NICE things for regular people in Dallas
Posted by jcythcc@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 209 comments
People say there's nothing to do in Dallas but eat and drink, but that's bullshit, this is the country's fourth largest metro!
So I ask, what are the NICE THINGS that Dallas has?
Example: Eataly. It's huge and excellent. It's the kind of thing that good cities have.
Another example: ROYCE chocolate frisco. Really cool interesting legit Japanese chocolate.
One more for the road: Eatzis. It's excellent. Quality and interesting and tasty things and the vibe is great.
BAD example: Fancy luxury clothing outlets like Gucci and who cares. That's not for regular people.
Things that small cities wish they had. Things like big city amenities if you will.
What else you got?
msondo@reddit
We have an extensive urban trail system that is great for jogging, biking, etc. that extends over 180 miles in the city of Dallas and connects with other large trails like the Campion in Irving. The Trinity Skyline trail, in particular, gives access to the massive levy that serves as a natural green space in the heart of the city and connects to places like the Ron Kirk bridge and Trammel Crow Park, which are great public spaces.
We have a thriving theater scene all around DFW that brings everything from stuff that was recently on Broadway to niche shows put on by talented actors from the local community. I have seen some insanely good shows for like $20 at little places like Firehouse and Art Centre.
There are tons of great little ethnic enclaves like a large Japanese-American community centered around 75 in Plano, two different Korean-towns, tons of different Latino and African communities throughout the metroplex, historic African-American and Mexican-American communities with over a century of distinct culture, severa enclaves of Vietnamese, Indian, and Nepalese Americans, etc. etc. This results in not only great food, but also several cultural opportunities to experience art, music, literature, etc. from all over the world.
Several musical genres are native here and fans enjoy some of the best live music in the world, particularly for styles like Alt Country, Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Tejano, Rap, etc.
coolpupmom@reddit
Please list the extensive urban trail system? š Iāve lived in Fort Worth my entire life and have never heard of the trail system
Emotional_Distance48@reddit
I'm shocked, but to answer your question, the main one is Trinity Trails. It's over 100 miles long that extends through Ft Worth, Dallas, & surrounding areas.
https://trinitytrailsfw.com/
wharf_rat_01@reddit
AFAIK Trinity Trails in Fort Worth does not extend all the way to Dallas. There have been talks of connecting smaller city trails to eventually make a bike highway stretching from Fort Worth to Dallas but I'll believe it when I see it.Ā
Emotional_Distance48@reddit
Oops, you're right! For some reason, I thought the connection was already in the works.
Dallas ~50mi of connecting walk + bike trails called The Loop:
https://theloopdallas.org/
Divinityss@reddit
Where exactly is the Japanese- American enclave? Anywhere specific? Or just where you said?
msondo@reddit
It's at 75 and Legacy, which is not far from the new Toyota HQ. There is a nice Japanese supermarket called Mitsuwa, a Japanese bookstore called Kinokuniya, and about a dozen Japanese restaurants and specialty shops just in that corner. There are several other Japanese-centric businesses in the area as well as the Japanese-America Society and a handful of Buddhist temples.
Curiously, it used to be in Irving years ago. There were a ton of really great Japanese-American businesses in the area. Mr. Max is still there but sadly most of those places have closed.
Im_a_computer-y_guy@reddit
And H Mart on the other side of 75
kelseyhart24@reddit
Excellent reply!
Sbeast86@reddit
DFW's theater community is crazy. There's tons of places to see live shows of all varieties. We even have one of the oldest Rocky Horror Pictures Show shadow casts in the country
DifficultyCharming78@reddit
I am a huge theater nerd. I can't afford to live in NYC, which is the dream,Ā but DFW's theater options are plenty.Ā
shuknjive@reddit
Lived in Dallas almost all my life (born in Austin) there is so much to do here, you just have to know where to look. Everything you shared is true, Dallas is so diverse with so many different cultures. The Arts District is amazing. Bishop Arts. I do miss the Quadrangle and the Wrecking Bar (you could buy old doors, windows and fixtures from houses that had been demolished) I think the key thing is maybe people aren't willing to explore as much? The theater scene is everywhere. I have a friend that works full-time as an actor, he's always working. Music scene is amazing too.
BlazinAzn38@reddit
The DMA also has some amazing exhibits come through. A couple years ago they had van Goghās olive trees that have only ever resided at the Van Gogh museum in the Netherlands.
jodes-stewart@reddit
Check out Orr-Reed Wrecking south of downtown for building salvage!
shuknjive@reddit
Thank you for the suggestion, I've een there too but it's been a long whole! My dad taught theater back in the day, The Wrecking Bar and Orr-Reed were his go tos for props! I need to go to Orr-Reed and reminisce about the old days, lol!!
msondo@reddit
I have learned that a lot of the people that complain "there is nothing to do here" are often very boring people and are likely also going to be bored anywhere else. I make it a point to have fun wherever I go.
No-Cheese-713@reddit
Also SO many parks! We have multiple parks and playgrounds within a mile of our house.
ajm__@reddit
> all examples of "good" things are restaurants
DFW_BjornFree@reddit
Let's help OP here....
