From cozy cafes and picturesque parks to vibrant cultural attractions, Dallas brims with romantic date spots perfect for couples. The Dallas Arts District impresses with world-class museums, performing arts venues, and landscaped green spaces ideal for strolling hand-in-hand.
| Activity | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Dallas Arboretum | Picturesque gardens, scenic views |
| Bishop Arts District | Cozy cafes, boutiques, street art |
| Reunion Tower | 360-degree views, dining experience |
| Perot Museum of Nature and Science | Interactive exhibits, evening events |
| Deep Ellum | Street art, live music, unique boutiques |
| Six Flags Over Texas | Thrilling rides, seasonal events |
| Dallas Museum of Art | Fine art collections, special events |
| Trinity River Audubon Center | Nature trails, kayaking, birdwatching |
| Nasher Sculpture Center | Modern sculptures, garden spaces |
| Texas Horse Park | Sunset trail rides, themed nights |
| Heritage Farmstead Museum | Historical tours, seasonal events |
Quaint neighborhoods like Bishop Arts District and Deep Ellum seduce visitors with their trendy date-night dining and boutique shopping. For outdoor romance, Dallas Arboretum’s colorful gardens and scenic White Rock Lake provide Instagram-worthy backdrops for couples’ photos. Read on for the top 12 most romantic things for couples to do in Dallas.
Dallas Arboretum
Name and Location: The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the shores of White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas.
History and Significance: Originally constructed in 1939 as part of a private estate, the Dallas Arboretum opened to the public in 1984. Today it spans 66 acres with elaborate seasonal flower displays and gardens showcasing plants from around the world.
What to Expect: Visitors can see expansive manicured gardens with over 50,000 plants, fountains, a children’s adventure garden, and seasonal floral shows. Popular spots include the Jonsson Color Garden and A Woman’s Garden.
Visitor Information: The Arboretum is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Hours are 9am-5pm. Admission is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors and $12 for children ages 3-12.
Spanning over 60 acres near White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum enchants visitors with creatively designed gardens, fountains, picturesque architecture, and breathtaking skyline views. The Arboretum’s meticulously manicured grounds give couples plenty of privacy while strolling among the vibrant floral displays hand-in-hand. Must-see gardens include the 5-acre Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden and the Lay Family Garden with its tranquil koi pond. Don’t miss the picturesque DeGolyer Home, whose colonnaded veranda overlooking White Rock Lake creates a memorable engagement photo backdrop. From intricate garden rooms to Instagrammable skyline vistas, the Dallas Arboretum sets the scene for romance.
Bishop Arts District
Name and Location: The Bishop Arts District is a walkable historic neighborhood in north Oak Cliff, Dallas featuring a mix of local restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and public art.
History and Significance: Named after the Bishop & Davis General Store built in the early 1900s, the area fell into decline before efforts in the 1980s led to a revival centered around small independent businesses and creative spaces while retaining its vintage architecture and charm.
What to Expect: Visitors stroll the tree-lined streets browsing locally-owned shops showcasing fashion, gifts, antiques and artisan goods while also enjoying chef-driven eateries, bakeries, dessert shops and quaint cafes for a taste of Dallas culture.
Visitor Information: Free to visit. Shops and restaurants have varying hours, some open late. Metered street parking, garages nearby. DART access via bus. Info at bishopartsdistrict.com.
With its cozy cafes, quirky boutiques, street art murals, and underground jazz lounges, the Bishop Arts District brings Old World charm to Dallas dating. Meander the tree-lined streets while popping into the district’s myriad locally owned shops showcasing artisan gifts and funky vintage wares. Stop for a romantic meal at one of the neighborhood’s dozens of restaurants spanning Italian trattorias, wine bars, and cozy French bistros ideal for tête-à-tête dining. Catch an independent film screenings at the historic Texas Theatre or sway to live music at Boulevardier wine pub for a memorable date night out with your sweetheart.
Reunion Tower
Name and Location: Reunion Tower is a 561-foot observation tower located in downtown Dallas, Texas.
