Big money, big steaks and big hats: That’s the popular conception of Dallas, Texas. It’s true you may encounter all three on a trip there, but Dallas is so much more. There’s a thriving arts district, endlessly varied cuisine, and gorgeous green spaces (which will, one day, encompass 10,000 riverside acres).ⁱ Best of all, Dallas is a great destination for budget travelers, with an average daily cost of $103 per person.ⁱⁱ We’ll help you plan your Texas getaway with this guide to the best Dallas attractions, boutique hotels and restaurants.

 5 Things to Do in Dallas-Fort Worth

1. Shop, shop, shop. High-end shopping is a favorite pastime in Dallas. Top destinations include the historic Highland Park Village (known as the city’s version of Rodeo Drive) and NorthPark Center, a mammoth mall anchored by Neiman Marcus.ⁱⁱⁱ If your tastes run more to quirky and artisan finds, visit the indie boutiques and galleries in the Bishop Arts District.
2. Have a late-night date with fine art. At the Nasher Sculpture Center, a museum in the heart of Dallas’ Arts District, you can see hundreds of modern masterpieces from artists like Matisse, Picasso, Rodin and Miró. On third Fridays, the Nasher stays open until midnight and offers free admission and live outdoor concerts in the garden, followed by a film screening.^iv
3. Try some boot-scootin’. The best-known honky tonk in Fort Worth is Billy Bob’s Texas , an enormous dance hall with live shows, mechanical bulls and country memorabilia including a belt buckle that’s more than 8 feet wide. Go for the free line-dancing lessons every Thursday night.
4. Visit the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Some people wonder how a bridge can be one of the top Dallas attractions — and then they see this graceful white arch silhouetted against the city skyline. While you can’t walk on the bridge itself, you can snap some great pictures at its foot.
5. Learn about John F. Kennedy’s legacy. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza tells the story of President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. The museum itself is housed in the former Texas School Book Depository, the place where assassin Lee Harvey Oswald concealed himself.

 4 of the Best Boutique Hotels in Dallas

Spacious rooms, free cookies and a perfect location in Dallas’ historic district set apart the Magnolia Dallas Downtown, a boutique hotel in a 1922 building. (The iconic neon Pegasus, once a symbol of the Magnolia Oil Company, stands on the building’s roof.)^v

If your travel companion has four legs, check into the Hotel Lumen, a Dallas boutique hotel that welcomes dogs — even large breeds. Located near Southern Methodist University, the Hotel Lumen is a creative reimagining of a 1960s motel, with a rooftop lounge and outdoor pool.

The Hotel ZaZa, in Uptown Dallas, is a destination in itself. Each of the hotel’s “concept suites” is designed around a different theme, such as “Bohemia” (a richly patterned parlor with period accessories), “Texas” (cowhide and leather), and “Shag-a-Delic” (lava lamps and beanbag chairs).

The Hotel Belmont is more remote than these other Dallas hotels, but it makes up for that with two big pluses: low rates and a stunning view of the city skyline. Guests love the hotel restaurant, SMOKE, which serves Texas treats like beer-can chicken and coffee-cured smoked brisket.

3 Great Places to Eat in Dallas 

There are three things you absolutely have to try in Dallas: smoked brisket, steak and Tex-Mex.

 For brisket, you can’t go wrong with Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum, which claims its pit-smoked barbecue is “just like homemade, but with slightly less cursing.” Ambitious diners should order the Pitmaster sandwich: brisket, pulled pork and sausage, topped with slaw, sauce and sliced jalapeños.

Dallas is filled with stellar steakhouses, including classics like Pappas Bros. and Bob’s Steak & Chop House. But for an extraordinary experience, consider Knife, created by “Top Chef” contestant Chef John Tesar. Knife is known for its special $50,000 dry-aging chamber, from which comes delicacies like its Creekstone ribeye aged for 240 days.^vi

What is Tex-Mex cuisine, anyway? Characterized by dishes like cheesy enchiladas and chili con carne (often with a generous sprinkling of cumin), Tex-Mex is a fusion of cuisines from northern Mexico and the Tejano culture.^vii Avila’s has been a favorite Dallas Tex-Mex destination for decades.

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