Etc.Ā
jcythcc@reddit (OP)
Wait what are the giant Latino dance clubs
is_that_sarcasm@reddit
What Asian spa has a coed nude bath? The only ones I've been to were strictly same sex nude bath
dfwfoodcritic@reddit
Not only that, they are all chains (or in Eatzi's case, a chain that failed to expand and shrank back again)
NegotiationSalt666@reddit
Unpopular opinion but Eatziās kinda sucks
msondo@reddit
I want to love Eatziās and I have tried it so many times but the food is bland, itās overpriced, and I would rather just go to Scardelloās or Whole Foods or anywhere else
jcythcc@reddit (OP)
I mean the owner of Whole Foods is also a shitty person
Im_a_computer-y_guy@reddit
Scardello's is cool.
beamanblitz@reddit
I worked at Eataly and it also very much kind of sucks
dfwfoodcritic@reddit
I don't like it either, but I felt like we were already doing a thorough job of raining on OP's parade lol
jordanhillis@reddit
I used to love Eatziās, but their owner is super problematic. Phil Romano has had sexual harassment lawsuits, got in hot water for racism and was rabidly anti-mask. I just canāt support them.
jcythcc@reddit (OP)
Honestly i have ADHD and forgot i wrote the first bit. BUT Royce is not a restaurant it's a shop where you buy chocolate. Neither is Eatzi's or Eataly really they're more like shops. But yeah they have things you can eat.
Here's a better example though it's not a typical big city thing: a baseball stadium with a lazy river: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uihSSgBC5HJDtUGN9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
beamanblitz@reddit
First thought lol
YaGetSkeeted0n@reddit
Incredibly funny
Ngl though itās one of the things I like about living here. Once in a while I feel the call of the wild, the urge to live somewhere small with no traffic and plenty of space. Then I remember most of those places do not have much in the way of restaurants.
EmotionalSupportBees@reddit
Thought this was satire at first with how OP is not at all helping Dallas beat the "only places to eat and drink" allegations
Zeraw420@reddit
They forgot "Shop"
PresidentEfficiency@reddit
They mentioned Gucci, but now I see that it is a bad thing
rapidroller11@reddit
THANK YOU, I noticed the exact same thing.
Marbe4@reddit
Butterfly garden, zoo, botanical gardens
Glittering_Deer_261@reddit
Dallas Museum of Art, and the arts district. 26 miles or more of connected green belt, the Great Trinity Forest, the Music scene, the State Fair / Texas Star, ours sister city ft worth has Main Street Art festival and the rodeo. Lots of really great stuff going on around here. And yes the foodie scene is fantastic around here.
regulardudechillin@reddit
Terrible examples lol
ram_jam_bam@reddit
Ride the dart into south dallas and explore the wonderful shops there. Take cash with you there are really good shops you don't want to miss out on.
ilufwafflz@reddit
Lots of museums, trails, white rock lake, concerts, comedy shows, lots of pick up games depending on if youāre into any sports, conventions, gardens, etc. Just depends on what people are into.
graciebeeapc@reddit
The Perot is my go to with my husband. They have something called Thursdays on Tap. No kids allowed, some drinks and food of courseā¦but paired with getting to check out an amazing science museum.
whatitpoopoo@reddit
I'm not sure if this is a fallas thing, but I see a lot of weird entitled people on this sub. Like what do you expect cities to build for all you special snowflakes? There's parks and malls and restaurants and cool hookah lounges, theres grungy places like deep ellum if you're into that. And if you don't like anything just go chill with your friends at their place or invite them over? I don't understand this grass is greener attitude everyone has about Dallas where they blame the city itself for their lack of a social life.
DifficultyCharming78@reddit
I bet the same people who say there's nothing to do in Dallas would also say that about most major cities in the US.Ā
Its a boring persons opinion. Lol
psycheguru@reddit
Are you dumb
Ferrari_McFly@reddit
Damn near anything that doesnāt require a mountain or an ocean can be done here.
Trying to prove and disprove this is getting old. This sub sucks lol
luxveniae@reddit
I mean theyāre building surf parks here and weāve had climbing gyms for awhile, so can even do some mountain and ocean shit too
CrownedClownAg@reddit
But I want to bitch and moan about fucking geography that no one, no political party, no amount of funding can fix
mynytemare@reddit
To be fair, I moved here from PA knowing full well there arenāt any mountains and the forests are hours away. Iām still going to moan about it. Family is in OK, and we needed to move back to the area to help with healthcare. I donāt miss a lot about PA, but I do miss being able to get lost in the wilderness 15 minutes from my house. Sure there are nature trails and such in the DFW area, but they are not the same. Iāve been to Carson Grasslands and LBJ grasslands, Sam Houston National Forest in the closest and I do like it, but itās still 3 hours from me. Sorry, but Iām gonna moan about it.
Tasty_Two4260@reddit
Trout fishing!!! š£
bearmama42@reddit
Head east of Dallasā¦ lots of trees and forests.
mynytemare@reddit
Yeah, the point is I miss it being 15 minutes from my house. It takes me 40 minutes just to get out of the city. Iām not total meltdown over here. I recognize that is what I gave up in moving back this way, and it cannot be fixed by anything other than moving. So yeah, I moan about it, but I can acknowledge that it wonāt change until I change my location.
Kermitthief@reddit
Cheap stuff that is kid friendly: riding the DART around, Clyde Warren Park, season passes to the zoo and Perot.
Dinner at ikea.
Denton has a great library and playground near downtown.
Breweries
nriegg@reddit
If you can't find something to do in and around Dallas, you got people problems.
UsakoBun@reddit
If youāre even remotely interested in a topic or hobby you can find something to do any day of the week in (D)D(FW). Live shows of all kinds in all sorts of venues, tons of museums (lots of free ones in Dallas proper that are often overlooked, including the Crow, Samurai Collection, and Contemporary are great), game nights and clubs/stores with active communities, a bunch of small cultural and art/music festivals across the year. Decent arcades. Great gardens, zoos, walking paths, sports complexes with pickup games, the Trinity paddling trail. There are tons of martial arts clubs (BJJ, kick/boxing, historical reenactment stuff - tons of variety from places like at Warlord Combat Academy as just one example).
