We don’t call it the ‘Big D’ for nothing!
Dallas always features a jam-packed calendar of unique events including concerts, festivals, sports and entertainment, along with the largest urban arts district in the nation, world-class shopping, and over 12,000 enticing dining options for every flavor of foodie.
Come to Dallas where southern hospitality meets international flair, modern meets historical, and laid back meets ultimate luxury!
Get the most out of your Dallas Getaway
Start with the Dallas CityPASS and save 40% on admission to some of Dallas’ top attractions including:
- The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Walk through a timeline of John F. Kennedy’s life and presidency. The exhibits are thoughtful, respectful and reflective and two areas in the museum were recreated to appear as they did in 1963.
- George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Step inside the president’s decision-making process in the interactive Decision Points Theater. Make sure you take your photo behind the president’s desk in a full-sized replica of the Oval Office.
- Dallas from a bird’s eye view at Reunion Tower GeO-Deck. The observation deck – 170 meters in the sky – includes an outdoor walkway and Halo, a digital information system that gives you the history of Dallas’ most famous landmarks and events.
- If lunch or dinner is in your plans, visit Five Sixty, located just above the observation deck, created by the world-famous Wolfgang Puck, or grab a snack at Cloud Nine.
- The Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This museum is home to one of the most impressive gem collections in the U.S. and a new dinosaur species just recently discovered and only available for viewing in Dallas!
- The Dallas Zoo. See elephants mingle alongside giraffes, zebras, ostriches, impalas, and guineafowl, just as they do in the African Savanna. This is one of two zoos in the world to have this type of exhibit.
- The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. These glorious gardens are home to 66 acres of the tranquil environment and the annual Dallas Blooms, the Southwest’s largest outdoor floral festival.
Traveling with Kids
Have the little ones with you? The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is full of fun for young minds, including a skywalk tour amongst the treetops. All of this is set on the banks of White Rock Lake, our urban jewel.
Admire the Arts
Have a moment of serenity among celebrated sculpture at the Nasher Sculpture Center, one of the world’s foremost collections of modern and contemporary sculpture.- Admire art for free at the Dallas Museum of Art exploring more than 22,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years of human creativity.
- Experience Asia in the heart of Dallas at the Crow Collection of Asian Art. This always-free museum offers a calm setting for quiet reflection in galleries focused on the arts of China, India, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia or marvel at Spanish art masterpieces at Meadows Museum at SMU.
- Immerse yourself in majestic sound at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Created by the internationally renowned design team, architect I.M. Pei, and acoustician Russell Johnson, it’s home to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
- Delight in the performing arts at the multi-venue AT&T Performing Arts Center, hailed as the most significant new performing arts destination in America, with the array of magnificent venues including:
- Winspear Opera House awes the audiences with striking beauty in sight and sound. The candy-apple-red building will quickly catch your eye and the outdoor lawn is ideal to enjoy a performance with a breeze.
- Wyly Theatre delivers a transformative theater experience. It is the only vertical theater in the world and it provides an exceptional space with stunning views of the Dallas Arts District through three glass walls.
Shopping, Dallas Style
Isn’t shopping a sport?
Make the most of your time in Dallas! Shop ‘til you drop, explore Dallas like a local.
- Step into historic West End for lunch and get some souvenirs at Wild Bill’s Western Store. Need some cowboy boots? Bill himself may be around to fit you for a custom pair!
- Treat yourself at NorthPark Center. The retail mecca holds an impressive array of designer stores interspersed with retail favorites and luxury boutiques. Stop by CenterPark, the outdoor garden, for a breath of fresh air between stores or take a stroll to admire the museum-quality art on display throughout the space.
- Visit the crown jewel of Dallas shopping, the flagship Neiman Marcus store, located downtown, or the luxury Forty Five Ten across the street.
- Stop by Galleria Dallas and stroll through three levels of shopping for every budget. Take a break to visit the ice skating rink open all year.
- Visit Highland Park, one of Dallas’ most elite neighborhoods, and stop at the country’s first planned outdoor shopping center, Highland Park Village, for lunch and retail relaxation.
- Stroll through Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts or the Design District for your pick of quirky finds and antique pieces in the neighborhoods’ vintage shops.
