Top tourist attractions in Dallas, TX
Dallas is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. It is a cultural hub with a rich history and many things to see. So whether planning a short getaway or an extended stay, you’ll find that Dallas has much to offer.
Visitors will enjoy the museums and art galleries in the Dallas Arts District. This area is the home of most of the city’s main attractions, including the Winspear Opera House, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Dallas Museum of Art.
There are also dozens of nature trails to explore. Some are paved, while others are quiet and feature different views. Depending on your interest, you can choose a trail with its personality.
If you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, you might want to check out the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Located on the outer edge of the Arts District, this 180,000-square-foot museum has five floors of interactive exhibits, including a dinosaur dig.
You can also learn about the natural world through an earthquake simulator and robotics building experience.
Another great destination is the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Located on the campus of Southern Methodist University, this site offers interesting information on the president’s tenure in the White House.
Located near McKinney Avenue, the Uptown district is Dallas’ hippest neighborhood. It’s a popular destination for shopping, dining, and nightlife. A free M-Line Trolley will get you there.
Top 15 things to do in Dallas, Texas
- Dallas World Aquarium
- Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
- Six Flags Over Texas
- Dallas Zoo
- AT&T Stadium
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Fair Park
- Reunion Tower
- The Sixth Floor Museum
- Klyde Warren Park
- Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
- Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
- Dallas Farmers Market
- Cedar Ridge Preserve
Dallas World Aquarium
If you’re looking for a fun and educational day out, the Dallas World Aquarium is the place for you. It is an affordable attraction and offers various exhibits and a gift shop. This is an excellent experience for the whole family.
The aquarium is located in downtown Dallas, six miles from the Dallas Zoo. It has five main exhibit areas and three restaurants.
The aquarium features an underwater exhibit. For example, visitors can view a tunnel that showcases sharks. Other aquatic shows include the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Fiji. There’s also an area with otters and toucans.
There’s an aquatic zone and a rainforest. You’ll find a waterfall, a three-toed sloth, and other animals in the aquarium.
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous garden open to the public year-round. It features 66 acres of manicured grounds. There are 19 different gardens and a variety of exhibits.
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The Arboretum has about 2,800 flowers, shrubs, and tree specimens. Located on the shores of White Rock Lake, this botanical garden is a beautiful place to visit.
The Dallas Arboretum is an outstanding outdoor attraction located in Dallas, Texas. This beautiful location is home to some of the most breathtaking displays in the Southwest. In addition, visitors can enjoy seasonal events, concerts, and art shows.
The Dallas Arboretum is an excellent place for families to explore. They can learn about horticulture and take part in hands-on investigative activities. Children can also enjoy the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, a particular area for young visitors.
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas is one of the country’s most popular theme parks. It is located near Dallas and Fort Worth. The park is easy to get to from all parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. You can also reach it from any of the nearby airports.
Six Flags Over Texas features a variety of attractions, including over 20 rides and other family-friendly activities. There are roller coasters such as the Titan and the Texas Giant for thrill-seekers.
In addition, several festivals and events are also held at Six Flags Over Texas. These include concerts, holiday festivities, and a 60th-anniversary museum.
If you’re visiting Six Flags Over Texas for the first time, there are a few things you need to know. First, there are two types of tickets: season passes and single-day passes. There are also special ticket discounts for groups of 15 or more people.
Dallas Zoo
The Dallas Zoo is the largest zoological park in Texas. With nearly 2,000 animals to see, it’s an excellent spot for a family day out.
Visitors will find six natural habitats at the Dallas Zoo. Each is designed to be as realistic as possible. Some highlights include an Orinoco Rainforest exhibit with vampire bats, toucans, and crocodiles. Another show, Giants of the Savanna, features zebras, giraffes, and ostriches.
You can also find a children’s zoo, a gorilla center, and a forest of endangered apes. If you’re looking for a place to picnic, the Dallas Zoo has a few open-air, walk-up restaurants.
