Dallas Destination Guide
Dallas Holidays
Dallas, Texas may be only the ninth-biggest city in the United States, with a population of about 1.2 million, but it has a status much bigger than that. Perhaps best known around the world for its oil barons, Dallas is home to Southfork, the most famous ranch in TV history. It’s also where John F Kennedy was shot, and is home to the nation’s favourite American football team, the Dallas Cowboys.
The Big D, as Dallas is sometimes known, is the place to experience not just a stetson-full of American history and southern hospitality, but also a thriving arts scene, more than its fair share of fine dining, and, to keep things real, some steer-ropin’, bull-ridin’ rodeo.
See Dallas in a new way with a…
- Fun wineries & wine establishments tour
- Segway tour around downtown Dallas
- Cultural food tasting and walking tour
Top Attractions »
Presidential history is big in Dallas. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza commemorates the 1963 assassination of John F Kennedy. Various tours can take you here and to the city’s other JKF-related sites. “Dubya” fans will be pleased to hear that Dallas resident George W Bush hasn’t been forgotten: he gets his own Presidential Library and Museum.
The Old Red Museum celebrates Dallas’ frontier past, arts lovers can take in a performance or exhibition at one of the many venues in the 27-hectare downtown Arts District, and anyone in search of some rodeo action can find it every weekend of the year at the Cowtown Coliseum in nearby Fort Worth. Southfork Ranch, home of the classic TV soap Dallas, is open for tours daily.
Sightsee for free at…
- The John F. Kennedy Memorial
- Dallas’ Arts District with free museums
- The historic West End neighbourhood
Eat and Drink »
Southern hospitality is alive and well in Dallas, where classic fare includes barbecue, Tex Mex and steak. Seafood and international cuisine also thrive in the food-loving city. Treat your tastebuds in areas including the West End historic district, Deep Ellum, Uptown and Downtown.
Deep Ellum, Downtown and the Bishop Arts District are great places to catch live music, Uptown is the bar and nightclub capital, Oak Lawn is the place to find gay and lesbian venues, hipsters might want to check out the alternative scene at Greenville Avenue; and upmarket dining is plentiful at Highland Park and Victory Park.
Where to Stay
As well as welcoming tourists, Dallas is a busy conference and business centre and offers hotels to suit just about all tastes and budgets. If you want to be close to nightlife, shopping and spas, and can afford to splurge, you could do worse than locate yourself Uptown, which has a selection of high-end hotels.
There are also plenty of options Downtown, some cool (and expensive) places to stay in trendy areas such as Highland Park and Victory Park, and cheaper options at Addison (close to the airport) and Arlington (handy if you want to go to a ball game).
Shopping »
Dallas claims to offer the best shopping in the south-west, and retail therapy is one of the city’s favourite pastimes. Malls are everywhere. For funky boutiques, try the Bishop Arts District and Greenville Avenue. Art and antiques can be found at the Design District, while Downtown highlights include the flagship luxury department store, Neiman Marcus.
Looking for designer labels? Highland Park is known as the “Beverly Hills of Texas”. But for a memento with a more local flavour, you can’t go past Wild Bill’s Western Store in West End, where you can kit yourself out in cowboy boots, hats and more.
Fill your suitcase at…
- West Village: shopping and dining district
- Galleria Dallas: Dallas’ premier shopping outlet
- 235 stores in Northpark Center
Dallas Like a Local
The good folk of Dallas love their sport, and joining them at a ball game is a great way to immerse yourself in local life. The city has pro teams across five major sports: the Dallas Cowboys (American football), Texas Rangers (baseball), Dallas Mavericks (basketball), Dallas Stars (hockey) and FC Dallas (football).
If your visit coincides with a Cowboys home game, get yourself out to AT&T Stadium at Arlington and cheer for “America’s Team”. The five-time Superbowl champion Cowboys are the most valuable football club in America, and have the most famous cheerleaders too.
Get into the sporting spirit at a…
- Dallas Mavericks basketball game
- Dallas Stars hockey game
- Dallas Cowboys football game