We hadn’t considered Dallas a typical vacation spot until local friends—former Dallas residents—convinced us otherwise. After our recent four-night visit, we can confirm they were right. We barely scratched the surface, but we enjoyed great food, explored lively neighborhoods, and discovered more family-friendly activities than we had time for. Below is a concise recap of the highlights from our trip, plus a few things we’re saving for next time.
Why Dallas? We had a short window between summer camps and family visits, some travel points to use, and wanted a direct flight from the Florida Panhandle. Our friends suggested Dallas and sent so many good recommendations that choosing it felt obvious. Here are our top takeaways from the trip.
5 Favorite Things In Dallas
On this short visit, these five categories stood out for our family:
- The museums
- The neighborhoods
- The games
- The food
- Places we didn’t have time for (and want to return to)
Those are broad, so here are the specifics we enjoyed.
1. Museums We Loved In Dallas
We received many museum suggestions, and with kids aged about 11 and 15, we chose two downtown favorites: the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
The DMA is large and free except for special exhibitions, making it an excellent air-conditioned option after lunch for exploring diverse artwork. We spent nearly two hours and didn’t see everything. A hands-on activity room with art materials kept the kids—and adults—occupied for quite a while.
The Perot Museum impressed with interactive exhibits and engaging demonstrations. Highlights for our family included the gemstone room, the earthquake simulator, the human body exhibits with physical challenges, and the “build your own bird” activity on the upper floor. It’s designed to entertain and educate across ages.
2. Neighborhoods We Loved In Dallas
On past trips we mainly stayed downtown, so this visit we explored neighborhoods beyond the core: Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, Highland Park, and especially the Bishop Arts District.
Bishop Arts felt like a neighborhood made for strolling: unique shops, restaurants, coffee spots, and galleries. We loved browsing a stationery and art store called We Are 1976 and picked up art supplies and a print to take home. Taylor Kingston Mercantile was another favorite, where family members found shirts, notebooks, and glassware to bring back.
We also enjoyed looking through plant and flower shops like Oasis Plant Shop and Dirt Flower Shop, though we avoided buying anything living for the plane ride home. Bishop Arts and other neighborhoods offer so much to explore that we plan to return with more time.
3. Games We Loved In Dallas
Unexpectedly, games became a trip theme and a major highlight. Cidercade offered a flat-rate entry for unlimited access to vintage arcade and pinball machines—perfect for an hour of pinball nostalgia without feeding quarters. It felt like a retro version of an arcade with real staying power.
Another standout was Activate, an immersive high-tech entertainment center with many rooms offering different collaborative and competitive challenges. Favorites included Grid, where you step on changing lighted squares, and Strike, where you throw foam balls at screens to score points. Each room has multiple modes and difficulty levels, so it suits different ages and fitness levels. We left sweaty and smiling.
4. The Food We Loved In Dallas
Dallas has a strong restaurant scene, and while we didn’t chase every hot spot or a full BBQ tour, we ate well and found family-friendly spots that suited everyone.
Katy Trail Ice House
Katy Trail Ice House sits beside the Katy Trail, a popular multi-use path. It’s a casual beer garden-style spot with shade and misters—comfortable even on hot afternoons—and great people watching.
Snooze A.M. Eatery
Snooze was our favorite meal of the trip. This breakfast and brunch chain served generous portions with a playful retro vibe and a varied menu—perfect for a big morning meal the whole family enjoyed.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Hopdoddy is a burger spot with creative options that pleased everyone. We wished we’d gone twice; the inventive sides and combinations made it a memorable, family-friendly meal.
Halcyon
Halcyon served great coffee, pastries, and breakfast items in a relaxed warehouse-style space. The restaurant provided board games at tables, which was a hit with our kids while we enjoyed burritos, acai bowls, and omelettes.
We also had a pleasant dinner at Mi Cocina in Klyde Warren Park with park views through the restaurant’s glass walls. Some meals were homemade at our rental and others were quick airport runs, so this list isn’t exhaustive—but these were the most memorable dining stops.
5. Places We Didn’t Have Time For (But Want To Return)
There’s plenty we ran out of time for, which gives us reasons to come back. Bishop Arts alone has many restaurants we didn’t try beyond a popsicle stop and coffee shop; Paradiso and Casablanca both looked inviting. Emporium Pies caught our eye for a dessert-focused return visit.
Other attractions on our list for next time include visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards, riding the free M-Line Trolley, spending more time at the Sixth Floor Museum, taking in views from Reunion Tower, exploring Meow Wolf’s immersive exhibits, and seeing the longhorn statues at Pioneer Plaza. Dallas surprised us with how much it offers for families, and we’ll definitely return to explore more.
More Family Trips We’ve Taken
If you’re looking for other family-friendly destination ideas, we’ve written about a variety of getaways in different regions that might inspire your next trip.