Fun Things to Do in Dallas, Texas
Planning a Trip to Dallas – the “Big D” in Texas? It is a fun place to visit with the family and there are lots of things to do and see. Texas is larger than life with warm weather, warm people, great food and fantastic sights. You’ll find plenty of Fun Things to Do in Dallas, TX for the whole family!
*Fun Things to Do in Dallas – Sixth Floor Museum
Standing outside the grassy knoll where our history changed forever when President John K. Kennedy was assassinated is the Sixth Floor Museum. The museum is actually on the same 6th floor where the sniper rifle was found that shot the president. The theories of exactly what happened that day abound and you’ll find this museum and interesting place to read about the most common ones. Photos and historic films are on display.
How much time do you need to visit? Plan on spending several hours here because there is a lot of reading to do.
Address: 411 Elm Street (Dealey Plaza) Dallas, Texas 75202 214 – 747 – 6660
Hours: Monday 12:00 – 6:00 Tuesday 10:00 – 6:00 (Last ticket is sold at 5:15)
Ticket Prices: Adult $16 Senior (65+ – bring ID) $14 Youth (6-18) $13 Child (0-5) Free Buy tickets online or use the Dallas CityPASS.
*Fun Things to Do in Dallas – Dallas World Aquarium
The Dallas World Aquarium has 5 different exhibits of large tanks which are home to fish and other aquatic animals and plant life:
Mundo Maya is an 8 story exhibit includes a shark filled 400,000 gallon tank. This exhibit includes animals from the Yucatan Peninsula like the flamingo and sea turtles.
Orinoco Secrets of the River exhibit includes 7 stories of animals from the South American rainforest. The animals highlighted here include the sloth and tamarin.
The South Africa exhibit includes storks and penguins along with reptiles like geckos, tortoises, and frogs.
The Borneo exhibit includes animals like the blue penguin, the shoebill stork, and the wild crested Palm Cockatoo.
The aquarium itself is a 20,000 gallon walk through exhibit which includes a coral reef and a kelp forest and is home to many colorful and interesting fish and other creatures like clams.
Address: 1801 North Griffin Street Dallas, Texas 75202 214 – 720-2224
Hours: Daily 9 – 5 except Christmas and Thanksgiving
Ticket Prices: Adult $20.95 Child (2-12) $14.95 Child under 2 FREE Senior (65+ Bring ID) $16.95
*Fun Things to Do in Fort Worth – Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
Do not miss a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards during your visit to Texas. This area is a stay all day and soak up all the Texas stuff you’ve heard about and read about. Eat, listen to music and even see a cattle drive. This place is a lot of Texas in one spot.
See a real rodeo! The rodeo is held every Friday and Saturday night at 8:00. Buy rodeo tickets online.
Watch a real life cattle drive! If the weather permits, the cattle drive is 11:30 am and 4:00 pm every day. Prime viewing is right in front of the Visitor’s Center.
Eat REAL Texas food! Enjoy barbecue, steak, and Tex-Mex food. Don’t worry about the kids – there is a Domino’s Pizza here, too.
Address: 130 E. Exchange Ave. Fort Worth, Texas 76164 817-624-4741
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 – 6:00 Saturday 9:00 – 6:00 Sunday 11:00 – 5:00
*Fun Things to Do in Fort Worth – Fort Worth Zoo
A city the size of DFW has to have a zoo and this one is fantastic! Besides all the usual animals (all 7,000 of them) like lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) there are other fun activities!
Activities:
Tasmanian Tower – 25 foot rock climbing wall $4 per person
Hurricane and Tornado Simulators: Super cool and safe way to get a feel for just how powerful these storms can be. $2 per person
Yellow Rose Express – Train $3 per person
County Carousel – $3 per person
Address: 1989 Colonial Parkway Fort Worth, Texas 76110 817-759-7501
Hours: OPEN 365 Days a year. March 3 – July 1 Monday – Friday 10-5 Saturday – Sunday 10-6 July 2 – October 28 10 – 5 HOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CALL AHEAD.
Ticket Prices: Adult $14 Child (3-12) $10 Senior (65+ Bring ID) $10 Child (0- under 3) FREE Parking $5 Tickets are 1/2 price on Wednesdays.
*Fun Things to Do in Dallas – Dallas Museum of Art
Since 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art, which is one of the 10 largest museums in the US, has brought art to the public in the DFW area. The permanent collection includes 24,000 works of art from all cultures and all time periods. WOW. Everyone is represented here so everyone is sure to find something interesting. This is not the ‘usual’ museum because there are SO many programs!
For the kids – classes, workshops, free family fun days, a kids club, and interactive games.
For adults explore extra art in the evenings on Second Thursdays with a Twist.
Are you a night owl? On the 3rd Friday of each month the museum is open to midnight! Come check out the concerts, and special film screenings and more.
