What To See in Dallas and Fort Worth: Dallas Itinerary
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Texas is a vast and diverse state. Largest by size in the continental US and second only to California in population.
Things To See in Dallas and Fort Worth: (Jump To)
Dallas and Fort Worth are sister cities that together create the fourth most populous metro area in the country.
For More infomation, read our Things To Do in Downtown Dallas guide.
The two cities offer a nice long weekend’s worth of activities. The size of the area makes it easy for visitors to create the experience they desire. The area’s big-city hustle mixed with some leftover ranch cowboy charm makes for a one-of-a-kind travel destination.
We share with you five great suggestions to get your travel planning started.
Frontiers of Flight Museum
The Frontiers of Flight Museum is a must-see for aviation lovers planning a weekend in Dallas, Texas. This affordable and well-curated museum highlights key moments in aerospace history and makes a great stop during a day trip to Dallas.
If you haven’t already gathered, we’re pretty obsessed with air travel here at Now Go See It. The Frontiers of Flight Museum has a great collection of pieces from aviation history. Admission is reasonable at just $8.
There’s a fun exhibit that features a long line of vintage flight attendants' uniforms. There are also about 30 airplanes and other vehicles on display, some of which you can board and fully experience.
There are great exhibits on war aircraft, space travel, and airmail are also fun to learn a little more about. The museum is a good size with lots to see before museum fatigue sets in.
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is one of the most important stops for anyone tackling Dallas in a day. Located in the former Texas School Book Depository, this museum gives essential context to one of the country’s most pivotal moments.
Steeped in tragic history the museum chronicles the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. The museum and the surrounding plaza with its infamous grassy knoll are a destination for the history buffs and persons wishing to pay their respects.
Our full review of the museum is here.
Dallas Zoo
The Dallas Zoo makes a great addition to your one day in Dallas or a longer weekend itinerary. With immersive exhibits like the Giants of the Savanna, it's a top pick for families or animal lovers exploring Dallas and Fort Worth.
The Dallas Zoo was first established in the 1880s. It is easily reachable by car or on public transportation. The zoo is separated into two main parts ZooNorth and Wilds of Africa. ZooNorth has smaller exhibits while the Wilds of Africa, a newer portion of the zoo, has larger enclosures for animals who need more space to roam.
Some zoo highlights include the Tiger Habitat, a 2-acre enclosure with endangered tigers from Indonesia and Malaysia. The Gorilla Research Center offers visitors a chance to see the primates while providing and encouraging the animals to roam in a natural habitat.
A popular 20-minute monorail ride takes a narrated journey above the exhibits. The ride offers new views above the hippos, penguins, and bush exhibits. The ride has a small up-charge.
The award-winning Giants of the Savanna exhibit was a huge expansion to the zoo in 2010. The savanna gives plenty of space for visitors to see giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and numerous other lesser-known African animals.
Bishop Arts District
Bishop Arts District is the spot to visit if you're planning a weekend in Dallas, Texas and want something beyond the usual tourist zones. Full of indie shops, bold murals, and food options that skip the chains, it's a great way to break up a day trip to Dallas.
The Bishop Arts District is a shopping and dining destination located southwest of downtown Dallas. In the past few years, the area has emerged as a popular destination for independent retailers and artists.
The area is centered at Bishop Avenue and Davis Street, Here you’ll find boutiques like Urban Owl where you’ll find whimsical art and gifts. An ever-changing array of restaurants line the streets as well. Hunky’s is a great choice, inside you’ll find classic American food in a retro diner setting.
Artists in the area have transformed the brick walls of the old warehouse district into colorful murals. There are street art surprises around every corner.
Fort Worth Stockyards
The Fort Worth Stockyards are a natural counterpart to a day in Dallas and a reminder that cowboy culture didn’t disappear—it just found better parking. The distance between Fort Worth and Dallas makes it easy to explore both cities in one weekend.
Fort Worth is the unofficial “cowtown” of the metro area. The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historical district that celebrates the fading cowboy lifestyle. The stockyards are now home to a tourist district of shops and restaurants.
Twice a day at 11:30 am and 4 pm a ceremonial cattle herd hits the streets. Cowboys on horseback guide the long-horned cattle through the street in a parade-like fashion to the delight of travelers waiting along the roadside.
If western wear (or leather) is on your shopping list, a group of stores near Exchange Avenue sell boots, hats, saddles, and all other forms of cowboy fashion. M.L. Leddy's Boots & Saddlery is perhaps the most famous boot store in the country. It’s worth a quick visit even just to browse.
Visiting the area in the evening will land you in the middle of a raucous country music bacchanal. You can line-dance the night away to the sounds of country music... if that’s your thing.
