Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
If it’s your first time visiting Dallas or your 100th, here’s exactly how I’d romanticize a weekend in the DFW Metroplex. From hosting my teenage sister to friends from high school and even my grandmother, I can confidently say the DFW Metroplex offers something for everyone to make you fall in love with this city.
A Dallas Day That Never Gets Old
One of the best ways to experience Dallas is by leaning into this city’s walkability and patio culture.
The best way to start your morning is taking the Katy Trail to grab a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop (Personal Fav: Rose Cafe, Berkeley’s, or Fox Trot). The Katy Trail takes you through some of the most popular neighborhoods of Dallas where you can easily hop on & off the trail to experience the different areas of the city.
From there, wander through the surrounding neighborhoods. Knox/Henderson and West Village are trendy areas made up of clothing stores, furniture & home decor stores, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and apartment developments.
Later make your way to State Thomas where you will automatically feel the neighborhood homey vibes. While here take advantage of any Uptown-led events at Griggs Park and grab lunch at one of the awesome patio spots (Personal Fav: Thomas Ave Co or State & Allen).
Dallas practically requires an afternoon outdoor drink, and what better place to experience that than at Katy Trail Ice House or Tequila Social? Even for locals, these are the types of patios that turn a casual drink into an entire afternoon. They are the best way to spend the day with friends eating, drinking, playing games, and enjoying the beautiful Texas weather.
To end your day I recommend trying one of Dallas’s many trendy restaurants. My last standing meal in Dallas will be Las Palmas Tex-Mex, but Dallas is full of lively delicious restaurants like Doce Mesas, Evelyn, Javier’s, Sixty Vines, Nick & Sam’s, Hudson House West Village, and many, many others.
Dallas Sporting Events
There’s also something to be said for the way Dallas shows up for its sports teams. Even if you’re not a die-hard sports fan, catching a Dallas Stars or Dallas Mavericks game at American Airlines Center or the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers in Arlington should be on your list.
Spending time at Texas Live! before or after a Cowboys & Rangers game will not disappoint. Texas Live! is a vibrant entertainment district amplifying your game day experience.
Surrounding American Airlines Center, there are many fun restaurants like Hero and Happiest Hour to help you experience the elevated game day energy of the city.
And it’s not just professional teams. A college football Saturday in Dallas is unmatched. Whether you’re watching your team at your school's bar (Shoutout Blackfriar Pub - Roll Tide), heading to the Cotton Bowl for Texas vs OU, or spending the day on a patio with every game playing at once, the Dallas sports scene is unmatched.
Dallas Bonus Activities
Outside of eating and drinking Dallas has many wholesome activities. Bishop Arts District offers a slower, more small town side of Dallas just outside the big city. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is full of beauty, nature, and history, feeling like the perfect escape from the city. White Rock Lake is one of my favorite ways to spend time outside, whether that is walking, running or biking the surrounding path, or just sitting and admiring the sail boats and rowers cruising by. It’s the perfect touch of nature in this big city. Dallas is also home to many incredible museums and history worth seeing, especially in the summer to escape the Texas heat.
Dallas Suburban Bonus Activities
North of Dallas, out towards the suburbs, are some of my favorite experiences. Grandscape is home to some of the best activities like Tiger Woods PopStroke, Cosm Dallas and countless restaurants and bars. The Star District in Frisco is a premier dining and entertainment district surrounding the Cowboys HQ. Another favorite is Legacy West which is a massive luxury shopping and dining area in the heart of Plano.
Fort Worth Stockyards Day
A quick trip out west to the Fort Worth Stockyards is a must. Start with the Fort Worth cattle drive in the stockyards, which occurs twice daily at 11:30 am and 4:00 pm. A free event where you can watch the longhorn drive and honor the livestock industry heritage. After the cattle drive exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards is a must. Step into one of the many bars to listen to live music (Personal Fav: Second Rodeo), or a dance hall to get your two-step on (Personal Fav: Billy Bob’s), or browse one of the local shops to find your western best. The Stockyards are home to many fun restaurants, including my favorite, Joe T Garcia's. This Tex-Mex restaurant brings all of the vibes to the Stockyards. The massive outdoor patio, incredible (dangerous) margarita, and the lively atmosphere makes Joe T’s the famous restaurant of the Stockyards (cash only and be prepared to wait in line but it’s more than worth the wait). It’s not a trip to the Stockyards without a visit to the Cowtown Coliseum to watch a real rodeo. Throw on your boots, saddle up, and get ready for a fun-filled Stockyards day.
Another Fort Worth best, a complete 180 from the Stockyards, is starting your day with a walk on the Trinity River followed by brunch at Press Cafe or HG Sply Co., and then shopping at University Park Village or the Shops at Clearfork.
One of my favorite things about the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is that there is something for everyone. Whether that’s an afternoon patio sesh, a game day in Arlington, a walk around White Rock, or a day out in Fort Worth, there are endless ways to fall in love with this city time and time again.
For a full running list of my favorite places to eat, drink, explore, and spend a weekend around the DFW Metroplex, check out my Claire Eats Next and Claire Does Next DFW Favorites page where I keep all of my go-to recommendations in one place.
