Things to Do in Dallas, Texas || The Ultimate Dallas Weekend Guide

Looking for some fun things to do in Dallas? There is SO MUCH! From delicious restaurants to gorgeous parks, we have plenty to do. I’m sharing all my favorite spots to take out of towners, where to stay in Dallas, all the best restaurants, and the bars I love going out to! There are so many things to do in Dallas, I promise you will struggle to be bored!

SEE MORE : 11 HIDDEN GEMS IN DALLAS FORT WORTH WORTH SEEING

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DFW NEIGHBORHOODS TO STAY IN

If you are in town with family (which is usually me!) then yay! That’s perfect! But if you’re visiting Dallas and trying to figure out what neighborhoods you should be looking in, here are some I would recommend!

Uptown or Downtown Dallas
The most convenient if you want to plan on not renting a car, and just walking everywhere! Close to plenty of restaurants, bars, and generally most of the things to do in Dallas. You can use THIS promo code for a free Lyft and THIS promo code for a free Uber to get around!

Bishop Arts District
By far the cutest neighborhood to stay in! There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars around Bishop Arts, and it is definitely way more quiet than staying in Uptown or Downtown Dallas. The only con is that you will have a longer uber or lyft.

Oak Lawn
One of the most residential neighborhoods, but a lot of fun nonetheless! Another spot that’s close to plenty of fun things to do in Dallas, but more quiet. Also, usually its a little bit cheaper of an option than the other two.

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THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN DALLAS

Picnic at Klyde Warren Park
Right in the heart of Downtown Dallas is Klyde Warren Park! It’s a beautiful park to check out the downtown views, grab a really yummy lunch from the food trucks, and hit up the nearby museums. Especially perfect for a picnic if you want to go that route!

Walk & Shop around Bishop Arts District
Like I mentioned before, Bishop Arts is my FAVORITE neighborhood in Dallas! You can find a little street to park on and spend hours checking out the millions of cute boutique shops down the streets. My personal favorite is All Good Things, so definitely make sure you check that one out! This is my best recommendation of where to take your mom/aunt/grandma especially!

Explore the Sixth Floor Museum
Actually not a museum person at all, but I do think the Sixth Floor Museum is unique and incredibly interesting! Tells the story of the JFK shooting in Dallas and about his entire presidency. It’s the perfect thing to bring your History Buff Dad to or hit up on a rainy cold day in Dallas.

Walk the Dallas Museum of Art
First, this museum is FREE which makes it all the better. It’s a gorgeous museum with plenty of fun exhibits (make sure to check out what they have going on) and plenty of free exhibits! I love hanging out here with my art geeks (my mother) and it’s another perfect activity for a rainy cold day in town!

SEE MORE : 8 DALLAS FORT WORTH MUSEUMS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Two Step & Line Dance the Night Away
Obviously, you should try and go two stepping while you’re in town! Don’t worry, you don’t have to have any clue what you’re doing to have a great time. They have plenty of lessons and people to teach you! I would say Cowboys Red River and Billy Bobs are going to be the best places to get your country dancin’ on!

Attend the Horse Races
We aren’t in Kentucky, but that doesn’t stop Dallas from putting on a dang good horse race! If you happen to be in town during the week, you can check out Lone Star Horse Racing for a night out. Don’t forget your hat!

Shopping Trip to North Park Mall
Basically a work of art in itself, you should go on a little shopping trip to North Park Mall if you have time! Plenty of beautiful stores and beautiful art pieces to match. You may have to bring an entire extra suitcase for all the things you’re going to end up buying.

Hang out at the Dallas World Aquarium
Spend some time hanging out with sharks, penguins, and flamingos (OH MY) at the Dallas World Aquarium! It’s the perfect activity to bring the kids to as well, if you have to entertain the little ones and want kid friendly activities in Dallas!

Be a Kid Again at the Perot Science Museum in Dallas
Seriously, humans of all ages love this science museum in Dallas! Another kid friendly Dallas spot, but it’s also a super fun thing to do in Dallas for adults. Plenty of amazing science exhibits and experiments, and a great option for a cold & rainy day.

Catch a Dallas sports game
If you’re a baseball fan, then definitely attend a Rangers game at the stadium. My football loves will really enjoy watching the Cowboys crush it (lol maybe). Hockey buffs can hit up a Stars game, and basketball gurus can watch the Mavs in action during their season. No matter what sport, there is SOMETHING you’re going to love and Dallas will show you a good time!

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SEASONAL THINGS TO DO IN DALLAS

Christmas Time || Visit Grapevine, the Christmas Capitol of Texas
Self proclaimed, but honestly very much deserving. Walk down Grapevine Main Street during November / December for some insane Christmas lights and exhibits. Guaranteed to entertain the kiddos, too! And if you have time and a car, definitely pop by the Gaylord Texas which has the most insane Christmas hotel display I have ever seen (and I doubt it can be rivaled).