History and Significance: Completed in 1978, the tower was originally built as a communications tower but also features a public observation deck. It provides 360-degree views of Dallas and the surrounding areas. Its ball lights up the Dallas skyline at night.
What to Expect: Visitors can ride to the GeO-Deck observation deck 470 feet up the tower. There they find telescopes, interactive consoles, a gift shop and the Five Sixty restaurant which revolves for panoramic city views while dining.
Visitor Information: Reunion Tower is open daily 10am-9pm, with seasonal variations. General admission starts at $18 for adults and $13 for youth ages 4-12. Restaurant reservations recommended.
Soaring 560 feet high, Reunion Tower’s geodesic dome has been part of Dallas’ iconic skyline for over 40 years. What better way to soak in 360-degree open-air views of Big D than from Reunion Tower’s revolving restaurant and observation deck? The Tower Top experience includes a ride up the exterior glass elevators followed by a full revolution in the dining room to take in unobstructed city panoramas. With glittering skyscrapers on all sides, dinner at Reunion Tower makes for a one-of-a-kind romantic evening complete with behind-the-scenes kitchen tour and champagne toast. Sense the romance spark 200 feet above downtown in Reunion Tower’s lofty aerie.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Name and Location: The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located in Victory Park, Dallas near downtown.
History and Significance: Opened in 2012, the museum was funded by a $200 million gift from the Perot family to inspire minds through nature and science. Its striking architectural design has become a Dallas landmark.
What to Expect: Visitors explore 5 floors with 11 exhibit halls focusing on everything from dinosaurs and space to gems, physics, the human body and more. The Moody Family Children’s Museum, lab spaces, an IMAX theater and cafe provide a full day of discovery.
Visitor Information: Open daily 10am-5pm except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. General admission is $25 for adults, $19 for youth ages 2-17 with member, senior and other discounts available.
At the architecturally striking Perot Museum downtown, couples can marvel at dinosaur fossils, stargaze in the planetarium, and journey through captivating nature and science exhibits. Don’t miss the Art of the Bird hall showcasing dazzling ornithological displays. Other date-night favorites include the magnificent gems and minerals hall and the children’s area with outdoor learning experiences. Special 21+ evening social events include craft cocktails, live music, pop-up snack bars, and adults-only access to select exhibit halls for intriguing after-dark fun. For an atypical museum date wandering imaginative galleries hand-in-hand, Perot Museum hits the mark.
Deep Ellum
Name and Location: Deep Ellum is an eclectic entertainment and nightlife district located just east of downtown Dallas, Texas.
History and Significance: Known as the birthplace of jazz and blues in Dallas starting in the early 1900s, today the area draws trendy crowds to music venues, bars, eateries and shops in an edgy, creative setting amid colorful murals and retro architecture.
What to Expect: Visitors bar hop and listen to local bands while browsing art galleries and tattoo parlors or enjoying some of Dallas’ top new restaurants featuring everything from barbecue, burgers and tacos to vegan fare in an energetic urban atmosphere.
Visitor Information: Free to visit. Bars and venues open nightly, some until 2am. Shops keep daytime hours. Area maps at deepellumtexas.com. Street parking, Uber recommended.
Known for its vibrant street art, live music venues, unique boutiques, and hip dining scene, Deep Ellum brings cool urban edge to Dallas romance with its warehouse district charm. Post up at Braindead Brewing’s patio for award-winning brews and gourmet pizzas baked in a repurposed steel shipping container. Catch standup comedy sets at Dallas Comedy House or improv shows at Ad Libs Comedy Club for laughs-filled date nights. Deep Ellum shines brightest at sundown when dazzling neon signs cast a nostalgic glow for meandering couples seeking low-key dating adventures off the beaten path.
Six Flags Over Texas
Name and Location: Six Flags Over Texas amusement park is located in Arlington, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth.
History and Significance: Opened in 1961 as the first Six Flags theme park, today Six Flags Over Texas offers over 100 rides, shows and attractions across 220 acres drawing millions of visitors each year with its world-class rollercoasters, family rides and entertainment.
