Day Trippin' Tips: Plano to Dallas
It’s hard to resist the call of the beckoning Texas rose Dallas, located just 20 minutes from Plano.
Set out by car, train or bus for a short day trip from Plano to Dallas and explore all “Big D” has to offer. Dallas offers world-class attractions whether your interests include science, nature, history or the culinary arts.
1. Getting There
The fastest way to get to Dallas is by car on U.S. Route 75. It's about a 25-minute drive. Or avoid traffic and the cost of gas by taking the 20-minute journey on the DART Red Line light rail. It runs from downtown Plano to various points in the heart of Dallas, including stops at the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Convention Center and Union Station. You can also visit Dallas by taking various bus lines. Some originate at the Parker Road Station in east Plano and the Jack Hatchell Transit Center in west Plano. Most routes take about 45 minutes.
2. See a Whole New World
Enjoy some of Dallas’ most captivating attractions while you're in town. Explore the animal kingdom at the Dallas World Aquarium. The sprawling aquarium is set in a converted old warehouse in the historic West End District and is home to marine life and mammals from around the world. Walk along an enormous 400,000-gallon tank as sharks and sea turtles from the Yucatan Peninsula swim around you. Trek through a South American rain forest, pausing to admire colorful toucans and slow-moving sloths. Finally, make your way to the 20,000-gallon tunneled, walk-through aquarium filled with vibrant Indo-Pacific fish. Inquisitive minds should take in some of the lectures about such critters as penguins, jaguars and otters.
3. Get in Touch With Mother Nature
Enjoy a leisurely day filled with natural beauty at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in east Dallas. This 66-acre oasis is set along the banks of White Rock Lake and features 19 gardens. The Martha Brooks Camellia Garden showcases more than 200 camellias. The Pecan Grove is covered with shady canopies, and the elegant McCasland Sunken Garden is dotted with lavish statues and fountains. Little ones will enjoy the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, an 8-acre playground with a skywalk, waterfall and puppet theater. Special events throughout the year include a wine and food festival, a pumpkin patch, a holiday light show and summer concerts.
4. Experience a Piece of History
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey memorializes the tragic day in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in his motorcade while riding through downtown Dallas. The museum once served as the famed book depository where assassin Lee Harvey Oswald pulled the trigger. Photographs, news footage, documents and artifacts pertaining to that fateful period in American history are on display. The museum doubles as a solemn tribute to President Kennedy and the accomplishments he achieved during his short administration.
5. Interact With Nature and Science
Interactive exhibits make learning fun at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in the bustling Dallas district of Victory Park. Eleven halls outfitted with interactive exhibits tackle such topics as gems, minerals, birds and energy. Spend your day building robots in a 3D animation lab or see dinosaur fossils up close. Use a thermal camera to find hot and cool spots across your body. The Moody Family Children’s Museum is designed for kids age five and younger. It lets little ones crawl through tunnels, play with toy boats and dig in sandboxes.
6. Eat Your Way Through the City
A tour is one of the easiest ways to decide what to do in Dallas. Food Tours of America begin at the West Village Shopping District in Uptown Dallas and let you explore an array of Dallas’ top dining options (even if you have only limited time). The Uptown Foodie Walk is one of the most popular excursions, lasting approximately 3.5 hours. It includes stops in the trendy region’s most buzz-worthy eateries and bakeries. But it's not all about food. The tour also includes stops at some of the area’s most historic sites, including an old trolley barn and a Civil War burial ground. Walking is required so wear comfy shoes.
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