Thank you to Neil Lemon for his post on http://www.iliveindallas.com/fun-things-to-do-in-dallas. Below are some exerpts from his post that will give you some ideas on fun things you and your family can do in Dallas this summer:
- Take the Trolley Tour – The M-Line’s air-conditioned and heated trolleys run 365 days a year, providing local transit service to Dallas’ vibrant Uptown Neighborhood. All rides, except charters, are free. There is a voluntary fare box, and I’m sure contributions are welcomed. Mr. Rogers and San Francisco don’t get to have all the fun. Find the trolley schedule online. Cost: Free (donations accepted)
- Digitally Tee Off – This isn’t your grandpa’s driving range. Top Golf is a revolutionary sports entertainment complex combining games with great food and an environment you can enjoy year-round with friends and family of all skill levels. Top Golf features computerized microchips in every golf ball that track your shots’ accuracy and distance while awarding points for hitting targets ranging from 20 – 250 yards away. The food isn’t half bad either. Cost: $3.80 a game 9am-3pm, $5.80 a game 3pm-close
- Eat your way through the Farmer’s Market – The Dallas Farmers Market has been a fixture in downtown Dallas for six decades. It has grown into a true Texas treasure as one of the largest public markets of its type in the country. Often you can make a meal out of all the free samples. Cost: Free
- Bike on the Katie Trail – Rent a bike for free on Thursdays after 7:00pm at Fleetwood KitKat’s near SMU, the only self-proclaimed Dallas Cruiser Bike Boutique. The Katy Trail is a 12-foot-wide concrete bike trail and an 8-foot-wide parallel, soft-surface running path, with several entrances and plazas linking the Trail to other area parks. It extends 3.5 miles from Airline Road to the American Airlines Center. Once completed, the bike and pedestrian path will link the Mockingbird DART Station near SMU to the West End in downtown Dallas. Cost: Free
- Be a Conspiracy Theorist – Since 1989, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza has welcomed more than 6 million visitors from around the world—people of all ages seeking information and understanding about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Did you know that the infamous window from which Oswald shot Kennedy sold on eBay for more than a million dollars? I’ve heard that the “X” on the street moves every year. How’s that for a conspiracy? Check out the plaza and the museum and judge for yourself. Cost: $13.50 per person
- Go Mural & Statue Gazing – Deep Ellum is a hotbed for graffiti. Many of the music venues use graffiti artists to advertise music shows. In the late 1980s, the city allowed a number of local artists to paint the walls of the Good Latimer Expressway tunnel. The tunnel was demolished in spring 2007 to make way for the DART Green Line train. Since then, more projects have been developed to restore the area’s longstanding artistic legacy such as the Traveling Man Series. Cost: Free
- Commune with Dog Lovers – Check out Deep Ellum’s Bark Park or Unleashed, the indoor dog park, and meet other dog lovers. Some dog parks are more popular than others, but they can be found all over the city. Cost: Free, and $7.50 a dog
- Appreciate art at Nasher Sculpture Center – The birth and growth of the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection started more than fifty years ago. In 1950, Raymond and Patsy traveled to Mexico, where they became interested in pre-Columbian art and bought the first works in what would become a sizable collection of objects from ancient Latin America. Old classic movies based on American novels are regularly shown at the Center on Thursday nights. Free. Cost: Regularly $10, Movie nights are free
- Get a Bird’s Eye View of the City – Reunion Tower, or the “Big Ball,” is synonymous with the Dallas skyline, appearing on tee shirts and coffee cups. It offers a view from 500 feet above the ground. There is a restaurant at the top, but you don’t have to eat dinner. Just order Cokes from the bar and enjoy the view. Cost: Free
- Acquire Bow Hunting Skills – Texins* Archery Club (*correct spelling) offers group lessons and yearly memberships to their archery range. They’ll hook you up with a compound bow or, if you’re feeling medieval, a classic straight bow. Classes are held each Wednesday 6-7pm (except holidays), no reservations needed for groups under 10 people, minimum age 8 years. Cost: $10 for gen. public, $5 for members
- Plan a Picnic at the Arboretum – Created in the 1930s and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1987, this nationally recognized 66-acre garden of mass proportion offers classes on home floral, horticulture and other educational opportunities for seniors, adults, and children. You can attend a class held monthly or just observe and enjoy the gardens by taking a picnic lunch surrounded by the natural beauty of nature. Cost: $10 for adults
- Play at White Rock Lake – Run, bike, sail, drive around and look at houses– you won’t get escorted out like you would in Highland Village. Learn more history and what White Rock Lake has to offer. Cost: Free
- Attend Late Nights at the DMA– On the third Friday of each month, the Dallas Museum of Art remains open until midnight. Each Late Night offers hundreds of experiences for visitors of all ages, with performances, concerts, readings, film screenings, tours, family programs, and more. Look online for the latest lineup. Cost: $10
- Feel nostalgic at the Majestic Theater – Located on the edge of downtown Dallas, The Majestic Theater is convenient to downtown hotels and entertainment areas. The 1704-seat theater opened in April 1921 during the Vaudeville era and hosted a variety of acts from Houdini to Mae West and Bob Hope. In 2009 there are still regular musical productions, dramatic plays, national pageants, dances and concerts. Look online for the latest events & shows coming to The Majestic Theater. Cost: Varies, Free – $30 avg. per ticket
- Go Ice Skating– at the Galleria. I’m tempted to mention several other places you can ice skate, but they are not in Dallas proper. Cost: $7.50 a person for groups of 10-25 skaters
- Take a hike at the Trinity River – The brand new Trinity River Audubon Center offers outdoor fun like camping, paddling, archery, fishing, nature photography, birding, nature journaling, classes and more. Classes are held one Saturday of each month. Located by the 6,000-acre Great Trinity Forest, it is the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States. The land supports a diverse community of plant and animal species and contains a unique mixture of bottomland hardwoods, wetlands and grasslands. Third Thursday of each month are free. Cost: $4 -6, group rates & tours available
- Rock an ’80s Roller Rink – Bring back the nostalgia of hair bands blaring on the juke box while circling the rink. Take a group or your family to White Rock Skate Center. Cost: $5.50 afternoons, $7.50 evenings
- 18. Go Ape at the Dallas Zoo –Why go to Fort Worth, when the Dallas Zoo is located 3 miles south of Downtown Dallas. The zoo was originally founded in 1888 and now covers 106 acres, making it the largest zoological park in Texas (bigger than Fort Worth’s Zoo). The Dallas Zoo is home to 406 species and 1,800 animals (6,800 counting invertebrates). There are another 375 species of marine and freshwater animals in The Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park, which it also manages. Cost: $1-12 depending on the day or event.
- Enjoy the Museums at Fair Park – African American Museum, Museum of American Railroad, Museum of Nature and Science, The Women’s Museum Cost: Donations
- Tour the Design District – Shop in the antique junkyards. Check out LowerOakLawn.com for all things Dallas Design District including gallery openings, showcases, and events. Cost: Free
(Source: http://www.iliveindallas.com/fun-things-to-do-in-dallas)