I visited 7 of the quirkiest attractions in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

Prior to moving to Dallas, I didn’t really view the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex as a vacation destination. Actually, to be honest, I couldn’t even list 5 fun things to do.

But, after moving here, I quickly discovered that the area is way more entertaining than I initially imagined. 

It is one of the largest metroplexes in the United States, so I guess I shouldn’t have been too shocked! 

My husband and I are explorers who enjoy seeking out new experiences. We’ve traveled all around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to discover new adventures. In fact, I even wrote up a guide to Dallas’s 43 best things to do for first-timers.

But, for people who have already done the “must-visits” around Dallas, today I’d like to share something a little different: my experience at 7 of the quirkiest attractions we’ve experienced.

The Giant Eyeball – Downtown Dallas

The Giant Eyeball is a striking public art installation in Downtown Dallas. This eccentric sculpture, created by Tony Tasset, features a massive eyeball that is 30 feet in diameter. While it is definitely a must see at least once, it is a little disappointing that a fence makes it only visible from a distance.

My husband and I often walk by this installation while in Downtown, but it is typically closed off most of the time. There are still some decent spots around the fence that allow you to get good photos with it, which is definitely a must do at least once.

There are events throughout the year that allow you to enter the park surrounding The Giant Eyeball. My husband and I recently attended one such event, which was the Eyeboretum. The park was decorated with an Alice in Wonderland type interactive theme. There were swings, great photo opportunities, and places to grab a drink or snack.

We chose the golden hour option, which included a drink. We had a great time getting up close to the eyeball, feeling like kids on the swings, and capturing some iconic photos. They did a fantastic job of crowd control, so we could completely enjoy every aspect of the event. 

Unfortunately, this event only happens once a year, but it’s absolutely one of my favorite things to do in Dallas.

Meow Wolf – Grapevine

Meow Wolf Grapevine’s theme is The Real Unreal, which is about an ordinary family that encounters the extraordinary. When you first enter the exhibit, the first site is an ordinary looking house. But, upon exploration, you can discover the other dimensions of the exhibit.

My husband and I knew that Meow Wolf was going to be an interactive museum, but we both went in thinking we were just going to see some cool art. We didn’t realize just how multi-faceted and interactive this exhibit was going to be. You really need to take your time and explore some areas multiple times. Actually, we got lost a few times, so it kind of just happens!

Despite my limited research on the exhibit, we did decide to purchase the 3-D glasses. Upon arriving at the exhibit, we realized that these glasses completely transformed the experience by immersing us in the exhibit.

I’m quite sensitive to visual stimulation, so I had to take the glasses off from time to time to rebalance myself. It was still neat to walk around without the glasses, but, for most, I would say the glasses definitely added a necessary layer. My husband, who is an artist, was completely enthralled the entire time while wearing the glasses. 

If we were to ever go back, we’d probably choose one of their adult-only nights. Between the crowds and excited children running around, it was sometimes difficult to navigate around some of the experiences. Of course, we wanted the children to have fun, so we took our time. But the adult-only nights sound like a good alternative for those seeking a chill experience. 

👉 Did you know? You can also find Meow Wolf attractions in Denver, in Las Vegas, in Santa Fe. And Meow Wolf is planning to open one in Houston, and another in Los Angeles soon.

Billy Bob’s – Fort Worth

As a native of Tennessee, I’ve been to my fair share of honkey tonks. So, prior to visiting, I knew that there would be plenty of line dancing and a plethora of western style attire. But I was seriously taken aback by the size of Billy Bob’s.

As they say, “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” And, apparently, this also holds true for their honkey tonks. 

Billy Bob’s is supposedly the largest honkey tonk in the world. It encompasses three acres under one roof. There is a massive dance floor, tons of bars, an eatery, a gift shop, and an indoor rodeo arena for live bull riding. They even have a Wall of Fame filled with celebrity handprints.

The first time we tried to visit Billy Bob’s, it was closed for a private event. My husband and I prefer cozier, laid-back environments so we didn’t go out of our way to try and go again. However, we recently had some friends in town, and one of them wanted to visit for nostalgic purposes. 

Even though it was the middle of the day at an off hour, this mega-honkey tonk was extremely busy. Billy Bob’s is so massive that despite the insane crowds, there was still plenty of free space.

For us the highlight was snapping a group picture with their fake bull. We caught them as they were returning from a break and were able to walk right up, but apparently this is pretty rare. Our family friend said that she waited in line for an hour when she took a photo years ago. And a line started forming very quickly while we were getting ours taken.

Billy Bob’s really isn’t my type of scene, but it is definitely a unique experience. We actually prefer some of the smaller, more intimate saloons that can be found around The Stockyards. 

