10 Top Tourist Attractions in Dallas & Easy Day Trips

1 The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

The presumed murderer of President John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, is believed to have fired the fatal shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository at the intersection of Houston and Elm Streets. Forever etched in infamy, this tall brick building is now home to the Sixth Floor Museum, a fascinating attraction devoted to Kennedy's life, work, and tragic death. Permanent exhibits feature detailed accounts of his 1960 presidential campaign, along with his legacy and influence through historical footage, photos, and artifacts. Of related interest is the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial, a massive monument dedicated to the memory of the president that was built in 1970. Another president-related attraction is the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Opened in 2013 on the campus of Southern Methodist University, the museum offers visitors the chance to learn about the Bush family as well as his time as president through interactive galleries. Other highlights include a replica of the Oval Office as well as an adjoining 15-acre park with its native flora and fauna.

2Reunion Tower

While not the tallest building in Dallas, the Reunion Tower is undoubtedly the most distinguished and most recognizable. Completed in 1978 and appearing as a geodesic ball perched atop five cylindrical concrete poles, its 560-foot length is spectacularly lit up at night, emphasizing its unique outline. After renovations in 2011, the Reunion Tower now boasts a revolving restaurant with 360-degree views over Dallas, and the GeO-Deck observation level, home to an informative interactive display providing details about the building and notable landmarks.

3Dallas Museum of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art has been a long-standing institution in the city since it opened in 1903. All told, the museum has a collection of more than 24,000 works from the Americas and around the globe, including everything from ancient artifacts to contemporary art. Highlights are its collection of ancient Mediterranean art from Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times; European art from the 16th to 19th centuries, including pieces by Claude Monet; contemporary artists including Jackson Pollock; and a collection of more than 50,000 art-related volumes in its library. Another art exhibit worth catching is the Wendy and Emery Reves Collection, housed in a re-creation of the Reves Villa and including Impressionist paintings, antique carpets, Chinese porcelain, and early Renaissance and 17th-century European furniture.

4Dallas World Aquarium

Conveniently located within walking distance of the city's historic downtown core, Dallas World Aquarium is a fun and educational excursion for young and old alike. Housed in some 87,000 gallons of saltwater are a vast array of sea life including bonnet head sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, sea turtles, giant groupers, and rare leafy seadragons, all living in natural reef settings. A fun highlight is the Orinoco Rainforest exhibit, complete with numerous free-flying birds such as toucans, along with tree sloths and aquatic species such as Orinoco crocodiles and poison dart frogs. Hot Tip: Check the feeding schedule before arrival for a chance to see the animals at their most animated, as well as for details of upcoming talks and lectures.

5The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Just minutes from downtown Dallas, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden sits on 66 acres along the southeast shore of White Rock Lake. The property's world-famous display gardens (14 all told) showcase seasonal flowers, ornamental shrubs, trees, and plant collections, while seasonal outdoor festivals and concerts, art shows, and education programs are also popular. Although conceived in the early 1930s, this splendid tourist attraction didn't become a reality until 1984 when the park was laid out on the grounds of a mansion built in 1939 (guided tours are available). Adding to the fun are the exquisite sculptures and fountains in areas with names like Toad's Corner, Texas Town, and Pecan Grove. Be sure to do a little exploring around White Rock Lake Park, too. Surrounded by 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, it's known for its excellent bird and wildlife spotting, as well as fishing and sailing.

6Dallas Zoo

The Dallas Zoo is a 106-acre park housing more than 2,000 exotic animals from 406 species in a variety of different habitats. Always popular with families, this fun attraction - just three miles away from the city center - was established in 1888, making it one of the oldest zoos in the US. Focusing on two major regions - ZooNorth and the Wilds of Africa - the zoo includes highlights such as the Giants of the Savanna, the Otter Outpost, the excellent Wildlife Amphitheater with its displays of birds in flight, and the Endangered Tiger Habitat with its forest-like setting. Another attraction kids will love is the Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park, a fun theme park with enough bungee jumps and free-falling rides to keep them amused for hours.

7Frontiers of Flight and the Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Visitors to Dallas have the good fortune to be able to visit not just one but two excellent museums dedicated to aircraft and flying. The Frontiers of Flight Museum - a branch of the Smithsonian - houses numerous aerospace and flight-related items, including aviation history artifacts and vehicles in addition to fascinating displays about space exploration and in particular, the role of Dallas in the country's space program. Highlights of a visit include a chance to see the Apollo 7 Command Module; vintage aircraft from WWI; and rare artifacts from the Hindenburg, a German Zeppelin airship. The other museum is the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, just north of Dallas. Located in a massive hangar, the museum displays a large collection of aircraft dating back to WWI, as well as related artifacts and artwork.

8The Nasher Sculpture Center

Opened in 2003, the Nasher Sculpture Center houses a first-rate collection of modern and contemporary sculpture. On a two-and-a-half-acre site in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, this architecturally pleasing facility features rotating exhibits from the gallery's permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibits from other locations and private collections. Of particular note are the facility's program of concerts, lectures, and tours. Another gallery worth visiting is the nearby Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, a museum dedicated to the arts and cultures of China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. Finally, one of the largest sculptures in the city can be seen in Pioneer Plaza, a downtown public park. Commemorating a famous 19th-century cattle drive, this huge sculpture - the largest in the world - includes 70 larger-than-life bronze steers and three trail riders careening through a flowing stream.

9The Meadows Museum

Since its founding in 1962, the Meadows Museum has grown into one of the most comprehensive Spanish art collections in the world outside of Spain. Often referred to as the "Prado on the Prairie" after the famous museum in Madrid, this fine museum includes a number of masterpieces by renowned Spanish artists such as El Greco, Goya, and Picasso, along with numerous Renaissance altarpieces, Baroque canvases, Impressionist landscapes, and sculptures by Rodin and Moore. Many local artists are also featured, including pieces by Frank Reaugh and Alexandre Hogue.

10African American Museum

Founded in 1974, the African American Museum has a variety of displays of African American artistic, cultural, and historical materials. Full of references to traditional African motifs and cultural icons, the museum's collection includes numerous pieces of artwork, along with a library and historical archive. Educational and entertainment programs are also hosted in the on-site theater. Another important attraction is the Dallas Holocaust Museum and Center for Education and Tolerance with its moving displays - such as an actual boxcar used to transport Jews during WWII - and memorials including the names of family members lost to survivors who had settled in Dallas.

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