Tourist Attractions in Dallas , TX
Author Anietra Hamper and photographer Ian Henderson traveled through Dallas to grab some of the best attractions in the city .
The city of Dallas has a deep story rooted in ranching , farming , and oil production , growing rapidly as a trade center after the introduction of the railroad in 1873 . After WWII , the city turn place to numerous insurance corporations and bank , making it an crucial business and fiscal center — perfect fodder for that most famous of soap operas about power , money , and intrigue :Dallas.
The fascinating account in Dallas cost simply one reason that mass visit , but there are so many early attraction and thing to do . The . Hither , you ‘ll notice many excellent museum , restaurant , and hotels , as good as countless fun thing to serve .
You can branch out into other Dallas districts , like the West End , the Arts District , and the reemerging Deep Vellum District with eclectic restaurant and store .
For more sightseeing opportunity and position to visit in this Texas city , read through our guide to the top attraction and affair to act in Dallas .
- The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
- The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
- Dallas World Aquarium
- Reunion Column
- George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Klyde Warren Park
- Dallas Zoo
- American Airlines Center
- The Nasher Sculpture Center
- Bishop Arts District
- Dallas Cattle Drive Sculptures at Pioneer Plaza
- Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
- Frontiers of Flight Museum
- John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza
- The Cavanaugh Flight Museum
- African American Museum
- Pass a Day in Deep Ellum
- Soap Opera Superstar : Southfork Ranch
- Map of Tourist Attractions in Dallas , TX
- Dallas , TX – Climate Chart
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Highlights :“ Grassy knoll ” outside the museum , location on the roadway of JFK ‘s assassination
Forever etched in infamy , the former Texas School Book Depository at the intersection of Houston and Elm Streets in Dallas is now place to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza , dedicate to recollect one of the nation ‘s almost tragic and defining instant : the assassination of President John F. Kennedy .
Visitors to the museum are first introduced to the historical context with multimedia exhibits that depict the political climate of the early 1960s and then die on to highlight President Kennedy ‘s trip to Texas in November of 1963 and the final days of his life . Just past here , you will see the sniper ‘s perch in the corner window from which Oswald took the deadly shooting , revive to match the original photos from the crime view .
The remain exhibits walk you through the tense hours following the shooting . These include recollections of the land of shock that envelop the nation and the world , the investigations that followed , and JFK ‘s legacy .
Exhibits too include historical artifacts , like a replica of the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle found at the crime setting , the scale model of Dealey Plaza expend by FBI agents during the investigation , forensic grounds , and item such as Lee Harvey Oswald ‘s wedding ring and Jack Ruby ‘s hat .
Spend some time walk roughly outside on Dealey Plaza . It ‘s a powerful experience to hear the exact locations bearing such historical implication , like The Grassy Knoll and yet markers on the roadway suggest where the fatal shaft shoot John F. Kennedy .
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Highlight :Seasonal festivals take spot among the internationally famous gardens
Located exactly moment from downtown Dallas , the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden sits on 66 acres along the southeast shore ofWhite Rock Lake. The place ‘s fourteen world-famous display showcase seasonal flowers , ornamental shrubs , tree , and works collection . The gardens also host seasonal outside festivals , concert , art shows , and educational program , and guided circuit of the property cost available .
Although conceived in the early 1930s , this splendid tourist attraction did n’t turn a reality until 1984 , when the park cost laid out on the basis of a mansion make in 1939 . Lend to the fun are the exquisite sculpture and fountains in area with names like Toad ‘s Corner , Texas Town , and Pecan Grove .
Be sure to act a little exploring around White Rock Lake Park , also . Surround by 10 mile of hiking and biking trails , this huge lake covers an field of over 1,000 acre and is know for its excellent bird and wildlife staining , as well as fishing and sailing experiences .
Dallas World Aquarium
Highlights :Multi-sensory experience like the Orinoco rainforest display and the Cloud Forest Trek
Conveniently located within easy walk distance of the city ‘s historical downtown nucleus , Dallas World Aquarium is a fun and educational excursion for youthful and old alike . Housed in some 87,000 gallons of saltwater are a huge array of sea living include bonnethead sharks , stingrays , jellyfish , sea turtles , giant groupers , and rare leafy seadragons , all life in natural reef context .
