Weekend vacation getaway overlooked: Dallas, TX

I have never thought of Dallas as a tourist destination because I have lived so close and visit so often, but Dallas does have plenty to offer for fun weekend vacations. Some highlights include professional sporting events, aquariums and zoos, and wonderful restaurants.

Quick Tips:

In Dallas you are going to have to work a little harder to achieve any budget traveling ideals you have set in your mind. I'm not saying that it cannot be done, but sometimes you come to a town that is worth a little splurge. If you're not willing to shell out a couple extra bills, then you should skip through Dallas. As you will read, none of my highlights in Dallas are free or cheap. I am a budget traveler to the max but still think Dallas is worth a visit. The best ways to save money in Dallas would be: try and stay somewhere for free, maybe see if you can bunk up in a local church or comfy park bench, try and eat as many meals with local friends/family as possible (these will not only be free, but Texas home cooking is guaranteed good), and that's about all I have in terms of saving money in Dallas.

Best Way To Get Around:

Unfortunately, Dallas does not have a great public transportation system, and most of the sights are fairly spread out, meaning that a car is practically a must. They do have a metro, but its stops are limited. To view a map of the metro system visit this website: www.dart.org. You can arrive by plane at either DFW airport (west of Dallas), or Dallas Love Field (near downtown). Southwest Airlines has great cheap flight options into Love Field and it is much closer to downtown! www.southwest.com.

Fireworks are what you should prepare yourself for before coming to a Texas Rangers baseball game (literally and symbolically). The fireworks display goes off for every home run, which happens quite often at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. Known for their ability to put the ball over the fence, the Rangers are an offensive-minded team that always provides an exciting game. Luckily, there are not fireworks for the opposing team’s home runs, because then the grass in centerfield might catch on fire from so many explosions. Like I said, the Rangers are an offensive-minded team, meaning their pitching is lacking to say the least. Therefore, you are getting your money's worth and seeing lots of scoring, none of this 1 to 2 goals stuff you will see in hockey and soccer. No way, here in Texas we know how to score big, but I guess winning isn't everything, because we haven't really learned how to do that yet. ,P>Tickets are reasonable for the games. I usually buy the cheapest $5 tickets, then move down to better seats throughout the game. Tickets can range from $5 to $58. Parking is anywhere between $5 and 10, and concessions are not cheap at around $5 and up. You can get to the ball park from either right off I-30, or from I-20, take Loop 360 north and look for the signs. Also, look for Wednesday games, because that is when they usually have $1 hot-dog night (my record is nine). You can buy tickets and look for other promotions at http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=tex.

The games are fun for anyone, even those that are not baseball fans. Next time you are in the Dallas area, come enjoy some Major League Baseball action, because the Rangers will give it to you with their high-powered exciting offense (although I can't guarantee a victory).

The website is http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Dallas/Dallas_Frameset.htm. Go ahead and check out what movie you want to go see, because this is the place to see movies. Inwood Theatre is a Landmark Theatre that specializes in independent and foreign language films. Landmark Theatres is a huge arthouse chain of theatres running independent and foreign films in renovated classic theatres. Inwood only has three movies showing at one time, but they have put everything into making each theatre as nice as possible. They renovated everything from carpet to seats in January 2005. I could not believe the inside of the theatre when I sat down. The seats are pretty much Lazy Boy recliners big enough for almost two people. There is enough room between you and the next row for a 7-foot NBA player to stretch out. And there are little tables next to the chairs, so you never feel cramped. All this for a $5 student ticket, and around $7.50 adult, is a great bargain.

There is also a martini bar downstairs and at least 10 restaurants of various cuisine withing walking distance. This was easily the nicest theatre I have ever been to. The phone number is 214/764-9106 if you want to ask about showtimes, or you can check it out on this website: http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Dallas/Dallas_Frameset.htm. Give this theatre a shot; I never thought the atmosphere of a movie theatre could change a just-decent movie into a movie I'll never forget.

