Trip to Dallas/Ft. Worth?

Question

Hi ya'll:

We are going to Dallas & Northern Texas to recruit the area as we are interested in moving there from California.

While we are in town, we would like to view the touristy sites but all together see what Texas life is all about.

I'm interested to see if other people know of little hidden spots that are worth visiting, and also if some of the well advertised places were not worth going to.

Also, we are celebrating our 4 year anniversary on August 1st and are looking for a great place for dinner downtown but don't want to spend a fortune. What are your thoughts?

I look forward to your feedback!

Kristina

Answer 1

I don't know what that previous responder's hang-up is with bums (or BUMS--why is it in all caps?). I have never had a problem with homeless people in Dallas.

First I'll answer your question about dinner. I highly recommend The Mercury Grill. It is not located downtown, though. It's at the northwest corner of Preston and Forest in north Dallas. It's a really nice restaurant with great service and atmosphere, and it's not as pricey as some of the higher-end restaurants in town. Dinner for two with wine will cost around $100, but if you skip the alcohol, your bill will be lower.

Texas is a really big, diverse state, so it's hard to give you a list of things to give you an idea of "what Texas life is all about". To see what Dallas life is all about, visit some of our great neighborhoods and shopping venues. If you do any shopping at all on this trip, make sure it's at NorthPark Mall, located at the northwest corner of Northwest Highway (Loop 12) and Central Expressway (US 75). This mall is home to the highest-grossing Neiman-Marcus in the country, along with Nordstrom, Dillard's, and Foley's (soon to be Macy's). It recently completed an expansion that more than doubled the square footage, but it has retained its unique, classy shopping environment. Several pieces from the sculpture collection of the mall's developer, Raymond Nasher, are on display, along with duck ponds ,fountains, a 15-screen AMC theater, and an Apple Store.

One important part of Texas life I could mention is Tex-Mex cooking. My favorite Tex-Mex restaurants are El Fenix and Mi Cocina. Both have multiple locations throughout the area; check the internet or a phone book for the closest location to you. (By the way, Mi Cocina is owned by the same group that runs the Mercury Grill, mentioned above.)

Since it's baseball season, you might consider attending a Texas Rangers game at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

I'm not really sure of what "well advertised" places you're referring to. Dallas isn't really a very touristy city. I suppose Dallas is known for Dealey Plaza, the location of Kennedy's assassination. If you have a fascination with such things, then you could visit that, but otherwise I'd skip it.

Answer 2

Well, I don't live in Dallas.....but I've made quite a few trips and I myself am trying to relocate there.

I can't really give too many specifics since I haven't lived in the area. But, I've visited areas very close to Frisco. They seem to have wonderful neighborhoods and everyone I've come in contact with has been very nice. Weather is great! But I like the hot since where I currently live has about a half a year of snow.

As for what to do...Definitely try going to a Rangers game if you're into Baseball....fabulous field! Also, there is a smaller field (if you're not into very large crowds) at Dr. Pepper Park. I went there on a trip to watch the Ruff Riders. And Pizza Hutt Park is open-not sure what that's all about, I haven't been able to make it there yet.

As for shopping I always went to the Stonebriar Mall. It's really nice not too expensive. It has a movie theater with mutliple stadium seating viewing and has a Cheesecake Factory along with a Dave & Busters and more.

Answer 3

Hi Kristina,

I live in Texas close to Dallas, and I'll get back to you on that one. I know your trip here will be an enjoyable one. :)

Okay, now I can answer... Just don't go to Dallas. It's nothing like a country city. If you want to see the stockyards, go to Fort Worth. Fort Worth is way better than Dallas. Arlington is mid-way between Dallas and Fort Worth and it has the Ameriquest Field which used to be called the Ballpark in Arlington where the Rangers baseball team plays. Fort Worth is about an hour away from Dallas and it's roots don't go back to business and financing like Dallas; they go back to the old country like cowboys, growing crops, that stuff. Another good idea would be going to Houston I think (don't live there). Chorpus Christi is also awesome. It's along the coast. It's about 7 - 9 hours from Arlinton and it has a lot of tourist attractions including the beach. My favorite place in Texas has to be San Antonio. It has the waterpark Schlitterbahn which is three water parks in one, Sea World, The Alamo, and The River Walk. It would be really romantic for y'all.