A fun highlight is the Orinoco Rainforest exhibit . This fun attraction come complete with numerous free-flying birds , such as toucans , along with tree sloths and aquatic species such as Orinoco crocodiles and poison dart toad . Live sure to check the eating agenda before arrival for a prospect to see the creature at their most animated , as good as for item of coming lecture and lecture .
To add to your visit , plan to eat at one of the three restaurant at the aquarium , which serve everything from gourmet and international food to sandwiches and snacks with views of the occupant sea spirit .
Reunion Column
Highlights :360-degree horizon of Dallas , GeO-Deck observation platform at the top of the column
While not the tallest building in Dallas , the Reunion Tower is doubtless the most distinguished and most recognizable . Completed in 1978 and appear as a geodesic chunk perched atop five cylindrical concrete poles , its 560-foot distance is spectacularly lit up at dark , underline its unique outline .
The highlight of the tower is the GeO-Deck observation viewing platform , with panoramic opinion of Dallas from 470 foot in the breeze . There are always special case need home with those 360-degree views , from yoga to painting classes .
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Highlights :Unique artifacts from the 9/11 terrorist attack , an exhibit feature the popular Bush Whitehouse pets
The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum has an in-depth tone at America ‘s 43rd chairman and the history of the Bush family ‘s public service . The museum be located on a 23-acre domain on the Southern Methodist University campus . Walk through the veranda and archives that feature more than 43,000 artifacts collected during the George W. Bush presidency .
Some of the items housed in the permanent collection include diplomatic gifts and point from the September 11th terrorist attacks , as well as a fun display that showcases the lives of Miss Beazley and Barney , the First Pets , that get popular in the Bush Whitehouse . Wrap up your museum visit with a coffee or bite to eat at the museum at Cafe 43 or outdoor dining at the Courtyard Cafe .
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Highlights :A ride on the 54-foot escalator , regard out the tall glass windows to the creatively design courtyard
House in a massive architectural masterpiece designed by Thom Mayne , the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a top Dallas attraction for family and curious tourist .
The building itself live design with sustainability as a foremost end . Innovative eco-friendly design features include summer water conservation with the use of recaptured condensation from air conditioners and drip irrigation , the use of recycled and locally sourced building material , and solar-powered water heaters .
The museum is separate into thematic area with interactive educational stations , game , and high-tech displays . These topic include technology and innovation , energy , evolution , land sciences , and more . It too features a 3D theater , the Moody Family Children ‘s Museum and playground , and a 54-foot escalator that neglect the property from within a glass enclosure .
Dallas Museum of Art
Highlights :One of the largest art museum in the United States with extensive collection
The Dallas Museum of Art has been a long-standing establishment in the city since it spread in 1903 . One of the 10 largest museums in the United States , it have a collection of more than 24,000 study from the Americas and around the globe , including everything from ancient artifacts to contemporary art .
Highlights from the collection include Classical art and artifacts from ancient Egypt , Greece , and Rome , paintings by Claude Monet in the European art gallery , and various present-day pieces by Jackson Pollock . In increase to the permanent collections , temporary exhibits highlight the study of outstanding artists , explore thematic topics , and display historical collections .
Another art display worth catching is theWendy and Emery Reves Collection, an extensive collection from a single philanthropist donor containing more than 1,400 artifacts . Some of the treasured items include painted fan , lacquered box , Chinese porcelain , and 17th-century European furniture .
Klyde Warren Park
Highlights :Mid-afternoon social setting on almost any given day surrounded by music , food , outdoor dining , and water spring
A great spot to stop and relax as you create your way through downtown Dallas equal Klyde Warren Park . The beautiful public park is a home of rest tucked in the middle of the downtown street and high-rise buildings . On any pay day , you can savor food truck , outside dining , green space , public art , and a chance social setting .
Throughout the five-acre space there are cafés to enjoy and many sit down region by the spring . There are ever public events taking place at the park , but it ‘s hardly as fun to remove a cover and a picnic as you visit the local attraction and find a half hour just to delight the Dallas city view in a relaxing way .
Speech : 1909 Woodall Rodgers Freeway , Dallas , Texas
Dallas Zoo
Highlights :Daily programs like animal feeding and keeper presentations
The Dallas Zoo is a 106-acre park housing more than 2,000 exotic animal from 406 species in a variety of different habitats . Always popular with families , this fun attraction — just three miles aside from the city center — be establish in 1888 , making itone of the oldest zoos in the United States .
