The Ultimate Guide to Dallas Texas : Where to Stay, Eat & Things to Do

Now that things seem to be getting a tad back to normal, John is back to traveling for work some and that means….Ash and I tag along! Woot, woot! A work conference means a great excuse for us to get away for a few days and a fun weekend in Dallas, Texas for some sun and Tex-Mex was the perfect spring break trip. We could not have asked for nicer weather! We left Salt Lake where it was snowy and cold and arrived to sunny, 80 degree temps. I know things can get hot and downright miserable in the summer in Big D, but spring is pretty magical! Dallas has grown on me over the years. If you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway with great food, fun nightlife, lots of outdoor activities, world class sports, a fun music scene and lots of down-home family friendly fun…what are you waiting for? Go visit! Here’s the ultimate guide to Dallas Texas for the perfect weekend getaway. 

ultimate guide to dallas texas

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Where to Stay for a Fun Weekend in Dallas, Texas

John’s conference was at the Omni right in the heart of downtown Dallas. It’s close to the Arts District, the convention center and about a 10 minute walk from Dealey Plaza…a great place to stay if you are in town for work. If you need to stay right downtown, another place I would recommend checking out is The Statler. Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, this tower has been a landmark in Dallas since the 1950’s. A smart remodel with a retro-chic vibe and fun offerings like a pool, bowling alley and speakeasy make this a fun place to hang out.

The Adolphus is part of the Autograph collection by Marriott and is another historic landmark in the city. Originally built in 1912, it was Dallas’ first luxury hotel and has remained one of the most stunning places in the city. It’s worth a visit just for dinner or to see the pretty architecture even if you decide to stay elsewhere. 

The Joule rounds out my selection of hotels that I would recommend in downtown Dallas. Located in a gorgeous 1920s neo-Gothic building in the heart of Dallas’ central business district, you’ll find stunning art installations, unique retail boutiques, a spa, and an amazing 8-foot cantilevered pool above Main Street. 

There are definitely fun districts to visit downtown but we actually prefer Uptown when we stay in Dallas.

Uptown is to die for. If you are looking for a beautiful place to stay with lots of fun shopping and dining close by, be sure to check out both Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and Hotel Crescent Court. Both are stunning properties and offer every amenity for a luxurious, relaxing weekend away. 

Looking for an expansive golf resort in the middle of it all? Check out the Four Seasons Las Colinas. Are golf, swimming and spa time on your list of must haves in a place to stay in Dallas? Then this is the place to hang up your hat for the weekend. 

Our favorite place to stay in the burbs…The brand new Westin in Southlake. This is where we were looking to move when we were considering Texas a few years ago. We love the proximity to the airport, the shopping and relaxed feel. The hotel is super nice with a pretty pool, firepits, a great fitness center a fun restaurant and it’s only a 20 minute drive from Downtown Dallas. The Southlake Town Center (a big outdoor mall) is right across the freeway. 

Things to Do In Dallas, Texas

Flying in to DFW is super easy and a convenient 20 minute drive to the heart of downtown. Love Field is also conveniently located and if you often fly Southwest Airlines, then this will be your go-to airport. You will definitely want a car to get around in Dallas. Things are a bit of a drive and you’ll appreciate the convenience of having a car. 

ultimate guide to dallas texas

There are TONS of fun places to walk around, shop and eat in Dallas. I admittedly didn’t get to everything on my list, but here are the places I recommend:

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Bishop’s Arts District

Known as Dallas’ most independent neighborhood, this little shopping and dining district is full of cute boutiques and yummy spots to grab a bite to eat.

ultimate guide to dallas texas

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Lockhart BBQ is a favorite here and so is Emporium Pies.

ultimate guide to dallas texas

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Deep Ellum

When I first visited Deep Ellum a few years ago it was what you might call “up and coming.” Well, it has definitely arrived and is such a vibrant district with tons of cool street art, unique boutiques and too much delicious food.

ultimate guide to dallas texas

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Terry Black’s is a MUST but be prepared to stand in line!

