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 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.
Museums, Historical Buildings, And A Wolrd-Class Zoo
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. For starters, there's the Dallas Museum of Art, 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 are 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 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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Wine Country
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).
Sports, Horses, and Dance Lessons
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 two-step, line dancing, and how to do 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 of 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 some of 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.
Food and Drink
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 gelatos in Dallas. Nearby is Truck Yard.
They refer to themselves as a beer garden and adult playground and are 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.
Shop Till You Drop
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 mainstream malls like NorthPark,
the Galleria Dallas, and Highland Park Village.
Smell The Roses
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. and beyond!