The zoo is segmented into regional areas , like ZooNorth , the Wilds of Africa , Giants of the Savanna , and a children ‘s zoo . Some of the nearly engaging experience at the zoo include animal encounters , like daily giraffe feedings , programs on the Wild Encounters Stage , and the interactive aviary scream Birds Landing .
While there cost several restaurant and plenty of snack stand available , you may require to take a picnic and enjoy it at one of the picnic table located throughout the zoo grounds .
American Airlines Center
Highlight :The walkable PNC plaza surround the area with restaurants to catch a bite before or after the show
It is no surprise that top entertainment work do to Dallas , and many of them perform at the American Airlines Center field . It is one of the premier arenas in the United States for concerts , live entertainment , and sporting events . It is also home base for the National Basketball Association ‘s Dallas Mavericks and National Hockey League ‘s NHL Dallas Stars .
In addition to hosting family plot for the Mavericks and Stars , you will observe a virtually nightly lineup of entertainment no matter what time of the yr , so you can easily design a night out at the venue and yet stay on in one of the nearby hotels . Before or after your effect , walk the PNC Plaza around the arena that to revel the restaurants and social fit that accompanies the arena entertainment .
The Nasher Sculpture Center
Highlight :One of many arts-centric stops that you can inflict in the Dallas Arts District
Opened in 2003 , the Nasher Sculpture Center make a collection of modern and present-day sculpture and contains exhibits search the history of the art of sculpture . Settle in the center of the Dallas Arts District and just steps off from the Dallas Museum of Art , it as well feature a number of large outdoor sculptures on show throughout the tree-lined grounds .
Highlights of its interior display include part by Edgar Degas , Henri Matisse , Pablo Picasso , Max Ernst , and Andy Warhol . The museum and sculpture park also regularly horde events , including lectures and concerts . Settle in the University of Texas at Dallas , this art museum is dedicated to the prowess and cultures of China , Japan , India , and Southeast Asia .
Bishop Arts District
Highlights :Collection of unique workshop , restaurants , galleries , and entertainment within a several-block area
If you are looking for things to do , the Bishop Arts District in Dallas ‘s North Oak Cliff neighborhood own nearly endless possibilities for shopping , dining , and entertainment . It features more than sixty independently owned and operated business . Here , you will find chic boutiques , art galleries , restaurants , and cozy coffee shops in an inviting small-town atmosphere .
Among the unique purveyors are specialty shops that cater to male clientele , like the quirky M’antiques ; various women ‘s vintage clothing boutiques ; and a myriad of shops that carry detail made by local artist and decorator . A place with a firm sense of community , the neighborhood much hosts family-friendly street festivals and public entertainment .
Dallas Cattle Drive Sculptures at Pioneer Plaza
Highlight :One of the top must-see landmarks in downtown Dallas
park , maintained by the adjacent Dallas Convention Center , cost design to resemble a division of the Shawnee Trail , a major Texas oxen drive path in the 19th century . It ‘s a beautiful , large green space in Dallas ‘s central occupation territory that ‘s fun to thread , and yet boast a stream that diminish over limestone cliffs .
But its nearly singular feature live the 49 larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Texas Longhorn oxen that be being crowd through the park and across the brook by three climb up puncher . Design by artist Robert Summers , the park equal landscaped to reproduce the picture of the iconic industry that defined early Texas .
Location : Young Street , Pioneer Plaza , Dallas , Texas
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
Highlight :Overhear a symphony performance in one of the local park in the summer
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is one of the almost salient performing art experiences in Dallas and stay the largest such organization in the southwest region of the United States . The symphony is know for its prominent classical and modern concert performances that take place at Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center .
Under the management of Fabio Luisi , the Dallas Symphony too regularly performs in other venues throughout Dallas and provides educational curriculum to pay back to the city . If you visit during the summer , you can attend one of the free outdoor concerts during the Symphony in the Parks series that takes seat in several Dallas community parks .
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Highlights :More than 35,000 artifacts include some from the Hindenburg
The Frontiers of Flight Museum is home to more than 40 aircraft and space vehicle and hold extensive exhibits that exhibit the journey from the roots of aviation , from Leonardo da Vinci through modern space exploration . The museum ‘s impressive collection include a full-size model of the Wright Flyer , artifacts from the Hindenburg , as well as numerous WWI and WWII aircraft and artifacts .
