We all know that Texas is a big state. Does that saying “everything’s bigger in Texas” ring a bell? Aside from its size, the Lone Star State is known for barbeque, Tex-Mex and longhorn cattle among a long list of many other things. Of course, with a state that’s so big there are many cities to explore and visit. There’s Austin, which is quickly becoming quite the popular place to visit and live due to its live music scene and cultural offerings. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and has southern charm, a zest for outdoor living and is known as the world capital of space exploration.
And then there’s Dallas. Dallas is not only the third-largest city in Texas following Houston and San Antonio, but it’s also the ninth most heavily populated city in the United States. It also happens to be home to six different professional sports teams. Clearly the city has a lot going on. So what are the fun things to do in Dallas, Texas? We’ll tell you exactly that in this video. After watching, you’ll have a jam-packed list of all the museums, restaurants and activities that you need to hit up and partake in on your next visit to Dallas, Texas.
While a huge offering of museums and culture may not be the very thing that comes to your mind when you think of Dallas, Texas, you may have to think again. The city is filled with arts and culture. To start, there’s the Dallas Museum of Art, which is located in the center of the Dallas Arts District itself.
The museum’s 22,000 piece collection takes visitors from the third millennium BC to today, includes art from Europe, Arica, Asia and the Pacific and features Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet and Jackson Pollock. There is programming for kids and an open conservation studio where you can watch conservators use technology and treatments to restore the museum’s art.
Maybe nature and science is more your thing and if that is the case, make sure to swing by the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This is 180,000 square feet of interactive exhibits on Texas ecosystems and human evolution. There are dinosaur skeletons and scavenger hunts, which makes the experience super kid friendly.
If you’re more of an auditory person than you are a visual person, make sure you book tickets to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest. They perform at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, which is considered one of the world’s premier concert halls. And they’re not necessarily your typical orchestra as they offer pop concerts and multi-media presentations in addition to their classical programming.
You can get a big history lesson by walking around Dealey Plaza and visiting the Sixth Floor Museum. Dealey Plaza is where JFK was assassinated 58 years ago. The plaza is filled with conspiracy theorists who will happily give you their opinion about the historic day we lost JFK and there’s also the Sixth Floor Museum, which has an exhibit on JFK’s life, his presidential term and his assassination from what used to be the Texas School Book Depository, which is where Lee Harvey Oswald shot the former president.
For something a bit more upbeat, a visit to the Dallas Zoo is sure to leave you in the best of spirits. You can do more than just look at the animals here. You have the opportunity to feed the African elephant, which happens to be the world’s largest land mammal, help train some hippos and watch a private Wild Encounters show.
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You may be surprised to learn that Dallas has earned quite a reputation for reputable wine. This could be because Grapevine, a Dallas suburb, has one of Texas’ best wine trails. A Grapevine wine tour provides you with a guide, samples of wine at three different wineries and a three-course meal (either lunch or dinner).
Of course, if you’re visiting Texas you’ve got to learn the traditional Texas two-step. However, a visit to Dallas gives you the opportunity to learn it in a well-known gay bar. The Round-Up Saloon is popular among those of all genders and persuasions and they are now offering free dance lessons where you can learn the two-step, line dancing and the honky-tonk. So put on your cowboy boots, grab a beer and learn some new moves. If nightlife is your thing, check out Deep Ellum, a neighborhood that offers great nightlife, great music venues and lots of street art that makes for some great Instagram photo opportunities.
Feel like you can’t visit Dallas without a horseback-riding lesson? Well, you’re in luck as Benbrook Stables in Fort Worth offers both trail rides and lessons. The stable has scenic trails that go on for miles and they can easily accommodate both beginner riders and those with more experience. This is a great experience for a group of friends who are traveling together or for a family.
If you’re not a horseback rider, but like the idea of watching other people ride horses check out the rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum. Rodeo competitions happen every Friday and Saturday night here and they feature a combination or amateur and professional athletes. According to Cowtown’s website, it was the finest indoor exhibition and rodeo performance center in the world when it first opened and the very best cowboys and cowgirls have passed through their doors.
As we mentioned earlier, Dallas is home to six different professional sports teams. Of course, there are the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks. You’ve also got the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, FC Dallas and the Dallas Wings. That means that no matter what time of year you visit the city, your odds of being able to catch a professional sporting event are pretty good.
For many, there’s no better way to get to know a new city than through that city’s food. So what better way to get to know Dallas than a little DIY food tour at Trinity Groves? The options at Trinity Grove consist of all different types of cuisine – Asian, Italian, Mexican, barbeque (it is Dallas after all), pizza and poké. A fan of avocados? Well, you’re in luck because Trinity Groves has an entire restaurant with a menu, including a cocktail menu, that is focused on avocados. Top off your food tour by sipping a beer, craft cocktail or frozen cocktail surrounded by graffiti art décor produced by local Dallas artists at Trinity Grove’s ArtPark Beer Garden.
The Dallas neighborhood of Lowest Greenville also offers some really great food options in addition to a popular bar scene. They’ve got ramen at Wabi House, Creole and Cajun cuisine at Charlie’s Creole Kitchen, a Paleo-inspired menu at HG and gelato at Botolino Gelato Artigianale, which has a reputation for being some of the best gelato in Dallas. Nearby is Truck Yard. They refer to themselves as a beer garden and adult playground known for their brews, grub and live tunes.
To fully immerse yourself in the Dallas culture, you’re probably not going to want to end your trip without sampling some good old Dallas barbeque. Some of the most popular favorites are Pecan Lodge, Lockhart Smokehouse, Off the Bone, Blu’s Barbeque and 18th & Vine. Get excited to be knee deep in brisket, pecan-smoked baby back ribs, prime rib and smoked brisket tamales. Now we’re hungry. The lines at these spots can be long so plan accordingly!
On the weekends, you can grab some great grub from one of the many food trucks at Klyde Warren Park. Even without the food trucks, Klyde Warren Park is a great free (yes, you heard that right) 5.2 acre public park to explore. Across from Klyde Warren Park is the Nasher Sculpture Center. Once a month, Nasher Sculpture Center hosts an event called Midnight at the Nasher, which has a live musical performance, followed by an outdoor movie.
Once you’ve eaten all your barbeque and heavy food truck food, spend a weekend picking up some fresh fruit and veggies from local vendors at the Dallas Farmers Market. If you happen to be there during the week, there are 20 restaurants you can choose from for a meal.
Dallas happens to have the most shopping centers per capita in the United States, which means that if you’re a shopper this could be your dream city. The trendier shopping can be found in the Bishops Arts District. Then there are your larger, more main-stream malls like NorthPark, the Galleria Dallas and Highland Park Village.
If you’re looking to get out of Downtown Dallas for a few, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a great escape. In the spring, you can check out the 2,000 different types of azaleas that this 66-acre property has. And in the fall, chrysanthemums are in full bloom. In addition to miles of flowers and the natural forest, the gardens also have the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden where kids can enjoy environmental science labs and all sorts of games.
We hope you now have a very full to do list for your next visit to Dallas, Texas, whether it’s your first trip to the city or your 10th. Do you enjoy learning more about a city’s museums or restaurants? Be sure to let us know. And don’t forget to like this video and subscribe to our channel so that you can stay up to date on our guides to cities all over the U.S.!