Things to do in Dallas Fort Worth

Dallas is a huge and diverse city where visitors have no shortage of things to see and do. Downtown is home to many of the city's iconic museums, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Old Red museum of Dallas County History and Culture, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the famous Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

The downtown area is also home to the Dallas World Aquarium and Steinway Hall. Several companies offer Segway tours of downtown Dallas, which can be a fun and informative way to explore the area. South Dallas is home to the State Fairgrounds, which are open year round, and the Dallas Zoo. Many famous attractions most associated with Dallas are actually located in the suburbs. Arlington is home to Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, and the Rangers Ballpark.

Fort Worth is just as fascinating as its more famous counterpart, with a plethora of museums that include the National Cowgirl Museum, the Stockyards Museum, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Amon Carter Museum, the Kimbell Art Museum and the CR Smith Aviation Museum.

Dallas Heritage Village photo

Dallas Heritage Village

Dallas Heritage Village is a living museum of 13 acres, preserving the area's rich history between 1840 and 1910. Visitors to Dallas can explore a working farm, discover elegant Vi…

Dallas Heritage Village

Dallas Heritage Village is a living museum of 13 acres, preserving the area's rich history between 1840 and 1910. Visitors to Dallas can explore a working farm, discover elegant Victorian homes, and take in nearly 40 buildings, including a school, church, general store and saloon.There's even a bank alleged to have been robbed by the infamous Bonnie and Clyde. Visitors are also welcome to bring picnic lunches along and enjoy them on the park's lawns. The museum also hosts many events and programs, including lectures, fun workshops and scout days for boys and girls.

Website www.dallasheritagevillage.org

Sixth Floor Museum photo

Sixth Floor Museum

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is commemorated in the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza where the 1963 shooting took place. Most chilling of the exhibits is the wi…

Sixth Floor Museum

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is commemorated in the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza where the 1963 shooting took place. Most chilling of the exhibits is the window area in the former Texas School Book Depository building from where sniper Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired the fatal shots at the 35th President's motorcade. The museum also documents Kennedy's life and legacy, featuring more than 20,000 artefacts and a large amount of archival material, recreating the social and political climate of 1963. A granite marker at the corner of Houston and Main Streets outside shows where Kennedy was assassinated and a memorial stands in nearby John F. Kennedy Plaza.

Website www.jfk.org

Fort Worth Stockyards photo

Fort Worth Stockyards

Fort Worth is the place to experience the romance of the Wild West, and the Stockyards National Historic District is the ideal starting point. It's packed with exciting attractions…

Fort Worth Stockyards

Fort Worth is the place to experience the romance of the Wild West, and the Stockyards National Historic District is the ideal starting point. It's packed with exciting attractions, including wild rodeos, country music gigs, and shops selling genuine cowboy gear. Hungry and thirsty patrons won't be disappointed by its saloons and Texan diners either. There's also Billy Bob's Honky Tonk, a giant country music club comprising an indoor rodeo, a massive dance floor and restaurants. Further attractions in the district include the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Fort Worth Stockyards Stables and the Stockyards Museum.

Website www.fortworthstockyards.org

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth photo

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Fort Worth's Modern Art Museum is the oldest art museum in Texas. Its permanent collection of modern and contemporary paintings includes works by Picasso, Andy Warhol, Rauschenberg…

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Fort Worth's Modern Art Museum is the oldest art museum in Texas. Its permanent collection of modern and contemporary paintings includes works by Picasso, Andy Warhol, Rauschenberg and Pollock, and is particularly strong on works in the pop and minimalist genres, as well as German art from the 70s and 80s. The museum also hosts visiting exhibitions and features a large sculpture collection. Altogether, the permanent collections on display amount to 3,000 works. The building has 53,000 square feet of gallery space and a state-of-the-art auditorium regularly hosting performances and shows.

Website www.themodern.org

Cattle Raisers Museum photo

Cattle Raisers Museum

Located in the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Cattle Raisers Museum is dedicated to telling the story of the cowboy and ranching industry. Interactive exhibits, auth…

Cattle Raisers Museum

Located in the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Cattle Raisers Museum is dedicated to telling the story of the cowboy and ranching industry. Interactive exhibits, authentic artefacts and theatre presentations bring the legends and lore of the Wild West life, from the famed Texas Rangers to daring cattle rustlers. This museum in Fort Worth covers four broad eras in the cattle industry, starting from 1850 until the present day, along with housing the largest collection of branding irons in the world.

Website www.cattleraisersmuseum.org

Fort Worth Zoo photo

Fort Worth Zoo

After humble beginnings, Fort Worth Zoo has come to rank as one of the best in the United States. More than 5,000 animals live in enclosures around the zoo, reflecting their natura…

Fort Worth Zoo

After humble beginnings, Fort Worth Zoo has come to rank as one of the best in the United States. More than 5,000 animals live in enclosures around the zoo, reflecting their natural habitats. African lions lounge, Asian elephants trumpet and stunning white tigers sit resplendent in their snowy coats. Striking Sumatran orangutans perch in their trees as the imperious Komodo Dragon transfixes onlookers. The zoo also boasts loads of reptiles, amphibians and birds, along with its fair share of marine life and creepy crawlies. Along with a petting corral, the zoo also partakes in conservation programs and educational entertainment, such as its Outdoor Learning Theater.

Website www.fortworthzoo.org

Dallas Holocaust Museum photo

Dallas Holocaust Museum

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a non-profit organisation dedicated to memorialising the Holocaust and its victims, as well as covering the history and continued st…

Dallas Holocaust Museum

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a non-profit organisation dedicated to memorialising the Holocaust and its victims, as well as covering the history and continued struggle for human rights. It is widely acclaimed for its creative programs, internationally celebrated exhibits and world-class speakers. The museum provides guided tours for groups, audio tours for individuals and public lectures, and even contains digitised testimony from survivors of genocides throughout the world. There's a strong focus on education, with it welcoming hundreds of school trips each year, while its West End location means loads of award-winning pubs and restaurants are nearby.

Website www.dhhrm.org

Six Flags Over Texas photo

Six Flags Over Texas

Six Flags Over Texas has been a consistently popular family attraction for over 50 years, sitting midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. There's truly something for everyone, from t…

Six Flags Over Texas

Six Flags Over Texas has been a consistently popular family attraction for over 50 years, sitting midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. There's truly something for everyone, from thrilling coasters to gentle rides for the little ones. Six Flags Over Texas stages events and festivals throughout the year, such as Labor Day Weekend and Fathers Day Weekend. Across the road in summer sits Hurricane Harbor, a perfect antidote to those hot summer days. It's the largest waterpark in northern Texas, with numerous slides and pools. With over a million annual visitors, Six Flags Over Texas has earned its reputation as one of the premier theme parks in America and visitors to Fort Worth would be ill-advised to miss it, especially those travelling with kids in tow.

Website www.sixflags.com/overtexas