Dallas

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The Big D

A travel journal to Dallas by Christie

Since I am a native Dallasite, I can recommend things to do and places to eat that non-locals usually overlook!

  • 11 reviews

The Big DBest of IgoUgo

Overview

I highly recommend spending a day in downtown. The JFK Museum is a must for everyone, IMHO. The Dallas World Aquarium is a personal favorite. I have a friend who is a curator at the Dallas Museum of Art, so I always try to stop in and see her latest exhibit. There are tons of good restaurants in the West End for a meal or drinks.

Quick Tips:

It gets really hot here in the summers, so be prepared! Lightweight, cotton clothes are a good start. Carry water with you, or buy it wherever you go, but be sure to drink plenty of it. Also, stay out of the heat between 2 and 5 pm if you can. Our winters are usually mild, but there is often a cold 'snap' that will make you drag out the warm clothes!

Best Way To Get Around:

YOU NEED A CAR! The light rail system here is wonderful, but the bus system is impossible for the uninitiated to figure out. Plus, not all cities in the area are covered by the same bus system, and you can't get from Dallas to Fort Worth, or from either city to Arlington, on the bus.

Renaissance Dallas HotelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Although the room was small (due to the oval shape of the hotel), we were very comfortable. The service was very good, and the staff was polite. We ordered room service for breakfast and it was delicious and served promptly.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Christie on December 28, 2000

Renaissance Dallas Hotel
2222 STEMMONS FREEWAY Dallas, Texas 75207
214-631-2222

Angelo's Italian GrillBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Angelo's Spaghetti House"

I adore Angelo's Italian food! They are located in the Lakewood area of Dallas and it is a very popular place for romantic dinners. We've celebrated 2 anniversaries here, and we even brought our in-laws for theirs! The food is hearty and very garlicky. The seafood entrees are very good. They have a small but good wine list. I'm sure the desserts are wonderful, but I have always been too stuffed from my meal to try them!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Christie on July 26, 2000

Angelo's Italian Grill
6341 La Vista Drive Dallas, Texas 75214
+1 214 823 5566

Two Rows Restaurant and BreweryBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Two Rows"

Two Rows is a brewpub that actually serves very good food along with their micro-brewed beer. I love their Fish Tacos! There are lots of big-sceen TVs to watch sporting events, and the atmosphere gets a little loud on weekend evenings. They have also recently opened a new bar next door that has become quite popular.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Christie on July 26, 2000

Two Rows Restaurant and Brewery
5500 Greenville Ave, Suite 1300 Dallas, Texas 75206
+1 214 696 2739

Mariano'sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Mariano's has been a Dallas institution since the early 1970's. He claims to have invented the frozen margarita; I don't know about the validity of that, but we certainly think that he has mastered its concoction! (Try the Sangria Swirl!) The food is typical Mexican (enchiladas, tacos, etc.) but with an inventive flair. The pre-meal salsa is unusual but wonderful. We like the unique creations, such as Carlos & Charlie's shrimp, as well as the traditional Mexican foods such as Tampiquena and Carne Asada.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Christie on December 28, 2000

Mariano's
5500 Greenville Avenue Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 691-3888

St Martin's RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "St. Martin's Wine Bistro"

St. Martin's is a very elegant restaurant with a wonderful wine selection. The menu is constantly changing, and often the best choices are the ones on the chalkboard. We had Stuffed Pork Tenderloin last time we visited, and it was delicious! Live piano music nightly (I think) helps add to the romantic mood. The restaurant stays open until midnight to accommodate the post-symphony and theatre crowds, too.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Christie on December 28, 2000

St Martin's Restaurant
3020 Greenville Dallas, Texas 75206
+1 214 826 0940

Texas State FairBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "State Fair of Texas"

The State Fair of Texas (www.texfair.com) is held from mid-September through mid-October every year. I highly recommend it for anyone who is either visiting Dallas or who lives in the area. There are all sorts of things to do for people of all ages. There are concerts, livestock shows, demonstrations, exhibits, and (of course) food! One of the most popular areas is the Auto Show, where all of the new model year cars are displayed in a salesman-free environment. Admission is $8 or so for adults, and discount tickets are available at Kroger grocery stores. There are shuttle buses that run from DART stations, too. Wear your comfortable shoes, and come have a blast at the Fair!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Christie on July 26, 2000

Texas State Fair
3809 Grand Ave Dallas, Texas 75315
+1 214 565 9931

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy PlazaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Sixth Floor, aka JFK Museum"

The Sixth Floor museum is a very well-done tribute to the JFK's tragic death in Dallas. The museum is full of artifacts from the event, and it also has several short films for visitors to view that help describe the events and the era. Of course, it is on the Sixth Floor of the Texas Schoolbook Depository building, and Dealey Plaza is just below. I don't recommend bringing small children since the exhibit is geared more toward teenagers and adults.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Christie on July 26, 2000

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza
411 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75202
(214) 747-6660

Mesquite Championship RodeoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Mesquite Rodeo"

If you've never been to a rodeo, this is a good one to start with. The Mesquite Rodeo (www.mesquiterodeo.com) is a local legend. With its beautiful, newly air-conditioned arena, the Mesquite Rodeo provides a fun evening for the whole family. One feature of the Resistol Arena that the "uninitiated" enjoy is that you do not get dirty. The seats are all up high, away from the dirt, and the grounds are all paved.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Christie on July 26, 2000

Mesquite Championship Rodeo
1818 Rodeo Drive Mesquite, Texas 75217
+1-800-833-9339; +1

Dallas World Aquarium & Zoological GardensBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Dallas World Aquarium"

The Dallas World Aquarium is much more than just an aquarium! It is an indoor rain forest, complete with monkeys, bird, alligators, a panther, and all sorts of smaller animals. Visitors stroll through the jungle and get to watch all of the animals. Zoologists occasionally bring out a bird or monkey for the kids to pet, too. There is also an outdoor pool of South African penguins, and an aquarium area with wonderful fish and stunning invertibrates. (CHeck out the octopus in the British Columbia tank!) There is also a restaurant for elegant lunches.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Christie on December 28, 2000

Dallas World Aquarium & Zoological Gardens
1801 North Griffin St Dallas, Texas 75202
+1 214 720 2224

Dallas ZooBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The dallas Zoo is divided into 2 sections, Zoo North (the old part) and the Wilds of Africa(the new part).
The Wilds of Africa features a monorail for animal viewing, and also a walking trail, which is the best way to see the chimpanzees and the only way to see the apes.
The Zoo North houses most of the animals, including the big cats and the new Exxon Tiger habitat. Yes, there are still some WPA-era buildings, such as the Large Animals, but the Zoo is working to modernize them. The Reptile and Bird houses are very popular.
The new Children's Zoo in the Zoo North section is GREAT! There are lots of hands-on exhibits for the kids and the staff is very eager to encourage the kids to explore.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Christie on December 28, 2000

Dallas Zoo
650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway Dallas, Texas 75203
+1 214 670 5656

About the Writer

Christie
Christie
Grapevine, Texas

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