Dallas is huge, and we all know that one day trip would never be enough time to explore all of it - not even 20 day trips! This quick tour of the North Side has plenty to dazzle, surprise, and satisfy, though. Start with a morning jog around White Rock Lake, eat a classic burger for lunch, tour some museums in the afternoon, and round off your day with a Philly cheesesteak and an octopus cocktail (yes, you read that correctly), and you'll have had one heck of a day trip.
Food
Burger House has been slinging Texas-sized burgers since 1951 – and you know it’s gotta be good if they’ve been in business that long. Do yourself a favor and stop by to try their award-winning burgers, crispy seasoned fries, and old-fashioned shakes and malts to fuel up your Dallas day trip.
Trained chef Jason wanted to combine his love for honky-tonks, old dance halls, and beer gardens (all things he found in short supply in Dallas) with his professional food experience, so he created The Truck Yard – an outdoor venue populated by an ever-rotating supply of food trucks. There will most likely always be something new for you to try at The Truck Yard, but you’ll always be able to find a delicious Philly Cheesesteak no matter what time of year you visit.
Apothecary is a cocktail lounge like no other. Utilizing new techniques and tools like centrifuges, liquid nitrogen, sous vide, and pyrolysis, they aim to challenge your palate and your assumptions about cocktails. Expect cocktails that numb your tongue, have an octopus tentacle, or are made from pasta sauce. Yikes! (They also carry wine, beer, and classic cocktails if you’re not feeling adventurous.)
Culture
The George W. Bush Presidential Museum is a must-see on your day trip to the north side of Dallas. Take some time to wander through the museum and learn about the W. Bush years of the United States – from his election and inauguration, to the tragedies of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and beyond. And don’t forget to spend some time outside, too – the former First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush has done a great deal to beautify the 15 acres with native plants.
Outdoors
White Rock Lake is a 1000+ acre city lake surrounded by a 9+ mile paved hike and bike trail and park. It offers a variety of active and passive recreation options and is one of the best places to experience natural areas and wildlife in the middle of the city. The park also includes a dog park, pavilions, boat and kayak access, a museum, a cultural center, a dedicated bird watching area, and much, much more.
The Dallas Arboretum is the premier place to learn about the natural world of North Texas! Ground-breaking horticultural research is conducted here, and we guarantee you won’t find a prettier place in the springtime when all of their half a million flower bulbs bloom in an explosion of color. Take a stroll on one of their many trails and you won’t regret it!
Keep Exploring
Dallas – North Side, TX