If you’ve hit a wall when it comes to Dallas date ideas, you can wow your significant other with this list of romantic things to do in Dallas!
As a Dallas blogger who’s not originally from Dallas, I’ve made it a personal mission to explore and experience this city. As a result, I feel like I’ve gotten to see Dallas and the unique things to do in it firsthand.
Here I hope to share some really awesome Dallas date ideas so that you and your SO can have memorable dates that go beyond a simple meal. These include the most romantic things to do in Dallas!
So let’s get to it! Here are 42 unique Dallas date ideas that couples will actually love doing.
1. Marie Gabrielle Gardens
These gardens are a total hidden gem in Dallas that will amaze your significant other! Picture romantic fountains and manicured gardens in the heart of the Harwood district.
Bonus if you both are chess players- you can play each other on a life-sized chess board!
While you’re there, check out either Magnolia Sous le Pont for coffee (it’s so cute!) and pastries or the Marie Gabrielle restaurant for a nice sit-down brunch.
Taking a stroll through the lit-up gardens is one of the most romantic things to do in Dallas in the evening!
2. Dallas Arboretum
Speaking of gorgeous gardens, if you haven’t been to the Dallas Arboretum (it even is incredible in the winter), you’re missing out on one of the best Dallas date ideas! What could be more romantic than a stroll through a garden? Add the fact that the Dallas Arboretum has gorgeous flowers, trees, and more across its 66 acres, and you’ve got the best garden in Dallas!
You can check out my Dallas Arboretum blog post to see more of what it has to offer!
3. Dallas Farmers Market
This is such a fun Dallas date idea with one catch: you should visit the Dallas Farmers Market on a weekend. That’s when The Shed is open in addition to The Market, which gives the DFM its unique ambiance.
The Shed is the covered outdoor area where local vendors set up tables selling their specialty goods. They don’t only sell produce, but also lunch, candles, plants, coffee, dog treats, baked goods, and so much more. So if you have different tastes in food or are in the mood for different things (maybe you want coffee and your SO wants a slice of pie), you’ll still be able to enjoy each other’s company!
4. Dreamscape at AMC
Here is one of the most unique Dallas date ideas that you probably haven’t even heard of! Dreamscape at AMC is a full-body virtual reality experience where you are completely immersed in an interactive space.
It’s such a cool and surreal activity. Words don’t do this experience justice- you truly need to experience this to believe it!
My husband and I have done all three adventures offered at Dreamscape and I suggest either The Blu, an underwater VR adventure where you actually feel like you’re swimming with whales, or Curse of the Lost Pearl, which makes you feel like you’re actually in an Indiana Jones movie.
Tickets usually start at $19.99 per person, book your tickets here!
There’s another VR option at Mockingbird Station called Sandbox VR that’s even more immersive, but I haven’t personally tried it out. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried it!
5. Hike to Cattail Pond at Cedar Ridge Preserve
Get completely immersed in nature on the prettiest hike in Dallas. The hike to Cattail Pond at Cedar Ridge Preserve isn’t too difficult and offers a great view of the pond. If you’re there in the morning or late afternoon, the pond gets really still and creates a mirror lake effect! Absolutely gorgeous and a perfect Dallas date activity!
It’s also one of the prettiest places in Dallas to me. Check out my full list of Instagrammable places in Dallas if you and your SO are looking to take some cute pics!
6. Afternoon tea at The French Room
Talk about a classy Dallas date! Afternoon tea is a romantic and tasty way to enjoy each other’s company. The French Room is located at The Adolphus hotel in downtown Dallas and afternoon tea starts at $65 per person.
7. AT&T Discovery District
Come for the festive ambiance and stay for the food! There are so many great dining options at the AT&T Discovery District.
I describe it as Dallas’s much smaller answer to NYC’s Times Square. It’s a large pedestrian area with art installations, restaurants, and more.
