North Texas combines some of the greenery of the Hill Country with the metropolitan nature of some of Texas’ largest cities. Considering that you can easily get the best of both worlds in a fairly short drive and there are scenic things to do all year round, it’s no surprise that there are dozens of fun things to do in North Texas!
North Texas is the umbrella term for the area covering Waco to the Oklahoma border.
It encompasses the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and hundreds of small towns, state parks, lakes, amusem*nt parks, and other activities in between.
Dallas provides full-on city vibes with a great restaurant and bar culture downtown, especially the Margarita Mile.
To the west, Fort Worth has a much more calm, country vibe with The Stockyards and Sundance Square taking center stage for visitors.
Here are the North Texas attractions to add to your bucket list!
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Stop and smell the roses in Tyler.
Tyler is known as the Rose Capital of America. They boast the largest rose garden in the U.S.
They host an annual rose festival in October, complete with food, live music, and of course acres and acres of flowers!
This is definitely an Instagram-worthy outing that’s worth adding to your list of places to visit in North Texas.
Experience a concert at Toyota Music Factory.
American Airlines Center is typically where concerts are hosted in Dallas, however, the Toyota Music Factory can definitely be alluring.
The outdoor seating access and the smaller venue make the experience a little more intimate, and the surrounding restaurants and bars are great for hanging out before or after. If you find yourself here in the summers be sure to check out their Summer Outdoor Concert Series.
Chill in the clouds at Reunion Tower.
Reunion Tower has great views for 50 stories up!
You can grab dinner here, or have some drinks with friends. You can also just grab a ticket and tour the attraction by itself.
This is a great way to see Dallas’ impressive skyline. The building is also outfitted with leaning windows if you’re a little bit of a thrill-seeker!
See the cattle drives at The Fort Worth Stockyards.
The Stockyards are a slice of Texan history. If you want to be transported to the world of cowboy boots and roaming cattle this is the spot to be at.
The cattle drive happens twice a day and the surrounding area is very much reflective of the country vibe.
You can check out the Stockyard museums and have some great Texas barbecue nearby as well.
Drink your way through the Margarita Mile.
No trip to Texas is complete without a margarita. Luckily the Dallas area has a round-up of all the top spots to get one.
This is a great way to explore unique restaurants throughout the area. Be sure to download the app and share your experience!
Seek out the sunflower fields.
North Texas is known for its gorgeous sunflower fields–and while farmers don’t tend to appreciate visitors walking into their crop, you can always stop to snap photos from the side of the road.
Or, to enjoy the flowers at their best, visit one of these Texas sunflower farms that welcome visitors!
Visit Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
Dallas and Fort Worth make up the main city portions of North Texas, but there are some really luscious, green spaces right at the outskirts of the city.
Lake Mineral Wells is a really scenic stop along the route out of Fort Worth. This state park near Dallashas great hiking, rock climbing, and aquatic activities.
The entrance is very inexpensive and there are enough activities that you can spend the whole day enjoying one of the best places to visit in North Texas.
Join the fun at the Texas State Fair.
The fairgrounds at Texas State Fair are some of the biggest in the country. This fair is top-notch in both space and attendance.
Pack your stomach with all of the unique dishes as well as the classics. Every year there are new items to try!
We definitely trying to take public transport into the fairgrounds if possible–the traffic to get home is infamous.
Explore Main Street in Grapevine.
Grapevine is an unlikely “must-see” place to visit in North Texas.
To most, Grapevine is your regular, run-of-the-mill suburb. However, once you turn onto Main Street, you get transported to a previous time.
There are small independent businesses that line the streets, and it makes you feel like you’re in a homey town far away from the bustling city.
Add in one of the state’s best wine festivals every year (aptly named Grapefest) and the fact that Grapevine is Texas’ Capital of Christmas, and it’s no surprise that Grapevine is such a beloved corner of North TX!
Check out the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.
The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens are practically a year-round hit.
You can come and pick pumpkins during the fall season or enjoy a holiday tea for Christmas.
They have a beautiful Japanese Garden that is luscious and green, they also have cute little restaurants where you can sit and take in the view.
Release your inner kid at Six Flags Over Texas.
Six Flags is always a fun stop to make, especially if you’re exploring North Texas with kids. Texas is very fortunate to have two Six Flags locations.
The location in North Texas is located in Arlington near the baseball stadium and other hotspots of the city.
After riding roller coasters all day you can head out just a couple of miles away and find some fun restaurants to cool down from the fun.
Follow in the footsteps of dinosaurs.
Dinosaur Valley State Park is one of the most unique places to visit in North Texas–and as the name suggests, is where we can prove that dinosaurs used to roam. There are still visible tracks left in the waterbeds of the river!
