We never considered Dallas a true vacation destination until local friends—former Dallas residents—convinced us to visit. After four nights there last month, we can report they were right. We barely scratched the surface, but we found excellent food, diverse neighborhoods, and plenty of kid-friendly activities. Below is a concise recap of what our family loved, plus a list of things we want to return to see on our next trip.
Why Dallas? We had a short window between summer camps and family visits—four nights that were perfect for a quick getaway—and some unused credit card points for flights. After narrowing our options and asking friends for recommendations, Dallas emerged as the clear choice. Their tips made planning easy, and their enthusiasm was well justified.
5 Favorite Things in Dallas
If you find yourself in Dallas, here are the five experiences our family enjoyed most:
- Museums
- Neighborhoods
- Interactive Games
- Food
- Things We Didn’t Have Time For (and want to return for)
Those categories are broad, so here are the specifics from our visit.
1. Museums We Loved in Dallas
Our friends suggested many museums, and we chose two downtown staples that matched our kids’ interests (they’re 11 and 15): Dallas Museum of Art and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
The Dallas Museum of Art is large and mostly free; only special exhibitions carry a fee. It made for a relaxed, air-conditioned afternoon where we wandered through diverse collections spanning many eras and styles. The museum also has a lively activity room with art materials and prompts—our kids spent a lot of time creating their own pieces, which extended our visit by nearly an hour.
The Perot Museum surprised us: we assumed tweens and teens might have outgrown it, but they asked to go as soon as they saw the building. Its hands-on exhibits are smartly designed and highly interactive. Highlights for our family were the gemstone room, the earthquake simulator, the human body exhibits with physical challenges, and the top-floor bird-building activity.
2. Neighborhoods We Loved in Dallas
Previous work trips took us only to downtown Dallas, so this visit let us explore some of the city’s distinctive neighborhoods. We focused on a few pockets—Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, Highland Park—but spent the most time in the Bishop Arts District, which felt inviting and full of independent shops and restaurants.
Bishop Arts has charming storefronts and an active street life. We loved browsing an independent stationery and art store, where our son picked up supplies and Sherry found a print to bring home. We also shopped at a mercantile where every family member bought something—shirts, notebooks, and glassware made for meaningful souvenirs.
Other favorite stops included a plant shop and a flower boutique—great for window shopping since we weren’t flying home with live plants. We could easily have spent much more time exploring Bishop Arts and the surrounding neighborhoods.
3. Games We Loved in Dallas
Unexpectedly, games became a highlight of our trip. We visited an arcade-style venue where a flat entry fee lets you play unlimited retro video games and pinball—an economical and nostalgic experience that kept everyone amused for hours. There’s something liberating about not having to feed quarters into machines.
We also tried a high-tech interactive venue featuring a series of themed rooms with collaborative and competitive challenges. Rooms like “Grid,” where players run across color-changing floor squares, and “Strike,” where you throw foam balls at screens, were energetic, silly, and great exercise. Each room offers multiple game modes so the experience suits different ages and skill levels. We played cooperatively and laughed a lot while racing the clock.
4. The Food We Loved in Dallas
Dallas has a strong restaurant scene. We focused on casual, family-friendly spots with fun atmospheres rather than hunting down barbecue icons, and we enjoyed some standout meals.
Katy Trail Ice House
A sprawling beer-garden-style spot along the Katy Trail, this place is great for people-watching and outdoor dining with shade, fans, and misters—perfect for a humid June afternoon.
Snooze A.M. Eatery
This breakfast and brunch spot was our favorite meal of the trip. Portions were generous, the menu offered lots of variety, and the retro-modern vibe made it a fun family meal.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Burgers were a hit for our group, and Hopdoddy offered creative options and sides. One memorable combination was a burger served over crispy Brussels sprouts—an unexpected but delicious pairing.
Halcyon
A laid-back breakfast and lunch spot with great coffee, oversized pastries, and board games at the tables—perfect for a slow morning with family. We enjoyed burritos, acai bowls, and an animated game of Uno.
We also had a pleasant dinner at a downtown restaurant with glass walls overlooking Klyde Warren Park, offering nice park views while you eat.
5. Places We Didn’t Have Time For (but Want to Return For)
Four nights wasn’t enough to cover everything we wanted to see. In Bishop Arts alone there were restaurants and bakeries we missed while snacking between stops. We left a few spots on our list for the next trip—dessert pie shops, stylish restaurants, and several iconic Dallas activities and attractions.
Other experiences we’d like to add to a future itinerary include visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards, riding the M-Line Trolley, exploring the Sixth Floor Museum, taking in city views from Reunion Tower, experiencing immersive art at Meow Wolf, and checking out the Pioneer Plaza longhorn statues.
Overall, Dallas exceeded our expectations as a family-friendly destination. Between museums, neighborhoods, interactive games, and an eclectic food scene, there’s plenty to fill a longer stay—and plenty that will bring us back.
More Family Trips We’ve Taken
If you enjoy family-friendly travel ideas, some other trips we’ve written about include Spring Break destination ideas, Mexico, Costa Rica, New Orleans, Palm Springs, Pigeon Forge, Sedona, Charleston, St. Petersburg (FL), Serenbe (GA), Ocean Springs (MS), South Dakota, Hawaii with a toddler, Cape Charles (VA), and Richmond (VA).