31+ Things to Do in DFW: Fun Ideas For This Weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth

One of the best things about moving to DFW is how there's never a shortage of things to do. Whether someone is into sports, shopping, or arts and culture, the city of Dallas and the city of Fort Worth—plus their surrounding suburbs—have something for everyone. From the Fort Worth Stockyards to the Dallas Zoo to Arlington's Six Flags Over Texas, read on to discover some of the many fun things to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Outdoor Adventures in Dallas-Fort Worth

There are plenty of things to do outdoors in Dallas-Fort Worth, no matter the time of year. During spring and summer, temperatures can get pretty high, so spending time in one of DFW's many parks or on a lake is a great way to stay cool. In the fall and winter, residents can enjoy cooler temperatures and beautiful fall foliage by hiking on one of DFW's many nature trails.

Parks, Zoos, and More

Want to see one of the most breathtaking gardens in the world? The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a 66-acre park located on the shores of White Rock Lake in Dallas. The park features 19 beautiful gardens, including the 12-acre Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden and various educational programs and events.

The Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest zoo in Texas and is home to over 2,000 animals from 400+ species across over 100 acres. While visiting, keep an eye out for keeper chats and interactive experiences such as giraffe feedings and the Wild Encounters Stage.

Not to be outdone, The Fort Worth Zoo is home to the Museum of Living Art, a reptile house recognized as one of the top three zoo exhibits in North America by USA Today in 2018. The Fort Worth Zoo also placed in the top five North American zoos.

Ready for a rodeo? The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is the perfect place to experience a bit of Texas culture. The stockyards offer a variety of shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, rodeos, and other events, including a twice-daily cattle drive of the iconic Texas longhorns.

The Texas State Fair is held annually in Dallas and is one of the country's biggest and most popular state fairs. It features a variety of rides, games, food, and entertainment, including a contest for the best and most creative deep-fried foods.

Water Recreation

Looking for a place to make a splash? Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Arlington is the largest water park in North Texas, featuring 26 water slides, a lazy river, and a million-gallon wave pool.

For those looking for a more relaxing water experience, consider taking a dip in one of the DFW area's many lakes. Lake Worth has four parks with boat ramps, and Lake Grapevine is close to Great Wolf Lodge and the Gaylord Texan Resort. Lake Lewisville is another excellent option for water recreation; it's one of the largest lakes in North Texas and offers swimming, fishing, camping, waterskiing, beaches, golf courses, and other outdoor activities.

Hiking & Biking Trails

Cedar Hill State Park is a 1,200-acre park located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that features hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, plus a swimming beach, fishing, and camping near Joe Pool Lake. The DORBA Trail, named for the Dallas Off-Road Biking Association, is an excellent option for bikers and hikers.

The Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a 200-acre nature preserve located in the city of Plano, featuring hike and bike trails and picnicking and playground areas. The preserve features 2.8 miles of trails for off-road cyclists, three miles of unpaved pedestrian-only trails, and a three-mile paved recreation trail.

Shopping in Dallas-Fort Worth

The NorthPark Center is a large indoor shopping mall near downtown Dallas featuring more than 200 stores and restaurants. Not only that, it features public artworks, performing arts, and rotating exhibitions throughout the mall for visitors to enjoy.

The four-story-tall Galleria Dallas boasts hundreds of stores, but the experience doesn't stop there. Exceptional dining, an indoor ice skating center, and more appeal to its 19 million-plus annual visitors.

Southlake Town Square is an outdoor shopping mall located in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Southlake. The mall features a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options.

For an exceptional all-around day out, check out Grapevine Mills Mall. In addition to its many stores, it features an AMC theater, Sea Life Aquarium, the Legoland Discovery Center, and the Rainforest Café, among many other entertainment options.

These are just a few of the many shopping centers in DFW, so be sure to get out and explore these and other places to shop 'til you drop! From upscale boutiques and mega-sized malls to outdoor shopping plazas and fun flea markets, every shopping need can easily be satiated here.

Did Someone Say "Sports"?

It wouldn't be Texas without football, but there are plenty of other sports for fans to get excited about here. Let's hit the highlights:

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most popular teams in the NFL. Fans can watch them play at AT&T Stadium in the city of Arlington, which is also the home of the Cotton Bowl Classic and the Big 12 Championship Game.

Batter up! The Texas Rangers are the Major League Baseball team for DFW. Globe Life Field, also in Arlington, is their home base. Next to the stadium is Texas Live!, one of Arlington's best places to have fun.

