52 Fun Things to Do in Dallas and Surroundings
Looking for ideas to enjoy your weekends in Dallas in 2021? We have 52 pretty cool ones to share!
2021 Dallas Bucket List - 52 things to do in the city!
Ready to enjoy the best Dallas has to offer? To (finally) fall in love with the very place where you live?
Dallas is an amazing city with tons of entertainment opportunities. You just need to know where to go, and we’re here to help you out on this task!
This Dallas bucket list will give you 52 cool options of things to do in and around the city to spice up your weekends. Iconic Dallas attractions and superb things to do off the beaten path, so you never run out of ideas again.
Try one new place or activity every weekend and this Dallas Bucket List can keep you entertained for an entire year!
Just choose your first adventure and press play!
Covid-19 Note
These are uncertain times, so always check if your destination place is open before leaving home. Mask up, follow the CDC recommendations and stay safe!
Looking for 100% social distance-approved ideas only? Check our 60 Outdoor Things to Do in Dallas post.
2021 Dallas Bucket List:
52 Things to Do in and Around the City
1. Have brunch with live music at The Rustic, one of Dallas best restaurants and coolest outdoor patios. Take then the free vintage trolley, right next door, to explore Uptown.
2. Learn two-step and line dance at Red River, in Dallas, or Billy Bob’s, in Fort Worth, the most authentic honky tonks in DFW.
3. Have lunch at one of the Trinity Groves gourmet restaurants and then walk on Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge, right across the street, for the best Dallas skyline views.
4. Attend a meditation session at Kadampa Buddhist Center. Classes are held every Sunday at 11 am in the Dallas location, and open to the public.
5. Take a sunset cruise on Lake Ray Hubbard, in Rockwall, and dine in one of the restaurants at the Harbor overlooking the lake – Gloria’s for Latin fare, Rodeo Goat for gourmet burgers and Sideways for barbecue.
6. Visit Canton’s First Monday Trade Days, the largest outdoor flea market in the world, 1h00 from Dallas. Grab a bite in one of the food-stands on-site, bargain and take home everything for military gear to shark teeth!
7. Get active at White Rock Lake. Run, walk or cycle the 9.3-mile perimeter trail or, from Spring to Fall, rent a kayak or SUP and get into the water. Then recharge your batteries with a late lunch at beautiful Smoky Rose, right next door.
8. Have lunch at Sixty Vines, stroll through adjoining Crescent Shops and nearby Samurai Collection free exhibition, and top off with coffee at Magnolias Sous Le Pont.
9. For dinner and night fun head to The Henry, at trendy Hardwood District. A gorgeous restaurant, featuring a lounge bar upstairs, with DJ and delectable drinks.
10. Unwind at the Texas Truck Yard, Dallas coolest beer garden. Grab a bite at one of their food trucks, a drink and sit at their quirky outdoor patio to listen to top-notch live music.
11. Spend a leisure day in Fort Worth. Shop and eat around beautiful Sundance Square and chill out at the nearby Water Gardens. Take then a short drive to Kimbell Museum to check on Michelangelo’s first known painting and other world-class art pieces.
12. Explore bohemian Bishop Arts District. During the day, indulge in authentic Texas barbecue at Lockhart Smokehouse. Then stroll through the neighborhood, checking on the charming boutiques, design stores, and graffiti murals, and grab a treat at Emporium Pies. At night, watch a movie at historic Texas Theatre – the place were JFK murderer hid before being caught, have pizza at Eno’s and follow with a drink at stylish Botanist.
13. Finally learn to ice skate at the Galleria Ice Skating Center. It’s open year-round and offers public sessions and lessons.
14. Take little ones to have some serious fun at one of the three best theme parks for kiddos in Dallas: Kidzania, Crayola Experience and Legoland.
15. Follow real dinosaur tracks along Paluxy river’s riverbed at beautiful Dinosaur Valley State Park, 1h20 from Dallas.
16. Stroll through the West Village stores, watch a movie at vintage Magnolia Theatre and top off with wine tasting at CRU Food and Wine Bar right next door (or with a beer at neighboring Uptown Pub).
17. Have water fun year-round at Epic Waters Indoor Water Park. Summertime, try Hawaiian Falls and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor too!
18. Explore the Piney Woods Wine Trail, comprising 19 wineries through the gorgeous Piney Woods region of East Texas, with locations as close as 1 hour from Downtown Dallas.
19. Have brunch at the Bread Winners in Uptown and then take free M-Line vintage trolley to chill out at Klyde Warren Park (there is a trolley stop only a few steps from both places).
20. Drive your car through wildlife and feed the animals at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, a zoo-safari 1h20 from Dallas
21. Walk iconic Kate Trail and sit at Kate Trail Ice House’s beer patio, right off the trail, to have a lunch or a drink (or both!).
22. Visit the unique Sixth Floor Museum, at Dealey Plaza – the place from where the shot that killed JFK was fired – and explore West End Historic District afterwards.
23. Hike or paddle surrounded by tall pine trees at beautiful Tyler State Park, 1h30 from Dallas (rentals available on-site). From mid-May through mid-August, stop at Ham Orchards on your way back to Dallas to check on the farmer-market store and taste their acclaimed homemade peach ice cream.
24. Step in India without hoping on a plane at Kalachandjis Restaurant and Temple, right in the heart of Dallas. Grab a plate with the best vegetarian food in town (be warned: it is yummy but spicy!) and enjoy it at their gorgeous courtyard. When you’re done, go explore the beautiful temple and grounds. It’s open to the public and everybody there is extremely welcoming!
25. Watch a movie under the stars from the trunk of your car at Coyote Drive-In Fort Worth, after having dinner or a drink at their old-fashioned concessions while you wait for your movie to start.
