The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is Dallas's big modern science museum, housed in a sharp, cube-like building north of downtown. Its permanent exhibits cover dinosaurs, gems, space, engineering, the human body, and Texas natural history, with plenty aimed at children but enough depth for adults.
It is one of the city's best family attractions and a strong bad-weather option. The building itself is part of the draw, with an exterior escalator that gives a quick skyline view before you start through the galleries.