14 fun things to do this summer in Dallas and surroundings
Beat the Texas heat in style with the Dallas Wanderer’s summer bucket list!
1. Hit a local beach
Yes, we are far from the coast. But the Dallas surroundings offer great lake beach options, perfect for a hot summer day!
Eisenhower State Park’s beach and Burger’s Lake are among my favorites.
Burger’s Lake is 45 minutes from Downtown Dallas, in Forth Worth. With clean spring feed and filtered water, and lifeguards on duty, this sandy bottom lake is ideal if you are looking for a safe environment. It offers two sandy beaches, slides, and diving boards.
Eisenhower Beach is about 1h 20m away from downtown Dallas, but it’s totally worth the trip. So much so that, despite being a lake beach and in East Texas, it is considered one of the best beaches in the state, with the clearest waters in Texas.
For more beach options in Dallas and surroundings, check this post.
2. Go scuba-diving!
No need to head to the coast. You can dive and even get your scuba-diving certification less than 90 minutes away from Dallas.
Athens has its own blue hole, the Athens Scuba Park, with impressive turquoise water and interesting things to explore underwaters such as a sunken bus and airplane!
3. Try wakeboarding in the Dallas suburbs
If getting active while splashing into the water on a super-hot day feels as good to you as it does to me, wakeboarding can be a perfect way to beat the Texas heat!
Spoil your adventurous and sweating inner-self at Hydrous Wake Park. It offers 2 locations around Dallas, in Allen and Little Elm, both opened year-round.
4. Watch a movie under the stars
Try some seriously old-fashioned fun at the Coyote Drive-In in Fort Worth.
Watch a movie under the stars just like in the old days. Enjoy the outdoors at the best time of the day during the Texas summertime – when the excruciating sun gives us a break.
The movie is almost secondary here: what counts is the experience itself, so step back in time and enjoy the nostalgic drive-in theater feeling.
5. Go ice skating at the Galleria Dallas Ice Rink
Does sliding on the ice in the middle of the Texas summer sounds good? Almost too good to be true right? So, head to the Galleria Dallas and check it with your own eyes.
Kill that winter-nostalgia at the Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center, opened year-round. Top off with an ice cream at Haagen Dazs or Paciugo Gelato Cafe – my personal faves there. Can it get any more summerish than that?
6. Get active at White Rock Lake or Paddle Point
When the thermometers go crazy, nothing better than splashing into water activities. So hit a local lake and cool off kayaking or stand-up paddling.
Here are my 2 favorite options around White Rock Lake in Dallas, and Paddle Point Park, in Rowlett, about 20 minutes away from Downtown Dallas (click on the links for equipment rental info).
White Rock Lake is the green heart of Dallas. Right in the city, huge and trendy among locals. It has no concessions, so bring a picnic or head to the nearby and charming Smoky Rose restaurant for a meal.
Paddle Point Park sits in a secluded and small section of the huge Lake Ray Hubbard. There is a park with play and picnic areas and even a sand court just across the road. Bankhead Brewing Company is a solid restaurant option around.
7. Swim in a crystal-clear river while looking for real dinosaur tracks
Am I the only one here amused by the fact that only one hour away from Dallas, you can step into real dinosaur tracks?
Dinosaur Valley State Park is one of my favorite attractions in Texas and really, really close to Dallas. If you haven’t been there yet, you are missing out. It’s a must-see any time of the year, but especially amazing on a hot summer day.
There you can spend the day cooling off at the crystal clear Paluxy River while looking for real dinosaur tracks along the riverbed. Please have in mind, though, that dinosaur tracks are not always visible. It depends on the water level and weather conditions. So before heading there, check their website.
You can also combine your visit to Dinosaur Valley State Park with a drive-thru safari and sleepover into the wilderness and make it the perfect weekend getaway. Please find more info about it here (destination # 1, Glen Rose, TX).
8. Rock Climb indoors at the Summit
Head to Summit in Dallas for an adventure-filled day. It features around 3,000 sq ft of climbing walls and 5,000 sq ft of bouldering.
