Dallas-Fort Worth best things to do
Texas is my home and I have lived the majority of my life in Dallas-Fort Worth or within an hour of the Metroplex. DFW has fun places to visit, exciting sports teams to follow and lots of yummy restaurants. Let me share some of my favorites.
If you visit Dallas in September or October, you have to be sure to check out the State Fair of Texas. Big Tex will greet you with a “Howdy, folks!” The State Fair is held each year at Fair Park near downtown Dallas and features a wide variety of fried foods (and a few non-fried), including Fletcher’s famous corny dogs.
Take a ride on the Texas Star, which stands 216-feet high and was the tallest ferris wheel in North America from 1985 until 2013. Also check out the car show, livestock exhibits, carnival games and other rides.
Other fun outdoor activities in DFW include Six Flags over Texas amusement park, Hurricane Harbor water park and the Fort Worth Zoo. Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth is a lively place to hang out with many restaurants and has a beautiful Christmas tree at the holidays.
Also in Fort Worth, head on over to the Stockyards for a trip back to the old west. There is a longhorn cattle herd held twice daily, as well as a rodeo, saloons, restaurants and Western shops.
For a taste of nature, the Dallas Arboretum is beautiful no matter the season. Dallas Blooms is amazing in the spring with all of the multi-colored tulips.
Autumn at the Arboretum is fun in the fall with all of the pumpkin displays. You can’t go wrong either way!
The Japanese Garden in Fort Worth is also very lovely in the fall. There are many ponds filled with koi fish, and I love when the leaves are turning there.
Spring in Texas means bluebonnets, so if you are visiting in March or April, keep an eye out for the state flower or head down to the Ennis Bluebonnet Trail.
For a day trip, head south of Fort Worth to Glen Rose. Visit Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where zebras, giraffes, deer and more animals will come right up to your car as you drive through the park.
Also check out Dinosaur Valley State Park for scenic hikes where the dinosaurs once roamed. You can see actual dinosaur footprints in the Paluxy riverbed.
For indoor fun and to beat the heat in summer, the Dallas World Aquarium has a lot of cool spaces to explore, including a shark tank, flamingo habitat and penguin area.
Dallas and Fort Worth both have great art museums: The Dallas Museum of Art and the Kimbell Art Museum. Or you can catch a live performance at the Music Hall at Fair Park, Winspear Opera House or Bass Hall.
For a history lesson, visit the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of SMU. There are many artifacts from Bush’s time in office as well as an area dedicated to September 11th.
Head up to the top of Reunion Tower for views of downtown Dallas and beyond. The GeO-Deck is 470-feet high and provides 360-degree panoramic views of the city.
In Frisco, you can also watch a RoughRiders minor-league baseball game, visit the Cowboys’ practice facility (The Star) or attend an FC Dallas soccer match.
Now that you’ve explored Dallas-Fort Worth, you’re probably hungry! Let me recommend some BBQ. Heim, Pecan Lodge and Hard Eight are all delicious and some of my favorites for sure.
For an amazing, fancy steak dinner, my go-to is III Forks or Silver Fox. They are owned by the same people and have very similar menus and food.
Other places I enjoy going are Joe T. Garcia’s in the Stockyards for Mexican food and a lovely courtyard atmosphere. Rodeo Goat is great for burgers, and Cane Rosso has awesome wood-fired pizza. For the best chicken fried steak and fried chicken with sides served family-style, head to Babe’s.
If you have a sweet tooth like I do, SusieCakes is the place for you. They have all kinds of cakes, cupcakes and cookies. My favorite cake though is the Italian cream cake from J. Theodore, which has amazing baked goods, as well as great food (try the Brussels sprouts!).
What are your favorite things to do and places to eat in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Check out more fun places to visit in Texas: Austin, South Padre Island, College Station, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels and Waco.
