These 13 hidden gems and unique things to do in Dallas and surroundings will surprise you!
Discover amazing offbeat attractions to include NOW in your Texas bucket list.
Go beyond the preconceived ideas of Dallas Fort Worth and get amazed by cool and unique stuff you can experience around. Hidden gems in or near Dallas about to change your perception on the Big D.
The following 13 out-of-ordinary ideas to enjoy your time in Dallas and surroundings are nothing short of mind-blowing!
From prehistoric sites you would guess to be thousands of miles away from Dallas to activities that wouldn’t even cross your mind when thinking of Texas, here you’ll find unexpected things to do in and around the city.
Check them out and make your plans to uncover these unique hidden gems in Dallas and neighboring towns. Enrich your Texas experience and prepare for a change of heart on the Lonely Star State.
Beyond the hidden gems in Dallas: must-visit popular attractions
If you are new to Dallas or a first-time visitor, and wants to go over DFW (outstanding) basics as well, check our post with the top 15 things to do in Dallas.
Popular but superb attractions you’ll only find in the Big D!
1. Bonnie and Clyde
Visit Bonnie and Clyde graves right in Dallas and follow the infamous couple footsteps.
Did you know the infamous criminal couple Bonnie & Clyde, glamorized in the 60’s movie classic of the same name, have Texan roots? That Bonnie was once a waitress in Dallas and both Bonnie and Clyde spent their teenager years in DFW? Accounts claim they first meet in the 30’s in a friend’s house at 105 Herbert Street, West Dallas.
The rest is a mix of history and legend, but the fact is that in Dallas you can follow Bonnie and Clyde footsteps. And visit their grave sites, currently historic landmarks. Bonnie (Bonnie Parker) is buried at Crown Hill Memorial Park. Clyde (Clyde Barrow) at Western Heights Cemetery. Have in mind these are not touristic spots at their core but resting places. So, don’t expect anything fancy or pristine. Go for the history and curiosity and you’ll enjoy it.
2. Fossil Park
Unleash your inner paleontologist and dig for over 300 million old fossils - for free!
And when you think Texas can’t surprise you anymore, you discover that only 1h30 driving from Dallas you can dig for real million years old fossils! Looking for something out of ordinary to do around DFW? Go fossil hunting at Mineral Wells Fossil Park.
The fossil park is open to the public year-round, with free admission. You can bring small tools and dig for the tons of well preserved ‘Pennsylvanian Period’ fossils around – and even find a prehistoric shark tooth if you’re lucky! It’s a primitive site with no facilities, so bring tons of water, pack a picnic and have fun.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park is only 15 minutes away from the fossil park and one of the best places around Dallas for hiking, in case you’re looking for more things to do in the area (if hiking is your thing, take a peek into this article and discover the 9 best hiking spots near Dallas – topic #2)
3. Scuba-Diving
Dive into a beautiful blue hole and explore a sunken airplane and bus!
And the Dallas surroundings keep surprising me! Not a long time ago I found out that one of Texas most impressive scuba-diving centers is only 90 minutes away from Dallas, the Athens Scuba Park. And no pool or tank: we are talking about an actual blue hole, with turquoise water and interesting sunken things to explore such an airplane and a bus!
I haven’t been there yet, but it’s definitively on my list of things to try in Dallas as soon as the weather cooperates LOL.
4. U.S. Treasury Money Factory
Tour one of the only two money printing facilities in the United States.
The U.S. Treasury has only 2 money printing and engraving facilities in the country and one of them is right in DFW!
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, in Fort Worth, is open to the public and can be toured for free (weekdays only). Take advantage of your visit and check on other Forth Worth must-see attractions (destination # 3).
5. Real Dinosaur Tracks
Step onto real fossilized dinosaur footprints along a crystal-clear riverbed.
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a must for all ages. Only 1h30 from Dallas, it’s a beautiful nature setting where you can step onto real fossilized dinosaur tracks along the riverbed! – how cool is that?
Plan a day in the outdoors exploring Dinosaur Valley State Park trails. Or, for an amazing and easy weekend trip, spend the night camping in the park or in a lodge inside nearby Fossil Rim. Check details in this post, destination # 1 – Glen Rose.
6. Surf
Ride great waves year-round without paying a trip to the beach.
Who would imagine you could surf near Dallas? We are far from the ocean, it is -sadly – true. But it does not mean you have to wait until your next trip to the coast to ride some great waves!
You can do that as close as 30 minutes away from Dallas, in Lakes Grapevine and Lewisville. Head there, try wakesurfing and be wowed by the experience.
Or if you want things to get real, head to BSR Surf Resort, in Waco. A state-of-art surf facility only 1h30 from Dallas, which attracts attention from surfers all over the country (check here other things to do in Waco (destination # 6)
7. Real Mammoth Excavation Site
Only place in the world with an entire herd of Colombian Mammoth fossils on display.
How cool it is that we can drive 90 minutes and visit a real excavation site? And one of worldwide importance?
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is an under-the-radar must-see attraction for those in the Dallas area. Plan to make a stop there in a day trip to Waco (destination #6), a fun destination made famous by the HGTV Fixer Upper show, offering other interesting things to do.
8. Drive-In Theater
Enjoy an old-fashioned movie session under the stars from the comfort of your trunk.
