10 Budget-Friendly Things To Do in Dallas, Texas

10 Budget-Friendly Things To Do in Dallas, Texas
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Everything is bigger in Texas but you do not have to shell out big bucks to have a good time in Dallas. If you imagined the heart of USA as long stretches of highway and roadside diners serving oversized hunks of meat, then Dallas may surprise you. This city is filled with beauty, culture, and comfort food at a reasonable cost. From free transit to experiencing history, here are ten things for the budget conscious.

1. Southern comfort food


Being down south, you will find some southern favorites like fried okra. Did you know Dallas is the host of the Okrapalooza cook off in September? If you cannot make it there for the festivities, you can still get crispy fried okra from restaurants like Ellen’s Southern Kitchen. They also serve up traditional breakfast like smooth creamy grits which is a great way to start your day.

Okrapalooza

Address: 7530 E Grand Ave Dallas, TX 75214

Contact: ejdry54@yahoo.com

Website: Okrapalooza

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2. Texas BBQ at Pecan Lodge

Pecan Lodge Barbecue
Source: Photo by user David Hale Smith used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Of course, if you are in Texas, you have to get barbecue. Situated in a vibrant neighborhood about a mile from downtown Dallas is Pecan Lodge. They offer flavorful smoked meat in an unpretentious cafeteria setting. If you feel like pigging out, one of the items on the menu is The Trough which has every kind of meat they serve. You can get fried okra here too.

Pecan Lodge

Address: Deep Ellum 2702 Main Street Dallas, TX 75226

Price: from 8-17 USD

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11am-3pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-3pm

Contact: +1 214 7488900 E-mail: info@pecanlodge.com

Website: Pecan Lodge

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3. Sample local drinks: frozen margarita and Dr Pepper


After your meal, be sure to grab the local drink: frozen margarita. The frozen margarita machine, which popularized the beverage, was invented by Mariano Martinez right here in Dallas. Although his restaurant is no longer around, it has left its footprint. You can find frozen margaritas at most bars in Dallas, sometimes in both the original yellow and blue curacao variety. If you cannot have alcohol for whatever reason, then grab a Dr Pepper. This bubbly concoction was invented by pharmacist Charles Alderton at a drug store in the nearby city of Waco.

Dr Pepper Museum

Address: 300 South 5th Street Waco, TX 76701

Price: Adults: 10 USD Senior Adults: 8 USD Students and children: 6 USD Military with ID: 8 USD 4 years and under: Free

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 am - 5:30 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Contact: +1 254 7571025

Website: Dr Pepper Museum

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4. Visit the JFK assassination spot and Memorial.

Dallas Elm Street Zapruder
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bradipus used under CC BY-SA 3.0

For more prominent history, take a walk down to the grassy knoll. This is the spot where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. You can wander the crime scene and wonder if there was a second shooter. Just north of the grassy knoll is the Book Depository Building where the shot was fire. This building now houses The Sixth Floor Museum to JFK. One block east is the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza which holds the post modern monument dedicated to JFK. If you are a history buff, this area has plenty of it. In addition to all things dedicated to President Kennedy, there is the Old Red Museum sandwiched between the grassy knoll and the memorial. This is as much of a museum of Americana as it is a popular wedding venue due to its castle like architecture. The Dallas Holocaust Museum is also right around the corner from the Book Depository.

The Sixth Floor Museum

Address: 411 Elm Street, Dallas, TX

Price: 16 USD for adults, 14 USD for Seniors 65+, 13 USD for Youth 6-18, 4 USD for Child 5 and under with Audio Guide, Free for Child without Audio Guide. Visitor parking is 7 USD.

Opening Hours: Mon 12pm – 6pm, Tues-Sun 10am – 6pm.

Access: Take the D-Link Route 722

Contact: +1 214 7476660

Near by Food: Ellen’s Southern Kitchen

Website: The Sixth Floor Museum

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5. Walk along the Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge

the 40-story arch of the margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
Source: Pixabay

For a more leisure activity, walk across the Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, also known as the Ronald Kirk Bridge. This is no ordinary bridge, it is a recreation area. There is a playground for kids and lounge chairs for adults. Most importantly, it has misting fountains to cool you off under the Texas sun. The Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge runs parallel to the adjacent Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which is a remarkable achievement in engineering with its landmark 40-story arch.

Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge

Address: 109 Continental Ave Dallas, TX 75207

Price: Free

Opening Hours: Open Daily from 5 am - 11 pm

Duration: 12 minute walk to cross the bridge .

