A weekend trip to Dallas Fort Worth is a perfect way to reconnect with a friend or loved one. You can bond over live music, discussions on historical events, and western culture.
This 2 day Dallas Fort Worth itinerary is for travelers seeking a budget-friendly trip with lots to see and do.
On this trip, you get a taste of the rocking nightlife in the Dallas neighborhood of Deep Ellum. Then, history comes alive at the site of President JFK’s assassination and the Sixth Floor Museum. The weekend ends in Fort Worth for thrilling western sport at Fort Worth Stockyards Rodeo.
You will not be disappointed to cross off Dallas Fort Worth from your bucket list!
I made this trip with my mom. Neither of us had been to Dallas Fort Worth before. And even though I’ve binged full seasons of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team, there is much more to this southern city than the blue shorts and white boots.
This itinerary gives you the best recommendations on where you should stay, where to eat, and what to do on this 2-day trip. The itinerary is mapped out for a Friday/Saturday trip, but you can easily apply these activities and recommendations to a Saturday/Sunday trip, too.
This is an itinerary for a weekend in Dallas Fort Worth
Day 1- Friday
Where to stay in Downtown Dallas
I highly recommend you stay at the Magnolia Hotel in Downtown Dallas. This hotel is in a great location, right on Commerce St, and Main St., full of stores and restaurants.
The hotel is contemporary meets historic architecture! A bright red Pegasus, the icon of Dallas, Texas, greets you in the grand lobby.
This 400-foot high building was built in 1922 for the Magnolia Petroleum Company, now turned hotel Magnolia. Not only is this hotel located the city’s first skyscraper, but the Magnolia Hotel is also the first high rise in the States to have air conditioning!
Needless to say, we were very comfortable throughout our stay. The front desk staff proved to be accommodating when lending us umbrellas for our trip. I got to the hotel with no reservation, and the front desk receptionist recommended booking online rather than paying the higher price quoted at the hotel desk.
FindHotel offered an excellent price for a room at the Magnolia Hotel in Dallas, TX. The Queen Bed – Deluxe Room costs us $93.46 per night on FindHotelMy; prices vary. My mom and I checked in to a Standard Double Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dallas. The room was more spacious with two beds than the last, but I prefer the Magnolia Hotel for its central downtown location.
What to do on a weekend trip to
Dallas Fort Worth
Dallas farmer’s market
My mom and I headed to the Dallas Farmer’s Market first thing in the morning on our first day in Dallas. The Farmer’s Market opens at 10 a.m., except for Saturday when it opens at 9 a.m.
The Dallas Farmer’s Market is a large food hall and artisanal vendor hub.There are indoor and outdoor seating areas, but I found the indoor food hall is where you’ll find the most activity. This is a great place to take pictures! Vibrant-colored food stands line the Farmers Market hall, inviting curious visitors to support local vendors. Overall, this is a fun place to start your weekend trip to Dallas.
Juicebabe Dallas farmers market
Juicebabe was our absolute favorite find at the Dallas Farmer’s Market. This juice bar offers a curated selection of fresh juices, never made with ice or artificial sweeteners.
Their menu is super cute and helpful!
Aside from listing every ingredient in each curated recipe, the menu also boasts the health benefits of each concept. The barista picks out fresh fruit and vegetable and puts them through the juicer for a fresh, natural taste.
My mom ordered the Flu Fighter Juice with carrot and ginger. I got the Beet Still My Heart with beet and carrot. JuiceBabe also offers on-the-go options like bottled juices, shots, and other healthy treats.
Ruibal’s Plants of Texas
Right across the street from the Dallas Farmer’s Market is the flagship store of Ruibal’s Plants.
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Ruibal’s Plants is a garden shop where you can get all things plants, pottery, gifts, and home decor. My mom and I had fun taking pictures in the garden. The entire store takes up two city blocks in downtown Dallas, and I learned that Ruibal’s Plants has three other locations in Dallas.
Civic Gardens & interactive fountain
Two blocks west from the Magnolia Hotel, you can visit the Civic Garden on your way to the JFK memorials. The great thing about Downtown Dallas is that it’s a safe area, and all of the places we visited were within walking distance of each other.
