The Best Dallas Vaction Picks
Belmont Hotel
Dallas is rife with luxury suites. If you’re looking, however, to stay in supercool digs with a vintage vibe, make a reservation at the Belmont. What was once a motor court has been transformed into a contemporary boutique hotel. The irreverent digs sit on a stone bluff high above Oak Cliff, offering amazing views of downtown.
Best fashion mecca
Galleria Dallas
Feed the shoe muse. The Galleria is home to 200 stores, including the cr�¨me de la cr�¨me of retailers: Celine, Cartier, Vuitton, Versace, and Gucci. From buttoned-up Thomas Pink to buttoned-down Tommy Bahama, this shopping center offers much more than a run-of-the-mill mall. Check into the attached four star Westin Hotel for a full weekend of shopping, dining, and ice skating.
Best piece of history
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
No trip to Dallas is complete without a tour of Dealey Plaza. This National Historic Landmark has turned a tragedy into a unique opportunity for new generations to discover Kennedy’s legacy. The Sixth Floor Museum contains a permanent exhibition on the president’s life and assassination. The seventh floor hosts rotating displays of political and social relevance. Currently, Call to Action explores the president’s message of activism and responsible citizenship during a time of civil unrest.
Best rowdy rooting
FC Dallas
Though the Cowboys and Mavs may be off-season, there’s still a great opportunity to catch major league action. FC Dallas, formerly the Dallas Burn, is giving the States a bit of European-style soccer excitement. Pizza Hut Park is quite the sporting venue. The Frisco complex contains a world class soccer stadium and a sports park to host pro and amateur events all through the year.
Best dizzy dessert
Antares Restaurant
It doesn’t take a martini to get your head spinning. Atop the electric daffodil that is the Reunion Tower sits Antares. The restaurant makes one revolution an hour, providing 360Ã?° views of the city skyline. Share some cheesecake, sip some Remy-Martin VSOP, and sit back and slowly spin. (Or get your shimmy shake on at the club upstairs.)
Best culture club
Saturday Night in the City
Culture, culture, culture. Locals and visitors both can enjoy a balmy night at one of the country’s finest museums. The Nasher Sculpture Center features works from Matisse, Miro, Picasso, Giacommetti and more in indoor galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden. Summer Saturdays, the center offers terrace dining and live music in the garden to accompany the works of art.
Best grub
Bob’s Steak and Chop House
The only thing that outnumbers fashion boutiques and hip hotels are crazy good restaurants. If you must pick just one, “Live Large, Think Big” in a premiere Texas steakhouse. Classic New York strips and veal chops are superbly executed. Though it may be hedonistic in its carnivorous excesses, vacation necessitates quantity and quality food.
Best family outing
Dallas World Aquarium
What does DFW have in common with Montery, CA? Both cities are home to uncommon aquatic adventures. The Dallas World Aquarium houses marine life from around the globe. A 22,000 gallon tunnel lets visitors experience the fins and flippers up close. An eight-story immersion exhibit called Mundo Maya showcases the undersea creatures of Yucatan’s gulf coast.
Best Wild West thrills
Mesquite Championship Rodeo
Yipee-ka-yay! Just 15 minutes from downtown Dallas lies a true Texas experience. It takes more than hats and boots to be a cowgirl. Every Friday and Saturday in the summer, the Mesquite Rodeo is home to brave bronc and bull riders, steer wrestlers, barrel racers, and, of course, fearless rodeo clowns. Don’t miss the “Daring Darlings of Rodeo” all-girl chuck wagon race.
Best local legend
White Rock Lake
The Lady of the Lake, as you might have heard, is the ghost of a lovestruck young woman who drowned herself in White Rock waters. She has been seen wandering, hitchhiking, or haunting the backseats of parking teens. The urban legend gives a few shivers, but doesn’t keep too many from enjoying this oasis. White Rock Lake is generally a sunny specter-free spot for fishing, hiking, biking, picnics, softball, sailing, tennis, and playing around.
