Dallas
Welcome to Dallas => in Texas, home of the Cowboys (actually Irving), the Rangers (actually Arlington), the Dallas Stars (they're in Dallas), the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Burn (now in Frisco) and the Dallas Desperados and six million other more important people.
Understand
Dallas is a convention city. So don't expect to see many cowboys. Unless you go to one of the huge country dance places, which is highly recommended if you're from far away. Once you're in Dallas, you're reasonably close to Fort Worth where you can go visit Sundance Square or the stockyards. You won't see much in the way of cowboys at those places either.
Land is cheap in Texas, and Dallas has no natural boundaries to stop its growth, so new development tends to happen wherever land is cheapest. This leads to somewhat of a boom-bust cycle as people enter, leave, and move on from the different areas. This is simultaneously one of the best things and the worst things about Dallas. There is a lot to do here like any big city, but unlike New York, there is nothing to force these attractions to be close together. Plan on renting a car.
Get in
Most people who come to Dallas are going to come by air since Dallas is home to DFW, the Dallas-Fort Worth International airport, one of the largest airports in the country by passenger volume. Details for each method of arrival will follow:
By plane
There are two major airports in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, DFW, and Love Field (DAL). Love Field is smack in the middle of the city (to the north) but has certain restrictions on flights into and out of due to the Wright Amendment (also search google). Love Field is home to Southwest airlines, so if you are flying from within Texas, check out the flights on SouthWest.com
Otherwise, you will probably end up flying into DFW. DFW is a large airport, reasonably clean, and during tourist-travel type times (not AM/PM Monday/Friday "flight rush hour") lines are short and staff is friendly. Equally positioned between Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW is a great airport to fly into.
No matter which airport you are flying into our out of, if it is during rush hour, traffic will be a factor! Make sure you budget at least 2-3 hours to get to/from the airport if you are traveling on I-635, the Bush turnpike (SH-190), or 75 (Central Expressway). It will probably only take you an hour (and traffic has been getting better lately), but it is far better to have that extra hour of cushion than to be stuck on
- the one road* that will get you where you need to go, and to be moving at a crawl.
Once you've arrived at the airport, you will probably do best to take one of the Shared Ride shuttle services. They offer door to door pickup and drop off, probably costing ~$30 for ~20 miles (which will get you to most places).
For DFW, there are courtesy phones that will let you ring them directly (for free), and they are usually pretty quick about pickups and drop offs. (at most adding an extra 30-40 minutes while you wait for them to pick up more people, or to drop your fellow passengers off on the way to your place or hotel).
By train
Two routes serve Dallas/Fort Worth: 'Texas Eagle' (San Antonio to Chicago) & 'Heartland Flyer' (Fort Worth to Oklahoma City)
By car
To get here from Oklahoma, take I-35 or US 75 south. To get here from Houston, it's ~250 miles north on I-45 (which turns into 75). To get here from Austin, take I-35 North. To get here from Louisiana, take I-20 east. Dallas is pretty much the junction-point for most cities within a 2-300 mile radius, with good road service to and from. Any map of the United States should have enough information to get you into Dallas with no problems.
However, once you are here, watch out for traffic. Traffic tends to go towards the city centers in the morning, and away from the city centers in the evening. Major choke points are 75 South in the morning (what takes 20 minutes with no traffic, ends up taking 1-2 hours with traffic). I-635 near 75 is also usually a mess since I-635 (being the beltway that runs all around Dallas) is an often-travelled road. Also watch out for I-35E southbound in the mornings.
75 is also called "Central" or "Central Expressway", and turns into 45 just south of Downtown (note: 75 is an expressway, because 75 has too many entrances and exits to be considered a highway).
I-635 is sometimes called LBJ, which stands for Lyndon B Johnson.
Note, there are two branches of I-35. I-35 splits into I-35W at Denton (30 miles north of Dallas) through Fort Worth to Hillsboro (50 miles south of Dallas), and I-35E that runs from Denton through Dallas to Hillsboro. After I-35W and I-35E reach Hillsboro, they simply rejoin as I-35.
By bus
Bus service shouldn't be too difficult to encounter. There is a Greyhound terminal near the center of downtown. Check Greyhound for more information, feel free to add your own tips.
Buses also run to and from Shreveport on the weekends, which is sponsored by the casinos. This is more for the locals to go and get their gambling fixes, but ask around if you're interested.