Make your first stop at Civic Garden, which features interactive fountains that create splendid water arches. My mom couldn’t resist CROUCHING through the water arches. She almost made it all the way through until she got soaking wet at the end! It was a rainy day, so we had already decided a little bit of water couldn’t rain on our parade, and we continued our walk to the downtown area.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza
Continue west for four blocks, and you’ll come across John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza on the corner of Main and Market. President JFK was shot in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. The city of Dallas honors him in many ways — the JFK memorial is one of those landmarks.
The people of Dallas erected a concrete JFK Monument at Memorial Plaza in as “a permanent tribute to the joy and excitement of one man’s life.”
Although Dallas pays tribute to JFK in several ways after his assassination in this city, before coming to Dallas, I hardly thought about the assassination of the 35th president. Maybe it’s because I fell asleep in history class or because I live under a rock, but I didn’t know this city was tied to this historic event.
Dallas has not forgotten about the murder that took place here more than 50 years ago, not too far from today.
The Sixth Floor Museum
There is a lot uncover about the assassination of the 35th President of the United States when you visit Dallas. If you relish American History and conspiracy theories, you must visit the Sixth Floor Museum. A weekend trip to Dallas fort worth would not be complete without this landmark stop to the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza.
The Sixth Floor Museum opened in 1989, almost thirty years after the JFK murder, in the same building where the bullet was reportedly fired by his killer.
You can actually stand by the window from where the shooter fired at JFK. And outside, on the streets of Dealey Plaza, you can stand in the very spot where JFK was shot, if you’re into that kind of stuff.
If you don’t know, and I didn’t, JFK was waving at crowds of people from a convertible during the President’s Day Parade in Dallas, TX in 1963.
The Sixth Floor Museum consists of two floors that tell the life and story of JFK, the Kennedy Family, and the assassination that shook the country. You can learn the history of the Kennedys at this museum through a combination of text and video material, images, and memorabilia.
My mom and I stayed at the Sixth Floor Museum for an hour before deciding it was time to go. There is only so much information I can absorb in one day, and there is A LOT of content to take in at the museum. Online it says it can take 90 minutes to get through the exhibit. I can tell you, in one hour, we only made it through three-fourths of the first floor – didn’t touch the second-floor.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention the friendly tour guides at Dealey Plaza. For a few bucks, our walking tour guide told the REAL story of what happened in Daley Plaza that day in 1963. He mentioned juicy details like suspicious, last minute parade route changes and other conspiracy theories.
He even took us to the spot where some say JFK’s shooter was actually hiding, not on the sixth floor.
What to eat in Downtown Dallas
The Commissary for breakfast in Dallas
The Commissary is a building with an exterior of blue and white tile that makes it stand out and grab your attention. I was instantly intrigued by the building, which turned out to be exactly what I needed – a coffee shop!
Inside the cafe, the use of blue and white tile continues from floor to ceiling, making this a trendy place to visit. I could tell by the line of people waiting for their food and drinks!
The Commissary in Downtown Dallas sells European-style eats like sandwiches, wraps, and salads. They’ve got a variety of hot and cold drinks and some grab-and-go type items like yogurt, etc.
Very limited seating space inside shop. My mom and I were able to snag a table out front, but again there is little outdoor seating. A good option is to take your oder to go and enjoy it at the park or hotel.
Sky Blossom for lunch in Dallas
Sky Blossom Bistro is the perfect place for a Vietnamese fusion lunch in Downtown Dallas. My mom and I walked in with no reservation and were seated right away. Calling ahead is certainly advised.
Sky Blossom has a cute rooftop patio that overlooks downtown, and the Sky Blossom drink menu is to die for. When I tell you this place is adorable, I refer to the B-fly Effect. This tequila Sauza drink glitters in the sun and comes decorated with candy butterfly wings. The Lady J is another excellent choice on the Sky Blossom drink menu. It’s Espalon Blanco tequila, mezcal, and patron – if you fancy tequila like I d, you’ll like both drink options.
Dinner at The Woolworth
The Woolworth is another rooftop bar and restaurant in downtown Dallas. You can be a couple on a date, a group of friends, or dining alone and still enjoy beautiful city views and satisfying dinner at The Woolworth.
