12 cool things to do in Dallas

With the upcoming Super Bowl (Sunday February 6^th) there will be an influx of tourists to Dallas, Texas to see the big game. If you plan on heading down to Dallas, I have compiled a list of a dozen cool things to do that aren’t seeing the big game. If I missed something quintessential on this list, please be sure to comment to help out other travelers!

1.)    The Dallas Zoo & Dallas World Aquarium

In addition to the normal zoo findings, the Dallas Zoo has an 11-acre safari that includes giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and other African species! The 95-acre zoo also has a children’s zoo. The Aquarium features an exhibit, Orinoco – Secrets of the River,  that is a legit rainforest ecosystem. They also have a fan favorite forty-foot tunnel that gets you up close and personal with sharks and rays.

2.)    JFK Assassination Site/JFK Memorial/Sixth Floor Museum

Perfect for history buffs, Dallas has many tributes to JFK to check out.

3.)    Southfork Ranch

This ranch is the original set of Dallas, a popular TV show from the 1970’s-1980’s that was one of the longest running TV shows in history. Check out a tour of the mansion, and then enjoy a treat from the actual Chuck wagon.

4.)    Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Enjoy a walk through 13 different gardens, and take a minute to “stop and smell the roses”. Over Super Bowl weekend you can even sit down and enjoy their three-course “Friendship Tea”.

5.)    Dallas Museum of Art

An art museum that houses a huge range of types and periods of art. Check out their 100 experiences list to get started. During the Super Bowl they will have an exhibit “Artists in the Cowboys Stadium”.

6.)    Pioneer Plaza

Located at the Dallas Convention Center in a public park, this commemorative tribute of brass sculpture cattle marches through the public space. It is a recreation of a 49 longhorn cattle drive, including 3 cowboys on horses, and terrain that includes a stream and waterfall. It is the biggest bronze monument known of in the world. There is also a Confederate War Memorial in Pioneer Cemetery, right next to the plaza.

7.)    Trammel & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art

This group of galleries focuses on the art and culture of China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. It is free to get in, and they have several buildings with different exhibitions.

8.)    Times Ten Cellars

A unique place for a wine enthusiast. They are a full production winery with a tasting room & lounge. The prices are reasonable, they serve all of their own wines in addition to other Texas wines, and they serve a tasty food menu.

9.)    Highland Park Pharmacy Fountain

The perfect retro diner to take you back to simpler times. Enjoy a homemade milkshake on a tall bar stool, grub on grilled cheese at the lunch counter, or enjoy a hot cuppa Joe. Open since 1912 this is a local hotspot.

10.)  Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass

A unique glass studio and shop that offers sculpture, jewelry, perfume bottles, paperweights, dishes, wall art, and more. During the Super Bowl they will host the 18^th annual Scent Bottle Invitational.

11.)  Deep Ellum

Deep Ellum stands for deep Elm Street, and is a small neighborhood known for its jazz and blues music. With multiple options for shopping, live music, performing arts, art galleries, restaurants, and bars, there is an endless amount of fun to be had. The town lives, breathes, and sleeps in art form. The residents turn public spaces into murals, stages, and performance venues. A true treat if you have interest in the arts.

12.) Museum of Nature and Science

A great kid friendly place to check out. They have many permanent collections including Texas Dinosaurs and Your Incredible Body, wildlife dioramas, an IMAX, a five gallery Children’s Museum, a live animal exhibit, the Leonhardt Lagoon (an actual outdoor lagoon), various traveling exhibits, and a Planetarium.

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