Things to do in Dallas

Dallas has plenty of attractions to offer visitors, with choices for both the old and young, fun loving and historically interested. The assassination of JFK is remembered in many of the city’s foremost sights, but there is also a zoo, amusement park and for TV soap lovers, the Southfork ranch.

Dallas County Historical Plaza

This is the heart of historic downtown Dallas, located only a couple of blocks from the spot where JFK's motorcade slowly rolled by the Texas School Book Depository, though nothing of permanence was built here until the 1890s. In the middle of the plaza is a reminder of Dallas’ recent origin as a Western outpost: the John Neely Bryan Cabin, a replica of the one-room log structure built by the Tennessee-born attorney credited with founding the city in 1841. The original cabin stood on the banks of the Trinity River.

Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe

This historic landmark, built between 1898 and 1902 by an architect whose identity remains unknown, is sentinel not only to the Catholic Church, but also to the spirit of a bygone era. This Gothic Revival church has survived massive changes in the landscape of downtown Dallas. It is built of locally produced brick, and renovations over the decades have preserved the integrity and dignity of the original structure. This church has served as the base for Dallas’ Roman Catholic Bishop since its completion in 1902. Visitors are reminded to enjoy the exterior of the building without disturbing Mass. Phone: +1 214 871 1362.

Downtown Dallas outdoor sculptures

Admirers of colossal contemporary sculpture should, after visiting the Nasher Center and the outdoor sculpture garden at the Dallas Museum of Art, pick up the Walking Sculpture brochure, available at the Visitors Center, which points to 33 outdoor public sculptures in the downtown area. Along the way, you’ll come across works by Richard Serra, Ellsworth Kelly, Mark di Suvero and Henry Moore. On the first Saturday of each month, a guided walking tour is offered, departing from the Crow Collection of Asian Art at 10:30. Phone: +1 214 953 1977.

Southfork

In 1978, a legend was born, rivalling any other series in television history, as an unknown Texas ranch became famous worldwide. The series Dallas featured the Ewing family and Southfork ranch, where the Dallas legend lives on well beyond the 356 episodes produced. Guided tours of the Ewing mansion and grounds spotlight memorabilia from the gun that shot JR to Lucy’s wedding dress and Jock’s Lincoln Continental. Visitors can wander around the ranch, eat at Miss Ellie’s Deli and shop in two themed retail stores, stocked with Southfork label merchandise. Phone: +1 972 442 7800.

Dallas Zoo

Texas has a reputation for large things, and the Dallas Zoo is no exception. Located on over 95 hilly acres and housing some of the largest animals in the wild including lions, tigers, elephants and giraffes, the recently renovated Dallas Zoo is best-known for its Wild of Africa exhibit. Part fantasyland, with zoo-themed restaurants and entertainment, and part conservatory, the Dallas Zoo is a popular attraction, especially with families and school children visiting the Lacerte Family Children Zoo. Phone: +1 214 670 5656; website: www.dallas-zoo.org/.

Dallas Aquarium

Animals on show here include marine and freshwater fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, from walking batfish and electric torpedo rays to a six-foot long alligator. This Art Deco facility at Fair Park was built in 1936 to coincide with the Texas Centennial, with a saltwater section added in 1964. Among the special attractions are the Amazon Flooded Forest and the World of Aquatic Diversity. As the first to breed and rear Texas blind salamanders, the aquarium also is known for maintaining and breeding the desert pupfish, and is one of only two aquariums to breed the now extinct species Megupsilon aporus. Phone: +1 214 670 8443; website: www.dwazoo.com/default.html.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial

Dallas chose to commemorate the life and achievements of President Kennedy by erecting this monument. This 30-foot high, 50-foot wide square monument was constructed in 1970. The open-air structure in the historic West End resembles an ancient tomb. It is the first memorial by famed American architect and Kennedy family friend Philip Johnson. The monument, built with the help of private donations from the citizens of Dallas, is open 24 hours daily and is illuminated at night.

Dallas Arboretum

This beautiful garden is located off the shores of White Rock Lake. Sure to please even the most discerning garden enthusiast, the 66 acres of lush, perfectly manicured landscapes are home to an abundance of trees, bushes and flowers. Quaint and quiet walkways meander throughout the grounds, along with countless coves. Also located on the grounds is the DeGolyer House, a 1940s-style Spanish mansion. Tours of the house and its sculpture garden are offered. The Johnson Color Gardens, Woman’s Garden and the Lay Ornamental Garden are exquisite features of the picturesque grounds. Phone: +1 214 515 6500; website: www.dallasarboretum.org/.

Museums

Even if Dallas doesn’t claim to be among America’s oldest or most cultured city, it offers more than a dozen museums and exhibitions covering art, African-American culture, women’s achievements, the history of flight and rail transportation, and of course, JFK.

The Sixth Floor Museum commemorates the assassination of John F Kennedy and all the conspiracy theories surrounding this momentous event in American history. Located in the exact spot Lee Harvey Oswald was suspected of having fired the fatal shot, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza offers excellent interactive tours and takes an in-depth look at today’s larger political arena.

Located in Casa Linda Plaza, White Rock Lake Museum is a place for visitors to learn about the rich history of the White Rock area. The museum is run by local volunteers and is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the White Rock Lake Park. With numerous exhibits, dioramas and more, Dallas Museum of Natural History promotes learning about the natural world, specifically regarding the area and wildlife around Dallas.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum offers a collection of aircraft and aerospace memorabilia covering 100 years of flight. Displays include the superb ‘lighter than air’ collection, featuring remains of the great Zeppelin air balloon.