Vintage aircraft on show include a fully restored Stearman PT-17 Kaydet Biplane , and the Apollo VII spacecraft . On show at the museum ‘s Love Field location , the Braniff Gallery and Virgin America exhibit highlight the history of commercial aviation .
John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza
Highlight :You can call both the Dealey Plaza and the memorial in the same visit with a short walk in between
Located simply a few blocks away from Dealey Plaza , across from the city courthouse , stand the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza . This imposing yet understated monument to President Kennedy equal design by famous architect Philip Johnson , and its structure equal completed in 1970 after years of controversy .
Resembling a cenotaph , the open tomb conception be designed by Johnson to stand for what he learn as Kennedy ‘s free spirit . Endure some 30 feet tall and 50 foot wide and reach from big marble slabs , it ‘s certainly an impressive site . Cost certain to say the two epitaphs settle at the entrance to the monument ; they hold back a thought-provoking remembrance of the President .
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum
Highlights :A self-guided museum to get up near to vintage aircraft and military vehicles
Another excellent aviation museum to impose be the Cavanaugh Flight Museum . Place in Addison just north of Dallas , the museum ‘s impressive collection of vintage aircraft are kept in a massive hangar , along with numerous come with artifacts and display .
You can take a self-guided tour to see displays that include military planes use in Vietnam , the Korean War , WWI , and WWII , as well as civilian aircraft . There are also military truck on display and armored vehicle , include an M50 Super Sherman .
Address : 4572 Claire Chennault Street , Addison , Texas
African American Museum
Highlights :The ongoing lectures and public case contain at the museum
Founded in 1974 , the African American Museum has a form of displays of African American artistic , ethnic , and historical materials . Full of references to traditional African motifs and cultural picture , the museum ‘s collection includes numerous pieces of artwork , along with a library and historical archive .
In addition to hundreds of artifacts on display , the center features sculptures , paintings , and the large collection of Folk Art by African Americans in the United States . Educational and entertainment programs cost too hosted in the on-site field .
Spend a Day in Deep Ellum
Highlight :Funky vibe , historically jazz-influenced neighborhood , unique to early parts of Dallas
To experience one of Dallas ‘ revitalized neighborhood , you can spend a day in the . It cost an former jazz district with a fun blend of historic 1800s essence and trendy grunge , as evidence by the vintage signal and artsy murals as you walk along the street .
The Ellum District is a one-stop place to visit for dining , arts , music , shopping , street art , and entertainment . You can find ample parking in little pay band , and walk around the territory at your leisure .
Soap Opera Superstar : Southfork Ranch
Highlight :VIP steak dinner events that you can bask like one of the elite character on the hit tv displayDallas
If you exist or so in the 1980s and owned a television set , read newspaper , or worked in an role , there ‘s trivial chance you ‘d get escape the wave of interest that swept the world whenDallasshoot the small screen .
Now that you know who shot JR , you can impose the location where the series exist set : Southfork Ranch . About 25 mile north of Dallas , the ranch welcomes visitors for guided tours of the mansion . Afterward , you can enjoy an authentic Texan chuckwagon dinner on the reason .
Map of Tourist Attractions in Dallas , TX
Dallas , TX – Climate Chart
The good time to inflict Dallas is in the spring or autumn when you can comfortably visit all the attraction without the stifling warmth and humidity of the summer .
The months of September , October , and November be ideal sentence to call , when average daytime temperature exist in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit and there are fewer crowd at local venues . The temperatures be more bearable to revel local activities in the dusk like the Texas State Fair and Dallas Cowboys football .
The spring months of March , April , and May live also comfortable sentence to enjoy impose Dallas , specially with blossom in flower and outside activity blame up . March temperatures ordinary in the high 60s Fahrenheit during the daytime , with April hitting the high 70s and climbing to the mid-80s by May .
The rainiest month in Dallas are May and October , so you will want to carry a rain jacket and design your museum and indoor attraction visit during these days . It be best to avoid the summer month of June , July , and August , when Dallas temperatures keep tight in the 90s to over 100 degree Fahrenheit with high humidity .
