Nearby Attractions

EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR AAES ATTENDEES AND GUESTS: 

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza – AAES Meeting attendees and guests can take advantage of private tours of the Museum setup exclusively for AAES. The Museum, located within the former Texas School Book Depository building, chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. The main exhibit, John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation, is on the sixth floor. Tours for AAES attendees and guests are free but advanced registration is required. Learn more about the Museum and register for a tour.

Dallas City Pass – A simple and convenient way to see some of Dallas’ top attractions. The Dallas City Pass can be purchased beforehand or at the Reunion Tower entrance on the bottom floor of the conference hotel. The Pass gives you access to the incredible views from the Reunion Tower Geo-Deck and the world-renowned Perot Museum of Nature and Science, plus two more attractions of your choice, with a cost savings of 47%. Details can be found here: https://www.citypass.com/dallas 

Reunion Tower – This iconic feature of the Dallas skyline is attached to the conference hotel. From the top, you are 470 feet in the air with spectacular 360 degree views of downtown Dallas. https://reuniontower.com/

Dallas Arts District – the Dallas Arts District, located just 2 miles from the conference hotel, is the largest continuous urban arts district in the United States, with many of the collections free to all visitors. Highlights include the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Crow Museum of Asian Art. A map of the district can be found here, https://www.dallasartsdistrict.org/, and a sample itinerary to make the most of your time in the Arts District here, https://www.visitdallas.com/plan/itineraries/24-hours-in-the-dallas-arts-district/

• Dallas Museum of Art – Located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the museum has a stunning collection with more than 22,000 pieces, spanning the third millennium BC to present day, including ancient Mediterranean art, 18th-20th century European and American art and art of the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. General admission to the museum is free. Special exhibitions will require a ticket, but children age 11 and under are still free. Information on exhibitions can be found on their website: https://dma.org/
• Nasher Sculpture Center – A true gem in the Dallas Arts District, the Nasher museum was designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano in collaboration with landscape architect Peter Walker and is home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculptures in the world, the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection, featuring more than 300 masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Miró, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, Serra and more. Admission is $10 for adults, though Military and First Responders with ID as well as children under 12 get in free. https://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/
• Crow Museum of Art – Founded in 1998 and curated by Clarence Shangraw, who was with the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco at that time, the Crow Museum of Asian Art features pieces from China, Japan, India, Korea and Southeastern Asia spanning from historical to contemporary. Daily admission to the museum is free. https://crowmuseum.org/

JFK Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza – less than a mile from the conference hotel, the museum is located within the Texas School Book Depository Building just off Dealy Plaza, the site of the assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The museum’s collections include items related to the assassination of the President, as well as the legacy of the Kennedy presidency and the culture of the 1960s. https://www.jfk.org/

Dallas Holocaust and Humans Rights Museum – Dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Located less than a mile from the conference hotel. https://www.dhhrm.org/

Klyde Warren Park – This 5.2-acre deck park, designed by The Office of James Burnett and located within 2 miles of the conference hotel, is an urban green space built over the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets in downtown Dallas. Explore the playgrounds, partake in daily free programming for the public ranging from yoga to lecture series to outdoor concerts and films, and nosh on food from local food trucks. https://www.klydewarrenpark.org/

Perot Museum of Nature and Science – The Perot is an award-winning architectural jewel and science museum located in Victory Park, less than 2 miles from the conference hotel. There are 11 interactive exhibit halls filled with magnificent prehistoric creatures, the wonders of space and extraordinary experiences with glistening gems, wild weather, robots, sports, and more. Race a virtual T. rex, discover what it means to be human, experience the power of earthquakes, and construct model skyscrapers. Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for kids; discounted 47% with the Dallas City Pass; and free for Military and First Responders with ID. https://www.perotmuseum.org/

 Winspear Opera House – 2.4 miles Home of the Dallas Opera and Texas Ballet Theater, and part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. https://www.attpac.org/your-visit/venues/winspear-opera-house/

Dallas Symphony Orchestra – the Myerson Symphony Center is located 2.4 miles away within the AT&T Performing Arts Center. https://www.dallassymphony.org/

Dallas World Aquarium – The Dallas World Aquarium, located just 1 mile from the conference hotel, was first converted from a vacant warehouse into an aquarium in 1992 and expanded over the years. In addition to fish and sea-dwelling creatures, there’s a rainforest full of land animals, birds, and many more exotics living in this indoor, multi-story oasis in the heart of Dallas. Admission is $30 for adults, $20 for children, and free for 2yo and younger. https://dwazoo.com/

Dallas Zoo – The Dallas Zoo is located 3 mile south of the conference hotel. Established in 1888, the 106-acre zoo is the oldest and largest zoological park in Texas. It is home to over 2,000 animals representing 406 species. Admission ranges from $8 to $22 per person based on seasonal periods at the Zoo. https://www.dallaszoo.com/

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – Located 8 miles east of downtown Dallas on the shores of White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum is one of the top botanical gardens in the world. It features 66-acres of spectacular display gardens that showcase incredible seasonal flowers, ornamental shrubs, trees and plant collections. Springtime is especially magical at the arboretum. Admission is $20 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. https://www.dallasarboretum.org/

Original Flagship Neiman Marcus – Neiman Marcus, the iconic Dallas department store established in 1907, still echoes the old world charm of a bygone era in its flagship store ~1 mile from the conference hotel. No trip would be complete without a visit to the Zodiac restaurant on the 6th floor. Book your private stylist or salon treatment here: https://stores.neimanmarcus.com/stores/dallas/tx/dallas-downtown/1001.