🤠 Read Next: How I Spent 24 Hours in the Fort Worth Stockyards

Free Play Arcade – Arlington

When I was a kid, I was always excited about the coin arcade games that could be found in establishments like Walmart and various restaurants. Oftentimes, after shopping or having a meal, my dad, brother and I would play a game or two. 

There was always something so exciting about being handed some coins and playing a few games. So, of course, I’m thrilled by any type of establishment that focuses on this nostalgic activity. 

Free Play Arcade has 5 locations around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Their largest location is in Trinity Groves near Downtown Dallas with 160+ arcade games. We haven’t checked out that location yet, but we have visited the one in Arlington that has 130+ arcade games.

The location in Arlington is the 2nd largest and has been very busy both times we visited. However, despite the massive crowds, it is very easy to find fun games to play due to the wide-selection of arcade games. 

I was seriously impressed with the amount of pinball machines they have. Pinball has always been one of my favorite arcade games, and the Arlington location has so many that you can literally only play pinball the entire time if your heart desires.

The only thing that is missing from my childhood memories are the coins, but this certainly makes for a more fluid experience. After paying the entrance fee, you can play as many games as you want without having to insert any coins. 

National Videogame Museum – Frisco

My husband and I tend to do a lot of research when planning trips, but we often take the opposite approach when visiting new areas around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We often decide to visit new places for the experience as opposed to choosing between thoroughly researched options.

We had been planning to visit the National Video Game Museum for quite some time, since it is attached to the library we often go to work. So, despite it being on our must-do list, we didn’t really know much about what it had to offer. 

The museum explores the history of video games and the video game industry. There were two things that really stood. First, they give you tokens to use in their mini arcade. The arcade is quite small, but they have a decent collection of antique arcade games. You can also purchase additional coins.

Second, there are various old devices scattered across the museum that you can try out. It was really neat to have the chance to try out some old consoles that I’ve never even seen before. 

Personally, I’m not very interested in the history of gaming which is why the interactive experiences stood out the most to me. But, due to the in-depth exhibits, I imagine that this destination is especially interesting for anyone interested in gaming and gaming history. 

Deep Ellum – Dallas Neighborhood

Deep Ellum is a historic entertainment district with a rich history, unique street art, quirky shops, and an abundance of live music venues. Dallas isn’t really known for walkable neighborhoods, but I’d say Deep Ellum is near the top of the list.

My husband and I recently had some friends visit for the Total Solar Eclipse in Dallas. While they were here, we took them to explore Deep Ellum. One thing that I really love about Deep Ellum is that it is always lively on the weekends. 

On this particular visit, we were pleasantly surprised to find that an arts and music festival was happening that night. Various art vendors filled the streets of the neighborhood, music echoed in the air, and there were even flow artists showing off their skills.

When traveling with other people, it is always interesting to see what is a MUST-DO on other people’s itineraries. Our friend didn’t know a whole lot about the neighborhood, but she really wanted to get a picture with the historical Deep Ellum sign (pictured above). 

There are some other interesting neighborhoods in Dallas, but Deep Ellum made this list due to its art scene and vast array of events that happen throughout the year. 

Museum of Illusions – Downtown Dallas

The Museum of Illusions is an interactive museum that explores the art and science of optical illusions. The museum’s goal is to challenge your perception and sense of reality by engaging with various optical illusions and other visual tricks.

My husband and I visited with a group of friends, which, honestly, made this museum more fun. We were initially surprised that it seemed quite small and crowded. At times, it was difficult to interact with some of the more popular exhibits. For example, we had to wait in line for the upside-down room scene pictured above.

There were two highlights of this museum. First, there are several areas where you can get fun photos with optical illusions. When you first enter the museum, you’ll see a chair. In the picture, the person sitting on the chair will look really small. If a person is standing beside the chair, they’ll look really big.

While we found several of the exhibits to be really fun, the majority of the experiences are photo-oriented. Are the photos fun? For sure! But some of the exhibits may not be very fun if you are not interested in getting photos. 

However, for my husband, there was one highlight. Near the back of this museum you’ll find a tunnel called the vortex tunnel. This tunnel reminded me of one of those illusion-type exhibits you could walk through at county fairs. While walking through the tunnel, you start to feel like the ground is being pulled from under your feet!

Overall, we had a good time here. It is definitely worth visiting at least once, but it was one of our least favorite attractions out of these quirky spots.

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As someone who enjoys unique experiences, I’d say that all of these attractions are worth visiting once. Free Play Arcade is definitely the highlight for me, since this is the type of location that I could return to again and again.

For more Dallas area fun, check out my full list of 43 fun things to do next.

What is the quirkiest attraction you’ve ever been to? I’d love to hear in the comments!