Dallas Vacations
- Known for having a healthy ego, "Big D" embraces
out-of-towners with high-society polish and Southwestern hospitality.
Indeed, Dallas is a study of contrasts. On the one hand, it's a
cosmopolitan center, worldly in its interests, dashing and charming. On
the other hand, it proudly represents the individuality and steadfast
idealism of its Texas birthright.
Downtown, such dichotomies are most obvious. Here, sleek, glass and steel skyscrapers stand alongside architectural gems designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and I. M. Pei. Here, 50-story Reunion Tower affords a bird's-eye view of the modern cityscape, while the nostalgic McKinney Avenue Trolley gives riders an old-fashioned lift Uptown. And here, a museum on the sixth floor of the Dealey Plaza Book Depository Building remembers the life and death of President John F. Kennedy, and, just a few blocks away in the Downtown Arts District, originals by Monet and Matisse are on display at the Dallas Museum of Art.
The business world covets Dallas' no-frills sensibility and big-city savvy; Bank of America, Texas Instruments, Exxon Mobile, Frito-Lay and JCPenney Co. all have major operations in the area. When the time comes to unwind and refresh, however, few places know how to let go quite like Dallas. On nice days, some natives flock to places like White Rock Lake Park, its 1000 acres of woodland ideal for hiking, fishing and bird-watching.
For other folks, the diverse entertainment and shopping scenes are more attractive diversions. In Deep Ellum, east of downtown, live music and the arts have thrived since the 1800s. Honky-tonks and venues like the Gypsy Tea Room welcome packed houses. Greenville Avenue, split into Upper and Lower sections by Mockingbird Lane, has remained a favorite of the young and trendy thanks to a wealth of boutiques, bars and restaurants. Ultra-chic McKinney Avenue (more popularly known as Uptown) and Knox-Henderson lay claim to high-end retailers, exclusive nightclubs and acclaimed restaurants such as the innovative Abacus.
Of course, any discussion of playtime in Dallas is incomplete unless sports is mentioned. Arlington, to the west, is home to baseball's Texas Rangers, and the NBA Dallas Mavericks have developed a loyal following over the years. But make no mistake: in Dallas, football reigns supreme, from the collegiate action on Saturday to the Cowboys' Sunday slate. Perhaps most surprising to visitors, though, is the enormous popularity of high school football, with Friday night's highlights dominating the Saturday headlines of the Dallas Morning News.
And yet, after proclaiming Emmitt Smith the greatest running back who ever lived, the modern Dallasite is perfectly adept discussing opera or the ballet. First-rate facilities at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Campbell Center (home of the Dallas Opera) and Kalita Humphreys Theater help Dallas maintain a strong presence in the arts, and the city's rich Latino, African-American and Asian heritages create countless opportunities for experiencing sights and sounds beyond rodeo and country-western music.
Accommodating, versatile and a bit of a show-off, Dallas has little trouble winning over travelers. In fact, it ranks among the nation's top cities in convention business and is the state's top travel and leisure destination. Yes, with uniquely Texan style and swagger, Dallas always lays out the welcome mat.Sixth Floor Museum -
President John F Kennedy’s downtown assassination sent the city reeling in November 1963. The shooting was followed by a chaotic manhunt and gunman Lee Harvey Oswald’s eventual assassination. The fascinating and highly audiovisual Sixth Floor Museum narrates in excruciating, minute-by-minute detail what happened and where. Eyewitness photos, video and audio clips add a vivid depth to the experience. Even the myriad twisted assassin conspiracy theories are succinctly summarized. From Dealey Plaza, walk along Elm St beside the infamous grassy knoll, and look for the white ‘X’ in the road that marks the exact spot where the president was shot. Turn around and look up at …
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Conspiracy Museum
Do you want more proof that Oswald didn't act alone? The Conspiracy Museum looks a bit like a student's history project, but raises enough questions to make you think. Across N Market St is the Kennedy Memorial, a simple but profound sculpture by architect Phillip Johnson.
Through its amateurish displays, the Conspiracy Museum posits that Kennedy's assassination was a coup d'état to shore up the military-industrial complex that had been gaining strength in the US since WWII. It also suggests that the same people and forces that killed Kennedy were later responsible for the deaths of Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr, Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick friend Mary Jo Kopechn…
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Southfork Ranch
Who shot JR? Locals certainly no longer care (the TV drama Dallas was cancelled in 1992), but that doesn't stop interstate and international visitors from driving 20 miles north from Dallas to Southfork Ranch. If you are expecting to see Miss Ellie's kitchen or JR's bedroom, don't. The ranch was used for exterior filming only; interior shots were filmed on a Hollywood set. The family who owned the ranch during the TV-show era lived there fulltime - until the show became so popular that they woke up to fans camped around their pool. The house is now an event center. You have to take a tour to see it and the tiny museum, including props like Lucy's wedding dress.