Contact: +1 214 6719500 E-mail: mytrinity@dallascityhall.com

Near by Food: Food trucks.

Website: Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge

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6. Hike along the Trinity River


Dallas is known for having one of the best skylines winning the Best International Skyline Award in 2014. As with any city, the best views are from outside of the city. Once across the Trinity River, you can hike along the aptly named Trinity Skyline Trail where you can capture that view from many different perspectives. Along the way you will find the Trinity Overlook Park with information on what is here and what is being planned for this long stretch of green space.

Trinity Outlook

Address: 110 W. Commerce Street Dallas, TX 75208

Price: Free

Access: Access the Trinity Skyline Trail by walking down the ramp to the Dallas Floodway

Contact: +1 214 6719500​

Website: Trinity Skyline Trail

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7. Country cooking and Tex-Mex

THE BELMONT HOTEL - DALLAS
Source: Photo by user Jared eberhardt used under CC BY-SA 2.0

There is more to the West Dallas side of the Trinity River than just the view, there is great food. If chicken is your thing then Chicken Scratch is what you are looking for. It is a down-to-earth barnyard style restaurant specializing in chicken and biscuits. For more class, check out the bar and restaurant at the Belmont Hotel. They dish out a variety of cuisines including Tex-Mex. You may be able to try something like cabrito or young goat meat.

Bar Belmont

Address: 901 Fort Worth Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75208

Price: Cocktails from 5.50 USD

Opening Hours: Sun – Thur 3pm – Midnight, Fri – Sat 3pm – 2am

Contact: +1 866 8708010

Website: Bar Belmont

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8. Free M-Line trolley ride and D-Link 722 Bus

The old fashioned McKinney Avenue Trolley
Source: Pixabay

Downtown Dallas is pretty walkable, if it is not 100 degrees out. Unfortunately, it is almost always unbearably hot. Fortunately there is some free transit to help you get around town. There is the air-conditioned D-Link Route 722 bus that travels between the Convention Center to uptown. The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority provides a ride from downtown to West Village in their historic M-line Trolley.

D-Link (Route 722)

Price: Free

Opening Hours: Buses run every 15 minutes, 11 am - 11:30 pm, Monday-Saturday

Access: From the Convention Center, buses travel on Lamar, Wood, Houston, Ross, Field, Main, Harwood, Marilla, Cesar Chavez and Pearl, then loop over Flora and Olive to Cedar Springs and turn back over Pearl to basically the same route in reverse.

Contact: +1 214 9791111

Website: D-Link (Route 722)

M-Line Trolley

Address: 2700 Cityplace West Blvd. Dallas, TX 75204

Price: Free

Opening Hours: Operates 365 days a year. Check website for exact schedule.

Access: Look for a round maroon sign with the words “M-Line Trolley” on it

Contact: +1 214 8550006

Website: M-Line Trolley

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9. Reading and playing at Klyde Warren Park

Klyde Warren park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dqbush used under CC BY-SA 4.0

One of the M-line stops is at Klyde Warren Park. This 5.2-acre (2.1 hectare) green space is a good place to relax with stands carrying board games and newspapers. Food trucks crowd the adjacent street in addition to a few restaurants inside the park itself. The park is situated in close proximity to theaters, concert halls, and museums so it is easy to spend a whole day there.

Klyde Warren Park

Address: 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201

Price: Free

Opening Hours: Open Daily from 6 am to 11 pm

Access: Between Uptown and Downtown Dallas over Woodall Rodgers Freeway, between Pearl Street and St. Paul.

Contact: +1 214 7164500 E-mail: info@klydewarrenpark.org

Near by Food: Food trucks.

Website: Klyde Warren Park

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10. A moment of tranquility at Thanks-Giving Chapel


Tucked away in the middle of the commercial center is Thanks-Giving Square, a small park with a humble chapel. What the Chapel lacks in height it makes up for in architectural style far exceeding the surrounding high rise buildings. Inside the chapel and under the spiraling stained glass windows is a calming presence that offers a break from this big city.

Thanks-Giving Square

Address: 1627 Pacific Avenue Dallas, Texas 75201

Price: Free. Donations appreciated.

Opening Hours: Garden: 5:00 am to 11:00 pm every day. Chapel of Thanksgiving: Wed - Sun 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mon 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, closed Tuesday.

Contact: +1 214 9691977

Website: Thanks-Giving Square

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All big things!

While Dallas is big like all things in Texas, there are all sorts of little nooks and crannies to explore. This barely scratches the surface of all that is out there. You do not need a big budget to enjoy this city so hop on the trolley and get going.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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