Dallas: Five Must See Sites

With more than 1.2 million residents, the city of Dallas boasts the third-largest population in Texas. After it was founded in 1841, Dallas was incorporated as a city in 1856. The city has played a prominent role throughout history in the oil and cotton industries. There are many attractions in Dallas that attract a wide variety of tourists each year. Those looking for a little sight-seeing in Texas are sure to not miss the city of Dallas. Here are the top five tourist attractions not to miss in Dallas.

Dallas Museum of Art

For a little history and art lesson, tourists can visit one of many Texas tourist attractions that that house thousands of art works and artifacts. The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the major museums located in the Arts District in downtown Dallas. At the museum, visitors can view more than 24,000 objects that date back to the third millennium BC. This Dallas vacation destination received the 2007 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and offers award-winning educational programs.

The Sixth Floor Museum

The city of Dallas plays a significant role in American history as the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Sixth Floor Museum presents this historic event on the sixth floor of the Dallas County Administration Building. This is the same spot that Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed the president. One of the most powerful attractions in Dallas, this museum displays films, photographs, artifacts and interpretive displays that chronicle the assassination. Few Texas tourist attractions hold as much historical significance as this museum which opened on Presidents' Day in 1989.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial

In addition to The Sixth Floor Museum, visitors can pay their respects during their Dallas vacation to the assassinated president at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial. The monument was constructed in 1970 and stands in the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas. This location is within close proximity of where the assassination took place. While sight-seeing in Texas, visitors can take a trip to the open tomb memorial that consists of a square, roofless room. The room has two small openings that lead into the center of the empty room. The only object displayed is a low-hewn granite square that bares the name of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

A 66 acre garden, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located in the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake in east Dallas. Sight-seeing in Texas does not get much better than the various gardens and fountains that make up the arboretum. While in the gardens, visitors can also get a spectacular view of the lake and the skyline of downtown Dallas. Among the numerous attractions in Dallas, the arboretum also features a visitor's center and more than 2,400 varieties of azaleas and other flower species that bloom each year.

Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park

After a relaxing time of sight-seeing at other Texas tourist attractions, tourists can get their adrenaline pumping with a visit to the Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park. During their Dallas vacation, visitors can try five rides aimed to give a thrilling experience. The rides include a bungee jump, hand-gliding flight simulator, Texas Blast Off-Rockets, 16-story tower freefall, and a towering propeller pulling 4Gs.