Get around
The best way to get around Dallas is in a car. There is public transportation in the form of buses and trains (light rail), but again, these best serve the local needs (commuting to work, etc), and are very difficult to get good timings if you are trying to get anywhere exotic.
The transportation system is called DART, and they do an excellent job of catering to special events (Cowboys games, State Fair), or special places (Dallas Zoo, West End, Arboreatum) and will instantly give you a trip plan if you call them up (214-979-1111) or use their website. You will usually want to get a day pass, since it will probably take you a lot of buses to get where you need to go.
The bus system, not unlike in many large cities, can be quite confusing. Because mass transit is still far behind in popularity than that of other countries, foreigners may be surprised that Dallasites will be unable to help direct them very well. The train system is easiest to understand, and connects to several suburban areas. Therefore, if it is at all possible, try to get an automobile. Prices are relatively cheap, especially for train travel. On DART, bus drivers check tickets at the door, but on the trains, there is almost no checking of tickets. Use caution when riding in some areas of downtown.
See
- The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, 411 Elm Street, Suite #120, Dallas, TX 75202 directions, phone: (214)747-6660, toll-free: 888-485-4854, fax: (214)747-6662. Open daily from 9am - 6pm. The 6th floor museum is by far the most interesting thing to do in Dallas that is always available. An unfortunate part of Dallas' history is that it is the site of the assassination of President Kennedy. The Texas Book Depository is the site where shots were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, and the museum is located on the sixth floor of the same building. It is an incredibly moving experience with videos, full-wall descriptions and photographs, along with artifacts from the event. I've taken people there three times, and I have always found something new and interesting to see. For an alternative viewpoint see the Conspiracy Museum below. Sixth Floor Museum Site
- The Conspiracy Museum The Yang to the Sixth Floor Museum's Yin, it presents alternative information regarding the conspiracies around JFK's assassination. Website appears to be down for now, but read on for this interesting review from Margaret Cho, as I have never been.
- Dallas Museum of Art - 1717 North Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201, see http://www.dm-art.org/visitor_info.htm for location/driving directions, phone: (214) 922-1200. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 11AM-5PM, Thursday 11AM-9PM, Closed Mondays, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Great works of art from eastern and western cultures, from all ages. $6, but admission is free on Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm. see http://dm-art.org
- Nasher Sculpture Center 2001 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201 214-242-5100, see http://nashersculpturecenter.org - be prepared for Flash. This collection of sculpture provides a fantastic outdoor oasis in the heart of the downtown arts district. The Renzo Pianodesigned facility pulls in the surrounding light and energy of the district but does not overwhelm. The indoor outdoor collection of renowned Dallas collector Raymond Nasher is truly world class. Ask about the combined admission ticket to see the Nasher and the DMA.
- State Fair, In September and October, State Fair is held at Dallas. It takes place in Fair Park,which is a 277-acre city park that is just two miles east of downtown Dallas, and is held for 24 days every year. The fair is open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. You can come to the fair by car and the parking is only $8 per car. This year (2004) it was held from September 24?October 17. The ticket prices are $12 for general admission, $8 for kids under 48" tall, children 2 and under, seniors 60 and older are free. At the State Fair, there are many entertainments and events for example, "Looney Tunes Hollywood Screen Test", "Budweiser Oktoberfest", "Backyard Circus", "Milking Parlor", "College Football", and "Hot Diggity Dog Shows". Not only kids but also adults can enjoy the events. Next year, which will be held from September 30?October 23, there will be more interesting and exciting events. For more information about the State Fair of Texas go to the Official Web Site of the State Fair of Texas http://www.bigtex.com/
- Dallas Mavericks, There is a professional basketball team in Dallas. That's the Dallas Mavericks. They play the game at the American Airlines Center,located at 2500 Victory Ave in Dallas, Texas. You can come to the games by your own car, by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dart), or by Trinity Railway Express (TRE). The ticket prices vary from seats to seats. The cheapest seat is $10 and the most expensive seat is $240 which is very close to the players. Watching the Mavericks' games will be exciting becasue we could watch the fantastic plays of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse. In 2002-03 season the team went to the conference finals.
Do
Night Life
- West End
... the Disneyland of the Over-21 set. See West End Marketplace. The West End is slowly becoming less popular, with UpTown, McKinney Avenue and even Knox/Henderson attracting the crowds for hipper entertainment.
