what to do in dallas

What to Do in Dallas See the documentaries, photographs and artifacts that chronicle the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (411 Elm St.). Poignant exhibits documenting John F. Kennedy's life and legacy are housed in the former Texas School Book Depository, where investigators found Lee Harvey Oswald's rifle and “sniper's perch” on Nov. 22, 1963.

Before paying your respects at the nearby John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial (on Market St., between Main and Commerce sts.), stroll around Dealey Plaza. For the best view of the area, climb the infamous grassy knoll—at its crest, a concrete pergola honoring Dallas founder John Neely Bryan has become the unofficial headquarters for dedicated conspiracy theorists.

Visit the crown jewel of Dallas shopping: Neiman Marcus' flagship store (1618 Main St.), opened in downtown Dallas in 1914. While elegant displays peddle glittery baubles and satiny garments, the legendary strawberry butter-topped popovers of the Zodiac Restaurant, located on level six, pretty much sell themselves.

For designer labels, exquisite jewels and distinctive footwear, head to Highland Park Village (Preston Road and Mockingbird Lane), a lovely, tree-shaded shopping center established in 1931.

Snag tickets to see the NBA Mavericks or the NHL Stars play at the American Airlines Center (2500 Victory Ave.) during your trip. After the game, party like a rock star at W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences ' The Living Room (2440 Victory Park Ln.), or any of the other trendy bars and nightlife spots in the area.

Explore the 68-acre Downtown Dallas Arts District, southeast of SR 366 at Ross Avenue and St. Paul Street. In addition to the AT&T Performing Arts Center (2403 Flora St.), the Crow Museum of Asian Art (2010 Flora St.) and the Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N. Harwood St.), the area boasts outdoor artwork and architectural stunners like the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a High Victorian Gothic structure dedicated in 1902.

Cheer on the athletes at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo , a rugged competition founded in Mesquite in 1958 by a group of cowboys—among them five-time world champion bull rider Harry Tomkins and Jim Shoulders, the “Babe Ruth of Rodeo.” From June through August, participants showcase skills as lassoing and bronco riding in the slick Mesquite Arena (1818 Rodeo Dr.).

Ascend Reunion Tower , part of the Hyatt Regency Dallas complex (300 Reunion Blvd.), and snap a selfie on the GeO-Deck as you enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the city.

Travel to nearby Arlington to see Dallas' five-time Super Bowl winners pull on their star-stamped helmets. If the Cowboys aren't playing, you can tour the team's magnificent domed home, AT&T Stadium (1 AT&T Way).

Catch a concert, check out agricultural exhibits, indulge in deep-fried delicacies and holler “Howdy!” to a 55-foot-tall cowboy named Big Tex at the State Fair of Texas (R.B. Cullum Blvd. and Pennsylvania Ave.). Beginning in late September, the country's largest state fair attracts more than 2.4 million people annually to historic Fair Park (2 mi. e. of downtown off I-30).