Keep this list of museums, restaurants, and exciting activities in mind the next time youre in Dallas.

Meet the Expert

Lily Cabatu Weiss is the executive director of the Dallas Arts District Foundation.

Gabe Sanchez is a beverage consultant forMidnight Rambler, a cocktail bar at luxury hotel The Joule.

Trolley Tour on the street in Downtown Dallas

Credit:Peeterv/Getty Images

Ready to plan a trip to the Lone Star State?

Read on to discover the 20 best things to do in Dallas, with recommendations from local experts.

Related:Travel + Leisures Guide to Dallas

Explore the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Two people walk along a waterfall feature pathway at Dallas Arboretum

Courtesy of VisitDallas.com

Don a pair of cowboy boots.

Taste the flavors of a Thai street food market.

You should visit theThai food marketon Sunday at the Buddhist Temple of North Dallas, he says.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Dallas, Texas

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The food is amazing, and the prices are hard to beat.

Just remember to bring cash and sunscreen; the market is held outside.

Cheer on a local professional sports team.

Aerial view of Big Tex and the crowds in the evening with the skyline of Dallas in the distance

Courtesy of VisitDallas.com

Visit The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

Timed-entry tickets can be purchasedonline.

Attend the State Fair of Texas.

Outdoor patio seating at Eno’s Pizza in Bishop Arts district of Dallas

Courtesy of VisitDallas.com

Everythings bigger in Texas, and that includes the annual state fair.

TheState Fair of Texasis held from late September through October, and youll want to come hungry.

Discover Dallas different neighborhoods.

Foyer at Mansion on Turtle Creek

Courtesy of Mansion on Turtle Creek

When you come to Dallas, you cant just stick to one neighborhood.

Spend a day in the Dallas Arts District.

Go shopping in Highland Park Village.

People enjoy the outdoors in Dallas’s Arts District

Courtesy of VisitDallas.com

The high-end roster includes the likes of Carolina Herrara, Dr. Barbara Sturm, Moncler, and Loewe.

See a movie at the historic Texas Theatre.

In a world of on-demand movies, it can be refreshing to catch a film at a movie theater.

Highland Park Village shopping center and clock tower illuminated at night

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[The Texas Theatre] has been fully restored to its original glory.

Walk the Katy Trail.

Take theKaty Trail, for example.

Pond with swan boats and ferris wheel in the distance at Dallas' Fair Park

Courtesy of VisitDallas.com

Built on an abandoned railroad line, the trail spans 3.5 miles, with markers at every quarter mile.

Eat some Texas barbecue.

If youre in Texas, theres a good chance barbecue is on the menu.

Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge and Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas

Thomas Faull/Getty Images

I always suggest trying two or three places and comparing apples to apples, says Sanchez.

Bring the whole family to the Dallas Zoo.

Uncover the cultural sites and experiences in Fair Park.

Subterranean spa at The Joule Hotel in Dallas

Courtesy of The Joule

Enjoy a sky-high meal at Monarch.

Cross over the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

Treat yourself to a spa day.

Local favorites includeThe Spa at The Joule,The Spa at Thompson Dallas, andSpa Adolphus.

Step back in time at Old City Park.

Polish off a few tacos.

Sanchez recommendsTaco Y Vino,El Come Taco, andPepes and Mitos.

At the latter, he specifically calls out the tacos nortenos.