The Dallas-Fort Worth area is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, and with plenty to do, is a popular place for tourists to visit. Most people come to see Dallas, but don’t miss out on Fort Worth, which has plenty of great places and food as well. The Dallas-Fort Worth area makes a great extended weekend trip, and our 3 day itinerary is described below.

This itinerary is great if you arrive the night before the first day, which of course allows for more time to explore the area!

Day 1: Dallas

We arrived in Dallas the night before, and were able to get our day started exploring Dallas first thing in the morning.

Dallas Museum of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art is located in the Arts District of Dallas, and is one of the largest art museums in the United States. The museum has works of art from all areas of the world, including famous artists such as O'Keeffe, Pollock, Rothko, Warhol, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Monet. With free admission and over 24,000 objects, the Dallas Museum of Art is a must do when in town!

Nasher Sculpture Center

Located across the street from the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center has a collection of art from artists such as Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Gauguin. The center is split between an outdoor garden and indoor museum, both with impressive collections of sculptures and art.

BBQ at Pecan Lodge

Located in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, Pecan Lodge is arguably the most well-known and best BBQ in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Make sure to try their brisket!

Sixth Floor Museum

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is located at the site where the assassination of John F Kennedy took place, during a visit to Dallas in 1963. The museum covers the entire aforementioned sixth floor, and has artifacts, posters, and videos detailing JFK’s life, time as president, assassination, and legacy. The room where Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK is sealed off and preserved to look like it appeared on that day. The Sixth Floor Museum is one of the top attractions in the city, and was arguably my favorite part of the trip.

Reunion Tower

Located in downtown Dallas, Reunion Tower is a 561 foot tall observation tower. The tower has both and indoor and outdoor observation deck, and is a great place to see views of Dallas and Fort Worth far in the distance west of the tower. I recommend visiting right before sunset to see the area both at day and night.

Day 2: Fort Worth

While not as popular as Dallas, Fort Worth still has some attractions that make the city worth seeing for a day or two.

Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens sits on 110 acres of land just outside of downtown Fort Worth, and is home to a few dozen areas, each with their own flowers and themes. The Japanese Garden is located towards the back of the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, and is definitely the highlight of the botanic gardens. For a few dollars, you can feed the koi fish in the pond.

Fort Worth Water Gardens

From the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, we headed to downtown Fort Worth to see the Fort Worth Water Gardens. This is an urban park with several water fountains, waterfalls, and concrete stepped hills. The water gardens is designed in a way to promote activity, as you will see other people climbing down into the bottom of the waterfall basin, and others climbing to the top of the concrete hills.

JFK Tribute

While people remember Dealey Plaza in Dallas as the place where John F. Kennedy was assassinated, it was Fort Worth where JFK gave his final public speech. This statue is the site of the speech, located in downtown Fort Worth

Fort Worth Stockyards

About 3 miles north of downtown Fort Worth is the Fort Worth Stockyards, which is home to the world's only twice-daily cattle drive. Dozens of longhorns are guided through the street with nothing separating the longhorns and visitors. The stockyards are also home to rodeos, gunfight shows, and plenty of restaurants.

Day 3: Fly Home

We had an early afternoon flight back home, but we were able to squeeze in one final activity before leaving.

Frontiers of Flight Museum

Located just outside of Dallas Love-Field Airport, this makes a great activity to do before flying home, especially if you are flying out of Dallas Love-Field. The museum is an affiliate with the Smithsonian Institution, which most people know for the great museums in Washington DC. The Frontiers of Flight Museum has a variety of aircraft and spacecraft, including the Apollo 7 command module, Lockheed Martin F-16, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, artifacts from the Hindenburg, and much more.

With more Time

Fort Worth Zoo

With over 7,000 animals, the Fort Worth Zoo is consistently voted as one of the top zoos in the United States of America.

Six Flags over Texas

Located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Six Flags over Texas is the first theme park in the Six Flags brand, and also includes the nearby Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a natural history and science museum located in downtown Dallas, and is also home to an IMAX theater.

Getting Around

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to DART - The Dallas Area Rapid Transit. DART has a collection of busses running in and between Dallas and Fort Worth, along with a trolley and several light rail lines throughout the region. Additionally, the Trinity Railway Express is a railway that connects the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. If you are looking to explore beyond the downtowns of each city, I would recommend renting a car to get around

Where we Stayed

We stayed at the Canopy by Hilton Dallas Uptown. The hotel is located less than 2 miles from downtown Dallas, and the M-Line Trolley has a stop right in front of the hotel.