Get A Taste Of Dallas
- Enjoy modern Texas cuisine at Stampede 66, a creation of celebrity chef Stephan Pyles, or at Chef Dean Fearing’s namesake restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton in Uptown.
- Cross the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge from Downtown into Trinity Groves. This trendy food destination features everything from barbecue, sushi and Spanish tapas to southern comfort food and burgers.
- Head to Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum for a bite of delicious Texas barbeque. (Travel & Leisure magazine named Dallas a top city for barbeque in the U.S. and the daily line that forms outside this popular spot confirms that. Get there early!)
- Take your pick of margaritas at Meso Maya in Downtown. Savory or sweet, frozen or on the rocks – two may be in order if you can’t decide.
- Taste local lagers at one of Dallas’ microbreweries. Try Deep Ellum Brewing in their namesake neighborhood first – start with a pint of their Dallas Blonde – or Braindead Brewing for an impressive variety on tap. There’s a few to hit up in the Design District, so take your time and make a stop at Peticolas Brewing Company, Bishop Cider Company, Noble Rey Brewing, Community Brewing Company or Texas Ale Project.
Big Sports Scene
- Take a VIP guided tour at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Tour stops include a run out onto the field, the post-game interview room and both the Cowboys’ and cheerleaders’ locker rooms.
- Watch the Dallas Mavericks try for the Western Conference title. Take a glance at the floor seats in the Mavs’ corner to spot Shark Tank star and team owner Mark Cuban cheering his squad on. WNBA team the Dallas Wings joined the Dallas basketball scene in 2016, playing out of College Park Center west of Dallas.
- Make a trip to the rink at American Airlines Center to watch the Dallas Stars. Since their arrival in 1993, the Stars have made consistent appearances in the finals and took the Stanley Cup home in 1999.
- Head west and get into the ballpark spirit with the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The team was previously owned by former president George W. Bush who still makes frequent appearances in the stands.
- Get wrapped up in the world’s most popular sport with FC Dallas. The team is one of the original 10 teams that took the field in 1996 for the first season of Major League Soccer.
Big Personality
Dallas is full of BIG personalities and it shows in more than 20 unique and vibrant entertainment districts. There’s plenty of time to explore them all. Find your favorites and learn more at VisitDallas.com – here are just a few!
Home to 19 blocks of museums, performance venues and outdoor spaces. Get in free every day of the week at the Dallas Museum of Art and the Crow Collection of Asian Art. Can’t miss: The architecture of the Wyly Theatre and Winspear Opera House.
Deep Ellum introduced jazz and blues to Dallas in the 1920s. The neighborhood’s rich musical history still beats on with an array of live music venues. Can’t miss: Brad Oldham’s Traveling Man sculpture, Standing Tall, by the DART station. See if you can find his flying friends around town as you explore this beloved Dallas outdoor art installation.
Experience the energy of this vibrant district in its bustling restaurants and bars and luxury shops while taking in the unique architecture and history of Dallas. Can’t miss: A visit to the Dallas Farmers Market for some tasty local treats and unique souvenirs.
One of the most walkable districts in Dallas, Uptown is known for its lively atmosphere, spacious patios and tasty drinks and dishes. Can’t miss: A ride on the McKinney Avenue Trolley – it’s free!
Victory Park
Catch a game, dinner and drinks all in one place! Victory Park is the place to celebrate a Dallas Mavericks or Dallas Stars win or enjoy some fresh air after attending a concert at the American Airlines Center nearby. Can’t miss: Make a cameo on TV as the local news broadcasts nightly on the plaza outside American Airlines Center.
Head over the majestic Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge from Downtown and into this foodie haven. Can’t miss: The skyline view from the Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge after dinner.
Jump on the McKinney Avenue Trolley and head over to the Bishop Arts District. The quaint shops and restaurants offer an eclectic and unique experience in one of Dallas’ most historic areas. Can’t miss: The s’mores prepared at your table at Tillman’s Roadhouse and an impromptu musical performance on the patio outside Emporium Pies.
Hotels & Hospitality
No matter the occasion, Dallas is ready with more than 77,000 rooms and your pick of budget, boutique and luxury hotels. And no matter what neighborhood you choose to stay in, there’s a great hotel waiting for your BIG adventure in the Big D.