Dallas Not To Be Missed Attractions

I love to show people what makes my city unique.  Dallas is rich with interesting things to do: restaurants, clubs, historic sites, and neighborhoods to explore—if you know where to look. The following are my top seven must see attractions if you’re a first time visitor to Dallas. 

The 6th Floor Museum Book Depository 

This is the number one place I always take visitors. Through film, video, photographs, and other artifacts, the museum presents the facts of this tragic and tumultuous time in American history.  You can read my full review of the museum and self-guided tour here.

After the museum spend some time outside exploring Dealey Plaza, the grassy knoll, the white picket fence and other sites relevant to the shooting in 1963. Less than a block away is the John F. Kennedy Memorial…be sure to walk there. 

 More history than meets the eye

Most visitors focus on the 6th Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza, and rightly so. But linger a little longer and you’ll find that this small patch of downtown Dallas holds far more history than most people realize, some of it buried for over a century. Just behind the Old Red Courthouse is a replica of a log cabin that was the former home of John Neely Bryan, the eccentric founder of Dallas. His story is really interesting and a bit sad.

 The Old Red Courthouse, currently transitioning to become the new home of the Texas Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, has its own dark chapter in Dallas history,  one that went unacknowledged for 111 years until a historical marker was finally placed in 2021. 

Local tip: Outside the museum you will see conspiracy theorists who love to share their thoughts about who really killed JFK. There were several investigations into his assassination, but many people are not satisfied with the final conclusion of the Warren Commission. Was it truly Lee Harvey Oswald? Did he act alone? Was it LBJ? Visit the museum, then chat with some locals and decide for yourself. 

Time to visit: Take your time here, there’s a lot to unpack. I’d allow a minimum of two hours only for the museum part of this. If you really explore the area I’d allow a half day. 

 Deadly Dallas Ghost Tour

I went on this tour not knowing what to expect and was really pleasantly surprised. Learn why Dallas’  nickname  is “City of Hate,” by taking the  Dallas Terrors  Deadly Dallas Ghost Tour: Blood, Bones, and Burials. While there are some classic haunted tour stops, and things that go bump in the night, this tour offers real substance; the founders call it “a remorseless and unflinching look deep into the abyss of D-town’s nightmarish past.” After living in Dallas for over 40 years, I still learned a lot.   The history uncovered on this tour is genuinely sobering, real stories, real people, and events that shaped this city in ways the history books have been slow to acknowledge. The tour covers the same area as the 6th Floor Museum, so you could do both the same day, though the tour is usually at dusk, so time it accordingly. Go with an open mind. You’ll come back with a lot to think about

Reunion Tower

Just a short walk from the museum is the Hyatt Regency Reunion Tower, with its iconic golf ball-shaped tower. You have probably seen it in the credits for the TV series Dallas, or maybe you saw it on The Amazing Race finale a few seasons past when the finalists rapelled down the tower! Yikes! 

Take the elevator to the observation deck (also called the Geo Deck) for 360-degree views of the Dallas-Ft.Worth area also referred to as the DFW Metroplex. I recommend going to Crown restaurant for the same view but from a higher vantage point. 

Time to visit: This depends if you’re going to stay and go to the restaurant. I’d say an hour for the observation deck only because you have to allow for parking and the possibility of a wait to enter the elevator.

Pegasus

From the Hyatt Reunion, walk to the Omni Hotel to see another iconic piece of Dallas history: a neon flying Pegasus sculpture, perched atop an oil well. This is the original sculpture created in 1934, now restored. Do not be confused by the copy flying atop the Magnolia Hotel a few blocks away.

The Magnolia Hotel was the home of this original sculpture until 1999 when it was removed and replaced with the copy you see there now. Some years later, the original was discovered in a city-owned storage building and relocated to its new home at the Omni Hotel. 

Local tip: Go at night to see the Pegasus and the Omni Hotel illuminated.

Dallas Arts District

The Dallas Arts District is another of my favorite recommendations. There are three museums located in this district: the Dallas Museum of Art, The Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Crow Museum of Asian Art. Pick one, or visit all three. It’s possible to see them all in one day since The Nasher and The Crow are small museums. 

If you’re in town on a Friday night, you can enjoy Late Night at the DMA, when the museum is open until midnight. There are food trucks, live music, events for kids, literary readings, and more. 

For music lovers, the Meyerson Symphony Center, featuring the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, is just two short blocks from the DMA.  Adjacent to the Meyerson is the Winspear Opera, a great space to catch a Broadway musical, and across the street is the Wyly Theater, where you can see classics such as A Christmas Carol or find something more offbeat. The Dallas Arts District truly encompasses all of the arts.

Time to visit: Allow at least two hours for one museum. If you decide to go to all three you’ll spend the day there. The DMA has a great cafe so why not have lunch and make it a trifecta. 

Klyde Warren Park

Just across the street from the Dallas Museum of Art is Klyde Warren Park, a five-acre green space built on top of the Woodall Rogers Freeway. The park connects the Dallas Arts District with downtown and uptown neighborhoods. 

The park hosts live events like local station KXT summer music series, yoga and food truck Fridays. Relax with a popsicle on a hot summer day, or dine parkside and observe all the goings-on through the glass walls. Check the Klyde Warren Park website for the full schedule. 

Time to visit: Allow at least an hour if you’re visiting the park but not attending any special events.

Visit Southfork Ranch

Fans of the hit television series Dallas will want to visit Southfork Ranch, where the original series was set. It’s about a 40-minute drive north of downtown Dallas. You’ll need a car or rideshare for this one, but it’s worth it. I have worked with a film crew at the ranch and can confirm the grounds are really lovely—plus you can tour the home of the infamous Ewing family and see the room where JR was shot. All the sets and furnishings date back to the original series so it’s quite a nostalgic experience. 

Time to visit: It’s a bit of a drive to go to Southfork so plan to make the most of it. Book a tour and then take a walk around the grounds. Plan about two hours there.

Listen to live music

Austin calls itself the music capital of the world but I think Dallas has nearly as many music events  on a daily basis. There’s a thriving jazz scene, too, if you know where to look. One of my favorite spots is Reveler’s Hall in the Bishop Arts District. They have a house band but also book guests. It’s a fun venue that reminds me a little of New Orleans. 

Time to visit: Until the music stops.

Transportation around Dallas

In the past, you’d definitely have to rent a car but just as in most major cities, you can use a rideshare, UBER and Lfyt both operate out of DFW—or hail a taxi. There are specific zones for rideshare so be sure to make note of that and which door you’re closest to.

There’s also the DART rail, which will take you downtown. If you decide to forgo a car and use the DART, be sure to check the schedule, as the service is a bit limited, especially on holidays. Also, if you arrive in the international terminal you’ll have to get to terminal A via the airport rail.

Where to Stay

I highly recommend you consider staying downtown.  Check rates for the Omni on Expedia 

Also check Hall Arts Hotel in the Arts District. You can check those rates here.