I know this is an oxymoron, but you should go to the Antaires Restaurant in Dallas in Reunion Arena. It rotates while you're eating every so slightly; you can barely feel it, but the scenery changes all the time. It's awesome!

Texans aren't stupid. Movies just stereotype us to make it look that way, but something you've got to get down in your head is we usually don't say repair, we say fix, we say y'all instead of you all most of the time, and we say soda or soft drink instead of pop.

I totally agree with gdesigner - Friso is an awesome community, even though it's smaller than most, it's growing rapidly. It used to be a really small community located in the present Frisco downtown. Stonbriar Mall is awesome and Dr. Pepper Park is too. Great ideas gdesigner!

P.S. - On those commercials where they jazz Dallas up to make it look like California, it is so not; they did that because of the mayor, Laura Miller. San Antonio will live up to your expectations most likely.

Stop hating on my answers, lol...

If you didn't already know, Texas is the state George W. Bush is from and most of the people here are Republicans.

I hope this helps you out. :D

Answer 4

Anywhere in Downtown Dallas (Deep Ellum, West End, even somewhat Greenville Avenue) is really not that good since there are alot of BUMS down there. They hassle people for money, and tell you things like "I have this razor blade for protection."

Outside of that the West Village (In Dallas) is nice but small. The best areas are along McKinney Ave. & Cedar Springs Rd.(In Dallas), but soon the BUMS will infiltrate there as well since they are not as many people visiting downtown as there use to be.

Fort Worth's Main street is alright. Dallas & Fort Worth just have a problem with dealing with BUMS . However in San Antonio they arrest BUMS that bother tourist or are just loitering in tourist areas (like New York only stricter). They take them to a BUM center away from downtown or to jail. While Dallas has built a BUM center right of Main Street in Downtown Dallas (might as well have put a Jail or a Prison there) So San Antonio is very nice if you ever get the chance to go there!

As for other surrounding areas of Dallas, Addison is great! It is own municipality and they cater to a more sophisticated crowd that does not tolerate scum / BUMS.

Answer 5

Dallas has the 6th Floor Museum related to the Kennedy assassination. Most tourists make that a stop on their visit. You can tour the Cowboys new stadium. I assume you're coming to see a baseball game based on your screen name between Texas and Boston so I'll also mention you can tour the baseball stadium in Arlington. There are tons of lakes around so if you like to fish that's an option. Be sure to bring cool clothes as it will almost certainly be very hot (90+).

Answer 6

DO NOT go there. You could change your mind and go to Houston. I mean it's better here than over there. In Dallas no matter where you are many people bully you and treat you like a sad homeless man. In Houston, it's like heaven here nothing out of the oridnary here except that there is occasinally literally car bombings

Answer 7

Go to Irving on your way from Dallas to Fort Worth theres a place called Las Colinas thats beautiful. Go and see the mustangs of las colinas.

Answer 8

if you get a chance to head over to fort worth, visit sundance square, downtown. its a wonderful place to spend some time in the evenings on the weekend. there are shops, lots of restaurants, comedy clubs, pubs, street performers sometimes, etc. i have been going down there since high school and love the casual/fun feel.

the museum district in fort worth is awesome and definately worth looking into if you have the time.

a nice place for an anniversary dinner would be the riata in downtown fort worth.

if you like baseball, head to a fort worth cats game or the rangers.

Answer 9

As far as where to move, stay North.
Plano, Frisco are nice northern suburbs.
North Dallas is nice except for the public schools.
People are friendly everywhere. As far as Houston....please..