Continuing Ed art classes via Dallas College obviously cost money, but are excellent (in my second āsemesterā of blacksmithing). Dallas Makerspace memberships are pretty inexpensive and have great teachers and a strong community. Denton also has a makerspace type place now too.
You can literally search ā[hobby/interest] near meā and choice is yours, in most cases, 30min drive or less away (I do understand this can be a limiting factor). Iām confused when people say thereās ānothing to do hereā because thereās so much choice if you put in just a little effort.
Leogettz196@reddit
Native NYer here ( 43 years old ) . Been living in Prosper 8 months , first time I ever moved outside of NY . Dfw is fine to me . To be honest most places are really just eat , drink and listen to music . But the biggest issue to me is how huge this area is . Ex. I went to Arlington improv and it took me 2 hours to get there and 1.20 hours on the way back later that night . So I was commuting more than laughing lol ..
One thing I would love to see here is free concerts in dfw area . Thats one thing I going to miss about NY . You can go to a free concert with known artists damn near everyday once the weather gets nice ( May to September) . Outdoor parties for everyone with a dj just playing great music and people enjoying themselves , little to no drama .
festivechef@reddit
There's a ton of free concerts but maybe not as much with the "known" acts. We don't have high taxes that subsidize stuff like that.
That being said, almost every city/suburb has free or cheap festivals with music, art, etc throughout the year. And many have live music series. There's more than 100 places that regularly have live music - Breweries, The Rustic, Legacy Hall, etc
It's mostly going to be singer songwriters and cover bands, but there are some great places with original acts if you know where to look.
Alok1203@reddit
What are the activities to do during summers? Stay indoors??
festivechef@reddit
patio and sweat
bbq and sweat
chill at the park and sweat
go to the swimming pool and sweat
Decapitat3d@reddit
Lol, Eatzi and Eataly are barely mediocre in comparison to Jimmy's Food Store. Jimmy's has been a family-owned and operated Dallas staple off Bryan since 1966. Support the real culture of the city, not the neo-Cali bullshit.
festivechef@reddit
Eatzis was founded in Dallas, but I agree its a BS overpriced place for people who don't know how to cook or only shop at Whole Foods
emmgemm11@reddit
If youāre into house/techno we have a very fast growing queer friendly electronic music scene :ā) dallas kinda fell off in that way for a bit after so many great dance spaces closed but we r on the way to being sooooooo back
False_Club_8965@reddit
As a 48 year old, retired lesbian raver this appeals to me!!!
emmgemm11@reddit
Check out: -Debbie does disco (mostly gays and disco queens here) -capsul (not queer based but older raver crowd) -ruins in deep ellum has a lot of good techno shows but the crowd is usually on the younger side -jacks house recently burned down I believe but was a solid afters -Iām not sure if they still run but thereās a group called crystal queer riot and they do queer raves !! Tbh Iām blanking rn on some of the others but these are usually the spots for me
screamingfrommyeyes@reddit
this is AMAZING
festivechef@reddit
https://19hz.info/eventlisting_Texas.php
festivechef@reddit
https://19hz.info/eventlisting_Texas.php
Ok_Championship_385@reddit
Dallas native, born and raised. 5th generation Texan. Career transferred me to the East coast about 12 years ago. There are forests here, and mountains, and amazing food scenes and activities.
Now for the band aid ripping off. Coming in hot š„:
Dallas is basically like if a Cheesecake Factory were a city. Trying really hard to be on brand, has some fun one offs of unique places or things to do on the menu, but at the end of the day itās a flyover city at best, with one of the lowest green scores in the country. Acres of concrete and miles of billboards crammed along the freeways, endless construction on 635, heat islands for days, multiple chain restaurants, and arid dry creeks or man-made dams called ātrailsā or ālakesā.
festivechef@reddit
At least we aren't in Detroit or Cleveland or anywhere between here and there lol
Gummibehrs@reddit
DFW born and raised: this is my experience, too.
ChicagoRay312@reddit
I think that might be my new favorite analogy.
YaGetSkeeted0n@reddit
I get some of what youāre saying, but imo thatās excluding a huge swath of Dallas proper that is not HP/UP/PH etc. plenty of normal folks enjoying life here too.
Ok_Actuary_9506@reddit
Facts bc I always say this to ppl and I always feel judged but Dallas does not compare to the beauty of nature some other places have and everytime I travel and come back here itās depressing lol
festivechef@reddit
Eatzis is weirdly the Erewhon of Dallas. Foxtrot isn't terribly overpriced.
friskyintellect@reddit
Art museums. Breakfast cafes. Dive bars. And pretty much every major band/comedian almost always have Dallas on their tour.
BobcatOk5865@reddit
Which dive bars do you recommend? I canāt seem to find an actual cool one lol plz
friskyintellect@reddit
Lee Harveyās in Oak Cliff is my favorite. And Iāve been to Adairs Saloon downtown a couple times and liked it.
BobcatOk5865@reddit
Thank you! Iāll def check them out
jcythcc@reddit (OP)
Breakfast cafe examples?
friskyintellect@reddit
Cindis at union station used to be one of my favorites. The food needs a bit more seasoning now but itās usually ok and the price is fair. Also downtown is Rwcord Grill. Itās cash only and has less than 20 seats. Probably one of the cheapest breakfasts in Dallas. However, the food is cooked well but itās not as high quality as Waffle House but for the price and atmosphere itās awesome. Metro OG in Oak Cliff was badass 10 years ago but Iāve just had multiple terrible experiences with the service and food quality the last several times and I wonāt go there anymore. Lately Iāve been liking Tops Cafe in Oak Cliff. Pretty solid and more working class than some of the diners that have become almost ābrunchyā.