If you haven’t watched a movie from the trunk of your car, you’re missing out. You can do it right in Fort Worth and it is SO cool!
Indulge in nostalgia at Coyote Drive-In. An old-style movie theater with cool old-fashioned vibe. Bring your chairs, blankets and park your car right in front of the screen to watch your favorite movie bundle – each entrance is valid for 2 different movie sessions, played in sequence with a 15-minute interval.
It is recommended that you arrive early (at least 90 minutes in advance) to avoid potential long lines and grab a good spot. But don’t worry: there is a super nice lounge area where you can grab a bite and have some beers while you wait. And, on selected weekend nights, you can even enjoy live music. All of that under the stars and with beautiful views of downtown Fort Worth. It’s one of DFW best-kept secrets hands down.
9. Hare Krishna and Buddhist Temples and Culinary
Immerse in other cultures without hoping on a plane.
Pay a trip to the orient without leaving Dallas. Kalachandji’s and the Buddhist Temple of Dallas are must-visit attractions off the beaten path for those in love with other cultures and looking for an immersive experience. True and authentic hidden gems in Dallas, not to be missed.
For a quick trip to India, go to Kalachandji’s. Right in the city, it’s a stunning Hare-Krishna temple and restaurant serving the best Indian-vegetarian food in Dallas. The temple is open to the public as well as the services, and they are really welcoming. You can even take cooking and Ayurveda classes for free in specific days of the week.
Or if you prefer Thailand as your destination for the day, head to the Buddhist Temple of Dallas, one of Dallas best kept secrets. Make sure to go on a Sunday, when they usually have a Thai Street Food Market behind the temple – check their Facebook page to confirm the dates and times.
10. Gas Monkey Garage
Visit the filming set of the famous Fast'n Loud TV Show.
Fast’n Loud fans cannot miss this one. Dallas in home to the Gas Monkey Garage, where the automotive relics hunter Richard Rawlings performs his miracles and restore decrepit classic cars back into glory, as seen in the Fast’n Loud TV show.
Visit the filming set and follow with a live concert at Gas Monkey Live! Music Venue, right next door.
11. Cattle Drive and Herd Lesson
Be a cowboy for one day in an authentic Dude Ranch.
Ok, the cowboy thing is something totally expected from Texas. But what about becoming a cowboy yourself and learning how to guide and lace those giant longhorn bulls?
If it sounds cool enough, take a short day trip to nearby Beaumont Ranch – 1h15 from Dallas – and unleash your inner cattleman.
Make sure to make reservations in advance. The Dude Ranch also offers other activities such as horseback riding, ATV tours and archery.
12. Kimbell Museum
Visit America's best small museum and check on Michelangelo's first painting
DFW is home to “America’s Best Small Museum”, Kimbell Art Museum, in the Fort Worth Cultural District. It has an impressive collection, including Michelangelo’s first known painting. A must-visit place for art buffs or anyone who appreciates fine arts and modern architecture.
Stop by as part of a cool day trip to Fort Worth. While the Stockyards is the city’s most famous attraction, there are other amazing underrated things to do in Fort Worth you should definitively check out. Read this post for must-sees and hidden gems in Fort Worth beyond the Stockyards (destination # 3)
13. Giant Eyeball Sculpture
"I'm watching you" - one of a kind art-installation in the heart of Downtown Dallas.
Odd, to say the least. The Giant Eyeball sculpture, an authentic hidden gem in Dallas, stands in the heart of Downtown and is one of the cool landmarks you can see exploring the area. It’s in a private garden visible from the street, and part of The Joule Hotel’s impressive art-collection.
Find here a complete one-day itinerary to explore Downtown Dallas like a pro, including a stop at this curious offbeat attraction and things not to be missed in its surroundings.
Summing Up
Dallas rocks! While the city offers amazing well-known things to do, the wow factor lies on the hidden gems awaiting to be discovered by you.
Go beyond the obvious and experience the astonishing things to do in and around the Big D explored in this post.
Must uncover hidden gems in Dallas Fort Worth
Unleash your inner Indiana Jones at Mineral Wells Fossil Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument – where else in the world can you see a real mammoth excavation site, step onto real dinosaur tracks and dig for 3+ million years old fossils in a 1h30 radius?
Go quirk. Follow Bonnie and Clyde steps and visit their graves. Pay a visit to the only Giant Eyeball sculpture in the world. Be cowboy for a day at Beaumont Ranch.
Save some miles. Surf without the long drive to the beach at Grapevine and Lewisville lakes or Waco’s BSR Cable Park. Get scuba-diving certified in an amazing blue hole less than 90 minutes away from Dallas. Immerse into oriental culture and cuisine without hoping on a plane at Kalachandji’s Hare Krishna Temple and Buddhist Temple of Dallas.
And as if this list wasn’t already long and exciting enough, why not adding to it the opportunity of seeing first Michelangelo’s known painting at the Kimbell Museum and American dollars being printed in one of the only two facilities of this kind in the whole country?
Now go explore Dallas in a new and unique way!
Add some spicy to your Dallas experience.
Choose your favorite ideas throughout this post and go try something unique in DFW. Then get back here and share your impressions.
Do you know any other offbeat thing to do and hidden gems in Dallas and surroundings? Leave a comment below!