Day passes are available and include unlimited climbing and yoga.
9. Feeding the animals at the indoor Dallas World Aquarium
The Dallas World Aquarium is the perfect bet for a hot summer day in Dallas. It’s almost totally indoors, thus air-conditioned. Except for the penguin exhibit, which is short – you will survive.
Besides the amazing sea creatures, it features a stunning rainforest exhibit with tropical species and interactive activities, such as feedings and talks.
It has 3 restaurants and cafes inside. The Eighteen-O-One restaurant offers surprisingly good food for a theme park restaurant, so if having lunch is in your plans, go for it!
10. Watch a 360-degree sunset from the top of the Reunion Tower
Feel at the top of the world at the Reunion Tower’s GeO-Deck. It offers an interactive indoor exhibit and the best views of Dallas from the outdoor observation deck – which is shady and windy, by the way.
The adjoining Cloud 9 Cafe (opened weekends only) is the best place to watch the sunset in Dallas, hands down. It has a rotating floor, so it moves while you are still, offering you a 360-degree view of Dallas while seated.
To reach it, go up one floor using the stairs from the GeO-Deck. Then grab a drink, take a seat and enjoy the sunset in different perspectives unveiling right in front of your eyes, all over the city.
11. Improve your golf skills in a climate-controlled hitting bay
With over 70 climate-controlled hitting bays, Topgolf is the place to be also in summer.
Topgolf is a fun golf-like activity, which consists of trying to hit a micro-chipped golf ball at giant dartboard-like targets on an outfield. No golf experience is required! Give it a try and see if it’s for you.
12. Skydive indoors
Skydiving takes the realm of indoor activities you can experience in Dallas to another level!
Experience zero-gravity at IFly Indoor Skydiving, located in Frisco, 30 minutes away from Downtown Dallas.
Sense the feeling of jumping out of a plane without, well, actually having to face the risks involved in jumping out of a plane! – not that I wouldn’t do or recommend the real thing but, let’s face it, it is not for everybody!
13. Cruise Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard is one of the largest lakes in north Texas and only 30 minutes away from Downtown Dallas.
Spend the day in the lake renting a boat or jet ski at the Chandler’s Landing Marina. Or take a sunset cruise instead with Sail with Scott, and watch the sun going down while you sip a glass of wine and enjoy some snacks (BYOBF).
For other entertainment options in the area, click here and find out the best way to spend a day in Rockwall (destination # 2)
14. Hit a local waterpark
Dallas and its surroundings are home to fantastic water parks!
From world-famous Hurricane Harbor to local gems such as Epic Waters – an indoors waterpark open year-round – and Hawaiaan Falls, you can find several options to try and discover your own favorite.
The waterparks usually offer season passes and you can get good deals to enjoy this places all summer long.
Summing Up
Summer in Dallas is harsh. But can be (a lot of) fun!
The city offers several attractions by the water or indoors, take advantage of them and have a blast even under 100+ degrees!
Enjoy sandy beaches at Burger’s Lake or Eisenhower State Park. Embark on a boat adventure at Lake Ray Hubbard. Swim at the crystal-clear Paluxy River while looking for dinosaur tracks. Feed the animals at the Dallas World Aquarium. Or just relax and enjoy the best sunset ever at the rotating cafe at the top of Reunion Tower, or watch a movie under the stars at Coyote Drive-In.
If adrenaline is what you’re looking for, engage in adventurous activities by the water or indoors. In the Dallas area you can try wakeboarding, scuba-diving, kayaking, stand up paddling, ice skating (year-round!), rock climbing, topgolfing and even skydiving!
The list goes on and on, but those are the summer activities around that I would recommend to anyone looking for options other than staying at their air-conditioned homes or inside to the pool ; ).
I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas on how to enjoy summer in Dallas! Give them a try and get back here to let me know your favorites.
Which are your most-liked things to do in Dallas during summer? Do you know of any hidden-gem or must visit attraction perfect for absurdly hot days? Leave a comment bellow.
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