Historical-Cicada939@reddit
I am a sucker for dream cafe either location
Rakebleed@reddit
āDallasā is on the tour but it could be Irving, Fort Worth, or Arlington. Or even Durant/WinStsr in OK.
emeryldmist@reddit
I don't count OK, but yes a DFW stop is almost always in the cards. It's Texas, we are generally not afraid of a drive.
Kulia-i-ka-nuu@reddit
Microcenter is a blessing for computer nerds like me :)
cristynakity@reddit
Absolutely ššÆ
Terrasause@reddit
Thereās murals and art pieces to look out for if youāre tapped in w local artists
TAXMANDALLAS@reddit
lol good job op
Frequent_Anywhere325@reddit
I love how you say itās bullshit that thereās nothing to do in Dallas but eat and drink, and give three examples of alternative NICE THINGS that are where you eat and drink.
tap_in_birdies@reddit
The word āeatā is literally in two of the examples lol
blacktoise@reddit
I think thatās their point. Further proving it
tap_in_birdies@reddit
Hereās a nice thing about Dallas. You can fly pretty much anywhere in the world direct on American Airlines
Candid_cucumber@reddit
all the arts and museums, many of which have low cost or free entry days and programming!
esalenman@reddit
Jimmyās Food Store
kingstante@reddit
All of your examples are good and drinkā¦
Fuzzyswifey@reddit
I mean there's indoor water parks, there's that adventure place that the YouTuber "unspeakable" built. There's klyde Warren Park, Dallas Karting (fastest go karts), drag strips like yellow belly, drift events, trinity groves, silo Dallas for raves, the arboretum, white rock lake/trails. Tons of stuff that's not eating and drinking.
Icy_Inevitable_2776@reddit
Eatziās slapsssss
RandomRageNet@reddit
Dallas has an amazing classic arcade scene. There are lots of places to check out, but the Free Play Arcade locations all pride themselves on a curated selection of authentic games (no fakes, no emulation) from basically every decade of gaming and a huge swath of pinball machines, especially at the Trinity Groves (Dallas) location. They are probably one of the best classic arcades in the world given their ownership's slavish dedication to quality.
For comics, trading card games, and tabletop gaming, Madness in Plano is something like the 2nd or 3rd largest comic shop in the state or country. They do regular social gaming events.
Dallas has a pretty active local stand up comedy community. Backdoor Comedy moved out to Richardson and I believe they still have one of the most active open mic nights around.
Lots of other great suggestions in this thread, just wanted to call out some stuff that I haven't seen mentioned.
LumpyPhilosopher8@reddit
There's a lot of really good theater in the metroplex. And it's not just at the big places you'd expect. In fact, right now, there's an excellent show playing at the Irving Arts Center called "Into the Breeches!" Live theater for less than $25
King Spa a traditional Korean spa really fun and relaxing place to go. For $50 admission fee, you can spend the whole day using the saunas, the bada pool, the whirlpool, the steam room or lounging in their big comfy recliners watching movies. If you want to spend a little more you can get a variety of spa services.
Meow Wolf is an immersive art experience which is super cool and different that your normal museum
Half Price Books - The flagship store on Northwest Hwy is an amazing bookstore where you can spend the entire day hanging out. They also have a tabletop game night which is supposed to be a lot of fun too. (Just noticing that Meow Wolf also has a game night too which would be really fun to check out)
The Rock Barrell is the place to go if you're interested in cool rocks, geodes, crystals and semi-precious stones. I've spent hours wandering around the place.
If its food your looking for - there's a wonderful Thai place off the beaten path over on the corner Peak and Bryan called Bangkok City. I've been eating there for 30 years and the food has always been amazing.
And while you're in that neighborhood I'd suggest stopping at Jimmy's cause its way better than Eately.
screamingfrommyeyes@reddit
immediately adding the rock barrel to my to do list
AggressiveHome637@reddit
Same!
Subtlelikeatrex@reddit
DO NOT go to the Half Price Books flagship store after dark!
There are apartment residences across the street, some of these people wait for the sun to go down and then start to smash and grab all of the cars in the HPB parking lot.
This should be posted as a disclaimer every time this location is mentioned.
LumpyPhilosopher8@reddit
Iāve been there lots of times after dark and never had an issue?
Subtlelikeatrex@reddit
This is just a warning. You can take the advice, or not.
They have a security guard employed there for the break ins, not for people stealing books. The security guard was working at the exact time that all cars in the parking lot were broken into.
An employee told me that it happens constantly and he gets dropped off at work so he doesnāt have a car in the lot. He also told me it is the people across the street. The employees are all aware of it.
Iād post a picture but it is disabled in this sub.
le_artista@reddit
This is a great list!
Aggressive-Tiger-545@reddit
Jimmys yes!
Extra-Audience-584@reddit
Every chain (restaurant, retail) you could possibly think of, which has its positivesā¦lets get over ourselves.
The asian cuisine is particularly strong (up there with Chicago and NYC IMO as an asian native) if youāre willing to drive north to carrollton, plano etc.
Arts district has been critically claimed nationally, particularly this subreddit.
Four professional sports teams.
Fast_Mall_3804@reddit
Come on, your best argument is āwe have two airports and sports teamsā?
Extra-Audience-584@reddit
It is. Would you like to make a separate comment and contribute?
shuknjive@reddit
There's Big Tex at the State Fair.
blomar@reddit
recs for asian food?
Jumpy_Tumbleweed_884@reddit
Soon to be 3 airports if the folks over at TKI can make their vision come to fruition.
Lady_DreadStar@reddit
There is a dearth of good Chinese(American) food here. So far itās all been what a Vietnamese or Korean person interprets it to be rather than truly tickling that SF Chinatown itch I grew up with.
