20 Low Cost Things to Do in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

Looking for something fun to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area? Here are some fun indoor and outdoor activities for any time of the year.

1. Aquarium - When it's too blazing hot or too cold and windy to spend much time outside, check out the beautiful Dallas Aquarium for a fun temperature-controlled afternoon.

2. Fruit-Picking - Farms and orchards across the city are open to the public and have deliciously fresh fruits and vegetables available for picking. Check out pickyourown.org for a list of pick-your-own farms in Dallas-Fort Worth.

3. Flea Market - Find great bargains and festive events year round at Trader's Village in Grand Prairie. A short drive east of Dallas is a bustling market with enormous selection called Canton Flea Market.

4. Fort Worth Bureau of Printing and Engraving - Only one of two plants in the country where US currency is printed (the other is in Washington DC), this national currency facility offers a glimpse into the billions of dollars of paper currency produced in Fort Worth. Weekday tours guide you through an elevated walkway looking down at the factory floor. The gift shop features some cool souvenirs like large uncut sheets of money.

5. Lone Star Park Horse Races - You don't have to enjoy gambling to enjoy an evening at the races in Grand Prairie, in between Dallas and Fort Worth. Like baseball, the horse track can be a fun venue for a casual outing with a big group of family and friends. Check out Lone Star Park's calendar of events.

6. Festivals - Run a few Google searches for local festivals including the day, weekend, or month you are interested in. You might be surprised at how many food, art, and music festivals are held in the Dallas-Fort Worth area throughout the year.

7. Zoo - Both Dallas and Fort Worth have zoos, but the Fort Worth zoo is more well-known.

8. Nature and Gardens - Enjoy nature and get some exercise at White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum, Arbor Hill Nature Preserve, or the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.

9. Six Flags - Both kids and adults can enjoy at this huge Arlington theme park packed with roller coasters and rides. The water park is a great way to have fun in the summer heat.

10. Concert or Theater in the Park - During the summer, you'll find many live music events or performances outdoors. Check out the Fort Worth Botanical Garden's Concert in the Park or the Dallas Museum of Art's Block Party.

11. IMAX Show - If you're looking for something a little different from the movies, check out what is showing at the IMAX theaters around the metroplex.

12. Theater - Dinner and a show, anyone? There are always entertaining plays, musicals, and comedy acts in town. Check out the Dallas Theater Center or Fort Worth's Bass Hall, or smaller local theaters for local productions.

13. Rock Climbing - Here's another fun temperature-controlled physical activity if it's too hot or cold to spend time outdoors. There are rock climbing gyms all over Dallas-Fort Worth that novices or experts could enjoy.

14. Ice Skating - This is another family-friendly or group-friendly indoor activity you can enjoy when the weather isn't cooperating in Dallas.

15. Fort Worth Stockyards - This is the place to go for a touristy cowboy experience. Visit an old fashioned cowboy dance hall (Billy Bob's honky tonk) and the weekly rodeo show in Fort Worth. For the kids, there's a cattle drive every day at 4 pm and a bunch of western gift shops.

16. Day Trip - A short getaway to Austin or New Braunfels could be a fun and relaxing way to spend a weekend. Even the beautiful Texas Hill Country is a few hours away. If you're interested in casino games, Winstar is a few hours north just across the Oklahoma border.

17. Take a Fun Class - There are a lot of fun classes that you can enjoy for a few hours in the afternoon or evening, including painting, pottery, cooking, dancing, and even rock climbing.

18. Sporting Event - Watching a professional Dallas football, basketball, or baseball game (or a minor league baseball game) can be an inexpensive way to get people of all ages together for a casual evening out.

19. Picnic or BBQ in Park - Have a picnic or barbecue in one of the many lakeside parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Enjoy rollerblading, frisby, football, boating, or jetskiing at White Rock Lake or Grapevine Lake, to name a few.

20. Farmer's Market - Check out the farmer's market and flower market in downtown Dallas on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

21. Spa or Massage - A spa won't exactly be low-cost, but a one or two hour massage could be reasonable. Invite a masseuse over to the house, or buy a limited package at a spa.

22. Museum District - Enjoy a nice lunch and then spend the afternoon in the museum district in either Dallas or Fort Worth. The art, history, and sculpture collections in both cities are beautiful.