Fun Things to Do in the Dallas Arts District

Texas is known for many things—being huge, its hospitality—but if you’ve never been to Dallas, Texas, you’re in for a treat when it comes to exploring a lively arts and culture scene with a Texas twist. In Dallas and its neighboring city, Fort Worth, you can find many things to do with the family, as a couple, and even alone.

From walking tours to performing arts venues and from fine restaurants to art museums, there’s so much to do here that you might not be able to take it all in at once. In fact, you might find so much to do that you’ll extend your stay—start by searching for furnished apartments in Dallas so that you can see everything Dallas has to offer. 

Here are our recommendations for the best things to do in the Dallas Arts District:

Walking tours

The best way to explore the funky art town district of Dallas, TX, is by going on one of the many walking tours available. One of the best is the 90-minute Dallas Arts District architecture walking tour. The buildings your tour guide will take you through were built from the 1890s to today.

Cathedral

You might also enjoy visiting Dallas’ oldest Catholic church while you’re visiting the area. It’s housed in the heart of the Dallas Arts District and is called the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin Guadalupe. The cornerstone for the church was actually laid in 1898, but the church’s cathedral wasn’t founded and dedicated until 1902.

If you love anything to do with the Catholic church and history, this is a building you’ve got to see on your trip. From the 100 stained-glass windows to the recently built 224-foot spire and the 49-bell carillon, it’s a sight that you don’t want to miss.

Klyde Warren Park

If you’re looking to get out and about on a sunny spring day in Dallas, make sure to take an afternoon stroll through Klyde Warren Park. It’s a huge five-acre park, so you’ll have plenty of room to roam. It’s perfect for a day when the kids are tired of being cooped up and need to run.

One of the most-visited attractions in Dallas, you can get something to eat from the food truck, check out a book to read to the kids at the lending library, listen to a live concert while you bask in the warm sunshine, or if you’re feeling energetic, play a game of croquet. Walking through Klyde Warren Park is the perfect activity for a warm afternoon.

The food scene

Of course, all of the activities that you’re participating in while visiting are going to make you hungry. Luckily, you don’t have to go all the way back to your furnished apartment or hotel to eat. Once you’ve spent an entire day in the Art District make sure to get something to eat and drink at eateries such as Yolk, Tortcao, Savor, The Playwright Irish Pub, and many, many more fine locations that will make your mouth water for more. From BBQ to Tex-Mex, and everything in between, Dallas has it all.

Dallas Museum of Art

Of course, you are visiting the Art District, so you can’t leave without visiting the Dallas Museum of Art. From Monet to Pollack and from O’Keefe to Warhol, if you’re an art buff, you’re not going to want to miss this. The museum also has the Jonas Woods exhibit, and over 22,000 other pieces that span from the third millennium BC to the artwork of today. If you love art in all shapes and forms and feel right at home in a cool, quiet museum, then you’re going to want to spend some time in the Dallas Museum of Art on your trip to Dallas.

Dallas Black Dance Theater

If you love jazz and modern dance and have a healthy respect for ethnic and spiritual works, then you’ll want to spend some time at the Dallas Black Dance Theater during your trip. This is Dallas’ oldest operating dance company and well worth a visit. It’s also the nation’s fourth-largest black dance company as well, something they are extremely proud of. Make sure to visit this part of history when you’re in Dallas for your vacation, or even if you’re a long-time resident of the area.

Performing Arts Roulette

Is there so much to do that you can’t hope to decide on what you want to do first? In that case, just visit the events stage and grab a ticket to whatever happens to be playing at the moment. It’ll expose you to new things, and you’ll have the time of your life as well.

These are just a few of the things you’ll want to see when you’re visiting the Dallas Art District. Make sure that you set aside the time to do it all because all of it is amazing.