Family-Friendly Dallas, TX Relaxed Itinerary (48 Hours in the Friendliest City in Texas)

We took our first flight as a family last week.

Boston to Dallas.

Two kids, one blue Audi convertible, and zero chill.

I rented the car through Turo because Emmett is obsessed with fast cars. So obviously, we pulled up in a convertible with the top down like we belonged in a movie. He kept saying, “Mom, this is the best day of my life.” That alone made the whole trip worth it.

We stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb near downtown, and by the time we got there, it was 70°, sunny, and completely different from the frozen Boston we left behind. We walked to the big eyeball (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like), ran around on some fake grass in the middle of the city, and watched the kids go completely feral in the best way possible after their first-ever flight.

Dinner that night was at Beehive, and it was everything. I’ll write a full review separately, but let’s just say: if you’re spending money on a night out, this is the place that makes it worth it.

The next morning, we grabbed breakfast at Overeasy: solid, not spectacular, but again, everyone was so nice. That’s the part I can’t stop thinking about. We’re used to Boston energy: fast, direct, polite-but-distant. Dallas was different. People made eye contact. They said hello. They stopped to talk to the kids like they’d known them forever.

Southern hospitality isn’t just a phrase, it’s a real thing. And we felt it everywhere.

We spent most of the day at the Dallas Zoo (10/10 recommend if you’ve got kids). The gorillas were losing their minds, the cheetah tried to take Emmett out through the glass, and the kids were completely mesmerized the whole time.

Dinner that night was at the Exchange Hall, sort of like a fancy food court. The website wasn’t accurate, so a lot of the places we wanted to try were closed, but the kids got fun grilled cheeses and the adults ended up at Cowboy Chow, which had tacos so good we stopped talking mid-bite.

We left early the next morning. And honestly? Out of all the trips we’ve ever taken, this might’ve been the best.

First flight. First convertible. First time in Texas.

No meltdowns. No disasters. Just joy.

10/10. Would do it again tomorrow.