Things to do in Dallas, TX

With its ideal location in the center of the U.S., as well as Texan tax breaks, Dallas is one of the leading corporate destinations in the country. There are 24 Fortune 500 companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, among them ExxonMobil, AT&T, Fluor, and Commercial Metals. The Dallas Convention Center is one of the mostly expansive and highly-trafficked facilities of its kind in the world because of the city's popularity as a business destination.

And other foods. But mostly, steak. No where in Texas is the Lone Star State's historic link to cattle ranches more deliciously evident than in Dallas. In fact, some of the country's most highly-ranked and regarded steakhouses can be found here, the most prominent of which may well be Bob's Steak and Chop House, which was ranked first by the USDA Prime Steakhouses chart in 2011. Choose between old-school traditional steakhouses, or modern, chic versions.

If you're in need of some serious retail therapy, Dallas should be your number one destination. Home to more shopping centers and districts per capita than any city in the United States, Dallas offers an unparalleled shopping landscape. The NorthPark Center and Galleria Dallas are...  

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With its ideal location in the center of the U.S., as well as Texan tax breaks, Dallas is one of the leading corporate destinations in the country. There are 24 Fortune 500 companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, among them ExxonMobil, AT&T, Fluor, and Commercial Metals. The Dallas Convention Center is one of the mostly expansive and highly-trafficked facilities of its kind in the world because of the city's popularity as a business destination.

And other foods. But mostly, steak. No where in Texas is the Lone Star State's historic link to cattle ranches more deliciously evident than in Dallas. In fact, some of the country's most highly-ranked and regarded steakhouses can be found here, the most prominent of which may well be Bob's Steak and Chop House, which was ranked first by the USDA Prime Steakhouses chart in 2011. Choose between old-school traditional steakhouses, or modern, chic versions.

If you're in need of some serious retail therapy, Dallas should be your number one destination. Home to more shopping centers and districts per capita than any city in the United States, Dallas offers an unparalleled shopping landscape. The NorthPark Center and Galleria Dallas are the two titans among the city's many malls and districts, though Highland Park Village is gargantuan by any other standard, and offers a certain charm as the world's second planned shopping center and a registered historical landmark.

Dallas is enshrined in the elite pantheon of US cities that are home to four teams from each major sports (the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, the MLB's Texas Rangers, the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and the NHL's Dallas Stars.) Dallas is also the only city in America to have hosted the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals all within the same year. A trip to Cowboys stadium in nearby Arlington is a must-do for any traveler in Dallas.

It may come as a surprise that a beacon of culture and high culture can be found so near the heart of what some might call "cowboy country," but Dallas claims that accolade. Visit the Arts District in the northern sector of Dallas's downtown where you'll find the Dallas Museum of Art, the Mortan H. Meyerson Symphony Center, and the impressive Nasher Sculpture Center. There's also the nearby AT&T Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, home to the Dee and Charles Wyly Theater and the Winspear Opera House.

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...  Read more »

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.