The Dallas Zoo is home to more than 2,000 different species of animals. Guests can explore a monorail safari tour through six African habitats. It’s an excellent way to get a bird’s eye view of the zoo.
AT&T Stadium
At the center of the Dallas/Fort Worth area lies AT&T Stadium. Formerly known as Cowboys Stadium, it’s home to the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and NFL’s Green Bay Packers. It’s also one of the largest entertainment venues in the world.
When configured to the total capacity, this massive structure is designed to hold almost 100,000 people. Although it was initially built for football, AT&T Stadium is a popular venue for many other events.
The stadium hosted several high-profile sporting events, including the first College Football National Championship.
There’s plenty of parking at the stadium. It’s close to the Courtyard by Marriott (1500 Nolan Ryan Expressway). If you don’t want to spend money on a parking space, you can use ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft. Getting to the stadium can take about an hour from downtown Dallas.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a natural history museum in Dallas. The museum is designed to engage visitors with interactive exhibits and multi-sensory learning environments. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. A full schedule of events and special programs is available to visitors.
Perot Museum is named for the Perot family, who donated funds to build the building. This $185 million facility has five floors, 11 exhibition halls, and a 297-seat theater.
Located on four acres, the museum is at the juncture of Uptown and Downtown Dallas. As part of Victory Park, the building was designed to enhance the urban environment of the area.
The overall mass of the building is designed as a large cube floating over the site. It has an undulating roofscape, referencing the indigenous geology of the city.
Dallas Museum of Art
The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the top places to visit in the Dallas area. Its impressive collection of art spans thousands of years and continents. And the museum is also the place to see the latest works of contemporary artists.
Aside from a collection that stretches back thousands of years, the DMA has also made a name for itself in recent years with innovative and groundbreaking educational programs. As a result, visitors can learn about the museum’s history and even participate in hands-on activities.
In addition to the permanent collections, the museum hosts numerous traveling exhibitions. These include works of famous European artists, as well as works from artists around the world. There are also lectures, concerts, and performances.
Fair Park Dallas
Fair Park in Dallas is one of the largest collections of 1930s Art Deco exposition buildings in the United States. Located just east of downtown, the park has a national and regional reputation for hosting thousands of events yearly.
Fair Park also has museums, educational facilities, and sports and entertainment venues. In addition, the Fair Park Historic District is also listed as a National Historic Landmark.
This landmark was originally built as a cotton field in 1886. It was acquired by civic leaders and used as the annual state fair of Texas for decades. By 1910, the state fair had moved to the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue. Originally called Colored People’s Day, the event became the Dallas State Fair & Exposition in 1889.
Fair Park, also called the Cotton Bowl Stadium, is a 277-acre public park two miles east of downtown Dallas. It is the site of the Texas State Fair and the state’s most extensive collection of 1930s Art Deco exposition structures.
Reunion Tower
Reunion Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in Dallas. It has been a part of the city since 1978. The tower stands at 470 feet, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city.
In 2007, the tower underwent significant renovations. It is lit up and has an elevator to take visitors to the top.
Visitors to the Reunion Tower can enjoy several activities, including playing bingo, enjoying the scenery from the deck, and building constellations. There are also interactive screens to display landscapes and learn about the JFK assassination.
The Reunion Tower is located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, close to many attractions. The observation deck offers 360-degree views of the city.
The tower’s namesake is a 19th-century utopian community called La Reunion. Socialist utopian Charles Fourier created the community. But the settlement fell apart due to financial insolvency.
The Sixth Floor Museum
The Sixth Floor Museum is an interactive guide to the tragic events of JFK’s assassination. It offers visitors a look into the era’s history and demonstrates Dallas’ role in this vital piece of history.
The Sixth Floor Museum occupies the sixth and seventh floors of the former Texas School Book Depository building. In 1989, the museum opened to the public on President’s Day. Since then, it has been visited by over a quarter of a million people yearly.
The exhibition area features a series of artifacts, film footage, and photographs that illustrate the assassination. Throughout the presentation, the timeline of events becomes more detailed as it approaches the time of the assassination.