Across from the restaurant, you’ll see the giant eyeball sculpture that’s famous in Dallas. My mom wanted to take a picture right next to the eyeball and record it on Facebook Live. So she walks into the courtyard that’s clearly marked “closed.” A police guard stopped her in her tracks real quick for trespassing.
Reunion Tower – Dallas skyline views
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Reunion tower is the 15th tallest building in the city of Dallas. It’s one of the city’s most eye-catching landmarks because it’s a giant ball in the air with 259 LED lights!
You can’t miss it. If you’re driving in at night, you can see this dome structure from 15 miles away.
Reunion Tower is a great way to view the city of Dallas from 470 feet in the air.
You can look through a telescope at the observation deck and scan the skyline.
My mom and I paid $17 dollars per person for a 30-min admission.
If you want to spend more time at Reunion Tower, check their events calendar. You can buy tickets to parties and different events hosted in Reunion Tower.
After an active day around the city, Reunion tower is a great place to slow down and take in the grand city of Dallas.
Then, it’s time to transition into night-life Dallas fun.
End the night in Deep Ellum Dallas
Take an Uber from downtown Dallas to Deep Ellum to end the night with a splash! Deep Ellum is a neighborhood near downtown Dallas in what is known as East Dallas. From Reunion Tower, my mom and I took an 8 minute Uber ride to the heart of the Deep Ellum. Walking distance to Deep Ellum from Reunion Tower is about 30 to 40 minutes.
Deep Ellum is found across the I-365 expressway, along with Commerce, Main, and Elm streets. Five city blocks are lined back to back with bars and restaurants. My mom, I arrived on the scene around 9 or 10 p.m. At that time, there were crowds of people ready to party.
Deep Ellum Food
Grab a bite to eat at Ruins Deep Ellum.
I admit that I always gravitate towards restaurants and experiences rooted in Latin culture – and Ruins in Deep Ellum is all about Mexican folk art. Images of devilish masks and figures give this venue a real spooky feeling. Spooky and familiar to those who know. #FYKYK
Oaxaca-style Mexican Food, plus Tequila and Mezcal cocktails served at Ruins to those getting a late-night bite in Deep Ellum.
Deep Ellum Nightlife
My mom and I walked up and down Deep Ellum before deciding on a place to grab drinks and listen to music. The possibilities are so many!
You’ll be surprised at the variety of music blasting from each of the late-night venues in this neighborhood. We heard everything from blues and jazz, trap and rap, and Latino music.
You can imagine, there are long lines to get into some places, but you can quickly get into others. My mom and I decided to step into The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge. We were so fortunate to land at this place, which I can’t wait to return to.
The Free Man has outdoor seating, but inside is where the party is at! Local musicians play at The Free Man nightly, on the venues indoor stage.
The night that I was there, the music was so BOMB! Bruno Mars, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder – the live band had everyone singing and dancing. I had so much fun at the Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge.
Even though I did not try the food, I recommend you visit for the live music scene. There is an entry fee or cover fee of $10 per person.
Day 2 – Saturday
Weekend trip to Dallas Fort Worth
A weekend trip to Dallas, Fort Worth, has two parts. Day one is all about exploring the city of Dallas. But on day two, you end the weekend like a trip to Texas should end; at the rodeo.
When making a weekend trip to Dallas-Fort Worth, one option is to check into a different hotel if you’re staying two nights. Another option for day two is to get a place place to stay in Fort Worth.
Where to eat breakfast
I can only recommend that you visit Cindi’s NY Deli & Restaurant. The restaurant has excellent reviews on Google and an extensive menu
Museums to visit in Dallas
The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum opens at 10 a.m. and has various exhibits. The museum had an exhibition called The Fight for the Civil Rights in the South.
It was a moving exhibit with images of Freedom Riders, speeches from MLK, and other significant moments. The civil rights exhibit will anger you, make you cry, and show you images from American History that too closely mirror events today.
The Fight for Civil Rights in the South is a seasonal exhibit. It may not be at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum today. Look online for their current exhibitions. The main museum display takes you through the History of Hitler and the Holocaust across the world.
Around noon or 1 o’clock, you want to start heading from Dallas to Fort Worth, where you’ll spend the rest of the evening.
