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Summer is coming, if early May’s 90-degree heat wasn’t a clue. Even though most of us haven’t had a complete summer off since high school. June, July, and August still make us feel carefree and adventurous—even for a long weekend road trip here or an after-work happy hour there. Date Night (or Date Morning/Afternoon) and dining your way across Dallas-Fort Worth are already covered.
But we’re here to showcase some of the best things to do in North Texas this summer (and the great air-conditioning all indoor spaces in Dallas offer). Live horse racing, waterparks, world-famous artists, local wine, and brunch with drag queens are among the 38 things to do. Don’t wait till June 21 for summer. Start checking things off your bucket list today.
Best things to do in Dallas right now
The Sixth Floor Museum
The life and assassination of John F. Kennedy are chronicled in detail at the Sixth Floor Museum, which examines the events from a historical, social, and cultural point of view. Look through more than 90,000 artifacts and stand in front of the exact window from which Lee Harvey Oswald discharged his gun. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is open to the public. After that, make your way to the Grassy Knoll to view the “X” that marks the spot in the center of the road where John F. Kennedy was shot and killed, and then continue on to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza located a few streets away.
The Sixth Floor Museum provides information about the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. The Plexiglas-enclosed location where Lee Harvey Oswald shot is a tour feature. After the museum, head down to the grassy knoll for a different perspective on that awful day.
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McKinney Avenue Trolley
It’s not just pickup trucks in Dallas; the city also has a trolley that travels up and down the bustling McKinney Avenue in Uptown and the downtown Arts District. It began operations in 1983 and is normally open for no charge on all 366 days of the year. Hop on and off as you sample the greatest pubs in town (one particular highlight is The Standard Pour, famed in particular for its barrel-aged drinks), or hop off at Klyde Warren Park or even the Dallas Museum of Art to experience what downtown has to offer.
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Pecan Lodge
There are a number of excellent barbecue restaurants in this area, but the Pecan Lodge, which has won a number of accolades, is the restaurant that the locals choose. This restaurant in the trendy district of Deep Ellum in Dallas serves pit-smoked cuisine that is out of this world (as evidenced by the lines out the door, around the corner, and into the parking lot). The homemade jalapeo sausages, ribs, and beef brisket are very delicious.
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Texas Horse Park
Discover Dallas from a horse’s perspective at the Texas Horse Park. A portion of the Great Trinity Forest, which encompasses the park’s whole 302 acre footprint, was formerly owned by Davy Crockett and his wife. The Texas Horse Park celebrates the state’s rich equestrian heritage by offering activities such as riding instruction, trail rides, and hippotherapy. While you ride along the Trinity River, you’ll be surrounded by ancient trees, freshwater springs, and a significant Native American archaeological site. Channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl while you ride.
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AT&T Stadium
There are traditional sports arenas, and then there are sports spaceships. The AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is without a doubt the latter. The amazing gridiron cathedral that cost $1.15 billion and was dubbed “Jerry World” after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has a capacity of up to 100,000 spectators and has been recognized with a number of accolades for its forward-thinking architectural design.
This stadium, which is also known as the AT&T Stadium, serves as more than just a home for Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys; it is the world’s largest dome-shaped stadium, and it is also the location of an interactive classroom as well as a colorful art museum, in addition to many other things.
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Reunion Tower
The Space Needle can be found in Seattle, the Empire State Building can be found in New York, and the Reunion Tower can be found in Dallas. This skyline symbol is more than just a lovely observatory, though; on the deck, you can participate in permanent and seasonal activities like yoga and painting, and there is also a café and bar that rotates 360 degrees.
Once you reach the GeO-Deck, you may learn about the city’s history and changing skyline on interactive screens, look through telescopes, and enjoy the outdoors. Cloud Nine Cafe and Wolfgang Puck’s Five Sixty provide shifting Asian-inspired menus.
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Hotel Crescent Court Afternoon Tea
Uptown, enjoy in Dallas’ glitziest afternoon tea spot. Overlooking the property’s magnificently groomed gardens and towering fountains, Hotel Crescent Court’s conservatory sunroom and courtyard transforms into a quaint English-Texan celebration of tea and scones every weekend. Dress to impress and choose the “endless champagne” option for added glitz.
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The Nasher Sculpture Center
This serene location is tucked away in Dallas’ Arts District, and it is the site of one of the most impressive collections of modern and contemporary art that can be found anywhere in the world. Due to the presence of works by artists such as Rodin, Henry Moore, and George Segal, the verdant sculpture garden that spans two acres is a dream destination for photographers and Instagrammers.
The Dallas Arts District spans 68 acres and 19 contiguous blocks. The District has several excellent performance venues, including the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, three world-class museums (the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Crow Collection of Asian Art), and one of the world’s largest collections of Pritzker Prize-winning buildings. Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe and a half-acre sculpture trail are among must-sees.
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Lower Greenville
Lower Greenville was a neighborhood that you should have avoided in the past, but it has recently transformed into the place to go in town for the best time possible. You may go shopping on the avenue, which is lined with quaint clothes and gift stores, or you can have a beer at the Truck Yard, which has a lively outdoor terrace. After dinner, continue the night with cocktails on the vibrant roof terrace at HG Sply Co. or a live concert at the Granada Theater, both of which are located just a few feet down the street from where you are currently standing. Steel City Pops offers an incredible assortment of gourmet popsicles.
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Arts District
Before determining how to spend your time in the Arts District, it is recommended that you first participate in a walking tour or a scavenger hunt through the neighborhood. Attractions of note include the Crow Museum of Asian Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the AT&T Performing Arts Center, which is a multi-venue music and theater complex centered on the striking drum-shaped Winspear Opera House. Other attractions include the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center.
On 20 square blocks south of Uptown, Dallas has the largest urban arts district in the U.S. We’ll go to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Klyde Warren Park, and the Winspear Opera House. The Arts District is home to renowned venues and institutions, from the Dallas Black Dance Theatre to the Dallas Museum of Art. The Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin Guadalupe (1902) has a 68-meter spire and 100 stained glass windows.
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Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
This 66-acre botanical garden is one of the best botanical gardens in the world. It features breathtaking nature exhibits all throughout the year, including the largest floral festival in the southwestern United States, Artscape (an arts and crafts show), and jaw-dropping pumpkin and Christmas displays in the fall and winter seasons. Stroll along the Texas Skywalk to take in the breathtaking scenery, unwind on the rooftop of the Moody Oasis, and experience the thrill of going below a waterfall at the Cascades.
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden has 19 designated gardens, including the 6.5-acre Margaret Elisabeth Jonsson Color Garden with more than 2,000 azalea species, tulips, and daffodils. Summers in Palmer Fern Dell are cooler thanks to mist sprayers and ferns along a brook. Dallas Blooms features 100 species of spring-blooming bulbs, including 500,000 tulips, from February to April.
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