There seems to be a theme for Dallas area professional sports teams: score big and hope you win the game. Just like the Texas Rangers, that is what you will experience here at a Mavericks game, lots of scoring (hope that they win and score over 100, then you get a free taco at Taco Bell). I am not a fan of the NBA and do not follow it closely, so I never thought I would really enjoy going to a game. The Dallas Mavericks proved me wrong, though. NBA games are fun for any level of basketball supporter. They keep the games entertaining with music, games, halftime stuff, and constant scoring. Tickets can range from $10 to $240. Personally, I don't have the funds for $240, and I bought a $10 seat and was satisfied. The seating goes almost straight up, so you still have good seats. The Dallas Stars (NHL) play here as well, but I have never been to a hockey game, so I can't vouch for them. Parking is around $10 and you can find lots around the stadium. The AA center is located at 2500 Victory Ave. in Dallas, Texas, just north of Dallas' Central Business District and the historic West End, giving it convenient access to major freeways and public transportation. You can purchase tickets and learn more about the AA center at http://www.nba.com/mavericks/tickets/tickets_index.html.

Even if you are not an NBA fan, break the barrier like I did and go enjoy an entertaining sporting event.

Sharks, alligators, fish from every corner of the world, penguins--they have it all at the Dallas World Aquarium. The aquarium is divided into four major areas: Aquarium, Rainforest, Mundo Maya, and South Africa. Each of these four sections are separate from each other. As you walk through the different sections you will realize the intricate planning and designing that must have taken place to really make you feel that you have been transported to the particular ecosystem you are surrounded by.

The Aquarium section is a room divided into multiple smaller aquariums, each containing fish from a different region of the world. They include fish from just about every corner of the world. This section is located on the bottom floor with water surrounding you so you feel as though you are actually submerged hundreds of feet below the ocean. In this room of multiple aquariums, you will be able to stare forever at some of the bright and flourescent colored creatures swimming around.

Another exhibit of the aquarium is the rainforest. The rainforest is a huge three-story room taking you through a simulation of the different canopy levels in a rainforest and the animals that live in each canopy. You will really feel part of the rainforest as you walk along the wooden pathways surrounded by enormous green trees, bushes, birds whizzing around, and the bond pelow containing manatees, sting rays, etc.

The South African exhibit is located outside and houses the penguins. Penguins don't need much explanation, they be fun to watch no matter what the exhibit looks like. The Central American habitats are portrayed Mundo Maya section. Highlights of Mundo Maya inlcude jaguras, snakes, and crocodiles. Mundo Maya is organized like the rainforest with three levels. Each level contains animals that you would find in that particular environment. All the habitats are real and authentic, with my favorite being the rainforest, where you actually feel like you are walking through South America. Another high point is that they have all kinds of animals, not just fish.

Although a little pricey, it is definitely worth a visit. It will take around 2-4 hours to walk through all the exhibits. They also have a movie theatre with documentaries on various animals that last about 30 minutes each. It is easily accessible from the major freeways. The website has directions from just about anywhere: http://www.dwazoo.com/directions.html.

Save the turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and Grandma's pumpkin pie until lunch and just let the thoughts of your soon-to-be enormous lunch spur you on to finish the Annual YMCA Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot is an annual race held on Thanksgiving morning in downtown Dallas. They have a 3-mile and 8-mile route. The route begins at the City Hall and makes its way winding through the downtown area. You can look at the route map at the website.

This doesn't have to be an event only for the fitness gurus. There are people with all types of fitness levels participating, some to win, some walking, some just for fun with the family, and some with their dogs, and most do it to make themselves feel better about the massive quantities of food they are about to engulf come lunchtime. What better way to start of the most fattening holiday ever than with a morning jog.

My family and our cousins now run in the Turkey Trot every year, not competitively, but just to have fun, and it is a blast. You can find out all the details on the website, http://www.thetrot.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1000000. It will have information on cost and location. The race starts around 9am, and they have snacks/drinks for you after the race is finished. It's a win-win situation; it's good for you, it makes you feel better, and most importantly, it makes you even hungrier for lunch, so you can stuff your face with even more turkey, stuffing, and sweet potatoes with extra marshmallows.