One of the most popular attractions of the Sixth Floor Museum is its sniper’s nest recreation. It’s located on the southeast window of the building, where Oswald had his sniper’s perch.
Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park is an urban park in the heart of Dallas. Built above Woodall Rodgers Freeway, this 5.2-acre greenspace was designed to serve as the city’s educational and social hub.
It provides a public space for families and individuals to engage in activities such as yoga, ping pong, and golf. In addition to offering programs for children, the park features interactive water features, a dog park, and a garden.
The park is situated between two of Dallas’ most exciting neighborhoods. Uptown, the Arts District, and its location provide easy access to downtown and other areas. Klyde Warren Park has attracted over a million visitors throughout its lifetime, creating a unique environment in a central metropolitan area.
The park is home to various landscape gardens, pavilions, and lawns. In addition, the park has a 2,300-square-foot concert pavilion.
Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
Epic Waters is an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park in the Grand Prairie area. The first of its kind in Texas, it boasts many rides, attractions, and other fun amenities. It’s a family-friendly waterpark offering several slides, pools, arcades, cabanas, a snack bar, and a cafe.
It has three North American firsts. For starters, it has the nation’s tallest indoor Aqualoop slide. This slide allows riders to see downtown Dallas from the top of the slide. Also, it’s the country’s only indoor double-rider Aquasphere inner tube ride.
In addition to the Aqualoop, the park has 11 other waterslides. These include a lazy river, Wave-pool, FlowRider continuous wave machine, and several others. They also have a designated children’s area.
Several other attractions at the park include an arcade, a surf simulator, and a 4,000-square-foot play structure. Additionally, the facility has a large and convenient outdoor free parking lot.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
If you want a place to get out and enjoy the outdoors, you should check out Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, TX. This 200-acre park has several features and amenities to occupy you and your family.
The park has a variety of trails, including an unpaved trail for cyclists. In addition, two pavilions provide a great view of the preserve. You can even book the pavilion for a special occasion.
For more information about this impressive city park, visit the Arbor Hills website. You can find everything from what’s on offer to the best times to visit.
One of the most excellent features of the park is its interactive trail markers. These are particularly useful for younger visitors. Each marker contains a PDF with exciting facts about the park. They are along the main paved trail and the 2.8 Miles Off Road Bike Trail.
Dallas Farmers Market
Dallas, Texas, is home to one of the country’s largest farmers’ markets. This outdoor venue provides an abundance of produce, including organic and sustainable goods.
The market has been a staple in Dallas for over six decades. While the market is open year-round, the best selection is in the mornings.
If you’re looking for something other than produce, you’ll find a variety of handmade crafts and arts. Plus, you can pick up fresh eggs and free-range meats.
You’ll also find a variety of local restaurants and shops. Some vendors specialize in artisanal pantry staples. Others sell delicious pastries.
The market boasts an array of activities and events. It’s also a great place to meet your neighbors.
The Dallas Farmers Market is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation. In addition, it’s certified by the Texas Department of Agriculture as a certified farmers market. As a part of the organization, the market promotes a healthy lifestyle and is dedicated to supporting local agriculture.
Cedar Ridge Preserve
Cedar Ridge Preserve is a beautiful, natural place near Dallas. It’s a 600-acre preserve with nine miles of hiking trails. This is an ideal destination for a family day out. In addition, the trails offer incredible views, butterfly gardens, and ponds.
Cedar Ridge Preserve is open to visitors daily. However, the trails do lock up after sunset. You’ll need to find a parking spot if you plan a visit before sunset. To make your stay comfortable, it’s recommended that you bring snacks, water, and clean-up bags.
Cedar Ridge Preserve is a popular location for school field trips. It’s also a great place for birdwatchers. There is plenty of wildlife to watch, including bison and black-capped vireos.
Audubon Dallas manages the preserve. They are a nonprofit organization that runs on volunteers. Besides offering a variety of recreational activities, they are dedicated to maintaining the natural ecological conditions of the area.