Address: 1717 North Harwood Dallas, Texas 75201 214-922-1200
Hours: Monday CLOSED Tuesday – Wednesday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Thursday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm Friday – Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ticket Prices: General admission is FREE – every day. Children 11 and under are ALWAYS free to any of the events. Special events have different pricing: Late Night Tickets (3rd Friday of the month) $10 public $5 students (with ID) Second Thursdays with a Twist (2nd Thursday of the month) $5 public Special Exhibition Admission $16 public $!4 Seniors (65+ Bring ID) $12 Students with ID $14 Military with ID
**Fun Things to Do in Dallas – Kimbell Art Museum
If you love art and /or want to share art with the kids, be sure to visit the Kimbell Art Museum. The structure itself is a beautiful and interesting piece of art. This building was designed by the same person who created the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which looks like a giant people sized hamster cage with tubes.
Here you’ll find a sculpture garden outside and indoors a marvelous permanent collection representing some of the most famous artists in the world. Artists that have work on display here include: El Greco, Rembrandt, Monet and Picasso.
Address: 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817 – 332- 8451
Hours: Monday – CLOSED Tuesday – Thursday 10 – 5 Friday 12 – 8:00 pm Saturday 10 – 5 Sunday 12 – 5
Ticket Prices:
Permanent Collection Admission – FREE
For Special Exhibits – Adults $14 Seniors (60 + bring ID) $12 Students with ID$12 Children 6-11 $10 Children 0- 6 FREE Purchase tickets online HALF PRICED tickets – Tuesday from 10 – 5 and Friday evenings 5 – 8 and must be purchased in person.
Texas is a wonderful place to visit. Everything is BIG! How big? Read and find out!
CLICK HERE – Things really ARE bigger in Texas
CLICK HERE – Read to Kids before you Travel to have the best trip
Where will your Texas travel take you? Texas is a BIG place. Don’t miss a thing.
CLICK HERE – Austin, Live Music Capital of the World
CLICK HERE – Houston, Space City of the US
Happy Texas Travels,
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
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Wow! All the things you have listed make up for a good whole week in Dallas! The Sixth Floor museum would be really awesome to visit. Spots to visit aside, I would love to try real Texan food. I dunno if I could finish a plate of barbecue but I’d like to try one! Thanks for sharing!
You don’t have to eat the whole plate, thankfully, and I hope you get a chance to try it. It is really good!
What a great read! I haven’t been to Texas, but I would like to go now! This seems like such a fun place to visit. Also, thank you for putting down prices, and links to buy tickets. I really appreciate when people do that. Makes planning a trip a lot easier!
Thanks! I think so, too whoever I research a trip I appreciate those additions!
So many great things to do. I have never been to Texas and I don’t know anything about cowboy/farm culture so I’d love to see a rodeo and a cattle drive one day! I reckon it would be so exciting.
Such a detailed post! I liked how you included the cost for each place/activity and the times to visit. It’s very helpful for people like me who’s never been to Dallas. Thanks!
I’ve never been to Texas when I was in the US, and mainly because there’s a lot to see! I never knew Dallas had so many museums either, but now I do 🙂 ‘d like to see the art museum and aquarium, they’re 2 of my favourite things.
All these places sound quite interesting and super fun to explore. I didn’t know Dallas has so much to offer. The world aquarium looks amazing – reminds me of the underwater zoo in Dubai with a similar concept as well as the sharks. Thanks for sharing this lovely post. 🙂
I just visited Texas a couple of months ago for the first time (it really is SO BIG)! Thanks for sharing this helpful guide with all of the information needed in one place (this is sooo helpful when traveling with kids and wanting to quick look something up).
I am planning to go to Texas in a year, I admit I am not one for museums but my fiance will enjoy visiting these.
Oh my goodness. I recently found out about size proportions in Texas after watching a trip to the place by one of my favorite Youtubers. So it really IS true? I NEED to go there. Hhahaha. Now about Kennedy’s Assassination… that’s a topic I really like reading about. I’m big into conspiracies, and this one has so much dimension and people involved. I’d love to visit that museum! Also this whole post will be really helpful for first-time visitors to the place. I know I wouldn’t want to get stumped in the hotel room not knowing what to do when I get there, hehe.
I really include museums as part of my itinerary especially those that showcase the rich history of that place. Not just they are educational but exploring things is truly a fun thing to do.
I have relatives in Texas and Oklahoma and they used to share some photos of their hunting in the woods so I assume they got so many great outdoor attractions there.
Thank you for sharing this list.
Hopefully, I can visit Texas someday
Wow!! Very interesting sharing you had for us here. Really enjpying reading your sharing 😀 Learnt that everything is BIG in Texas 😛 Saved your post as my future to-travel list.
I have been to Dallas a million times and yet have never seen the giant eyeball. I will be back soon on business and will make a point to see it!