My husband and I kicked off the start of summer last month with a weekend trip to Dallas, Texas. Our kids had never been before and we really wanted to visit family and friends. Dallas is truly a GEM of a city and we had so, so much fun! However, the DFW-Arlington metropolitan area is gigantic and it can be a little intimidating to figure out what to do. If you’re wanting to get away for a weekend and don’t mind a bit of driving, then this is the itinerary for you!
Where To Stay
The Broke Backpacker has a highly detailed and absolutely wonderful list of recommendations for places to stay. I love how their recs are broken down by neighborhood. Miss Tourist also has several great suggestions for first timers!
What To Do
We absolutely LOVED visiting the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. This place is extremely cool and super kid friendly. They offer reciprocal general admission via the ASTC Passport, so be sure to check this list out if you have other memberships. After a fun morning at the museum, we popped over to Klyde Warren Park per a local friend’s recommendation and checked out Food Truck Lane for lunch. Another Dallas Arts District “must see” for me is The Dallas World Aquarium. Truly, calling it an aquarium is a bit misleading because once you arrive, you quickly see that this magical place is made up of so much more. Definitely allot 2-3 hours for a visit here because there is a lot to cover. Not in the mood to keep your kids cooped up inside all day? Venture further east and check out the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens instead. Their picturesque grounds are simply *perfect* for picnics and the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden there has daily programs that provide awesome hands-on experiences for children of all ages.
Where To Eat
Mealtimes… so necessary and yet also semi-stressful if you’re in an unfamiliar city. Is everyone in your party craving something different? Then check out Legacy Food Hall, where you can find a little bit of everything and something for everyone. Our family took us there for dinner and we had a ball! Personally, I spent most of my time hanging out at Press Waffle Co.’s stall. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a yeasty sugary treat! If you’re still at a loss as to where to go, Eater Dallas has a list of “9 Kid-Friendly Dallas Restaurants That Parents Won’t Hate” that could serve as a great reference point. The Café at Central Market didn’t make their list, but I had a great experience there and highly recommend it for fidgety, impatient diners.
There were so many things we wanted to do in Dallas, but, alas, we simply ran out of time! In addition to the above, we also wanted to get our horseback riding on at Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve, and we also heard great things about the Fort Worth Zoo. Nearby suburb of Plano, Texas, has a Crayola Experience exhibit that we didn’t get to see, and if that isn’t enough to add to your list, there’s also Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Hawaiian Falls Garland located relatively close by! Like I said before, Dallas is a jewel of a city and there is absolutely no shortage of things to do when planning a trip there. Are you a Dallas expert? What are your must-see places? Drop a comment below and let us know where to go on our next trip!
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