Bishop Arts Shopping District – Located 3 miles south of the conference hotel in the heart of North Oak Cliff, the Bishop Arts District is home to over 60 independent boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and art galleries, making it one of Dallas' most unique neighborhoods. https://www.bishopartsdistrict.com/shops-and-services

Highland Park Village – Highland Park Village, located 5 miles from the conference hotel, is the premier luxury shopping and lifestyle experience in Dallas, offering a mix of the best-known fashion brands in the world including Alexander McQueen, Brunello Cucinelli, Cartier, Celine, CHANEL, Christian Louboutin, Dior, Fendi, Goyard, Harry Winston, Hermès, Tom Ford, Valentino and more. Book your complimentary personal shopping experience here: https://hpvillage.com/personal-shopper/

NorthPark Center Mall– Shop Dallas’ top shopping destination, home to over 200 retailers, including luxury boutiques, trend-setting brands, restaurants and a movie theater. Only 8 miles from the conference hotel, it is filled museum quality artworks, extraordinary landscaping, and you can pay a visit to the resident ducks and turtles. Explore all your options at https://northparkcenter.com/

Deep Ellum – Deep Ellum is the live music capital of north Texas, as well as a hub for the performing arts only 2 miles from the conference hotel. Enjoy the many street murals during the light of day, as well as several of the small art galleries. There are a multitude of small eateries, many with excellent live music in house, in addition to numerous night clubs to appeal to all music preferences. https://www.deepellumtexas.com/live-music-and-entertainment/

House of Blues – Dallas has it’s very own House of Blues, located 1 mile from the hotel. Be sure to keep an eye out to see if one of your favorite musical artist may be headlining during the meeting! https://www.houseofblues.com/dallas

Texas Motor Speedway – 36 miles from the conference hotel, hosts several NASCAR events year round. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will be coming April of 2024 – the exact weekend still TBD. https://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/

Billy Bob’s Texas – 37 miles from the conference hotel, located in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards, it is known as “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk”. With the ability to accommodate up to 6,000 guests, it is open daily with nightly live entertainment spanning from country music to classic rock. In addition to live music, there is LIVE bull riding every Friday and Saturday night, and free line dancing lessons with Saturday lunch. While the bull riding is for professional and semi-pro riders only, you can still play the part on the photo bull. Plan your very own truly Texas experience at https://billybobstexas.com/

The Fort Worth Stockyards – Feel like you’ve gone back in time to the old west! The Fort Worth Stockyards embodies Western heritage, from the original brick walk ways, to the wooden corrals, and the world’s only twice daily cattle drive. 37 miles from the conference hotel. https://www.fortworthstockyards.org/

Historic Downtown Grapevine and the Urban Wine Trail – For those wanting to enjoy a multitude of Texas wines, downtown Grapevine is home to seven different winery tasting rooms, all clustered a very short walking distance from each other. In addition to the winery tasting rooms, there are several local boutiques with one-of-a-kind treasures. Found 22 miles from the hotel https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/wine/

Professional Sports Teams:

Dallas Mavericks – play at the American Airlines Center, 2 miles from the hotel – also accessible by the DART or Trinity Rail Express. The Regular NBA season home games end April 12, so first round play offs may be happening during the AAES annual meeting

Dallas Stars – play at the American Airlines Center, 2 miles from the hotel – also accessible by the DART or Trinity Rail Express. The regular NHL season home games end Wednesday, April 17, 2024 against the St. Louis Blues.

Texas Rangers – play at Globe Life Field Stadium in Arlington, 17 miles from the conference hotel. Based on the current 2024 schedule, the Rangers will be on a stretch of away games during the annual AAES meeting.

Dallas Cowboys – play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, 17 miles from the hotel. While spring is not football season, you can always see about a tour of the stadium, or see what other events may be happening the weekend of the meeting.

FC Dallas – the local MLS Soccer team plays out of Toyota Stadium in Frisco, 28 miles from the hotel. While the 2024 season schedule hasn’t been post yet, soccer lovers must check out https://www.fcdallas.com/ to see if there will be game options over the annual meeting time.

Six Flags over Texas – the Dallas Fort Worth area’s largest, most thrilling theme park, offering a multitude of rides, entertainment and events. Located in Arlington, 17 miles from the conference hotel. https://www.sixflags.com/overtexas

EpicCentral – this massive family attraction includes the Epic Waters, the largest indoor waterpark in North Texas, voted one of the 10 Best in America water parks by USA Today Readers Choice 2023, as well as Boulder Adventure Park, a year-round family entertainment center featuring climbing, ziplining, sliding, skating and arcading! Located in Grand Prairie, 18 miles from the hotel. See all they have to offer at https://epiccentral.com/

Day passes for spas and pools around the area are available through https://www.resortpass.com/hotel-day-passes/Dallas-18