The city of Dallas has a good selection of interesting areas and sights and visitors planning a sightseeing holiday will certainly not be disappointed by what’s available. Aside from the highlights listed below, such as Fair Park and the Sixth Floor Museum, the city has a large number of interesting landmarks and monuments which can be seen on a tour of the Downtown area.

Downtown Dallas
The Downtown District in Dallas is home to a variety of sights and places of interest as well as being the focal point of the city’s major businesses, the art’s district and thriving entertainment areas such as Deep Ellum. Attractions such as the Dallas Convention Centre, Dallas Zoo and the West End Marketplace are among the many places worth visiting while countless restaurants and entertainment venues can be sought out for the evening or when you need some air-conditioned refuge from the heat of the Texas summer.

Fair Park
A vacation in Dallas would not be complete without a trip to Fair Park, located just a couple of miles from the Downtown district. The park covers a massive 277 acres and is home to a variety of attractions such as nine different museums and a total of six performance venues. For three weeks during September every year, the Texas State Fair visits the park, bringing with it a variety of rides and attractions including the largest Ferris wheel in North America.

The Nasher Sculpture Centre
Located in the arts quarter of the Downtown district, the Nasher Sculpture Centre is a must-see destination for anyone with an interest in art and culture. The centre is fairly small, but it features works by big names such as Rodin, Picasso, Miro and Liechtenstein. A scenic garden with fountains and beautiful landscaping is the setting for the majority of the sculptures.

Pioneer Plaza and cemetery
Located in Downtown Dallas and covering 4.2 acres, Pioneer Plaza is home to some interesting sights such as the bronze statues of 40 longhorn steers on the small hillside that were created by Texan resident Robert Summers. The adjoining cemetery dates back to the city’s early history and is famous for housing the remains of four Dallas mayors as well as prominent figures from the Texas revolution.

Reunion Tower
Reunion Tower is one of the city’s defining landmarks and sits 55 storeys high above the city skyline. For a small fee, visitors can take the elevator to the top of the building or if they are especially brave they can walk the 837 steps before reaching the top level, from which fantastic views over the city are available. Just below the top level is a lounge with a bar offering drinks and appetisers. Phone: +1 214 651 1234

Sixth Floor Museum
So called because of its location on the sixth floor of the former Texas School Book Depository building, this fascinating museum is integral to the city’s 20th century history on account of being based in the same place from where Lee Harvey Oswald shot John F. Kennedy in 1963. The museum is home to a variety of interesting sights relating to Dallas in the 1960s including some 400 photographs, recorded interviews and hundreds of artifacts.

Southfork Guided Tours
Anyone who remembers the classic 80’s soap opera Dallas will be fascinated to see the land and the property that was used as the setting for the show that held the attentions of viewers around the world for the 13 years during which it aired. Guided tours are available which take in the interior of the house and memorabilia such as the gun that was used in the shooting of JR. Ewing and the wedding dress that belonged to Lucy Ewing. Phone: +1 972 442 7800

Attend a genuine Texas Rodeo
Dallas offers several opportunities for visitors to enjoy the thrills of a typical southern cattle and cowboy show with several venues hosting events throughout the year. The Mesquite Rodeo area located just 15 minutes from the Downtown district; is a popular place to catch this kind of event during its April to October season. Alternatively, the Fort Worth livestock show and Rodeo held annually towards the end of January is a good place to catch similar thrills and spills.

Check out the Dallas Symphony Summer Concerts
During the spring and early summer season, before the weather gets too hot, you can catch live outdoor performances of the Dallas Symphony at various parks around the city. Superb renditions of famous classical pieces sound all the better when appreciated in outdoor settings as the light night disappears and dusk creates a dreamy, romantic atmosphere.

Go to a Dallas Cowboys Football Game
In the NFL league, the Dallas Cowboys need no introduction and are undoubtedly one of the highest profile teams in the country. Games are played at their stadium located just outside of Dallas in the suburb of Irving. As the team is one of the most successful in the history of the NFL, games are exceedingly well attended and the atmosphere is electrically charged. Whether you are a big fan of the game or not, you’re guaranteed to get swept up in the crowd’s enthusiasm and find yourself rooting for the Cowboys to win.

Take a guided tour of the city
Bus tours of the city provide visitors with a good opportunity to see some of its most interesting sights without having to negotiate the traffic themselves or worry about battling with the heat as might be the case with a walking tour. Several companies operate guided bus tours on air-conditioned vehicles that can provide pick-ups from popular city hotels.