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Nasher Sculpture Center
Modern-art installations shine both inside and out at the fabulous glass-and-steel Nasher Sculpture Center. The Nashers started collecting art in the 1950s and accumulated what might be one of the greatest privately held sculpture collections in the world, with works by Calder, de Kooning, Rodin, Serra and Miró. Enter the light-filled atrium and your senses will be intrigued by the shape, light and color. The divine sculpture garden is one of the best in the country: don’t miss the ethereal ‘sky frame’ in the garden. This is a wonderful place to while away an afternoon.
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Thanks-Giving Square
Dallas has a surprisingly quiet side where even credit cards are rendered powerless – a triangular piece of prime downtown real estate set aside for spiritual renewal and reflection. Thanks-Giving Square was established by the Thanks-Giving Foundation as a ‘place where people can use gratitude as a basis for dialogue, mutual understanding and healing.’ Designed by Philip Johnson, the tranquil center includes a meditation garden, a Wall of Praise, an interdenominational Chapel of Thanksgiving and a museum of gratitude.
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Reunion Tower
What’s 50 stories high, with a three-level spherical dome flashing with 260 lights? No, it’s not a spaceship, it’s Reunion Tower, the unofficial symbol of Dallas. Get a workout by taking the steps up to the observation deck, or enjoy the sky-high panoramic view from the stunning celebrity-chef restaurant and lounge Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck. An underground pedestrian tunnel connects Reunion Tower with Union Station.
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Hall of Heroes
Fair Park is full of superb 1930s art-deco architecture, none of it quite as inspired as this tribute to all things Texan. The Hall of Heroes pays homage to such luminaries as Stephen F Austin and Samuel Houston; the Great Hall of Texas features huge murals of Texas history from the 16th century on. As you leave the Hall of State, stop by the reflecting pool outside of the entrance: the golden Greek-inspired statues will thrill art-deco buffs.
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Dallas Museum of Art
This museum is a high-caliber world tour of decorative and fine art befitting a big city. Our faves include Edward Hopper’s enigmatic Lighthouse Hill and Rodin’s Sculptor and his Muse. The Spanish Colonial art section is extraordinary. Also, check out the stunning pair of jade screens from North India. Kids (and parents) will appreciate the Young Learners Gallery, with fun projects for young ’uns.
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Fair Park
Created for the Texas Independence–themed 1936 Centennial Exposition, the art-deco buildings of Fair Park today contain several interesting museums. While the grounds themselves are safe, the surrounding area – particularly to the east and south – is best avoided due to high crime. Outside of the State Fair, on-site parking is plentiful and free.
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Museum of History and Architecture
This 13-acre museum of history and architecture, set on a wooded property south of downtown, shows what it was like to live in North Texas from about 1840 to 1910. The modern skyline makes for a striking backdrop for the living history exhibits, comprised of 38 historic structures including a tepee and a Civil War–era farm.
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Pioneer Plaza
For a Texas-sized photo op or just a sight of the largest bronze monument on earth, head to Pioneer Plaza near the Convention Center: its showpiece is a collection of 40 bronze larger-than-life longhorns, amassed as if they were on a cattle drive.
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Dallas World Aquarium
After the recession killed off several attractions here, one of the only survivors remains the kid-favorite Dallas World Aquarium, where the flora and fauna of 14 countries (think the watery Mayan cenote swimming with sharks and rays) come alive.
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Meadows Museum
Located on the Southern Methodist University campus, the Meadows Museum exhibits perhaps the best and most comprehensive collection of Spanish art outside of Spain, including masterpieces by Velázquez, El Greco, Goya, Picasso and Miró.
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Women’s Museum
Fascinating exhibits that share the accomplishments of famous and little-known women throughout history and across cultures are the focus of this museum. Don’t miss the ‘Funny Women’ video, or the poetry and music listening room.
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African American Museum
This museum has exhibits of more than 1000 objects that richly detail the art and history of African American people from precolonial Africa through the present. Its black folk-art collection is one of the best nationwide.
Six Flags
Open year around, Six Flags Over Texas has been on forefront of them park entertainment for decades and offers rides, shows, and more to Dallas area visitors.Cowboys Stadium
Home to the Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys Stadium also hosts a variety of other sporting and entertainment events. However, even when there isn't an event, visitors flock to Cowboys Stadium for tours.