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Fort Worth Stockyards

Every day of the week at 11:30 and 4pm you can see a herd of longhorns wander down the street in this nostalgic, historic district in Fort Worth.

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Put on your boots and cowboy hat and go wander through Western heritage at the stockyards. There are tons of shops and restaurants to enjoy here too. 

ultimate guide to dallas texas

ultimate guide to dallas texas

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Highland Park Village

ultimate guide to dallas texas

This quaint neighborhood shopping center is in the heart of the Beverly Hills of Dallas…Highland Park. This stunning Mediterranean Spanish-style development was constructed in 1931, and, according to the Urban Land Institute, Highland Park Village was the first planned shopping center in the United States with a unified architectural style and stores facing in toward an interior parking area. High end shops and restaurants make for good people watching and window shopping. If you have some time, take a walk around the neighborhood streets surrounding the mall and check out the gorgeous homes!

North Park Mall

230 high end shops. Need I say more? This is the place to be if you are a shopper. It’s a pretty place to walk around too…even if you don’t like to shop. 😉

West Village & McKinney Ave Trolley

Yep…another cute shopping district. This one has the free McKinney Trolley that is so cute and a fun, free ride. We ate at Honest Taco here one night. I didn’t love it, but I did love the cute patio and people watching!

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Buc-ee’s

Um, if you are a seasoned road-tripper, you have not seen a gas station/convenience store until you have seen a Buc-ee’s. This place is INSANE!

ultimate guide to dallas texas

You’ll have to drive to the outskirts of town to check one out, but it’s worth the trip. If you have ever heard the phrase “everything’s bigger in Texas” you’ll know why they say that when you see this place! 😉

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Whataburger

If you’re like me and like to stop at cheap eats that are local specials, you’ll need to stop at a Whataburger for the Dr. Pepper shake…Texas is home to DP and you’ll find it everywhere.  This shake is like a slightly thicker Root Beer Float. Yum. 

ultimate guide to dallas texas

Torchy’s Tacos

Breakfast tacos are a thing in Texas and I wish they were a thing everywhere. SO good!

ultimate guide to dallas texas

They have so many delicious tacos at this place you might need to go more than once. Great news is you can get these yummy tacos early and late…most locations are open from 8am until 11pm or later. 

Places we’re hitting when we go back:

Dallas Farmer’s Market  –  The market is more of a complex housed in a 26,000 square foot food hall and artisanal vendor market with four anchor restaurants, a mixture of local and specialty foods and all kinds of artisanal products.

The Rustic – Live music and great food in a backyard type setting. Sounds like fun to me!

Klyde Warren Park – A great gathering spot with food trucks and great people watching.

Bread Winner’s Cafe  – Brunch anyone? Supposed to be one of the best, and I LOVE brunch.

The Porch – Another amazing brunch spot. We didn’t make it to ONE brunch on this trip so I’m making up for it next time! 😉

The Sixth Floor Museum

Mesero – I’ve heard that the Guacamole and Queso are out of this world. That’s all I need to know!

If you’re an amusement park fan don’t miss Six Flags, and if you love sports you can tour the amazing AT&T Stadium.

Whew! I don’t think we could have possibly eaten any more than we did in those few days! I’m spending this week trying to make up for it…but it was worth every bite! 😉 Are there other places I need to know about for our next trip? Because there will be one for sure! 

Pin this image so you can find this post again when you are ready to plan your trip!

I hope you find these tips for a fun weekend trip to Dallas helpful. It is such a fantastic city with some of the friendliest people which was really a breath of fresh air. We had such a great time I can’t wait to go back! 

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Tammy

Tammy

Creative Director at Pink Peppermint Design
Tammy Mitchell is the founder and creative director of lifestyle blog pinkpeppermintdesign.com. Along with being a homeschooling mom of two kiddos, she is also an in-demand prop and event stylist, photographer, interior and graphic designer. On Pink Peppermint Design, she shares creative DIY projects, easy entertaining and gift ideas, inspiring interiors and events. She lives in Southern California, with her husband and two children.

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