#http://www.dallaswestend.org/- Deep Ellum
... slightly shady. Lots of police patrols, but watch yourself. Generally good music. See Trees. Parking is expensive and difficult to find.
#http://www.deepellumtx.com/- Lower Greenville
... also slightly shady, but less-so than Deep Ellum. Generally caters to a slightly older crowd.
- Uptown
... fancy-schmancy.
#http://www.uptowndallas.net/index2.htm- Mockingbird Station
...features one of Dallas's best arthouse/independent cinema theaters: the Angelika, some nice shopping (Victoria's Secret, Virgin Megastore, etc.) and restaurants (Dublin Pub, Noodles Kitchen, etc.), all just off the train tracks.
#http://www.mockingbirdstation.com/- First Saturday
...a must for geeks. Hint, it begins at midnight. Be prepared to find more FleaMarket-style garbage than actual computer equipment.
#http://www.firstsaturday.com/- Addison
... most restaurants per-capita in the U.S. (I think official statistic). Check Flying Saucer & Duke's Roadhouse for pubs.
#http://www.addisontexas.net/Shopping
Downtown Neiman Marcus.
Galleria.
Willow Bend Mall.
West Village Shopping Center (uptown)
North Park Mall
Learn
Southern Methodist University (Dallas).
University of Texas at Dallas.
University of Dallas.
University of Texas at Arlington.
Texas Christian University (Fort Worth).
Work
Frito-Lay
Lockheed.
Raytheon.
TI.
EDS.
JC Penney
Law Firms downtown.
Radio Shack
Blockbuster
Cadbury Schweppes
Michaels
American Airlines
Exxon-Mobil
Verizon
Southwest Airlines
Countrywide Home Loans
Eat
Barbeque
- Sonny Bryans is probably Dallas's most famous barbeque restaurant. Although there are now several locations, the original, and many say the best, is at 2202 Inwood, between Maple and Harry Hines. Get there early, though, because they close when they run out of food, which pretty much always happens at lunchtime.
- Spring Creek Barbeque : Looking for the best Texas style BBQ restaurant? One of the best BBQ restaurant that will fully satisfy you is the Spring Creek Barbeque, which has 15 Texas style restaurants across the North Texas area. Once you step inside, the smell of meat and homemade bread will make your appetite go crazy. The menu is very simple. Beef, ham sausage, turkey, chicken, and ribs are available for entrees (you can have combinations also). All of them come with corn, beans, potato salad, corn slaw, and baked potatos for side orders. Also, fresh homemade breads are served with all of them too. Even with large servings, the most expensive menu is only about $10 so all of the dishes are available at a reasonable price. http://springcreekbarbeque.com/
Tex-Mex
- Primos!
This is some of the best TEXMEX in Dallas, off Mckinney. Delicious.
- Herreras
The epitome of TexMex. Herreras began as a tiny, ten table restaurant in a very shady neighborhood; its main location is now a huge gaudy place in a less shady neighborhood. Caters to those who enjoy gigantic proportions; they serve simple but delicious food that should scare you silly if you're on a diet. Bean soup is stupendous.
- El Fenix
- Freebirds World Burrito
...Moderate pricing for burritos of huge proportions, yet no trade-off in taste especially since you customize it to your liking. Nice, sometimes loud atmosphere and a college student hang-out. http://www.freebirds.com/menus/menu_dallas.pdf
- "Mi Cocina" Arguably the best Tex-Mex in Dallas. Without question the best frozen margarita. The flagship restaurant is in the most fashionable shopping district in dallas, the Highland Park Village. Mi Cocina has other locations throughout north Dallas, including one at Preston and Forest.
