10 Fun Staycation Ideas in DFW

Sharing 10 Fun Staycation Ideas in DFW for everyone to enjoy including restaurants, outdoor activities, and relaxation. 

This past week, I had a fun+relaxing 4-day long staycation in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), a city I have lived for almost 5 years now. With work, school, and everything else in between I needed time away for some R&R. Visiting a new city or a beach getaway is always exciting but the boyfriend and I thought – why not stay in and explore DFW? Not to mention, all the travel arrangements and a dog sitter. Plus, I wanted to spend time with Bailey, which is why staycation felt like an ideal situation. DFW is a large metropolitan area but exploring both the cities is pretty manageable for a 2-3 day staycation, or you can just to one or the other as both the cities have a lot to offer!  Here are 10 Fun Staycation Ideas in DFW…and even if you don’t live in DFW, you can totally use some of these ideas to enjoy the city you are currently in. 1. Visit a Neighborhood Coffee Shop

I don’t know about you guys but enjoying a coffee on a weekday and people watching is pretty rare for me. DFW has many neighborhood coffee shops – nice vibe, friendly people, and of course good coffee! These are some of the ones I have been to or heard great things about…Dallas –Crooked Tree Coffee House, Houndstooth Coffee, and Ascension Coffee,. Fort Worth – Buon Giorno and Avoca Coffee.

2. Drive-In Movie Theatre

Instead of a regular theatre, why not watch a movie from a comfort of your car (or a truck) with your favorite food and beverages. Even if you are not a movie person, it is a really about the experience!! There is a drive-in theatre in Ft. Worth and Ennis. PS. They are pet-friendly and do not allow outside food or drinks. If you have dietary restrictions or do not want to spend $$$$ on popcorn/drinks/hot dogs –  you are probably better off packing your own food.

3. Check-Out a New Neighborhood 

DFW is rapidly growing..and within the last few years, I have seen new neighborhood lined up with stores, coffee shops/restaurants etc. Dallas –Bishop Arts District, South Side Dallas, and Lower Greenville are worth visiting! If you are in the Bishop Arts District, make sure to visit Emporium Pies (less crowd on a weekday), Lower Greenville has a truck yard, a fun area with lots of different options for food.  In Fort Worth, I’d definitely check out Magnolia Ave & West 7th. Magnolia Ave has great restaurants like Shinjuku Station,Spiral Diner, and Yucatan Taco Stand. West 7th has more night life activities!

4. Enjoy the Pool

Generally, I am not a pool person but I had been  looking forward to just lay down by the pool (on a weekday all by myself) and get some vitamin D. If pool is not your thing, pamper yourself to a massage or a spa session. I have seen deals on Groupon but I have never tried it myself.

5. Try New Restaurants

The boyfriend and I both love food in general, so trying new restaurant is always on top of our list. During the staycation, we tried bbbop Seoul Kitchen (3 locations in Dallas and has THE best fried chicken), Park Hill Cafe (cute little brunch place in Fort Worth; amazing food  and free unlimited mimosa).

6. Visit a Museum or Theater

Dallas and Fort Worth has several museums and theater for you to enjoy. Dallas – Dallas Museum of Art (its’ free everyday), Perot Museum of Nature and Science (we went here and loved the interactive/educational activities), and AT & T Performing Arts Center (there is always something going on if you are into musicals/plays). Here are additional list of museums/theates in Dallas!Fort Worth – Modern Art Museum of Forth is a really cool space and is known for it’s foremost collections of modern and contemporary international art in the US. It is free on Sunday and half-priced on Wednesday. I have heard great things about Kimbell Art Museum too. Here is a comprehensive listof museums and galleries in Fort Worth.

7. Attend Local Events

Attending local events is something I would like to do more often because both Dallas and Fort Worth always has something going on, especially on the evening/weekends. I went to a vegan popup market, which I learned through facebook. Go to your facebook under events and look for activities that are going on in your area on a particular day! [Tweet “10 Fun Staycation Ideas in DFW! #visitdallas #visitfortworth”]

8. Back to your Old Stomping Grounds

It’s always nice to go back to your favorite cafe, grocery store, or a park. I hardly ever go back to areas I lived before so it was nostalgic eating at Taj Chat House (my favorite vegetarian Indian cafe) and getting mangoes from the grocery store next door.

9. Enjoy Outdoor Activities 

Find a new trail to walk/run,  rent a bike, or go kayaking. There are lots of options in DFW depending on what you enjoy doing. Dallas: I would suggest Katy Trail for walk/run/bike and several restaurants (pet friendly too) options along the way. For water activities, White Rock Lake  has kayaking, rowing, and paddle board you can rent. Fort Worth: Trinity Trail is my favorite for walking/biking/running. Even if you don’t own a bike – you can rent one and explore the area.

10. Check off your Bucket List 

There are so many things I want to do/visit/eat but have been putting off, so staycation was a great time to accomplish that. The boyfriend suggested checking out  Kate Weiser Chocolate;  just mesmerized by all the beautiful work and so many interesting flavors!! While you are there, you can hang out around Trinity Groves – a new entertainment development with restaurants and stores (definitely coming back soon).

One of my friends and I are trying to cross as many places possible on “50 Things to Eat in Fort Worth Before You Die…and we crossed #28 from the list!Bonus – lots of quality time with Bailey!….and that concludes my 10 Fun Staycation Ideas in DFW. Take time to sleep-in, enjoy things you truly love to do, and involve in activities that unwinds you!

What’s your idea of a staycation?

**I was not compensated or sponsored by any of the restaurants/activities mentioned above. These are places I enjoyed during my staycation and want to highlight them!