Places to Entertain Out-of-Town Guests in Dallas-Fort Worth
Places to Entertain Out-of-Town Guests in Dallas-Fort Worth
Do you have guests or family coming in for the holidays and don’t quite know how to entertain them? Here are some of our must-have places that are unique to DFW to take out of town guests.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Sitting in the picturesque setting of White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will delight any out of town visitor. Explore 66 acres of plush greenery with unique and beautiful plants in a serene setting. Enjoy nature and beauty while learning about the seasonal displays of flowers.
8525 Garland Rd., Dallas 75218
Hours: Open Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Adult – $15, Seniors – $12, Children (3-12) – $10, Children (2 & under) – Free
Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park
Located in one of the city’s oldest parks on the southeastern edge of downtown Dallas, this living history museum lets visitors experience life in North Texas in the 19th and early 20th centuries. See 38 restored and fully furnished buildings, including a log cabin, a Greek revival style mansion, school house and farmstead. Adding to the atmosphere, are costumed docents, live farm animals, gunfights and historical reenactments. A great option for to entertain as well as learn.
1515 South Harwood St, Dallas
Hours: Tues.-Sat – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. – Noon-4 p.m.; Mon. – Closed
Cost: Adult – $9; Senior – $7; Child – $5
Dallas World Aquarium
Located in the historic West End district of Dallas, the Dallas World Aquarium offers fun for the whole family. You can check out animals – both land and sea – from Borneo, Fiji, Japan, South Africa and more! Don’t miss the manatees on the bottom floor or the leopard in the Ancient Mayan exhibit.
1801 North Griffin St., Dallas 75202
Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Adult – $20.95; Child (2-12) – $14.95; Child (under 2) – free; Senior (65+) – $16.95
Downtown Grapevine
You can easily spend an entire day in downtown Grapevine with its one-of-a-kind shops, live entertainment, restaurants, wineries and art galleries. This preserved historic area truly has it all. And don’t miss the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.
Main St, Grapevine
Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
Step into the Wild West in the Fort Worth Stockyards where the West begins. Bring your guests on the train from Downtown Grapevine, enjoy a shootout show, see a real-life cattle drive or relax and enjoy a cold one at Billy Bob’s Texas – the world’s largest honky-tonk.
130 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth 76164
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is the 13th Presidential Library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Some of the highlights of the museum include A Nation Under Attack exploring 9/11 and its aftermath, the interactive Decision Points Theater, a full-size replica of the White House Oval Office and more.
2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas 75205
Hours: Mon-Sat – 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. – Noon-5 p.m.
Cost: Adult – $16; Senior (62+) – $13; Youth (13-17 years) – $14; Youth (5-12 years) – $10; Children (0-4 years) – $10
Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park sits atop a freeway and is a nationally acclaimed 5-acre green space in downtown Dallas. You and your guests can enjoy live music, food trucks or one of the many events happening at the park each day.
2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas 75201
Hours: Open Daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
Cost: Free
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
You don’t have to be a science fan to enjoy the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. All curious minds will love the range of exhibits in the 180,000 sqft museum. Learn about the stars and planets, dinosaurs, sports physiology or have fun exploring in the Children’s Museum complete with Dallas skyline. All ages will enjoy learning about science in a fun and innovative way.
2201 N. Field St., Dallas 75201
Hours: Mon.-Sat. – 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. – Noon-5 p.m.
Cost: Adult – $19; Youth (2-17) – $12; Senior (65+) – $13
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West. Enjoy interactive galleries, artifacts and more and celebrate women who exemplified the courage, resilience and independence that helped shape the American West.
1720 Gendy St., Fort Worth 76107
Hours: Tues.-Sat. – 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. – Noon-5 p.m.
Cost: Adults – $10; Children (4-12 years old) – $8; Seniors (60+) – $8; Children 3 and under: Free
River Ranch at Texas Horse Park
Release your inner cowboy or cowgirl and hit the trails at River Ranch – a 600-acre equestrian facility minutes from Downtown Dallas. Wednesday through Monday the ranch offers guided horseback rides through the Great Trinity Forest for ages nine and older. Younger children can go on hand-guided pony rides around the arena.
811 Pemberton Hill Rd., Dallas 75217
Hours: Open year-round; Closed on Tuesdays
Cost: $40-60 for trail rides
Reunion Tower
They say everything’s bigger in Texas. See Dallas as you’ve never seen it before up 470 feet in the area on the GeO-Deck where the views are as big and wide as is fitting for this state. You can also enjoy dinner in Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant Five Sixty and experience fine dining with 360-degree views of Dallas as the room revolves.
300 Reunion Blvd E; Dallas 75207
Hours: Sun.-Thurs. – 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. – 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Cost: Adults – $16; Youth (4-12) – $8; Seniors (65+) – $14
Sixth Floor Museum
The Sixth Floor Museum is located in the former Texas School Book Depository, which is where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot President John F. Kennedy on that fateful day in 1963. The museum reflects back on the social and political landscape of that time and chronicles President Kennedy’s assassination and the impact it had on this nation and around the world.
411 Elm Street; Dallas 75202
Hours: Mon. – Noon-6 p.m.; Tues.-Sun – 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: Adult – $16; Senior (65+) – $14; Youth (6-18) – $13; Child (0-5) – Free
Six Flags over Texas
You and your guests can soar over Texas on one of the 12 thrilling roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas. Or enjoy a ride on one of the classic cars or water rides. There’s fun for everyone in the whole family – thrill seeker or not.
2201 Road to Six Flags; Arlington, 76010
Hours: Dependent on time of year
Cost: Starting at $52.99
Southfork Ranch
No visit to DFW is complete without visiting the legendary Southfork Ranch. Your guests will see where “Dallas” was filmed and experience life as the Ewings did. While you’re there, you can tour the Ewing Mansion and see the gun that shot J.R., Lucy’s Wedding Dress and Jock’s Lincoln Continental.
3700 Hogge Dr; Parker 75002
Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Adults – $15; Seniors (60+) – $13; Children (6-12) – $9; Children (5 and under) – Free