Dallas: 34 Great Things You Can Do Year-Round

In spring 2013, my husband told me Texas would probably be our next living place. The area’s automotive market was booming. Six months later, a head hunter called him about a job for Sue at ASM Upholstery. If you’re a car buff or watched TV during that time, you might have heard of Fast N Loud or Gas Monkey Garage. She did the upholstery for the show.

He applied for the job, did a week-long interview, and two weeks later, was living in Dallas. It took the girls and me another five months to join him because I was in college and needed to find a house. We finally got a house in South Dallas*, and the city became our playground.

*Now that we live closer to Waco, we tend to do more stuff there and in Fort Worth.

Here’s our guide to your time in Dallas.

Before You Visit, You Should Know

Weather

Dallas is like the rest of Texas; the best time to visit is anytime except summer. It starts to heat up in mid-June and stays that way until late September. The winter months are mild and, for the most part, only require a light coat.

My favorite months are October and April because the weather is cool at night and warm enough during the day.

Here’s an idea of what to look for this time of year.

What to Pack

• Except for summer, I would pack at least one pair of the opposite weather. For example, If you’re going during the winter, pack mostly winter clothes with one fall/spring outfit as well. If you’re going during the fall/spring, bring mostly warm-weather stuff with one outfit for colder weather. There was a day in early 2015 when Mom, the girls, and I went to Pecan Lodge. We stood in line for an hour and a half, thoroughly enjoying the weather. Next day? Snowstorm!
• Always bring your swimsuit, even in the winter. They will probably have a heated pool if you go to the right hotel.
• Bring your walking shoes as well. There is a free shuttle, and having a car in town is not too difficult, but I find it’s easier to walk where I’m going often.

Your Home Away From Home

Hotel

• The Omni Dallas: If you are looking for a hotel with the best rooftop pool and hot tub with a view, this is it. The rooms are nice and spacious, and the beds are wonderful. While you’re there, you will feel like you are in pure luxury.
• Anatole: The Anatole is a maze but a fun one. The inside has many different areas which are visible from the outside. What is not visible as you’re driving on I-35 is the resort’s water park or the sauna and indoor pool further behind the location. This is one of those hotels where you won’t have to leave if you don’t want to.
• Lorenzo: This hotel is downright fun. It’s funky and colorful, as is the artwork outside the building notes. Inside is no different, with eyes on a screen watching you as you wind your way through the hallway to the elevators. That is on one side. The other side? Mirrors. So everyone is watching you. This artwork extends beyond the lobby and into the common areas of your room. Our room had a large spotlight lamp above a chair fit for a queen. On the ceiling? A beautiful frame with a paintbrush.
  • INTERESTING TIDBIT: This hotel is as rich in history as in art. It originally opened in the early 1970s as the Ramada Plaza Inn, and in 1976 was the hotel that housed a beat-up Tina Turner the night she got away from her husband, Ike.
• Hampton Downtown: I’ll always give you a comfortable, decently-priced hotel in the group, and this one is it. I loved staying here because you know what you’ll get: excellent service and a delicious breakfast. In addition, this hotel has great views (it’s next door to the Statler) and wonderful showerheads.

Airbnb

• Dallas Skyline Dome Experience: This Airbnb roof is the perfect place to stay if you want to catch views of downtown. It has one of the clear domes that is beautifully lit. In addition, there is a hot tub around the corner. With three bedrooms and two and a half baths, it will sleep up to eight people.
• Luxury Apt Downtown Dallas + Skyline View I wanted to give you an option in the heart of downtown with beautiful views. Well, this is it. Cuddle up at night and enjoy the city lights as you sleep (Nevaeh and I do this regularly when traveling).
• Tiny House in Wooded Backyard This one is in town but gives a more rural feel. It’s an A-framed home with a loft upstairs. It’s the perfect way to feel like you’re in the country while being a hop, skip, and jump from all the downtown Dallas action.

Camping Options

Camping options will be a bit harder to come by, so a few of these might have a drive, and none of them are free.

• Ham’s Hideout is about forty minutes from downtown but has over 35 acres of raw land. You’re allowed to set up wherever you’d like. There are no showers or toilets, so that’s a heads-up!
• TR3 RV Resort This is the opposite. A thirty-minute drive, it is designed for RVs. They have full hook-ups and offer amenities such as a pool, hot tub, shower facility, onsite laundry, BBQ grills, pickle ball, and basketball
• Wild 2 Wonderful Ranch: I chose this one because Mansfield is one of my favorite cities within the metroplex. About a fifteen-minute drive, this location is similar to Ham’s, with no showers or toilets; however, you are ten minutes from being able to do water activities, and there is plenty of room to hike where you are.