There’s a really cool food area called The Exchange Hall where you can choose from 16 little eateries- perfect if you want tacos and your SO wants sushi. There are also 2 bars here as well. And the waffles at Press Waffle Co are perfect for splitting!
8. Kayaking, Boating, & SUP
Get active with this Dallas date idea! There are several places where you can go kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, or paddle boating in Dallas. My favorites include kayaking on White Rock Lake with White Rock Paddle Co, the swan paddle boats at Fair Park, and kayaking on the Trinity River with Backwoods Paddle Sports in Fort Worth (pictured above).
9. Chocolate Secrets
Is there any food more romantic than chocolate? Chocolate Secrets is a restaurant in Oak Lawn that offers lunch and dinner paired with delicious chocolates and wines.
For music lovers, Chocolate Secrets has live Jazz after 7:30 pm on Wednesdays through Saturdays and open mic nights on Mondays!
10. Lakeside Park
This is one of my favorite Dallas date locations because it’s where my husband proposed to me! And for good reason- this park is seriously gorgeous.
It’s easily one of the most romantic thing to do in Dallas for couples. There’s a pretty bridge, its signature giant stone teddy bears (photo op, anyone?), and even a little waterfall that flows from the lake into the creek just south of the bridge.
I’m not sure if it’s technically allowed, but we love to walk down to the stone outcroppings in the creek- it feels like you’re totally immersed in nature.
And as you walk on the path next to the lake, be sure to keep an eye out for the massive house that looks like it’s straight out of a Jane Austen novel!
Lakeside Park is closed for some underground pipe work until around spring 2023 (see park updates here), but until then, check out the rest of the Turtle Creek Parks! There are so many dreamy little parks in this area.
11. Take a Pottery Class
Here’s a great Dallas date idea if you’re looking for a hands-on activity (quite literally). Throwing clay is harder than it looks, but whether you master it or not, you and your SO will have a ton of fun.
And don’t worry, the teacher will help you if you need it!
As a bonus: you get a souvenir to take home from this date!
Trade Oak Cliff offers a lot of different art classes if pottery isn’t quite your thing!
12. Cooking class at Central Market or Sur La Table
In a similar vein, cooking classes are great things to do in Dallas for couples if you want hands-on, interactive activities.
There’s something sensual about cooking- combine that with teamwork (or a bit of competition!) and you’ve got a romantic Dallas date idea!
Central Market and Sur La Table are two fantastic spots that offer cooking classes. Central Market is usually lower in price (around $60-$75 per person) than Sur La Table, which is typically around $89 per person. The ones at Sur La Table are specifically designed for date night with themes like “a night in Thailand” or “romantic fall dinner.”
You can choose from a variety of cuisines or themes at each location. And no matter where you go, you’re bound to have a fun and tasty date.
When we did the cooking class at Sur La Table, we made a Florida-style meal with shrimp ‘n grits! Yum! To me, the benefit is you get all of the fun of cooking without any hassle- you don’t need to measure out ingredients or plan a meal. In that sense, it’s like you’re on a cooking show… everything comes pre-measured and ready to chop or add!
13. Crow Collection of Asian Art
Art museums can be very romantic! Take your date to the Crow Collection of Asian Art– it’s completely free and is usually not very crowded, so you’ll get plenty of time to walk around and talk while checking out the impressive art.
14. Klyde Warren Park
This park is located in the heart of downtown which gives you some really cool city views. You’ll find a variety of food trucks available at Klyde Warren Park, which lends itself to a casual date vibe.
If you want to add a sit-down meal, I highly recommend Miriam Cocina Latina next door as it is some of the best Mexican food in Dallas in my opinion! (Combination #5 is my go-to order!)
You can follow dinner with a stroll through the lit-up park for a romantic evening in Dallas.
15. Tuesdays at SMG
Dinner and a movie is a classic date idea, but how about dinner with your movie?
Studio Movie Grill and Alamo Drafhouse are two great places where you can eat a full meal while watching the latest releases.