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
baseball, football, soccer, hockey, rugby, and even women's professional sports teams are here, not to mention college and high school.
jmboon22@reddit
Yeah I don't love that this is the top comment and it's basically legit good Asian food (totally agree) and... chain restaurants, sports teams, airports and the museum. It's accurate and I generally enjoy those things to various degrees, but they aren't what most urbanites around the globe would be puffing their chest about.
QuintoxPlentox@reddit
And... you expect Dallas, a city that owes it's origins to being a convergence of fuckin' cattle trails to have the same the same level of cultural identity as Chicago, LA or New York? Maybe just grab some phĆ³, catch a Stars game and quit whining.
flowerycassie@reddit
āthereās more to do than eatā names all places you go to eat
Dallasbw@reddit
Very well maintained cycling paths and mountain bike trails. Google āthe loop Dallasā White Rock Lake. (Fishing, walking, cycling) Clyde Warren park Perot museum. Pickleball courts both free and pay to play. Indoor and outdoor. Lake Ray Hubbard Northpark Mall
ChicagoRay312@reddit
Whenever somebody comes from out of town to visit, I show them where Kennedy was shot and then ask what bar they would like to go drink at.
PineappleP1992@reddit
I constantly see people bitch and moan about there being nothing to do but no mention of what it is they actually want to do!
Like if youāre looking for mountains and oceans, obviously itās not hereāconsider moving if it sucks so bad to not have those. Other than that, what exactly are you looking for? Whatever it is, itās probably here and you could find it if you stopped complaining and left Frisco for once
Jamieknight@reddit
We have great circus classes!
Primary_Excuse_7183@reddit
Too much to name. Iāve learned that some people only know how to eat and drink as social and get out the house activities. They follow certain social media pages and do whatās recommended (probably paid advertisement) so theyāre spoon fed restaurants and bars.
Art museum which is free. Arts district which has free stuff for kids and tons of theatre acts and such. there alot of kid friendly stuff if you look. Went to the Irish festival and Mardi Gras in the same weekend here. Thai street food market. Free concerts. you name it. Facebook events near me is your friend.
gothsappho@reddit
there's so much going on in dallas!! i'm convinced people who complain have never bothered to look for one single thing to do. my best friend who is a lifelong new yorker has visited me a few times recently, and she even acknowledged that she understands why i live here because there are absolutely things to do
the car dependence is annoying, but you can absolutely access damn near anything you want if you decide to go find it. and i kind of like that there are smaller communities around some activities
Primary_Excuse_7183@reddit
You have to find it but itās there. And i think thatās kinda cool. with so much focus on mainstream here to have little enclaves of unique interests if you want them is dope.
gothsappho@reddit
i totally agree. i lived in new york for a bit and as amazing as it is, the oversaturation feels overwhelming at times. there's so much to do that it can cause decision paralysis and burn you out. in dallas you can really make roots in an interest or identity based community
screamingfrommyeyes@reddit
as someone from Podunk West Texas (looking at you Odessa) I am constantly in awe of how much there is to do.
Any day of the week you can see live music. There are professional sporting events and fans who will always talk to you about them.
White Rock lake is quite literally the largest urban park in the country and the feeder trails mean I can leave on my bike from my place in lake highlands and be gone all day and see the bulk of the city in a way I don't often get to.
Our public transit sucks for the rest of the country but is one of the best in the state.
We have one of like 14 lesbian bars left in the country right in Oak Lawn and it's always fun.
There is a solid pack of weirdos running TT game nights, mahjong and a million other things.
Also the libraries here have an awesome selection of books and social programming and the Oak Lawn library has one of the largest LBGTQ book selections in the country.
The antiquing is absolutely stellar tho I am still searching for my favorite thrift store!
I know people dunk on Dallas for fun but I find myself having quite a nice time..
Historical-Cicada939@reddit
Great museums, bookstores, meet up groups for every interest, world class opera, touring Broadway shows, sports,
Wutznaconseqwens3@reddit
I'm so tired of seeing this bs
There's plenty of places to go axe throwing, play lazer tag or bowl, we've got a skating rink in every 3 cities, most cities have a trampoline park or 2, every city has like 10 normal parks. If high energy isn't your thing, there's museums, movie theatres, and comedy places.
If you can't find anything to do in Dallas, maybe you're just a boring person
Groobear@reddit
Northpark mall is super nice just to walk around
A number of rooftop restaurants downtown
Hilton Anatole I sometimes take guest to walk around because it is immense
Buddhist temple in Richardson has an outdoor Asian market on weekends
Katy trail, white rock lake, cedar ridge nature preserve
LemonxxMona@reddit
I canāt afford anything in NorthPark but still find it a fun outing. I love the art in there so much!
LemonxxMona@reddit
Meow wolf is extremely fun to check out! I suggest going on a weekday as thereās usually less kids
synthesizersandcats@reddit
Thereās little communities of scrappy art, music, and theater in and around Dallas. Texas Theater. Modular on the Spot. Caustic Beats. Dallas Ambient Music Night. Oak Cliff Cultural Center. Top ten records. Dallas Comedy Club. Stomping Grounds. Itāll Do Dance Club. More than a few Studios to learn dancing. Thereās still a few DIY art exhibitions here and there. You can check out odd buildings like South Side on Lamar, the tunnels in downtown, or go to the little garden that sits just under that weird empty space in the Chase Bank building. The Butterfly sanctuary in Fair Park is a wonderful little gem. The opera downtown has an outdoor area thatās amazing to go to after dark and look up at the downtown skyline. If youāre willing to drive, you can hit Forever Young records, an assortment of markets from a wide array of cultures, and Denton packs in a lot for its size. I tell folks all the time that this is a great city if you live here and get plugged in but itās a wildly boring city for a tourist.
acaii@reddit
Really good Xiao Long Bao and eastern Asian cuisine.