26. Watch a Dallas Cowboys live match at the AT&T Stadium. Season starts early-September and tops off with the Super Bowl around late-January, early-February. No game? You can still tour the home of the Dallas Cowboys to check the behind-the-scenes facilities, art exhibitions and even throw the ball on the field.
27. Put your heart to test at the Six Flags Over Texas, the first Six Flags to open in United States. The Six Flags Amusement Parks are worldwide famous for its thrill rides and you can experience it right here in Dallas.
28. Indulge in an upscale dine-in movie experience at i-Pic, in Fairview. But only if watching your movie from a premium plus seat while tasting truffle fries and sipping a glass of wine sounds good to you LOL. If you have kids in tow, try Moviehouse & Eatery, in McKinney.
29. Attend a full moon kayak tour at the Fort Worth Nature Center. Arrive earlier for hiking and to spot bison (from April through November).
30. Try some of the best barbecue joints in Dallas at Deep Ellum: Pecan Lodge, or Terry Black’s Barbecue. Then take a stroll around to check on the awesome street art murals and alternative shops and cafes.
31. Sit at one of the waterfront restaurants at The Boardwalk at Granite Park, in Plano, and sip a beer while enjoying the vibe.
32. Catch some waves! Try wakesurfing on lakes Grapevine or Lewisville or wakeboarding in Allen or Little Elm.
33. Listen to authentic live country music at Adair’s Saloon, one of Dallas most traditional music venues, at the Deep Ellum.
34. Attend the largest Saint Patrick’s Parade in the Southwest. Yearly mid-March, along the Greenville Avenue, in Dallas.
35. Take a yoga class at the Cosmic Cafe (optional USD 5.00 donation suggested) followed by lunch in a Zen and unique atmosphere – make sure to try their mango smoothie, it’s to die for!
36. Experience an authentic and moving Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues Dallas.
37. Get wowed by wildlife at the Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo or Dallas World Aquarium. They are all completely different world-class exhibitions, totally worth checking out. At the Dallas World Aquarium, plan to have lunch at the Eighteen O One restaurant on-site – the food is surprisingly delicious for a theme park restaurant.
38. Visit a money factory! Tour for free the US Printing Bureau, in Fort Worth, one of the only two places in the US responsible for printing dollar bills and coins.
39. Spend the weekend at one of Dallas top 3 resorts, offering water parks, spas and/ or lazy rivers: Hilton Anatole, Gaylord Texan and Great Wolf Lodge. Great Wolf Lodge has an indoor water park open year-round. The other two are open seasonally, from late Spring to early fall.
40. Explore the largest contiguous urban arts district in the US, the Dallas Arts District. Dallas Museum of Art and Crow Museum of Asian Arts both offer free-admission. For the ones with kids in tow, the Dallas Museum of Art offer free family-oriented activities as well – you’ll be surprised with how much fun little ones can have there!
41. Soak in nature at Cedar Hill State Park, an over 1,800-acre preserve only 20 minutes from Downtown Dallas – and the closest State Park to the city. You can hike, swim, fish and camp there.
42. Try authentic Thai street food at the Buddhist Temple of Dallas. Usually held on Sundays, the food market features several authentic Thai vendors. Browse around, grab whatever calls your attention and sit by the Buddhist temple serene gardens to enjoy your meal under the sunlight.
43. Try a treetop course and ziplining at the Trinity Forest Adventure Park or at Go Ape, in Oak Point Park, Plano. In Oak Point Park you can also enjoy other outdoor activities, such as kayaking, SUP and hiking trails.
44. Watch a NBA live match with local Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center, their home stadium. Season goes from early October to mid-April.
45. Watch world’s only year-round rodeo at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Then hit the floor at Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honky tonk, right next door.
46. Go wine-tasting in Grapevine. Take a self-guided wine tour through charming Main Street’s wineries: Bingham Family, Messina Hof, Sloan and Williams , Umbra, Wine Fusion, Farinas and Grapevine Springs.
47. Visit the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and Fort Worth Museum of Science and History – both great hands-on experiences for adults and kids alike.
48. Explore the grounds of the Southfork Ranch, the film location of worldwide famous TV series “Dallas”. It’s open to the public and several guided-tours are offered daily.
49. Stroll through Plano’s Legacy West, a cool and fancy gastronomy and shopping outdoor complex. Then take a seat at Plano Legacy Food Hall for wine, beer, gourmet bites and live music (select dates and times). The place features several gourmet food vendors throughout it’s three floors, a stylish ambiance and an amazing and lively outdoor patio.
50. Go up Reunion Tower and watch a 360º sunset from Cloud 9 Cafe – the floor rotates! (the cafe is open weekends only)
51. Get your adrenaline shot at Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park. The park is the only place in Dallas where you can try bungee jumping, as well as other 4 classic extreme thrills, such as skycoaster and skyscraper.
52. Have brunch at The Golyer Tea Room, in the Dallas Arboretum (reservations required). Then stroll through the gorgeous colored gardens, stunning year-round. The Dallas Arboretum is considered one of the top 5 botanical gardens in the USA and offers interesting activities, such as cooking classes (free with admission) and an amazing interactive space for kids, the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden (open seasonally).
Summing Up
In this post you found 52 ideas of superb things to do in Dallas.
No matter if you’re looking for ideas of fun things to in in Dallas with friends, family, your partner or even by yourself, in this list you’ll find activities suitable for all ages, tastes and occasions.
Keep it in your ‘pocket’ for whenever you feel like enjoying your weekend to the fullest. Or as a secret weapon to be used next time someone insinuates Dallas does not offer much LOL.
And when you’re ready to explore further, check our 28 day trip ideas from Dallas.
Did you find anything surprising in this list you didn’t know existed? Which are your favorite things to do in Dallas? Share your top experiences in the comments!