October Time || Visit the Dallas Arboretum Pumpkin Display
Boy, does the Arboretum know how to go all out. Also a great spot to hang out in during Christmas time ,but really cool to enjoy the pumpkin displays during October! Get your pumpkin pictures and entertain those kiddos here. You can also find more Pumpkin Patches in Dallas with this blog post!

Summer Time || Kayaking on White Rock Lake
If the weather permits, you absolutely should spend some time hanging out at White Rock Lake while in Dallas! You can rent a little boat or a kayak and just enjoy the beautiful weather here in Texas on the lake. Here is my Dallas Summer Bucket List for more Dallas summer activities!

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WHERE TO GET BRUNCH IN DALLAS

SEE MORE // 16 BEST BRUNCHES IN DALLAS FORT WORTH

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DALLAS COFFEE SHOPS TO CHECK OUT

Good Companions Coffee
A super adorable coffee shop in the heart of Bishop Arts! This is a great spot to grab a coffee with an old friend, or hunker down to get work done if you’re in Dallas for work things.

Houndstooth Coffee
Amazing coffee here, if you want something local to Texas! They have plenty of locations around Dallas, so you can definitely find one near wherever you are. Important to note they do NOT have plugs at their coffee shops, so not a superb space to get work done.

George’s Coffee Shop
Right in the Dallas suburbs (Coppell) is this pretty little home-turned-coffee-shop that will absolutely brighten up your day. They have great coffee, great pastries, and plenty of space. This is the kind of spot I would bring my mom because it’s such a cute little gem!

SEE MORE : 12 Dallas Coffee Shops for Studying & Working

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WHERE TO EAT IN DALLAS

SEE MORE : 19 ROMANTIC DALLAS RESTAURANTS FOR DATE NIGHT

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DALLAS NIGHTLIFE DESTINATIONS

For Some Two Steppin’
If you’re willing to do the drive to Fort Worth, then Billy Bob’s is definitely the best place to go for a good two step country dance experience! Otherwise, Cowboys Red River in Dallas is honestly amazing and will be a night you absolutely will not forget. Get those boots on!

For a Bachelorette Night Out
Many options! If you’re thinking of Uptown vibes which is dressing up and getting veryyyy drunk, then make sure Happiest Hour is on your list. Start there, and wander around. You can also try out Whippersnapper and the bars in that area, Deep Ellum (check out Stirr and Dots to start) if you want to go all out but not ALLL out, and The Rustic if you’re thinking more margs and live music.

For Some Killer Cocktails
Firstly, Parliament has the best cocktails in town and should be your priority. Not at all good for groups since the space is so small. Bowen House is also on the smaller side, definitely more intimate vibes. Tiny Victories and Midnight Rambler are more underground style with some amazing unforgettable cocktails too.

SEE MORE // THE BEST HAPPY HOURS IN DALLAS FORT WORTH

For an Outdoor Patio (Best for Groups)
The Rustic is going to be the best option for a larger group: featuring live music, margaritas, and plenty of giant tables for groups. Truck Yard is another solid option, way more chill than The Rustic and more focused on beer than anything. Katy Trail Ice House is perfect if you want to be near TV screens or if you want a fishbowl marg the size of your face (also best option for daytime). Otherwise, HG Sply Co has a stunning rooftop that can easily accommodate larger groups and has food available too!

For the Deep Ellum Experience
If you’re looking to go all out in Deep Ellum, then check out Stirr for the best rooftop and iconic views. Dots is the largest outdoor space for bigger sized groups and you can also have personal space here. Vidorra and Harlowe are stunning spots with rooftops and cocktails you will adore. Deep Ellum Brewing & Braindead Brewing are amazing options if you want something more on the beer side for the night. If you’re looking for divey Deep Ellum vibes, I honestly recommend you just wander into a random street and pick a random bar. It’ll be the most fun way to do it!

For the Gay Bars (my personal favorites)
Firstly, the gay bars in Dallas are amazing and it has the most amazing scene. However, please don’t go and ogle it as if it’s a show. My biggest pet peeve is seeing the bachelorette parties roll up to Oak Lawn and act like this is a spectacle just for them.

RANT OVER. Round Up Saloon has the best dancing in Dallas, and has plenty of rooms where you also have the ability to hear yourself speak. Also a rooftop. Also karaoke. I cannot rave enough about this bar. Station Four is my other recommendation, and I have never made it out of this dang bar alive. It has an amazing dance floor and features a drag show upstairs you will absolutely LOVE!

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and y’all, that’s a WRAP! I hope you guys enjoyed this Guide to Dallas, featuring all my favorite things to do in Dallas, my favorite places to eat in Dallas, and all the bars you could ever want. Enjoy the city, enjoy the warmer weather, and we hope you come on back!

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