In a city with this level of high-class shopping, dining, and nightlife, getting out and about can be expensive. Fortunately, there are a few hidden gems among Dallas’ vast offering of activities that can come without a cost at all. Here’s a quick roundup of our favorite free things to do around Dallas, plus an extra tip about how to save even more money on the weekends with Direct Energy.
Scratch Your Artsy Itch
The city of Dallas is rife with opportunities to view and appreciate world-class art, and much of it can be experienced without an art collector’s budget. The Dallas Museum of Art offers free admission to its main collection and most exhibitions on every day of the week (though there’s an upcharge for special exhibition tickets). And despite its status as a highbrow shopping mall, NorthPark Center’s art collection is both impressive and worth a cost-free visit.
Take In The Skyscraping Scenery
Dallas is home to many an architectural feat, whether we’re talking about the ball-shaped Reunion Tower, the freeway lid that became Klyde Warren park, or one of the Central Business District’s many historically significant sites and buildings. Pick a day that’s not too hot and enlist the help of a National Geographic-curated walking trail or the Pegasus Urban Trails app, and you’ll see much of the city’s history and culture without shelling out for expensive history museum tickets.
Hike, Bike, Rollerblade & Run
Whether you’re partial to the Katy Trail (and its adjacent Ice House) or White Rock Lake’s running and biking trail, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get outside and get your heart pumping in Dallas. Check out a city-center park, like Klyde Warren or Main Street Garden, if you’re looking for more of an urban experience.
Take A Breezy Ride On The M Line Trolley
The McKinney Avenue Trolley is always free to ride and operates every day, though specific hours can be viewed on its website. Points of interest along its route include the Magnolia Theater; Greenwood, Calvary, and Emanuel cemeteries; the Kitchen Dog Theater; Uptown Dallas; hotels ZaZa, St. Germain, and The Crescent; the Dallas Arts District; and Victory Park and its American Airlines Center. You can also take the trolley to the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Dallas World Aquarium. Keep in mind that the trolley itself is an old vehicle, so there’s no AC (but the windows do open so you can take in both the sights and the breeze).
Want to get even more for free? Consider becoming a Direct Energy customer, and you can enjoy free electricity every single weekend, which adds up to over 100 days of free electricity per year! If you tend to do your high-usage activities like laundry, dishes, and heating and cooling on the weekend, this plan can help cut your energy cost and give you piece of mind, when you want to bake that extra round of cookies.