Dig In! Let’s Eat

Breakfast and Coffee

• Lala Land Kind Cafe: This is Nevaeh’s FAVORITE place to get coffee. When I visited the coffee shop in the spring of 2021, I knew they supported kids aging out of the foster care system. This is a problem because many foster care families will kick them out with nothing to their name. Lala Land Kind is where they can go, have professionals teach them what they need to know, and give them a job while they do all the other things. When I finally met her a year later, Nevaeh fell in love with it, and we’ve been going ever since.
  • Recommendation: I like the French toast latte with honey and cinnamon. This is a coffee shop where I also recommend getting a food item! Their almond croissants are so good and flakey. You’ve been warned!
• White Rock Coffee: The first major coffee shop I visited after we moved to Dallas is still around. They have many more locations since we moved here ten years ago. If that wasn’t enough to tell you how good their staff and coffee are, here are a few more. You can see pictures of the farmers who grow the beans in their original Lake Highlands location. The owners of White Rock have met them! The biggest complaint at this location? Their parking area is too small.
  • Recommendation: The White Rocker almost tops my favorite coffee (West Tennessee-based Green Frog’s Dirty Snowman)- with white chocolate and caramel.
• Arwa Yemeni Coffee: This is the first Yemeni coffee shop in Dallas. The interior is bright and clean with gold accents but fairly busy all day. I guess that says something about their coffee, though!
  • Recommendation: The Yemeni latte, since it has a cardamom base, is very flavorful. And if you need a food pairing, go for the honeycomb bread!
• Ascension Coffee is a classic and looks the part. It is a daytime coffee shop, and at night, they are there for the wine; the food reflects this. There are multiple locations around Dallas, so make sure you can get to the one closest to you!
  • Recommendation: The horchata latte, with oat milk, cinnamon, and vanilla, is a can’t-miss. For food, I recommend the house-cured salmon benedict, which has poached eggs, sourdough, tomato, arugula, and a brown butter hollandaise. Yum! Even better? It comes with a side of sweet potato-yukon hash.
• For Your First non-coffee place recommendation, I recommend going to Hypnotic Donuts for breakfast. Let me clarify: I am not a donut fan overall, but this place is different. They source their ingredients locally and make everything in-house. And if you’re not quite up for a donut, other options exist.
  • Recommendation: The girls loved the Zooropa, which has mile-high icing and iced animal crackers on top, but I do not see it on their current menu. I like the Espresso Yo’self—it’s a chocolate donut with espresso icing, caramel drizzle, and a sprinkle of ground coffee beans on top.

Lunch

• The Market at Dallas Farmers’ Market: This is a food hall in and of itself. The girls and I especially like the Nammi restaurant, which serves boba and ramen. Bellatrino’s Italian restaurant serves some delicious, wood-fired pizza. While you’re there, be sure to check out Kelly’s Produce to stock up on good things to take back to your Airbnb or campsite!
• The Exchange Food Hall: I will be completely honest with you here. I have never been to The Exchange for lunch. Actually, except one time before a concert, it’s always been super, super late that I’ve been. This food hall is probably one of the best I’ve ever been to. They have a sweet and savory waffle place, a burger place that is so stellar I’ve been there twice, and tacos that are truly Texan!
• Mendocino Farms—This place screams California. It’s bright and airy, with a lot of greenery throughout the building. And the food—it’s the best. It’s healthy and fresh, and it makes you feel good. If I’m being honest, I wish there were more places like this.
  • Recommendation: They have soups, salads, and sandwiches. I recommend their Avocado & Quinoa Superfood Ensalada. It has all the healthy things like chopped romaine, curly kale, quinoa & millet, housemade superfood krunchies, succotash with roasted corn, black beans & jicama, red onions, cilantro, cotija cheese, grape tomatoes, and avocado. You won’t be hungry after eating this!
• Bonton Farms: I could write an entire post about this place. Bonton is a bit off the beaten path, but that’s exactly why it’s worth it. The farm was started because the area was poor and had no access to healthy food. Daron Babcock left his corporate job behind to change the lives of people there, and you can be a part of it for a meal or even longer. They have a restaurant, a coffee shop, a market, and a farm, all in one location. Pretty soon, there will be housing and a doctor’s office to help the community as well. I can’t say enough good things about this restaurant.
  • Recommendation: Although they have a rotating menu, the Bonton fried chicken has been on the menu every time we’ve been. It’s truly melt-in-your-mouth warm goodness with the cayenne-maple powder, even in the summer. It comes with a side of gouda mac and cheese and all-day green beans.