Afternoon in downtown Fort Worth
How to travel from Dallas to Fort Worth
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The Trinity Railway Express or TRE makes it so easy to travel from Dallas to Fort Worth. The trip takes an hour, starting from Union Station in Dallas and getting off at Fort Worth Central Station. My mom finds that traveling by train is comfortable and the most economical option in most cases.
The train to Fort Worth is well-kept and not crowded at all. There’s plenty of sitting space aboard the TRE. The best thing about traveling to Fort Worth on the TRE is that you don’t have to worry about driving.
A weekend trip to Dallas Fort Worth is made easy with the TRE.
My advice is that you download the app GoPass to purchase your train ticket.
My mom and I tried to use the self-service ticket booths at the train station, but the app was easier to work than the ticket booth.
Once you’re in the GoPass app, you want to Buy Tickets and select Adult/Child Regional Day Pass to get to Fort Worth and back. My mom and I paid twelve dollars per ticket.
The train runs late at night, so you can catch a ride back home at 9 or 10 after exploring Fort Worth.
Razzoo’s Canjun Cafe for lunch in Fort Worth
Get off the TRE at Fort Wort Union Station, and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe is a ten-minute walking distance from the station.
Razoo’s Cajun Cafe is a festive, New Orleans-inspired setting in downtown Fort Worth. There is very little traffic in this area. There are a few buildings that are historical landmarks, so it makes the walk very enjoyable.
My favorite part is getting into the Fort Worth Sundance Square. Here you’ll see magnificent western-inspired murals and lots of shops to browse and restaurants to choose from.
Evening at Fort Worth Stockyards
There is so much to do at the stockyards! Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic district that maintains its western Texas charm with brick walkways, wooden corrals, and livestock.
It’s bustling with bars and businesses that sell cowboy-style goods. There’s also petting zoos and corn mazes, live music, and a rodeo!
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How to get to Fort Worth Stockyards
From downtown Fort Worth, you can get quickly get to the Stockyards on the city bus. The trip is around 30 minutes. And you want to head to Fort Worth by 3:30 p.m. at the latest!
3 p.m. is even better to be on time to watch the only cattle drive in the world at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
My mom and I are very big on using public transportation whenever possible, especially when traveling. You save money on Ubers, that’s for sure. And the Fort Worth buses, like the TRE, are safe and in good condition.
Google Maps is a good resource for knowing the location of bus routes and stops.
Fort Worth Stockyards cattle drive
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Crowds of people go line the streets for a peek at the Fort Worth Hed Cattle Drive. What is a cattle drive, you ask? Imagine a herd of Texas Longhorn cattle parading down brick walkways and cowboys on tall horses steering a herd of cows.
The cattle drive only lasts about 15 minutes, so make sure you get there on time to catch it and get a good spot! The Fort Worth Cattle Drive happens twice daily at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The show is entirely free and happens outdoor in the open, public space.
Best bars in the Stockyards
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There are charming bars to pop into for a drink along W Exchange Ave, just steps from the Historic Stockyard District. Both bars that I visited with my mom had live country music and a western, barn-yard feel.
The Basement Bar is decorated with dollar bills pinned to the wall and blue-tone, low-lighting. My mom and I sat on wooden stools to listen to the band – XXXX. Neither of us had heard this band before, and neither of us listened to country music on the regular. But both of us know how to be open to new experiences and have a good time – especially if it involves live music.
Fort Worth Stockyards championship rodeo
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End the night at the Fort Worth Stockyards Championship Rodeo.
Every Friday and Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., you can watch bull riders and horse shows at the Fort Worth Cowtown Coliseum, located at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
You should purchase your tickets online and skip the in-person line.
The show lasts two hours, and is a mixed crowd of children and adults.
A cowgirl riding on a beautiful brown horse kicks off the rodeo with honors to the flag. She rides around the coliseum waving the American flag, then everyone sings the national anthem.
For those who’ve never seen a rodeo, the Fort Worth Stockyards Championship Rodeo is a good introduction to the sport.
Your weekend trip to Dallas Fort Worth would not be complete without cowboys and bull riders.
A weekend trip to Dallas Fort Worth can be exactly what you need to break out of your weekly routine. It’s an affordable trip, with lots to see and do. One thing’s for sure – you will be out and about so you may get more excitement than rest. But we’re here for a good time.