The Dallas Mavericks are the city's NBA team. They share the multipurpose arena at the American Airlines Center with the Dallas Stars NHL team. The AACenter also hosts big-name concerts (think The Eagles, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars, among others!) and other events.

Where to Grab a Bite to Eat in Dallas-Fort Worth

Barbecue and Tex-Mex are Texas mainstays, and as one of Texas' "Big Five," the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro has the pick of the lot when it comes to great places to enjoy a mouthwatering brisket or spicy taco—or just about any other cuisine. Here's just a sample platter of great places to eat in DFW:

• Pecan Lodge - located in the Dallas Farmers Market and renowned for mesquite-smoked brisket, mac 'n' cheese, and banana pudding.
• El Fenix - when a restaurant has been serving enchiladas for over a century (1918, for those wondering), you can bet they've learned the best tricks. Enjoy the classic taste of chile con carne and salsa-laden tortilla chips.
• Dallas' Margarita Mile - this frozen tequila concoction has its official home in Dallas, and this tasting tour is a treat. Special mention goes to Mariano's Hacienda, whose owner invented the frozen margarita machine.
• Angelo's BBQ - Angelo's is one of the most well-recognized restaurants in Fort Worth. It's been around since 1958, and they're still smoking meats the old-fashioned way over hickory wood. The result is some of the best barbecue in Texas.
• Slow Bone - this spot has been named among the best barbecue in Dallas, and it's famous for smoked and fried chicken and brisket that diners can order either fatty or lean for the perfect experience.

Arts & Culture in Dallas-Fort Worth

From world-renowned museums to cowboy culture to live theater, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has something for everyone to enjoy.

Museums & Art Galleries

The Dallas Museum of Art is a must-visit. It's one of the largest art museums in the United States, with a collection of over 24,000 objects ranging from the present day to the third millennium B.C. from around the world. In addition to exhibitions, the museum also offers educational programs and workshops.

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth features a permanent collection of about 350 works. Its displays include art by European masters such as Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Pablo Picasso and a trove of Asian, Mesoamerican, and African art.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has a planetarium, exhibits on dinosaurs and Texas' history, a space gallery, a children's museum, and a heritage gallery—and those are just the permanent mentions.

The Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas is home to one of the finest modern and contemporary sculpture collections, displayed both indoors and out.

Dance & Theatre

From touring Broadway musicals to the Texas Ballet Theater to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Bass Performance Hall is the crowning glory of Fort Worth's cultural district, one of the nation's largest. Seating over 2,000 people under an 80-foot custom-painted dome, this is an excellent place for a night visitors won't soon forget.

At the other end of the metroplex, Dallas Theater Center has been producing exciting performances for decades, ranging from epics like The Odyssey to classics like A Christmas Carol to the world premieres of brand-new scripts. It's one of the leading regional theater companies in the nation.

Many other performance venues are in the area, including over half a dozen at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, such as Moody Performance Hall and Strauss Square.

Dallas-Fort Worth Nightlife Districts

There are far too many places to enjoy a night out in DFW to list them all, so here's a brief list of some of the entertainment districts where visitors can find them:

The Dallas Arts District, covering 19 blocks and home to many of the city's museums and performing arts venues, is a great place to start, boasting the Dallas Museum of Art, the Myerson Symphony Center, and the Winspear Opera House.

Downtown Fort Worth features Houston Street, home to many fantastic bars and nightclubs. Not only that, it passes by the Fort Worth Convention Center and the Fort Worth Water Gardens urban park for a more peaceful respite from the hubbub.

For something a little different, check out Deep Ellum, where you can find themed venues ranging from piano bars to arcades to blues to rock 'n' roll. Deep Ellum is the go-to spot for live music, and the performance venues are the star of the show.

Uptown Dallas is another trendy nightspot with a compact nature that makes it easy to bar-hop, with plenty of bars and nightclubs both lively and laid-back to keep things going well into the early hours of the morning.

Upper and Lower Greenville feature boutiques, restaurants, pubs, and laid-back bars with patios, rooftop seating, and more.

The Northside neighborhood of Fort Worth is the home of the famous Stockyards. Plenty of wild-west-style nightlife locations have made their homes around it.

No matter what kind of nightlife you're looking for, Dallas-Fort Worth has you covered.

Stay & Play in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is a vast place with plenty to do for people of all ages and interests. Make a day of enjoying the parks and nature areas. Go on an epic shopping spree. Find out which restaurant truly has the best barbecue. Check out one of the world-class museums or art galleries. Looking to embrace the nightlife? There are whole districts just waiting to be explored. There's something for everyone in this vibrant metroplex, so get out and explore Dallas-Fort Worth today!