3-5 chicken finger spots in one intersection.
RedArmy062@reddit
Thereās literally a big aquarium and zoo in Dallas, we have a team in every major sports league, museums throughout the metroplex (if you donāt like art thereās also historical museums or go down the street where JFK was assassinated), and letās not forget that Six Flags is literally next door to Dallas!
FoodHeater@reddit
H-MART, Patel Bros, or any ethnic grocery store.- Just wander and pick out like 10 of snacks. I like talking to staff if they are friendly or customers and ask what they like
Farmers Market- Come try and buy from local brands
Dallas World Aquarium and Dallas Zoo- the annual pass pays for itself in 2 visits.
1indsic1e@reddit
The Texas theatre (uber there)
gothsappho@reddit
DMA, Perot Museum, Arboretum, Bishop Arts District, Dallas Theater Center, ATTPAC, multiple museums in fort worth if you want to drive
gothsappho@reddit
thought of more: multiple movie theaters that show indie movies and have special screenings, meow wolf grapevine, klyde warren park
Top_Hat_2187@reddit
People say that because itās true! Dallas is for moneyed people who enjoy golfing and taking to the local artificial lakes with their boats. The rest of us, not so much in the way of nice free activities.
WizardWithoutAWand@reddit
There is a user on here called u/its_me_in_bigD or something like that.
They usually post on here a bunch of stuff to do every month in Dallas. It's all free.
I cannot remember the exact username, but hopefully they see this and correct me.
Anyways, if you scroll r/Dallas some, you will stumble across it.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Johntron_@reddit
Movement climbing gyms, our public parks, museum district / arts / aquarium, Arboretum and White Rock Lake, McKinney Ave trolley, pedestrian tunnels, Katy Trail. Would love to know more.
flowspotter@reddit
Lol classic you say āpeople say thereās nothing to do but eat and drink but thatās bullshit!ā Then you proceed to name examples there are literally just eating. āEataly, chocolate, Eatziāsā
9bikes@reddit
>Hard to even enjoy museums anymore when itās all based around people and their children
If your party is all adults, you'd likely enjoy it more when there a fewer kids. You gotta go during times the kids are in school.
darkblueshapes@reddit
When kids are in school are when field trips happen so itās rare that many museums are child-free. But at least field trips tend to be more organized and kept in check than parents wrangling their own kids on a weekend.
9bikes@reddit
Field trips become more common near the end of the school year.
casiepierce@reddit
We have the largest urban bottomland hardwood forest in the country. Go walk on some trails in the Great Trinity Forest.
j_husk@reddit
Coincidentally Bottomland Hardwood is also the best strip club in DFW
katcowgirl@reddit
The museums- Dallas museum of art, Perot, badger sculpture, the arboretum
zilee464@reddit
People say Dallas has nothing to do because they want iconic viewpoints that can spend a day or so.
Houston - Nasa , beach , waterfall park
Austin - Oasis , capitol , lady bird lake
San Antonio - Sea world , river walk
Dallas - Eye ball ( max 5mins to take a photo to post on Instagram ) , stock yard can spend a day.
We have been talking about Universal , Central park as large as NY etc for years but seems we are not getting any of those anytime soon.
MrNastyOne@reddit
Peppa Pig park just opened. Universal Studios for adolescents coming in a few years. Kalahari is considering a spot in Allen.
ejperry135@reddit
Iām new here and so far Iāve went to a Nate Jackson comedy show, attended a cooking class, attended a candle-making class for my wifeās birthday, been to a few NBA and NHL games, going to a Kendrick Lamar & SZA concert in April, had some fun downtown for NYE, gone to AstraLumina light display after the Mavs vs. Timberwolves game this past Christmas, took a class where they teach you how to wrap b*llet wounds, and took a horseback riding class. Itās crazy because I still feel like I havenāt done even a quarter of what DFW has to offer. I really want to try their music & food festivals in the Spring. I know Ft. Worth has a lot of history tours. Dallas has some sightseeing tours as well you can book on Viator. Havenāt gone to any museums or aquariums yet but theyāre there. I think the people saying thereās not much to do either lived here a long time, donāt get out much, and/or have lived in other major cities where thereās more to do but so far Iām enjoying it.
wunderkraft@reddit
World class heat and near world class humidity
PresidentEfficiency@reddit
People who put "nice things" in all caps are not regular people.
Irish_queen1017@reddit
You just only gave examples of eating a drinking lol
Aggressive-Tiger-545@reddit
Eataly and eatzis is a bit pricy but yeah go experience it. How about Perot museum? Arboretum? Aquarium? Iām born and raised and never went to the new museum So I think I just will!
justonemom14@reddit
I came here looking for this. I'm from a smaller city and can confirm that things like the Perot and the Arboretum are what people dream of having. You can get a membership and feel like a million bucks.
Katy_moxie@reddit
The number of museums you can wander for free. The DMA has a large permanent collection you can visit for free, while special exhibits have a charge. The Crow Museum of Asian Art is across the street and free as well, but it looks like it will be closed for a few weeks while they change put exhibits. All of the arts district museums have free weekend days that usually include all of the exhibits.
Ok-Cricket2034@reddit
Dallas: Best place to live, but I wouldnāt want to visit.
YoloOnTsla@reddit
āPeople say thereās nothing to do in Dallas but eat and drinkā
proceeds to give examples of places to eat and drink
Itās a known FACT that there is nothing to do in Dallas but eat and drink. Dallas is a great place to live if you have a family, like commutable suburbs, want relatively cheap housing, and like to travel as DFW/Love field are fairly centrally located and have good flight prices.
LumberJackAxem@reddit
I wish Dallas would get a NFL team. Our basketball team used to be good. We could use a new one. At least we have the Rangers and Stars.
