples who prefer structure with a social twist, Fit Social Club lives up to its name. Known for strength training, HIIT, cycle, and sculpt classes, the studio encourages members to work hard while feeding off the energy of the room. Duo-style classes and partner-friendly formats make it easy to motivate each other, and the community vibe means you’re just as likely to make friends as you are to break a sweat.

For a more personalized approach, private training studios like Fit180 or Sequoia Training Club allow couples to work with a trainer who can tailor sessions to shared goals. Whether that’s improving cardiovascular endurance, building strength safely, or committing to a lifestyle reset, training together adds accountability. It also reframes heart health as a long-term investment, not a one-month resolution.

Run for your heart
February’s calendar is packed with heart-healthy runs that double as social events. Valentine-themed races like Irving's Love on the Run Half Marathon on February 14 or the Couple Shuffle on February 15 in Dallas bring a playful spirit to keeping fit. The Hot Chocolate Run on February 7 adds a sweet reward to the finish line, proving that balance is part of wellness, too.

fit in the city heart health heart month american heart month billy bobs texas ballroom dancing dancing with the stars salsa lessons hot chocolate run love on the run 5k couple shuffle promoted

happy go lucky plano

Dallas neighbor dazzles on new list of happiest cities in America

Photo courtesy of Visit Plano

undefined

A new happiness study has ranked Plano one of the happiest cities in America this year, and it once again landed on top as the happiest city in Texas.

Plano has moved up on the list and ranks as the 16th happiest U.S. city in 2026. Last year, it was 17th.

WalletHub determined the happiest cities in America based on 29 relevant metrics based on "positive-psychology research" across three main categories: emotional and physical wellbeing, income and employment, and community and environment. As with most WalletHub studies, it compared the 182 most populous U.S. cities.

Fremont, California claimed the top spot as the happiest city nationwide for another year. Bismark, North Dakota and Scottsdale, Arizona, respectfully, rounded out the top three.

Here's how WalletHub ranked Plano across the three key dimensions:

No. 15 – Emotional and physical wellbeing
No. 22 – Community and environment
No. 72 – Income and employment

Plano and its residents have continued improving their city year after year, whether its through opening new bakeries and restaurants, inviting fun pop-ups for locals, or having a strong job market.

Plano's happiness far outshines the rest of North Texas; according to WalletHub, Irving is the 70th happiest city in the country, the third-happiest in Texas, and the second-happiest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Garland ranked farther behind as No. 92 nationally, and more DFW cities ranked even lower: Grand Prairie (No. 106), Dallas (No. 111), Fort Worth (No. 113), and Arlington (No. 119).

The report additionally found that Dallasites spend the third-most amount of time at work in the nation. The city ranked No. 180 in the national analysis of U.S. cities with the "fewest work hours."

WalletHub also emphasized that money doesn't buy happiness — after a certain point.

"For decades, researchers have explored the science of happiness and identified several core factors, including mental well-being, physical health, strong social ties, job satisfaction, and financial stability," the report said. "Still, income has its limits — studies show that earning more than $75,000 a year does not lead to greater happiness."

Six-figure earners in Plano aren't necessarily as happy as those who don't make as much, as a separate financial study from SmartAsset revealed these big earners are only taking home about $72,653 after taxes and adjusted for the cost of living.

This is how other Texas cities ranked in the report:

No. 39 – Austin
No. 128 – Houston
No. 135 – Lubbock
No. 137 – El Paso
No. 140 – Laredo
No. 143 – Amarillo
No. 150 – Brownsville
No. 154 – San Antonio
No. 155 – Corpus Christi

wallethub plano reports

Love On the Run

Where to dance, train, and run together this February in Dallas-Fort Worth

happy go lucky plano

Dallas neighbor dazzles on new list of happiest cities in America

A $100,000 salary in 2026 goes further in Dallas than it did last year

44 Dallas Symphony debutantes make regal bows at 40th Presentation Ball

Scenic Dallas-area campsite named one of America's best in 2026