Dinner

• Casa de Vegano: For my vegans out there, this one is for you. I loved how dimly lit this Oak Cliff restaurant was when we went. Seating is interesting, though- this is your heads up! You seat yourself and order from the QR code. Fairly simple but not the usual. The food was fantastic- so much so that Nevaeh and I did not want to split our food like we originally thought we would. Next time, I’m trying a different drink. Frozen margs are not the way to go, in my opinion.
  • Recommendation: The orange “chicken” tacos. Three tacos come with rice and seitan tossed in orange glaze and topped with Asian slaw.
• Pecan Lodge: Back in 2012, Pecan Lodge was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and they’ve had lines ever since. Fast-forward ten years, and they were listed as the best of the best in Texas out of all the Triple D locations Guy Fieri has been to in Texas. Every time we’ve been, it has not disappointed us. Take a group and order the trough with some sides.
  • Tip! Get there early because the line gets long. Also, if you arrive later and have to wait in that line, don’t be surprised if they tell you they are sold out of a certain meat that day.
• Rodeo Goat is a gastropub. If a pub is about drinks, a gastropub appreciates the drinks but takes bar food to the next level. Since it has the pub vibe, it’s a funky place- which means I love it much more.
  • Recommendations: You probably won’t like this unless you are an adventurous foodie like me, but Mike Rawlings is my drool-worthy go-to with its Irish whisky cheddar, shredded lettuce, whole grain mustard, candied bacon, and blackberry compote. Yum!
• Punch Bowl Social has multiple locations but is a place that deserves it. Similar to many arcade restaurants, there are vintage arcade games, a bowling alley, and table games such as giant Scrabble you can play. The place is full of Instagram-worthy shots due to its colorful vibes. The one difference is that their food is top-notch.
  • Recommendation: As far as main dishes go, get what you want. Most of it sounds delicious. We decided to do the appetizer menu and loved their Brussels sprouts.

Sweet Tooth

• Cauldron Ice Cream has bubble waffles, uses nitrogen to make its ice cream, and finishes it by making it look like a rose. Ugh. It was the best ice cream experience ever!
  • Recommendation: It depends on your mood. Want something fresh? Go for the milk and cereal. Maybe you need chocolate? The s’mores would be my go-to since it is double chocolate ice cream dusted with graham crackers and topped with toasted marshmallow fluff. They feature it in a red velvet bubble cone.
• After moving here, I followed Val’s Cheesecake for years and finally got some of his delicious cheesecake in 2020 when the girls and I went to the now-defunct Crockett Hall in Fort Worth. His location in Dallas is cute and colorful, just like the cheesecakes that come in small mason jars.
  • Recommendation: We got the Lovers Lane jar, which is the cheesecake mix with red velvet on top, and the cookies in cream. Both were mouth-watering!
• Emporium Pies has a rotating menu, so I will not leave a recommendation other than to tell you to go as soon as possible.

Things to Do

• Dallas Farmers Market: The Farmers Market has been one of my favorite places since 2015. Right after we moved here, they did some major revamping, and on Saturdays, all the produce sold at The Shed is within 150 miles of Dallas. We went a few weeks ago, got quite a bit of produce, and checked out all the fun things going on. It’s a great place to get a meal, go shopping, and get your next few meals as well.
• Reunion Tower: Even if you don’t go for the food (the current restaurant is Crown Block), the observation deck is available for anyone. For adults, it costs anywhere from $19 to $40, depending on when you want to go. It’s 470 Feet in the air and spins slowly, so you can get 360-degree views.
• The Sixth Floor Museum: The JFK Assassination has intrigued me since I was a junior in high school. My history professor was very knowledgeable on the subject and kept me an entire class period after my history class just to talk about it. The museum takes you back to the 1960s and what it was like to live during that time, including all the details that happened after his death. Like my history teacher, the museum curator Gary Mack admits he’s “unsatisfied with the official story.” Head here to gather your own thoughts and ideas.
• The Thanksgiving Square: Looking for something a bit more peaceful? This area in Dallas is free. The architecture, created by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Philip Johnson, is absolutely stunning. The area can be viewed from 7 AM- 11 PM and is “designed to inspire gratitude and to honor the great American and world traditions of Thanksgiving.”
• Northpark Mall: One of my favorite places in Dallas, this mall makes you feel bougie (oh yes, I just went there) even if you are just window shopping. The artwork makes you feel like you are in a museum and walking past high-end stores like Burberry and Gucci, which helps you dream.
  • TIP: If you want something good to eat, be sure to check out Eataly.
• George W. Bush Presidential Library: I really enjoyed going to the Library, even though I wasn’t sure what to expect. It isn’t your typical “sh” books kind of library. Instead, it’s one that commemorates W’s time as our president. My favorite parts were the Oval Office area and the area with a section of the Twin Towers. They had carved the names of everyone who died that day on the stone surrounding the piece. I got chills when I saw the name of a woman and “her unborn child.” For those who were not alive on that day, there is a video showing what is was like. The picture of his face as the person whispers in his ears while he’s reading to children is haunting.
• Klyde Warren Park: When the girls and I went on our first outing without Brandon after we moved here, this is where we went. Klyde Warren Park is to Dallas, and Central Park is to New York City. They did a great job with the playscape area, making it accessible for more kids versus having swings and slides where kids would have to wait in line. Don’t have kids? This area is adult-friendly too! It’s not uncommon for there to be a yoga class going on or people meeting up to eat at one of the food trucks together.
• AT&T Discovery District: If you decide to go to The Exchange Food Hall, you will find yourself smack dab in the middle of the AT&T Discovery District. This area is typically bustling with tourists and locals alike, and if you’re around on a Cowboys game day, they have their own event, which you can watch on their 104ft Media Wall. My favorite part is the experience room, which has rotating events. The girls and I went to the Friends experience one time. To say they were excited might be an understatement.

Wrapping It Up

I am sure this is not a comprehensive list, and I will continue adding to it. I am also looking forward to Christmas in Dallas this year.