10 Things to Do in Dallas on a Small Budget

Klyde Warren Park is an amazing green space in the heart of Dallas between uptown and city centre offering a quiet and serene respite from the city's hustle and bustle. The park offers food trucks every day, so you can grab a quick bite to eat while you're here. Even though it's in an urban area, this park is surrounded by trees, so it's easy to forget you're in the city. A playground gives the kids plenty of space to run, jump, and play, and the long stretch of well-tended lawn provides space for a picnic or to just kick back and relax.

The park also hosts free special events on a regular basis. It's 7 minutes north of city centre.

The Samurai Collection is among the largest collections of authentic samurai weapons, armour, and equipment outside of Japan. It's named for its owners and curators and is tucked away in a building above a sit-down restaurant. Here you can see almost 1,000 pieces in the ever-growing collection that includes swords, helmets, masks, and cultural artefacts from Japan and other Far Eastern cultures. The museum is completely free to visit, and once a month the museum offers free interactive hands-on arts and crafts and guided tours.

Parking at the museum is also free. It's right in the heart of city centre.

White Rock Lake offers a totally free opportunity to have some outdoor adventure and nature fun in the heart of Dallas with hiking, boating, or just relaxation. This man-made lake allows you to traverse a walking path that circles the whole body of water and covers 9.3 miles of track. You can stroll, bike, or jog all you like. You can also bring a picnic lunch and stretch out on the nearby lawn. If you like to get out on the water, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are quite popular here.

This spot offers a pleasant escape from the city's hustle and bustle where you can get back to nature for a while. It's just 16 minutes northeast of city centre.

John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza is steps away from the spot where John F. Kennedy was shot in Dealey Plaza in 1963 and offers an open tomb and memorial structure. You can walk through the monument, designed by architect Philip Johnson, who was a friend of the Kennedy family, and enjoy the peaceful location that provides space for remembrance, reflection, and meditation. The assassination site itself is only 200 yards away, and there's also a nearby museum dedicated to the event.

Take some time to read the inscription on the wall, which is a quote from a speech Kennedy was supposed to give that day but never got the chance to deliver. The plaza is city centre.

Pioneer Plaza is a free Dallas attraction and public art installation showcasing a life-sized sculpture of a cattle drive with dozens of steers made from bronze. It's the only bronze replica of its kind, with 49 steers galloping through a stream and up and over a hill driven by 3 cowboys on horseback. It's among the most visited attractions city centre, and it celebrates and remembers the many trails that originally brought settlers to this city.

The cemetery next to the park is the final resting place of some of the founders of the city. You can also see the grave sites of the city's first businessmen and heroes of the Texas Revolution.

The Crow Museum of Asian Art is a free museum showcasing more than 4,000 pieces of art from across Southeast Asia including Japan, China, Korea, India, and other countries. The museum is spread across 2 levels and can easily fill your entire afternoon. While you're here, don't forget to walk the outdoor courtyard with its free public sculpture display. The art pieces here range from architecture and paintings to jade carvings, sculptures, calligraphy, and many other types of media.

This museum offers a stunning look at the beautiful and diverse arts and culture of Southeast Asia. It's only about 8 minutes north of city centre.

Belo Garden Park offers a gorgeous urban oasis with 1.7 acres of green space, local flowers, and trees where you can escape from the noise of the city. It's owned by the city of Dallas and is supported by its namesake Belo Foundation. At this park, you can see over 100 trees and over 10,000 varieties of ornamental grass. Seasonal flowers add dashes of colour, and decorative shrubs offer a full outdoor nature experience. You can walk along paved walking paths or have a picnic lunch.

If you just need a place of respite from the hustle and bustle, Belo Garden Park is an ideal escape. It's right in the heart of city centre.

Fair Park is a broad cultural centre offering more than 200 acres of green space, exhibition facilities, museums, and concert areas with tonnes of opportunities for entertainment. Here you can check out local arts and cultural exhibits and events, including the gigantic state fair held every September, and see concerts all year long. You can take in local museums, walk the endless green space, and relax by a peaceful lagoon or see artistic fountains and architecture. You can see historic memorials and view massive public art installations and murals.

Some events here are ticketed, but the park as a whole is free to get into and explore. It's right in the heart of city centre Dallas.