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.
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.
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.
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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.
Courtesy of VisitDallas.com
Visit The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
Timed-entry tickets can be purchasedonline.
Attend the State Fair of Texas.
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.
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.
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.
Strekoza2/Getty Images
[The Texas Theatre] has been fully restored to its original glory.
Walk the Katy Trail.
Take theKaty Trail, for example.
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.
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.
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.