What to Expect: Thrill seekers experience rollercoasters like Batman The Ride and Titan while families enjoy Bugs Bunny World, splash park and shows like the Looney Tunes Dance Party. Events, dining and character interactions all day and into special fright nights.
Visitor Information: Open daily late March-December, weekend operations in Spring. Parking fee of $30. Single day tickets start at $70 online for ages 3 and up. Season passes available.
What’s more romantic than careening through world-class roller coasters with your number one thrill seeker? Six Flags Over Texas offers couples over 100 rides and attractions spread across over 200 acres theme park 20 minutes from downtown Dallas. From the record-breaking hybrid coaster Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast to Pandemonium’s epic near-vertical drop, Six Flags Over Texas pushes adrenaline levels through the roof. When you need to unwind, admire sweeping views of the park while riding the Runaway Mountain railway or bask in soft glow of five million dazzling lights illuminating Six Flags Over Texas during Holiday in the Park. __
Dallas Museum of Art
Name and Location: The Dallas Museum of Art is located on Harwood Street in downtown Dallas, Texas, within the Dallas Arts District.
History and Significance: Established in 1903, the DMA is one of the 10 largest museums in America with over 25,000 works spanning 5,000 years of creativity from regions around the world, making it a significant cultural destination.
What to Expect: Visitors enjoy Ancient American and European works, alongside lectures, concerts, film screenings, interactive spaces for kids and families, multiple cafes and gift shops to relax within world-class art galleries.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesdays-Sundays 11am-5pm, Thursdays until 9pm. Closed Mondays, major holidays. Free general admission, special exhibits extra. Accessibility services.
Set within a sleek downtown building spanning nearly 400,000 square feet, DMA wows art lovers with its curated fine art spanning thousands of years of human creativity. The Museum’s free general admission policy lets you visit multiple times to admire favorites like Van Gogh masterpieces, contemporary African art, and innovative modern pieces. DMA also stays open until midnight on the third Friday of each month when young professionals flock for cocktails, music, and artsy ambiance perfect for offbeat date nights. Don’t miss a selfie beside Robert Smithson’s architectural sculpture “Amarillo Ramp” before admiring the Dallas Arts District views from DMA’s Ross Avenue Plaza.
Trinity River Audubon Center
Name and Location: The Trinity River Audubon Center is located just south of downtown Dallas on the Trinity River’s Great Trinity Forest.
History and Significance: Founded in 2008, this LEED Platinum certified nature center protects indigenous wildlife and offers environmental programs including bird walks, habitat restoration, canoe floats and forest excursions along the river bottoms.
What to Expect: Outdoor enthusiasts hike trails, observe wildlife, attend conservation events and visit the Native Texas Park section showcasing plants and grasses native to Dallas as they learn about local ecology and stewardship.
Visitor Information: Free admission to trails and park daily. Nature center and shop open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Classes and events may have fees. Directions at trinityriverauduboncenter.org.
Nestled between the Trinity River and 6,000-acre Great Trinity Forest, this hidden eco-centric gem makes for a novel outdoor date spot beyond Dallas’ urban borders. Inside the LEED Platinum certified center, interactive exhibits detail North Texas ecology and conservation issues while the building’s floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic wetland vistas dotted with egrets and songbirds. Tour guides lead free monthly hikes through these tranquil natural acres or rent a kayak and venture downriver for waterside wildlife watching. TRAC’s scenic trails also invite romantic twilight strolls surrounded by the sounds of nature with downtown’s glittering high-rises illuminating the horizon.
Nasher Sculpture Center
Name and Location: The Nasher Sculpture Center is located in the Dallas Arts District.
History and Significance: Opened in 2003, the museum was established by the late Ray Nasher to display his extensive art collection. It contains one of the finest collections of modern sculpture in the world with works by Calder, Giacometti, Rodin and more.
What to Expect: Visitors admire rotating indoor and outdoor exhibits of celebrated classical and contemporary sculpture from internationally acclaimed artists within the beautiful architecture and green space of the museum’s grounds.
