More about: 3 Best Day Trips from Dallas
Dallas is the third largest city in the state of Texas, with an active cultural and commercial life. There's plenty of fun things to do in Dallas, making it a great place to stay and a great place to explore the surrounding area.
From taking a trip to the Wild West by visiting Forth Worth, to visiting the ranch from the legendary Dallas series, there's a wide variety of options you can't afford to miss. You can also find more challenging activities such as jumping through a wind tunnel or testing your wits in an Escape Room, so the whole family is sure to find an interesting tour to do from Dallas. I'll tell you about those tours in this article.
1. Feel like you're in the Wild West on the Forth Worth tour
If you're curious about what life was like in the Wild West, you can take a trip to Forth Worth from Dallas, the place that used to be a stop for cowboys driving cattle up the Red River in the 19th century. Forth Worth is about half an hour from Dallas, and is the 12th largest city in the United States.
The Forth Worth tour is a half-day trip, and usually starts early in the morning. It is conducted in small groups and is accompanied by a historian guide who tells you about cowboy life in old Texas as you walk through the Wild West streets of the Stockyards district. It's a tour the kids can join too and they're sure to love it.
Some of the sites usually included on tours to Forth Worth include:
- Hell's Half Acre: a place where whorehouses used to be and cowboys used to get drunk and get into fights.
- The Stockyards National Historic District, a place where twice-daily harnessing takes place (except for some holidays), and there are some 46 historic buildings, plus the city's famous sign.
- The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, which used to be a horse and mule stable, was built in 1888.
- Cowtown Coliseum, where rodeos are held.
- The Livestock Exchange Building, built in 1902, which today houses a historical museum.
Details of interest
- Price: about 74€ per person.
- Duration: approximately 4-5 hours.
- Means of transport: minivan.
2. Relive the Dallas series on the Southfork Ranch tour in Parker
Fans of the series Dallas can't miss the Southfork Ranch, where the famous series was filmed, which today has been converted into a tourist attraction, museum and event centre. The mansion is located in Parker, a half-hour drive from downtown. The 17-season series was created by David Jacobs and had millions of viewers worldwide.
The Southfork Ranch tour includes a minivan transfer to the ranch's visitor centre, where you'll take a tram to the mansion. Once there, you'll embark on an expert-guided tour of the mansion, where you'll relive some of the most memorable scenes from the series.
At Southfork Ranch there are exhibits where you will find objects that appeared in the series, such as Lucy's wedding dress or the gun that killed JR. You can also tour the outside of the ranch, where you'll find Jock's 1978 Lincoln car. You can also buy souvenirs related to the series in the ranch shop.
Interesting details
- Price: around €74 per person.
- Duration: approximately 3 hours.
- Means of transport: minivan.
3. Take a tour of Magnolia Market and the city of Waco.
If you're interested in decor, organic fabrics and local dishes, take a trip to Waco and the Magnolia Market, a shopping complex built in two silos that features the area's best home décor and interior design shops. The complex occupies two city blocks in Waco, and is about an hour and a half's drive from Dallas.
The full-day tour includes round-trip car transportation from Dallas, and because it's private, you only go with the people in your group of friends or family. During the tour, your knowledgeable guide will tell you about the history of Dallas, Waco and other interesting facts about the market. You'll have plenty of time to tour the complex and even visit nearby sites such as the Waco Suspension Bridge.
The Magnolia Market features a beautiful botanical garden and food trucks with dining options for all tastes. It is a place where you can not only buy design objects or gardening products, but also spend a nice time with your family.
On the other hand, you can't miss it if you go to Dallas at Christmas time, as you will be able to see the incredible Christmas decorations of the Market, the beautiful Christmas decorations and attend events related to the festivity.
Interesting details
- Price: from €180 per person, depending on how many people take the tour with you. You can also do it alone, but it will cost you around €550.
- Duration: approximately 9 hours
- Means of transport: car
Tips for a day trip from Dallas
Before booking a tour from Dallas, make sure you've read carefully about what's included, how long it's expected to last and whether it can be cancelled or rescheduled. For example, some tours may not include a transfer, so you should first find out how to get there on your own, and what is the most convenient time to take the tour. The same goes for a tour in Dallas.
On the other hand, some companies do not include lunch, meals or drinks, so you should bring extra money to cover this. However, it is always a good idea to bring a bottle of water, snacks, fruit or whatever you prefer just in case. It's also important to bring sunscreen and a hat, especially if you're visiting Dallas in the summer.
It is also important to find out if the tours have an age restriction, especially if you are going to Dallas with children. On the other hand, many tours, while allowing children to participate, are not suitable for them, as they will not be much fun. In this case, the best thing to do is not to take too many hours, and to intersperse them with more entertaining activities for them.
Why hire a guided tour from Dallas vs. going on your own?
There are many advantages to hiring a guided tour. One of them is that the guide will provide you with first-hand information from having lived in the region that would take you a long time to find out on your own. Especially if you just happened to arrive in Dallas, and haven't had time to research the city or its landmarks, even if you visit Dallas during the day. That's why there's nothing better than a local to introduce you to the city.
On the other hand, some places like Magnolia Market are quite far from Dallas and it will take you a long time to get there if you haven't rented a car. On the other hand, if you hire a tour, you'll be able to get there in comfort and convenience. Keep in mind that Dallas is a large city with a lot of traffic, something that tour companies have experience with and will be able to handle with ease.