SwagKing1011@reddit
dallas cowboys??
DallasM0therFucker@reddit
I think thatās the joke. The team has not been a legitimate contender in the 21st century. Unless itās a joke about their playing in Arlington rather than Dallas.
Kens_casa@reddit
Jazz nights and open mics sprawling through the city,
Museums; some have adult nights during the summer
Trail rides, rodeos, 2 stepping at one of the saloons
Any given weekend are street festivals and markets i.g. Farmers market
Sports; basketball, football, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, golf etc.
Art Scene in Dallas is thriving, plenty galleries with local talent
Go to one of the million parks in the dfw area
Escape rooms, arcades/arcade bar, axe throwing, bowling, ice skating
There are candle making workshops, gin distilling workshops, a fragrance place that allows you to create your own scent
You can find plenty cultural spaces and sectors throughout Dallas I enjoy the middle eastern and Asian areas around Richardson, Plano, Addison and Irving
Just walk around bishop arts for fun or go to a concert in the cedars
Cosm, B&B Theaters etc.
They have tulip farms, botanical gardens, wineries community gardens
I could probably keep going all day but yall be open to the endless possibilities of this giant metroplex. Itās like the 4th or 5th largest U.S. metro by population or something (donāt quote me). Just do a little exploring!
Big_Tone4146@reddit
You only listed places to eat. There is nothing to do in Dallas except spend money
phunt829@reddit
Thereās something in Dallas for EVERYONE. Google things to do, or go to the dreaded Tik tok. Literally one of the greatest cities in the country, finding something to do is no problem, even if youāre broke. Go chill at trinity overlook and get some aguas fresca.. while you walk along the river and look at the most unique skylines. I do this EVERY. Time I get to go back
mackeprang@reddit
You can tour the Myerson Symphony Center. - see a show at the Bath House Cultural Center. - roam around the Dallas Museum of Art. - pay to enter the Meadows Museum. - walk in the nature preserve behind Keist Park. - see a performance at the Bishop Arts Theater. - wander through an antique store in the Design District. - wander around ATT Discovery Park - galleries of Tin District - Cedars Open Studios Tour every Nov - Sat Morning Asian Markets - Deep Ellum Block Party - Dallas Entertainment Awards every Jan Just to name a few things
North_One_5857@reddit
This list is hilarious. From somebody who has lived in Dallas and in other major cities for a long time - in comparison - thereās nothing to do in Dallas. Lol and I have love for it, you just gotta know where youāre at.
Thinklater123@reddit
Coming from a very small rural community Dallas is extremely impressive. We've got fanatic museums, a world class zoo and aquarium, state fair, major and minor league sports teams, and an absolute murderers row or dining choices.
I really enjoy reading, and we have fantastic book stores and the Dallas Museum of Art has some terrific author speaking events.
bombshellpumps@reddit
Trinity Treetop Adventures! So fun.
SwagKing1011@reddit
it's expensive!
Hilzry@reddit
Is it fun for adults or more fun if you have a kiddo with you?
bombshellpumps@reddit
Super fun for adults, actually really challenging! You get to go at your own pace, which is a plus. They have separate courses for kids, but older ones can go on certain others (I donāt remember age restriction) but canāt go on others (black diamond). The black diamond courses are HARD!
NotADoctor108@reddit
Bro, just go walk around North Park Mall. We also have a top-notch aquarium and zoo. If you have wheels, the Renaissance fair is a short drive away, as is Ft Worth. Top Golf is also a great option. Dallas also boasts a large number of disc golf courses in its surrounding area. If you want to walk around, the farmers market is near. They also just expanded the Katy trail if you like to walk run or cycle. We als9 have countless expos at Dallas Market hall, along with theaters and performing arts centers all through Dallas, like the Dallas theater center and Myerson Symphony hall that put on shows regularly.
Dallas offers an opportunity for near every hobby. You just have to look.
Existing_Attitude189@reddit
Great ethnic neighborhoods
Great college and pro sports if that is your thing
Great universities with all the interesting things attached to them . . .lectures, etc
Community Spaces that are enjoyed by the masses, White Rock Lake, Klyde Warren, etc.
Diversity
Great infrastructure that can get you anywhere. DFW is up there with the world's best airports.
A vibrant cultural scene spanning live music, opera, symphonies, off broadway productions, etc.
ftwclem@reddit
One thing I appreciated moving back to DFW after college is that you can almost guarantee that if your favorite band is on tour, theyāre probably going to have a stop in Dallas or the surrounding area. As another person said, we also have a team for the four major professional sports.
secret-shot@reddit
I mean, for all the allegations that Dallas doesnāt have anything to doā¦ I think this thread has proved it wrong. But I think it does point out that maybe adult life is just mundane at points? That internet and Amazon have provided a reason to stay in and the decline of third spaces?
DKE3522@reddit
I don't think the regular ppl of Dallas go to Eatzis, they probably have never heard of it. I miss the samples lol.
People with some money to spend have lots of things to do in Dallas but those that don't have a few things like parks, walking trails, museums and Lakes.
sienrfsh@reddit
Eatziās? Lmao
lanlmt@reddit
There is also Spa Castle and King Spa, where you can spend all day in heated pools relaxing! I met people from all over the country at Spa Castle. Or if you do not have that kind of time you can get a massage at White Rock Massage Therapy and then go for a walk around White Rock lake. That is a great way to spend your time!
anonymouse8200@reddit
Our museums are pretty great with regular free days or evening activities. Our deck parks are pretty nice (Klyde Warren and Ron Kirk). Iām a fan of the Trinity River Adventure Park as well as Cedar Ridge Preserve. Both our Opera and our Symphony are good.
Liberteabelle1@reddit
Gaston-Legume regularly does a post on things to do around DFW. TONS of stuff..