I specifically mention Tuesdays at Studio Movie Grill because they have discounted tickets! I’m talking $6 per person instead of the usual $12.50.
Their food is so good, too! My go-to order is the coconut chicken tenders at Studio Movie Grill- yum!
16. M-Line Trolley
The M-Line Trolley is a free way to see Dallas and it makes plenty of stops between West Village all the way around downtown and back. You can get on and off to see things like the Dallas Museum of Art, Klyde Warren Park, and much more.
17. Butterfly Garden at Fair Park
The dreamy two-story butterfly house at Fair Park is a wonderful Dallas date idea! With butterflies flying all around you as you’re surrounded by lush greenery, it’s one of the most romantic things to do in Dallas! It’s located within the Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park, which are also fun to explore. The gardens make for great photo backdrops, too!
They’re open from Wednesday to Sunday and it costs $10 per adult.
If the timing works out for you, it’s worth going at noon for the daily butterfly release into the conservatory! It’s free and included with general admission.
18. Dallas Zoo
You’ll have plenty to talk about as you explore The Dallas Zoo, which has over 2,000 animals and 400 species!
If you’re closer to Fort Worth or don’t mind the drive, I actually like the Fort Worth Zoo better! It has around 7,000 animals and the exhibits are much easier to follow.
The Dallas Zoo costs $15 (weekdays) or $17 (weekends) with $10 parking and the Fort Worth Zoo costs $18 per adult with $5 parking.
Tip: if your work schedules can swing it, the Dallas Zoo offers $8 tickets on the first Tuesday of the month!
19. Bishop Arts District
The Bishop Arts District is a great place to spend a few hours shopping and eating.
The main area is very cute with rows of local boutique shops, art galleries, and tasty treats. For an extra slice of romance, split a piece of pie from Emporium Pies!
20. White Rock Lake
There is plenty to do at Dallas’s biggest lake! It’s also a gorgeous lake which makes for a perfect Dallas date spot!
Some ideas: bring a picnic, bike/walk around the lake, go kayaking with White Rock Paddle Co (as previously mentioned), or visit the Bath House Cultural Center. If either you or your SO have a dog, there’s a dog park there, too!
Learn more about White Rock Lake here!
21. Dallas World Aquarium
The Dallas World Aquarium is another great way to romance your significant other! The Cloud Forest Trek is my favorite part of the aquarium- if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a sloth roaming around!
The Dallas Aquarium costs $28.95 per adult, which you can purchase online here.
22. Trinity River Audubon Nature Center
Step into nature just 10 miles south of downtown. Did you know that the 6,000-acre Great Trinity Forest is the largest urban hardwood forest in America? And as such, it’s teeming with wildlife that you don’t quite see in the city or even the suburbs of Dallas.
There are 5 miles of trails to explore as well as a butterfly garden and exhibits at the Nature Center. It costs $6 per adult and they require advance purchase, which you can do here.
23. Dallas Museum of Art
There is free general admission to the Dallas Museum of Art which makes it an awesome free date idea in Dallas. The DMA is impressively one of the top 10 largest art museums in the country with over 24,000 works of art! They rotate are exhibits every so often- check out the latest exhibitions here!
24. Go to a Speakeasy
Dallas has a surprising number of speakeasies, which can lend themselves to great Dallas date ideas! La Mina is a personal favorite since my husband and I used to live in The Village Dallas. Simply dine at La Mina, then ask your server for that day’s access code. You’ll use it next to industrial fridge doors (past the bathrooms) where you’ll see a neon Tequila sign! Voila! You’ve made it!
While you’re there, take a walk around the lakes in the heart of the area. There’s a green sign painted on the ground on the little blue bridge that says, “Kiss Me Here.” How’s that for romance?
25. Couples massage at the Ritz Carlton
This is without a doubt one of the most romantic things to do in Dallas!
If you’re looking to splurge on your significant other, a couples massage is the perfect way to pamper each other on a date. It’ll cost a pretty penny at the gorgeous Ritz Carlton spa (starts at $360) but there are other less expensive locations around DFW as well.