Visitor Information: Open Wednesday-Sunday 11am–5pm, closed Monday-Tuesdays and major holidays. Timed tickets $10-25. Audio guides included. Cafe and store onsite. Accessibility options.
Located in the acclaimed Dallas Arts District downtown, the airy glass-walled Nasher Sculpture Center beautifully exhibits rotating collections from modern and contemporary sculptors. The Center’s indoor galleries as well as its landscaped garden spaces sprinkled with intriguing artwork create intimate spaces for couples to quietly connect while appreciating masterpieces by greats like Matisse and Rodin. Don’t miss the charming sunlit roof garden showcasing skyline views and a life-size recreation of Robert Rauschenberg’s New York loft Bring your sweetheart to admire thought-provoking sculpture against architect Renzo Piano’s gracefully curved walls flooded in soothing natural light.
Texas Horse Park
Name and Location: The Texas Horse Park is an equestrian venue located south of Dallas in the city of Mesquite, Texas at 811 Pecan Tree Road.
History and Significance: Opened in 2008, this facility spans over 250 acres dedicated to supporting all horse sports disciplines, breeds and styles with events, camps, lessons and trails across both indoor and outdoor arenas, stables and riding spaces.
What to Expect: Equestrian enthusiasts attend rodeos, fairs, breed showcases and clinics while youth participate in educational programs like horsemanship camps. Visitors tour the stables and interact with horses when activities are not underway.
Visitor Information: Hours, events and fees vary by activity with an online calendar. Visitors are welcome for events or to arrange riding. Details at texashorsepark.com or call 972-285-8979.
Nestled on over 700 acres within Dallas’ Trinity River corridor, Texas Horse Park provides a peaceful natural backdrop for equine-centric couples outings. Sign up for sunset trail rides along the river followed by s’mores fireside while snuggling close to your saddle mate as horses graze nearby. Lovebirds can also go on pony rides together through the park’s scenic wooded trails. Texas Horse Park also hosts themed date nights and barn dances in its covered event pavilion stringed with fairy lights. For horse-loving duos, few date locales exude bucolic charm like Texas Horse Park just minutes from downtown.
Heritage Farmstead Museum
Name and Location: Heritage Farmstead Museum is a 4-acre living history site located 3 miles north of downtown Dallas that preserves a 19th century farmstead.
History and Significance: Affiliated with Dallas Heritage Village, it features the 1860s Alexander Cockrell home, barn, smokehouse and livestock straight out of the post-Civil War era, all maintained and interpreted by costumed volunteers and staff through demonstrations, exhibits and events.
What to Expect: Guests tour original structures and interact with heritage breed farm animals while learning what pioneer farm life was like regarding topics like agriculture, quilting, blacksmithing and regional history for an immersive pastoral experience just minutes from Dallas city life.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday noon-4 pm, closed Mondays and holidays. Adults $9, seniors/youth $7, under 5 free. Group tours available.
History buff duos will delight in the pastoral four-acre Heritage Farmstead Museum depicting late 19th century prairie life in North Texas. This living history museum centered around a two-story Victorian home lets couples join candlelit tours showcasing heritage craft demos, pioneer cooking methods, and artifacts from the 1880s settlement era. Romantic opportunities include fireside cuddles while listening to costumed interpreters spin tales of Texas’ frontier period as well as capturing photos clad in bonnets and brocade vests provided by the museum. Beyond heritage entertainment, Heritage Farmstead Museum provides old-fashioned romance through candlelit dinners, county fair events, and seasonal decorations.
Conclusion
For couples seeking distinctive romantic activities, Dallas brings dynamic and dreamy diversity perfect for impressive date nights on the town. From scenic green spaces to innovative museums, Dallas’ world-class attractions create unforgettable backdrops for couples in love to connect while making magical memories. Whether an adrenaline-filled afternoon riding rollercoasters or a sophisticated soiree uptown sipping fine wines, fun locales for affairs of the heart around Dallas abound.