Dallas was our starting and ending point for a three week road trip through Texas in December.
Thus, my first note is that Dallas is COLD in relation to other areas of Texas this time of year. Pack layers, and prepare for 30-65 degree weather.
3-7 days would be plenty here, depending on what it is you want to do. The bulk of our time in Dallas was at the end of our trip. So we weren’t looking to adventure much.
If you’re ONLY going to be in Dallas, here are a list of day trips. But note that these may be closer to other major cities like Austin:
- Lake Texoma
- Drive East to Cado Lake (borders Louisiana)
- Davy Crocket National Forest
- Arbuckle Wilderness Reserve
- Dinosaur Valley State Park
- Drive norther to Turner Falls State Park in Oklahoma
- Fort Worth Zoo (we did this, but it was largely under construction. I will say, they had the best reptile exibit I’ve ever seen. And we’ve been in zoo’s LITERALLY all over the world. Hit up the Fort Worth Zoo for sure).
From Austin to Dallas we stopped at Magnolia Market. You could totally do this from Dallas and back as well.
Verdict: It’s something to do. It’s not very large and limited in inventory. But it’s cool to go just to say you went (or if you really want to support Chip and Joanna Gaines). There is a coffee shop, little garden shop, decor shop and Magnolia Home (larger items like couches, tables, chairs, pillows etc). That sounds like a lot. It’s not. If you’re passing through Waco or just need something to do, stop here.
We suggest staying in Lowest Greenville – here’s the link to our AirBnb. It’s a small town feel within Dallas. The area is walkable, quiet and has cute up and coming shops, bars and restaurants.
As far as food goes – whether you stay in Lowest Greenville or not, stop by the following:
- Lala Land coffee
- Desert Racer for tacos, salads, or enchiladas
- Breakfast at Ascension coffee
- Some locals took us to HG Sply Co. – it has an awesome roof top view of the city with heaters and fireplaces. Highly recommend.
- BBQ from Pecan Lodge
If you’re looking for a place to walk, or drive through, check out Highland Park area around Southern Methodist University. We stumbled upon some beautiful estates surrounding a lake and a golf course. Though we didn’t snap any photos, you could get some amazing shots here. Or just meander through and awe at the architecture of these homes (if you can even call them homes – they’re massive). It’s a lovely area to visit.
Dallas is nothing to get excited about, but she has some cute areas and makes a decent home base for other day trip destinations. See more Texas suggestions via our three week Texas Road Trip.
If you ever want to visit Dallas, make sure to pin this post for later.
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