Dallas Travel Guide

Although Dallas is the third largest city in Texas, it is the undisputed center of the state’s largest metropolitan area.  In many regards a city of mythos, Dallas has played host to and certainly made no attempts at dispelling the notion of its mix of steely business acumen and glamorous consumption.   Dallas – or ‘Big D’ as many like to call it – is famous for its pop culture contributions; most notably the Cowboys football team and its much pined after cheerleaders, and the Dallas soap opera (do you remember who shot JR?).   However, there’s also a very serious side to the city.  It was in Dealey Plaza that the world watched as one of the greatest tragedies in US history unfolded – the assassination of John F Kennedy Jr.

Dallas’ summers are the kind of hot that very few are adequately prepared to spend the whole day experiencing, so you probably want to stay away from its fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk summers.  Conversely, Dallas is seated far enough North in Texas that it regularly has very cool winters, even occasionally snowing.  This really does make spring and autumn the best times to visit.  Taking advantage of this opportune weather is easy, as April to May and September to October are also the peaks of festival season in Dallas, offering Texas-sized helpings of art, barbecue, music, and rodeo.

The highest concentrations of budget hotels in Dallas can be found in the north part of the city, along I-635 and the North Central Expressway, as well as in Northwest Dallas along I-35W.  Downtown on the other hand, offers more of the high-end, luxury accommodations, such as the Hotel Crescent Court or the Magnolia Hotel.  Some travelers, especially those not willing to sacrifice creature comforts for the sake of a reduced budget, may find it better to stay in Irving and nearby Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) airport, in Arlington near the amusement parks, or in one of the many northern suburbs like Lewisville, Richardson, or Plano.  The obvious cost benefit of staying in hotels near DFW is their inclusion in discount airfare to Dallas and cheap flight packages.

Dallas has one of the country’s largest state fairs, covering over 277 acres of designated fairground space each autumn.  The exact dates vary from year to year, but rest assured that the Texas State Fair is one of the biggest annual draws for tourists, both local and statewide.  Travelers will also find Dallas to be a grand cultural center, and those wishing to explore this side of the city will enjoy such places as the Dallas Museum of Art.  American history buffs could watch an entire day pass while seeing all that The Sixth Floor Museum has to offer regarding the life, death, and surround controversy of the JFK assassination.  Golfers will be pleased to learn that a lot of wonderful courses are in the Dallas area. The city boasts five municipal courses with reasonable greens fees.  There are numerous daily-fee public courses in the greater Dallas area as well, particularly in the cities of Irving, Grapevine, and The Colony.

The easiest and most reliable way to get around Dallas is by car.  As with the majority of large American cities, local car rental companies will offer better prices, with national chains offering more convenience and flexibility in return policies and times.  There is public transportation in the form of a bus and light rail system, but these best serve the local needs (commuting to work, etc) and can be challenging in regards to schedules and trying to get anywhere off main thoroughfares.  Additionally, getting to downtown on public transportation may involve a long walk due to one-way streets.