Hello darlings!  Traveling Diva, at your service!  I did a bit of research, and Dallas is not as boring as you think !  Here are a few off-the-beaten-path things to consider for group outings before and after the fabulous event.  Woo hoo!

My first pick: Deep Ellum – I discovered this hunting around on the net and it looks amazing for a full day into night trip.  Try out the Art Cafe and shop for odd stuff surrounded by the NY loft backdrop before picking a live music spot to settle into.  Deep Ellum has been often described as a ‘little New Orleans and Southern SoHo’ – It is trendy, zaney, and very unique. The shops you will see there are even decorated in a very colorful manner. This is the place for pyschics and tattoo shops, as well as individual nightlife and restaurants. Deep Ellum is the modern eclectic side of Dallas. This website gives you all the info but the upcoming events calendar is a bit outdated… 
http://ondaweb.com/deep_ellum/

This one deserves a “hod-dam!” The 6th Floor Museum -   Go to the ‘lower Greenville Street’ area, northeast of the city. It’s a small, ‘happening’ area, with some blues bars, restaurants, and shops.  Definitely go to Dealy Plaza downtown, where President Kennedy was shot. You’ll see, at all times, conspiracy nuts searching the ‘grassy knoll’ and surrounding areas for overlooked bullets and other missed evidence! Go to the ‘sixth floor’ too, where Oswald was (supposedly) when the shots rang-out. The exact spot where the tragedy occurred is marked on the street–somewhat macabre, but specific. This street passes in front of the Texas Book Depository on Elm Street and to the side of Dealey Plaza.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sixth-floor-museum-at-dealey-plaza-dallas

Family picnic at White Rock Lake -White Rock is a small suburb 10 miles north of downtown Dallas. It has the largest public recreation area in Dallas which attracts joggers, cyclists, boaters, fishermen and families all year round. White Rock Park covers an area of 2,115 acres, and White Rock Lake. a man-made reservoir, is the focal point of the park.
A lot of the park facilities were constructed during the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There are bridges, playgrounds, drinking water fountains, restrooms, and picnic pavilions with more than 200 picnic tables being provided.

Romantic hideaway stroll in Big D – Located across the street from the Mustangs of Las Colinas is the Mandalay Canal Walk (a tree-lined cobblestone walkway, reminiscent of a European village with eateries, shops and gondolas).

Lakeside Park: This park is a hidden gem that is so close to the beaten path in Dallas but yet it feels like a world away! It is near Turtle Creek Blvd and adjacent to the Dallas Country Club. The park and lake is located in Highland park which is an area of very impressive homes just north of Downtown Dallas. The park is full of bridges, waterfalls, pathways, sculptures, trees, rivers, lakes, and stone walls. This is a great resting spot after a long day. It is a very peaceful spot to go and walk around. Everywhere you look there is a bench just waiting to be used as a nature observatory. In a short walk I so quite a lot of wildlife for being so close to downtown. Watch the ducks, squirrels, birds, and city dwellers walking their domesticated dogs. Historical Park (formerly Old City Park) that has original houses and buildings that date back into the early 1900′s. It’s outside the downtown area.

Downtown Mckinney – it’s a historic district with an old court house, many antique malls, cafes, and even a British Baker (107 South Chestnut)…in case you want really good food and need a scones fix. The neighborhood around downtown is very nice too. Many old houses/mansions with spires and other fancy architecture.
Barhop on the McKinney Avenue Trolley    http://www.mata.org/map.shtml

Celebration Restaurant – a restaurant out of real stone, wood and copper, has a monthly “Dinner with Dialogue” night with invited guest speakers.  Check the speakers when it gets closer to your travel dates and see if it’ll be anyone amazing.
http://www.celebrationrestaurant.com/history.htm

There’s also the Dallas World Aquarium,- They not only have a traditional aquarium with fish in tanks divided by locations, countries, & islands around the world, they have an area with South African penguins,  and a rainforest. You start at the top of the rainforest and wind your way through the monkeys, down to the sloths & birds, over to the otters, snakes, down to the crocodiles, piranhas, and then you’ll find yourself below the fish looking up through the glass at manatees, fish, ducks, turtles, etc.  They have a new exhibit, Mundo Maya, featuring what it feels like in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. See hummingbirds, a jaguar, flamingos, and sharks. Wind your way down and find yourself walking underneath the shark tank. They have two terrific restaurants on site.  The reason this place is so great is that they make it feel as though you are in a rainforest and in Mexico. You aren’t looking at animals behind glass. Rather you are out there with them.

and the Zoo?  AND the Opera!  Oh my!!!

Cheers!

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