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dallas/s/chvbeBdMOl
ExplanationHot9963@reddit
Thereās no profits in food, thatās why you see restaurants comes and go
GeologistEven6190@reddit
My take on Dallas is it's a hobby city.
If you are into art - tonnes of art classes
Food (not dining out) - cooking classes
Cycling - The urban mountain biking trails are really good and we have a tonne of cycling paths
Combat Sports - there are great coaches everywhere in the metroplex.
Board games - half price books
Gaming - the Internet here is lightning quick due to the proximity to ATT and most people live in a house/apartment big enough to have a gaming rig/desk
If you want to take up a hobby and learn something, Dallas is the place to do it. The size and scale of the metroplex means you can find everything.
MakeMeADream@reddit
There is so much for kids/families to do here. We have tons of indoor playgrounds, aquariums, museums, and experiences geared towards kids.
We have a ton of natural spaces as well and a variety of biomes with swamps and grasslands and woodlands.
Thwipped@reddit
We have excellent gardens.
emmgemm11@reddit
Iāve heard it as āthereās nothing to do but eat and shopā and you just continued to list places where all you do is eat and shop ššš
HolyForkingBrit@reddit
You literally listed food.
Lawineer@reddit
If youāre into (participating in) motorsports, we are incredibly fortunate. We have THREE private racetracks within 1 hr of downtown Dallas. Two of the three are very affordable private membership and the thirdā¦ it likely will be after bankruptcy lol. Plus one in Houston, OK and of course Austin (COTA) are all very accessible and within 3-4 hours. I donāt know of anywhere else that gives you access to six awesome race tracks within 3 hours.
Illustrious-Tap-7555@reddit
Klyde Warren Park is solid, free events and food trucks. The Perot Museum is dope if you like science. Also, Deep Ellum for live music and vibing.
SuccessfulIntern8884@reddit
Pocket Sandwich Theater. It has moved to downtown Carrollton but it is still one of my favorite places to go.
https://www.pocketsandwich.com/
amor121616@reddit
Never heard of this but Iāll have to check this out š
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
that place has been a gem for 50+ years
birdbathz@reddit
Legacy West is the 8th wonder of the world
Hilzry@reddit
After growing up in the country, I moved to Dallas at 18 with the FANTASY of being able to order pizza and Chinese food to my door.
Now 20 years later, I can order ANYTHING I want to eat to my door. Thatās a nice thing for this regular person! Amazon delivers to the country of course, but not great FOOD!
liquidnight247@reddit
They are not wrongā¦ Dallas is about eating and shopping. For a metro the theaters are mediocre. Thereās a lot of music venues and sports. But a positive lack of nice and safe outdoor trails ans spaces that other metroplexes offer for free.
casiepierce@reddit
Hi, the 6,000 acre Great Trinity Forest and all the trails in the city would like a word...
Flashy-Lemon-4682@reddit
Whatās your favorite trails?
casiepierce@reddit
I like the northern most ones in southeast Dallas. Start from the DART rail line on Lawnview and go south across the escarpment ridge overlooking Grover Keaton golf course then further down to the Comanche storytelling place. You don't even know you're in the city.
PremeTeamTX@reddit
The collegiate/pro sports market, fair amount of museums, concerts out the ass, barbecue, and a good amount of niche/upscale grocery stores.
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
Every sports franchise is here, even amateur ones. Even pro-am sports are here.
Lots of theaters to go to for shows, ballet, concerts, rodeos every weekend, local music shows, lots of museums, etc.
boating on every lake and there's hunting all around if you want that.
World class restaurants and lots of hole in the wall joints that have excellent food.
There's EVRYTHING HERE, you just have to go do it and not wait for it to fall into your lap.
Lots of people complain but they never LOOK for stuff to do.
z9vown@reddit
What about the irregular people in Dallas?
LzrdKing70@reddit
The State Fair of Texas - It is an event that I invite out of town family and friends to come see because of its size, food, drinks, automobiles, shows, crafts, livestock, and the art deco architecture of the buildings. It is expensive, but it's truly something any visitor should experience if they come for the 3 weeks it runs each fall. I try to go at least once each year.
bastardradio@reddit
Eatzis Cajun rotisserie chicken goes ham
IAmSoUncomfortable@reddit
Other than Eatziās, you provided two examples that are not specific to DFW lol.
JoyfulCor313@reddit
And still had to do with food, whichā¦ āPeople say thereās nothing to do in Dallas but eat and drink, but thatās bullshitā¦āĀ
But Iāll go with the sports around here, and not just professional teams, but the ability to bring in like the National Womenās Soccer team, as well as having feeder teams.Ā
And the abundance of league play for students and opportunities for them to grow their skills if they want to.Ā
Same with music. In addition to the DSO and FWSO weāve got Dallas Winds and chamber ensembles with professional-level performers, and youth organizations as well. I like that this is an area that has options for kids.Ā
I realize they are privileged options. Weāve also got the Dallas Street Choir which is another amazing performance group.Ā
It feels like parts of Dallas still have the community, care-for-each other value. Whether itās working in teams or musical groups or whatever. When so much of what we see is individualistic i like looking around Dallas and seeing different groups coming together.Ā
SuccessfulIntern8884@reddit
I love the diversity of Dallas. No only in the food but also in cultures.
jcythcc@reddit (OP)
Never said i was after specific to DFW, just things that are good here to go to. Yeesh.
Ferrari_McFly@reddit
Damn near anything that doesnāt require a mountain or an ocean can be done here.
Try to prove and disprove this is getting old. This sub sucks lol
woodentigerx@reddit
Great museums. Hot wings and bbq. Pools
pinsmari@reddit
chocolate secrets!!