26. Coyote Drive-In Theater
The Coyote Drive-In theater in Fort Worth is a great throwback to what dates were like back in the olden days! Get tickets online and drive to a movie for one of the most romantic things to do in DFW! Tickets usually run between $5-$10, which you can get here.
27. Fort Worth Botanic Garden
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden will blow you away! At 110 acres, it’s much bigger than I thought it would be, especially since I was so familiar with the Dallas Arboretum (which is 66 acres). But this garden is truly one of the best date spots in Fort Worth. As you walk around the many exhibits, make sure you don’t miss the rose garden!
28. Fort Worth Stockyards
If you haven’t been to the Fort Worth Stockyards, you’re missing out! You feel like you’ve stepped into a western film. It’s such a fun experience to do with your significant other! There are cattle drives twice a day (weather permitting), at 11:30 am and 4 pm. They’re completely free to watch and the best vantage point is from the Livestock Exchange Building.
You’ll find brick walkways, eateries, shops, and so much more. It’s a great place to hunt for some western wear too as multiple shops sell boots and hats.
If you time the day right, you can also catch a concert at Billy Bob’s Texas.
You can also do the next date idea on this list while at the Fort Worth Stockyards…
29. Go to the Rodeo
The rodeo is a fun date idea whether you’re going just as a couple or in a group! There are weekly shows at the Fort Worth Stockyard’s Cowtown Coliseum on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm. Tickets typically range from $15 to $55 depending on seating.
(If you want to head to the official big-time rodeo, The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has been around since 1896 and takes place at Dickies Arena in January and February.)
30. Fort Worth Water Gardens
The Fort Worth Water Gardens are completely free and such a cool urban fountain! They are especially fun to visit on a hot summer’s day when you can feel the spray of the water in certain spots – unfortunately, you can’t actually get in.
But regardless of the season, this is a very cool water feature in downtown Fort Worth – they actually kind of remind me of Indiana Jones in a way!
31. Ice Skating at the Galleria
A better way to cool off in the summer is to hit the ice skating rink at the Galleria! And the good news is, it’s open year-round, so this is one of the best Dallas date ideas no matter the season.
But to me, it’s best at Christmastime when there’s a giant Christmas tree in the middle, too! (Though I will say, if you want a romantic time without crowds around, the rest of the year is less busy.)
Regular admission is $12 per person with an additional $5 ice skate rental.
32. Horseback Riding at River Ranch
This is one of the best Dallas date ideas for horse lovers!
Just south of downtown Dallas you’ll find the Texas Horse Park, a very cool little spot where you can go on a horseback ride with your significant other!
My husband and I did this a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it! It costs $60 per person to do their basic guided one-hour trail ride.
I have always loved horses but never actually got to ride them until I got married. Since then I’ve always made it a point to ride horses when traveling – we’ve ridden horses in Rwanda, Iceland, Cancun, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Cabo, and more. And honestly, the Texas Horse Park at River Ranch is the most well-organized and professional horseback riding experience we’ve had!
33. Lone Star Park Horse Races
If horseback riding isn’t quite your thing, maybe you’ll enjoy watching horse races instead!
Did you know that you can go to the horse races just a short drive away from Dallas? The big races held at Lonestar Park are a unique date idea that you can do in Grand Prairie.
Tickets for regular races are typically between $10 and $50.
34. Winery hop in Grapevine
If you and your significant other enjoy drinking wine, you’ll love visiting Historic Downtown Grapevine. As you walk down Main Street, you’ll see a bunch of different wineries that you can stop at! My favorite is Bingham Family Vineyards.
35. Irving Gondola Adventures
For one of the most romantic things to do in Dallas, this date idea will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Venice! Head to Irving for a gondola adventure- it’s a great proposal spot, too!
They offer a variety of gondola cruises and a gondola ride for two starts at $155.
