TEXAS: THE LONE STAR STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
In
the world of traveling,
there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced
travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other
resources available. By writing this blog I hope that I am providing valuable
information about wonderful vacation destinations. When you want to
plan a vacation contact me!
DALLAS, “Star of Texas”
About
Dallas
Think of Dallas and thoughts of cowboys, JR and shiny skyscrapers
might spring to mind - but how about humungous glow-in-the-dark frogs, art deco
architecture and top-quality culture? This Texan big hitter might surprise you
with its amazing arts district, high-end shopping, pulsating nightlife, and a
leading sports team for nearly every night of the week.
The Big D is the ninth
largest city in the USA, and its Arts District is the country's biggest urban
art district, spanning 28 hectares (68 acres) and 19 blocks. You can gaze at
Miró and Matisse creations at the Nasher Sculpture Center, listen to
world-class music at the Foster-designed Winspear Opera House, or stay up late
for after-dark tours of the massive Dallas Museum of Art.
In nearby Victory Park, sate
your curiosity about those frogs (and even leap over them) - the amphibian
sculptures make their home outside the snazzy (and terrific) Perot Museum of
Nature and Science.
On the eastside of
Downtown, Deep Ellum takes you back to the city's roots. A bustling commercial
area from the late 1800s, and the hub for Dallas' jazz and blues scene in the
1920s, this district looked like it was dying a death when an expressway sliced
through its center in 1969. Fortunately, century-old storefronts remain, and
today the neighborhood is thriving, showcasing up-and-coming bands, street
murals and down-to-earth dining. Close by is Fair Park, home to the State Fair
of Texas and the nation's largest collection of 1930s art deco,
exposition-style architecture.
Dallas breathes sport and
is home to five pro teams. If you're going to see one, make it NFL side the
Dallas Cowboys, who play in a flashy, state-of-the-art stadium on the way to neighboring
Fort Worth.
And if you still want
those classic Dallas experiences you've always dreamed of, you can do a Sue
Ellen and splurge on Jimmy Choo and Ralph Lauren in affluent Highland Park,
ride the mechanical bull and giddy up to country music at Gilley's, or grab a
pair of custom cowboy boots from Wild Bill's Western Store before tucking into
a fine steak.
Visitor Information Center of Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau
100 South Houston StreetOld Red CourthouseDallasUnited States(214) 571 1316 or 1300 or 1301 (24-hour events hotline) or 1 800 232 5527.Mon-Fri 0800-1700; Sat and Sun 0900-1700.
Excursions
Granbury
About an hour's drive southwest from Dallas, the Hood County Seat town of Granbury hugs the banks of the Brazos River with pretty hillsides covered in live oak trees. The restored courthouse at the center of the town square is lovely, and it's surrounded by a weekend's worth of diversions in the form of a restored opera house, a 1950s musical revue theatre, a number of shops and antiques stores and assorted cafes and restaurants. Near the square is the recently opened and very popular Revolver Brewery.Waxahachie
Less than an hour's drive south of Dallas along Interstate 45, Waxahachie's first claim to fame was the construction of its exquisite Ellis County Courthouse, built in 1894-1895. One of the Italian craftsmen imported to carve the intricate relief details fell in love with a local lady who, ultimately, didn't return his affection. Look carefully at the reliefs and you'll see her face change in a series of depictions from lovely to hideous.The whole of downtown is a wonder, as well; have a poke around the Ellis County Museum to learn more of the town's history, then see changing exhibits at the Webb Gallery or have lunch at one of the cute, local cafes. You may also stumble across a spectacular collection of Victorian architecture, which is showcased each June during the Gingerbread Trail Tour. The pink, purple and white blooms that arrive each summer are celebrated during the Crape Myrtle Festival, and there's a late-spring Scarborough Faire Renaissance Festival just outside of town.Southfork Ranch
It is impossible to visit Dallas without hearing a reference to the eponymous TV series. JR and his family's lifestyle can be experienced ‘on location' at Southfork Ranch, 3700 Hogge Road, Parker. Situated about 48km (30 miles) north of the city, visitors can reach Southfork by driving east along Parker Road, which is exit 30 of the North Central Expressway (Highway 75). Not missing any opportunity to create a winning product, there are tours of the Ewing mansion, refreshments at Miss Ellie's Deli, gift shops, clothing stores, a tram tour and even a ‘Dallas' Museum, which houses the ‘actual' pistol used in the ‘actual' killing of the infamous JR. For most people, there is quite a surprise in store hearing the ‘rest of the story' behind the location shooting.(972) 442 7800.Fort Worth
The yin to Dallas' yang, Fort Worth - also called Cowtown - sits about 40 miles to the west of Big D. Begun as a military outpost before developing into a transport center for shipping cattle from the surrounding ranch lands, it is now a prosperous and dynamic city with a deep heritage of cowboy culture.Sites to visit include the Stockyards National Historic District, one-time hub of the industry and home today to the world's largest honky-tonk, a weekly rodeo and a whole lot of places to buy western attire; three world-class art museums; a superbly lively downtown district, called Sundance Square; and an exceptional zoo.Fort Worth can be reached by car on the I-30 or Route 183 - also known as the Airport Freeway.(817) 336 8791.Tours
Segway tours
Easy and fun, these alternative tours take in key sights such as Dealey Plaza, the JFK Memorial, Union Station and various museums, with multiple stops in route. Tours last 1 to 1.5 hours and are offered daily.(972) 821 9054.Walking tours
The city layout favors non-pedestrian tours, as does the summer heat. However, specific institutions have their indoor walking tours as well as occasional outdoor ones, such as with the Wilson Block Historic District operated by the Preservation Center, 2922 Swiss Avenue.(214) 821 3290.Food tours
Dallas-based Food Tours of America launched its daily eating tours in the Uptown district of Dallas in 2012. You can book two- or three-hour tours to a diverse selection of restaurants for grazing on a diverse selection of food from gourmet burgers to Middle Eastern fare and desserts. In between eating stops, you'll enjoy a history lesson that may involve riding a restored, antique trolley car. Tickets must be purchased online.(888) 871 2052.Historical tours
Dallas Historical Society Tours take place on specific dates in spring and autumn. Among the most popular are the 'JFK Tour: Retracing the Steps of Lee Harvey Oswald' and 'Running with Bonnie & Clyde Tour'. These tours, led by local historians into the neighborhoods with rich heritage, typically depart from The Hall of State in Fair Park at 0900 and return at 1400. Lunch is included in the fee.(214) 421 4500.
REFERENCE SITES:
Dallas is a positive, get-it
done city.
Laura Miller
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