Budget
- Taboon Grill, serving middle-eastern and mediterranean food. Very small, looks like an ethnic convenience store from the outside. Located near the airport just west of Belt Line Rd and north of SR 183 (the Airport Fwy) in a stripmall that the 70s forgot. 214.596.0908 =>
Mid-range
- India Palace, 12817 Preston Road, Dallas. Just north of I620 on Preston Road. Food and service are both excellent; Chicken tikka masala and kofta nawabi are recommended. $9-$15 per plate. http://dfw.diningguide.net/data/d100575.htm
- Masami, 116 Richardson Heights Shopping Center, Richardson, Texas. West of US 75 on Beltline. Phone: (972) 783-6800. Serves high quality Thai and Japanese food including sushi. No hibachi. Relatively small, traditional japanese seating and standard western style seating both available. $10-$18 per plate. http://sushiref.com/listings/na/usa/texas/dallas/masami/
Splurge
Drink
- Adairs
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
- Crowne Plaza Market Center, 7050 Stemmons Freeway, 214 630-8500, =>. Moments away from some of Dallas' best attractions, including the ever-popular Six Flags over Texas, Ewing Ranch from the 'Dallas' television series, and Dallas Zoo. The hotel is located only six miles from downtown Dallas and right next to I-35 providing swift access to Dallas city center and the neighboring attractions of Fort Worth.
- Crowne Plaza, 7800 Alpha Road, 972 233-7600, =>. An all-suite hotel that combines space, comfort and convenience with upscale amenities and a central location. Just minutes from downtown Dallas, adjacent to the Richardson / Plano business district and 18 miles from Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
- DoubleTree - Campbell Center, 8250 North Central Expressway, 214 691-8700, =>. One of the best-placed Dallas hotels for business and leisure travelers, being situated between the main airports just north of downtown Dallas. Hotels in this location, just off US-75, also provide easy access to the DART network and Richardson / North Dallas.
- Embassy Suites - Park Central Area, 13131 North Central Expressway, 972234-3300, =>. Situated at the intersection of I-635 and the North Central Expressway, in North Dallas. Hotels in this location are just 16 miles from DFW Airport and ten miles from Dallas Love Field Airport, and are close to the Galleria and Northpark Malls.
- Embassy Suites - Market Center, 2727 Stemmons Freeway, 214 630-5332, =>. Right by the Market Center, just north of central Dallas, 18 miles from DFW Airport, and three miles from Dallas Love Field. There is a complimentary shuttle from this Embassy Suites Hotel to destinations three miles around, including the Dallas Market Center and downtown Dallas.
- Fairfield Inn, 1575 Regal Row, near DAL Love Field, =>. Closely situated to some of the main tourist attractions like the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, downtown Dallas, American Airlines Center, Dallas Convention Center, the Kennedy Memorial, Six Flags and the Texas Stadium, which is home to the Dallas Cowboys.
- Westin Park Central, 12720 Merit Drive, 972 385-3000, =>. Conveniently located just a few minutes away from downtown Dallas and the Dallas Convention Center. The hotel also just a short drive away from the Galleria, Texas Stadium, the Dallas Aquarium, the Dallas Museum of Art and is just 18 miles from Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport.
- Embassy Suites, 3880 West Northwest Highway, 214 357-4500, =>. Conveniently situated just outside Dallas Love Field airport and 30 minutes from DFW airport, and 8 miles north of central Dallas.
- Hotel Lawrence, 302 South Houston Street, 877 396-0334, => An historic boutique hotel in the West End, which was built in 1925 and recently renovated. Across from the George Allen Courthouse and the closest hotel to Dealey Plaza and the Kennedy Sixth Floor Museum.
- Wyndham Anatole, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, =>. Near downtown and adjacent to the Dallas Market Center and the American Airlines Center.
- Wyndham North Dallas, 4801 LBJ Freeway, =>. In the heart of North Dallas by the Galleria, the Wyndham North Dallas Hotel is a 14-floor high rise, surrounded by more than 200 of the Fortune 500 companies.
- Wyndham Garden Hotel - Park Central, 8051 LBJ Freeway, =>. Conveniently located near major business destinations like Texas Instruments, and a world of shopping awaits you just minutes away at Northpark Center or the Galleria.
- Wyndham - Market Center, 2015 Market Center Boulevard, =>. In the heart of the Dallas Market District, just minutes from the Apparel Mart, Infomart and World Trade Center.
- Amerisuites - West End, 1907 North Lamar Street, 214 999-0500, =>. A few blocks from downtown Dallas and 15 miles away from DFW International Airport and 8 miles from Love Field.
Splurge
Stay Safe
Rule number one is "Don't be Stupid". If you are downtown after dark, try not to be alone. There is a fair amount of homelessness in the Downtown area, but in general I've very rarely felt "unsafe" in most parts of Downtown. South Side is generally a little bit more rough around the edges than the north sides. No visible drug or gang problems, but then again, I don't live directly in the city.
Get out
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