With more than 350 parks and 160 miles in hiking and biking trails, Dallas visitors can count on mild weather year round and 284 days of sunshine each year to enjoy the outdoors.
Greet the morning with stroll through Klyde Warren Park. The urban park, perched atop an eight-lane freeway, is the city's living room and has a terrific view of the Dallas skyline. Meander through the park, which includes a playground, dog park, spray ground and free wellness classes and events offered year-round.
Fuel your body at Sloane's Corner, a New American bistro located in the Trammel Crow Center in the Arts District. Enjoy items from the bakery like the lemon and cranberry muffin or the smoked jalapeno cheddar croissant kolache, or go for Sloane's Breakfast – served with house made sausage, eggs, hash browns and buttermilk biscuits.
Take your love for the outdoors to trees at the Trinity Forest Adventure Park, located south of Downtown in the nation's largest urban hardwood forest, the Great Trinity Forest. The aerial park, which includes more than 20 zip lines, has military-style obstacle courses set in the trees, so test your agility as you maneuver from one challenge to the next. Bring the kids too -- there's fun-sized courses for them to enjoy as well.
Spend the evening at Trinity Groves, a foodie destination in West Dallas, where you can relax in Adirondack chairs on the shady patio before dining at Holy Crust. This pizzeria offers traditional and unique pies like BBQ chicken and chicken & bacon alfredo. Finish your meal with a glass of wine or an evening coffee to top off the night.
After dinner, take a walk across the Trinity River toward Downtown on the Ron Kirk Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge runs parallel to the Santiago Calatrava-designed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which soars 400 feet tall and offers terrific views of Dallas' neon-accented skyline.
Head to BuzzBrews for a hearty breakfast to start the day. This eclectic spot is open 24 hours and features a flavorful menu of omelets, pancakes and veggie sausage. Treat yourself to the all you can drink coffee or have a glass of orange juice before heading out for the day.
Head to East Dallas for a visit to White Rock Lake. Called "The People's Playground" in the 1930s, the serene lake is surrounded by leafy neighborhoods, offering a dramatic view of the skyline peering above the towering pecan and live oak trees. Explore the meandering shoreline as you spy ducks, heron, egrets and more than 200 other species of birds.
Check the schedule for Dallas’ light rail system DART and the free M-Line Trolley for convenient rides through the Downtown Dallas and surrounding areas. After 6 pm, call or text Efrogs, a free golf-cart rideshare program that gets you going without the hassle of a car.
Head to the lake's eastern shore for a visit to Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Pick up lunch to go at one of the many restaurants along Garland Road (Good Citizen, formerly Goodfriend Burger House is one of our favorites. They're currently offering to-go and delivery options only!) before wandering through gardens for the perfect lunch picnic spot, or grab a table at the at historic DeGolyer House for an elegant lunch.
Stop at HG SPLY CO on Lower Greenville for dinner. The restaurant has a focus on hunted and gathered foods and their rooftop bar is perfect for enjoying the HG Mule or the Cucumber Smash.
Check out our top picks of the best things to
do in Dallas this weekend.