36. Sail With Scott
We have done Sail with Scott’s sunset cruise three times now, we love it that much! It was started by Scott Self, who was a former mayor of Rockwall. After his tenure as mayor, he built his 40-foot catamaran, Seawolf, and opened this business. From April to October, Seawolf sets sail in the Rockwall harbour.
You can bring your own drinks and snacks on the 1.5-hour sunset sail. Even though the catamaran accommodates 49 guests, you can easily find a spot to sit or stand as you enjoy the cruise.
Sailing across the water is so romantic! And at sunset, they blow a conch shell to give thanks to the Lord and celebrate the sunset.
Also, every so often they do a starlight cruise, too! Talk about romantic!!
Tip: bring a jacket- it’s much colder on the water than it is on land.
37. San Martino Winery
This little winery is located in Lavon just west of Rockwall. What makes it stand out among the many wineries in DFW is the fact that it has actual vines that make up a tiny vineyard on the property. That adds to its romance- it’s really pretty!
San Martino Winery is open for $15 wine tastings from Friday through Sunday.
38. ShangriLlama
Ready for one of the quirkiest, cutest Dallas date ideas?
My husband and I have gone to ShangriLlama a couple of times now because it is such a fun and unique experience!
At ShangriLlama’s llama lessons, you get to learn about llamas right with llamas surrounding you! It’s a very interactive experience and there are plenty of photo ops that you won’t get anywhere else in Dallas.
To add to the quirkiness of this activity, the llamas live in a castle in Royse City. Yup, you read that right, a castle.
Llama lessons are $20 per adult and are available from May through October. They also offer llama walks at $50 per person from November through April.
39. Learn to sail with SailDallas
Head to Lake Louisville where you can learn how to sail with SailDallas!
You’ll be in a group but you can easily have fun just as a couple as well!
You can do as much or as little as you want so if you’d rather relax on a sailboat than actually sail, you’re welcome to do that too.
The Introduction to Sailing course costs $49 per person.
40. Historic Downtown McKinney
If you haven’t been to historic downtown McKinney, you’re missing out! They have the cutest town square with awesome boutiques, restaurants, and more. It’s very charming and you could easily spend all day there!
41. Winspear Opera House
If you want something a bit more refined and classic than all of the previous Dallas date ideas, you can’t go wrong with a show at the Winspear Opera House!
It’s fun to dress up for a night out at the opera and there always seems to be something awesome performing here. A couple of my favorite shows I’ve seen at Winspear are The Phantom of the Opera and The Nutcracker.
Tickets generally range from $15-$500 depending on how good of a seat you want. See what’s on the calendar and get tickets here.
42. Epic views at the top of Reunion Tower
Last but not least, this is one of the best Dallas date ideas for a dreamy evening! There’s something so romantic about epic views of the city lit up at night, and that’s exactly what you’ll get from the top of Reunion Tower!
The GeO-Deck sits 470 feet up in the air and offers incredible 360-degree views of Dallas. They have a variety of ticket combinations starting at $24 per person.
Go at sunset if you really want to wow your significant other!
It’s undoubtedly one of the most romantic things to do in Dallas for couples!
In conclusion…
So there you have it! The best Dallas date ideas! Do you have more ideas you’d add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!
And let’s not forget that sometimes a nice meal is all you really need for a good date! If you want to know my favorite Dallas date restaurants, here are several:
- Dolce Riviera (dine underneath a lemon tree-covered pergola!)
- Gourmet Mexican food at The Mexican
- Drinks at Happiest Hour (coolest rooftop bar views in Dallas IMO)
- Dine farm-to-table style in a garden at Garden Cafe
- Treat your SO to the best sushi in Dallas at Uchi
- Grab a classy French brunch at Mercat Bistro
- Get ice cream stuffed donuts at Milk & Cream
Last but not least, here are some more blog posts you might enjoy:
Happy dating!
Jasmine
One Response
I am interested in weekend get away ideas for my wife and myself. We also have a 5 year old and would like to take him on some younger themed adventures. We live in DFW.