This state park near Fort Worth encompasses 20 miles worth of trails and has a laundry list of activities throughout the area.
The river also is used by avid kayakers, there is a rental facility on-site if you’re not able to bring your own. Additionally, you can go horseback riding with your own horses or through a private company.
Exploring this area on horseback is a whole different feel and will give you a sense of discovering the country in a whole different way.
Spend the day in Granbury.
Not only was it the first Texas courthouse square to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but Granbury’s square acts as a thriving center of both its tourism industry and its community, with restaurants, boutiques, wine tasting rooms, bed and breakfasts, the city’s opera house, and more all crowding together around the edges of the square.
Add in one of Texas’ most popular ghost tours, plenty of antique shops, a popular drive-in theater, and even a sandy beach, and there’s no doubt that the beautiful town of Granbury belongs on your North Texas bucket list!
Visit a local winery or brewery.
Hill Country vineyards supply Texas with most of its hits in the wine department. Several of those local vineyards can get booked up very far in advance.
However, several local wineries in North Texas are able to give you an identical experience without the crowds.
There are great local breweries that have great food and a cold beer on tap. There is no better way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon.
Enjoy the Christmas festivities at the Gaylord Texan.
The Gaylord Texan Hotel is breathtaking whenever you go to visit, thanks in part to its magnificent lobby that expands out to an atrium of sorts with high glass ceilings. It makes you feel like you’re in an enclosed forest in a way.
Christmas is extra special with the high trees, snow tubes, and ice skating. It is the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit.
Seek out bluebonnets.
Texas’ state flower may only pop up for a short window of time, but they pack a big punch!
Every late March and April, you suddenly see cars pulled over along the sides of the roads for people to snap photos.
North Texas has several small towns which show off these beautiful flowers, including Ennis, which is home to the beloved Ennis Bluebonnet Trails.
Go horseback riding.
Rodeo season makes North Texas light up, however, there are several operating ranches that have classes or camps where you can try out horseback riding all year round.
This is a great way to explore nature and it’s a fun way to shake up an afternoon with a totally unique experience in North Texas!
Go country dancing at a dance hall.
Most people may associate dance halls with Footloose, but on the ground in Texas, the vibe is quite different. There are several locations all over the area and especially in Dallas or Fort Worth.
It is fun to get a couple of dance lessons and try out your own moves on the floor. There really is nothing else like it!
Visit the River Bend Nature Center.
River Bend Nature Center is a cool, glass-enclosed center out in Wichita Falls.
You wouldn’t think an attraction of this size would be out on the plains!
The River Bend Nature Center boasts 20 acres dedicated to educating the public about their natural environment. There is a wonderful butterfly conservatory as well. Definitely bring your camera!
Visit the Silos.
Waco is probably most notable for Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV fame.
They have built out a large attraction in Waco that includes several restaurants, shops, and boutiques.
The bakery is one of the definite highlights of the entire area.
If you can, stop by during one of the annual festivals!
Check out the Fort Worth Water Gardens.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens are a cute spot to sit and enjoy a breath of fresh air near Sundance Square.
Grab a meal to-go from one of the local restaurants and head over to this area to enjoy lunch or dinner outside.
There are three different “pools” and this is a great spot to have some photos taken or just to enjoy a change of scenery!
Ride the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.
Running from Main Street in Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards, a day on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad will allow you to experience several of the best things to do in North Texas in one day!
Watch a race at the Texas Motor Speedway.
NASCAR culture is big in Texas. Every year, thousands of folks flock to the speedway to enjoy a day at the races.
This area has so much going on that you’ll always find an event coming up.
Pay a visit to the Eiffel Tower.
Located near the Oklahoma border, the town of Paris, Texas, boasts its very own Eiffel Tower–complete with a red cowboy hat, of course!
Unsurprisingly, this is one of the most popular roadside attractions in Texas.
Visit the Bishop Arts District.
If you’re looking for a really hip and artsy neighborhood, the Bishop Arts District in Dallas should be at the top of your list!
There are tons of small shops and restaurants with unique art galleries and theaters to boot.
Whether you’re looking to find a perfect dinner spot for a date or you want to enjoy an entire day out with friends, there is something for you!
Visit the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco.
Dr. Pepper has definitely made a big impact on North Texas.
The famous soda brand was founded in North Texas and several institutions now bear its name.
The museum is a small excursion but it’s definitely unique with lots of history and belongs on your list of what to do in North Texas.
Beat the heat at a waterpark.
Schlitterbahn may be Texas’ most famous water park, but North Texas has a bunch of really great waterparks of its own.
From Hurricane Harbor to Epic Waters you’ll find no shortage of great parks.
The summers in Texas can be overwhelming so this is a really great way to cool off and have some fun!
