If you’re looking for the best places to visit in the Lone Star state, take a cue from its residents—nearly one-fourth of the Texas population resides in Dallas metropolitan area. While the region’s topography attracted original settlers, today’s travelers are less interested in soil formations and more enthralled by the city’s cultural offerings, characteristic Southern hospitality and countless professional sporting events. Whether you root for the Cowboys or only know the word as it relates to prairie dwelling, you’ll never be bored in the “Big D.” Explorers gather in droves to admire the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens on the White Rock Lake shore. Historical buffs travel to a simpler time, ambling around the living history museum at Old City Park. The budget-conscious traveler and the luxury-seeking vacationer alike will find somewhere among the city’s 65,000 hotel rooms to catch a few winks between adventures. Although room service is tempting, hotel guests are often lured by rich aromas from the city’s classic Italian, Tex-Mex and tangy southwestern restaurants.

	Top rated hotels
	1. Fairfield Inn & Suites Dallas North 13900 Parkside Center Boulevard 4. Hyatt Summerfield Suites Dallas Uptown 2914 Harry Hines Boulevard (Downtown) 2. Le Méridien Dallas North 13402 Noel Road (North Dallas/Addison/Richardson) 5. Staybridge Suites Dallas-Addison 16060 Dallas Parkway (North Dallas/Addison/Richardson) 3. Crowne Plaza Suites Dallas-Park Central 7800 Alpha Road (North Dallas/Addison/Richardson) 6. Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion 300 Reunion Boulevard (Downtown) View more Dallas hotel info »«

	Top rated attractions
	In Dallas 1. Visit Dallas Heritage Village Heritage Village, a living history museum, sprawls over thirteen acres. Costumed volunteers greet visitors to the Victorian-era homes, log cabins and the working Civil War-era farm. Close to downtown Dallas, the village is an easily accessible retreat from the pressures of modern living. Leave your blackberry behind and learn all about weaving, cooking and blacksmithing like the Texans of the nineteenth century. Adult classes, like Baking Bread at the Turn of the 19th Century, offer a little glimpse of olden times. Guided and self-guided tours run Tuesday through Sunday between designated hours. Check out the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) website for directions.  « hide 2. Thanks-Giving Square, Dallas Can’t wait until November to express your gratitude? Head on over to Thanks-Giving Square where faiths and cultures converge. In the Chapel of Thanksgiving, a spiral tower that represents the “spiral of life,” soak up some color-infused rays through the winding stained glass roof. Visit the central courtyard, the backdrop for concerts, lectures and events. Make sure to stop by the Meditation Garden where the waterfalls lull visitors into relaxation. Forty-five minute tours take place at 2:00 PM on the weekends. Call to arrange alternative times.  « hide 3. Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas Located at Dealey Plaza, the Sixth Floor Museum provides a detailed timeline and a comprehensive analysis of ex-president John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Take a ninety-minute, self-guided tour—offered in multiple languages—and watch Abrham Zapruder’s footage of the Kennedy’s assassination. Before you decide conspiracy theory or not, check out the Oral History Collection, a compilation of over 450 memories regarding the Kennedy’s and the incident. Access the museum store online and save on commemorative books. Check out the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) website for directions.  « hide 4. Dallas Zoo Take the DART red line to Dallas Zoo Station for a day of animal appreciation. Visitors could easily spend a week exploring the Dallas Zoo’s 95 acres and still need more time to see all the animals. Children love scavenging for natural treasures to trade for prizes at the Lacerte Family Childen’s Zoo’s Nature Exchange. If petting and feeding goats and pigs isn’t enough to keep the little one’s smiling, a pony ride may do the trick. Zoos aren’t just for kids, though—at least, not this zoo. Chimpanzees, meerkats, gorillas and crocodiles await you, deep within the Wilds of Africa.  « hide 5. Fair Park Two miles east of downtown, Fair Park houses six performance venues and nine museums. Over seven million visitors attend the park annually for events. During the fall, the State Fair of Texas draws scores of tourists. Families flock in the summer for park-wide events. Find a performance, make a day of museum-hopping or even lease one of the historical buildings for an event or family reunion. Just don’t try to fish in the lagoon—it’s actually a laboratory for the Museum of Natural History and the Aquarium.  « hide 6. Shop in Deep Ellum The pedestrian area spans through Elm, Main and Commerce Streets. Shopping is a sport in this eclectic neighborhood where shoppers can find anything they want except a franchise. Stop by I Hat It Made for chic hats and other accessories, and check out Vagabond for a retro style makeover. Visit the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau on Elm St. for a clearer sense of direction or explore the old-fashioned way—with only a sense adventure for guidance. On-street metered parking is free after 10:00 PM, and there are plenty of lots nearby.  « hide View more Dallas attractions » « View less Dallas attractions

	Top rated restaurants
	1. El Fenix Mexican Restaurants El Fenix Mexican Restaurants, Dallas, offers the best in Tex-Mex fare with a few American dishes thrown in for the kids. To streamline the ordering process, which could take a while considering the multi-page menu, read the virtual version at the El Fenix website before heading out  « hide 6. Patrizio Patrizio, Dallas, located near upscale boutiques and shopping, attracts a refined crowd. The exterior features a fountain, an ivy-covered gate and a garden terrace. Terrazzo floors, oriental rugs and marble-topped tables characterize the interior. Underneath the ambient façade, Patrizio is everything it promises to be. The portions are huge, even for the most accomplished eaters.  « hide 2. RJ Mexican Cuisine RJ Mexican Cuisine, Dallas, prides itself on choosing recipes from all eight culinary regions in Mexico. The portions are huge, and the presentations are colorful and even artistic. Dine on the patio if weather permits. Check the website for savings.  « hide 7. Bakers Ribs Bakers Ribs, Dallas serves up ribs, beef brisket and sandwiches so high they’re known by locals as “tall food.” The cozy atmosphere makes this spot ideal for casual dining. They cater and deliver—with plates and flatware, to boot. Bring your appetite and be prepared to leave with a doggy bag.  « hide 3. Manny’s Uptown Tex-Mex Restaurante Manny’s Uptown Tex-Mex Restaurante, Dallas, is located right next to the Central Expressway. Two miles outside of the West End District, Manny’s is a little further north but worth the extra commute time. The pollo con hongos are popular with locals, but there are way too many options to stick to just one.  « hide 8. Mike Anderson’s Barbecue House Mike Anderson’s Barbecue House, Dallas, is the Cheers of the south with only one location and lots of personality. The cafeteria-style restaurant has no pretensions—it’s a down-home spot for home-style cooking. Visit Monday through Saturday and enjoy a free soft-serve treat for dessert.  « hide 4. Il Solé Restaurant and Wine Bar Il Solé Restaurant and Wine Bar, Dallas serves a variety of pasta and risotto dishes with chicken and seafood. There are over 3,000 bottles in the restaurant’s wine collection, so it may take a while to try them all. Order wine by the glass or half glass, or spring for the whole bottle. From appetizers to deserts, the menu is varied and sophisticated. Choose from pastas and risottos and chicken and seafood dishes.  « hide 9. Dick’s Last Resort Dick’s Last Resort, Dallas, offers barbecue with a side of wit. Wait staffers have a knack for playful jabs and potentially crude jokes, but all—well, mostly—in fun and good taste. Come for the fried catfish; stay for the colorful characters—both the employees and the locals.  « hide 5. Adelmo’s Adelmo’s, Dallas oozes romance and offers patrons a quaint, unassuming atmosphere. Don’t be surprised if there are more than a few couples spread throughout the room. Monday through Saturday, Adelmo’s offers theater goers a “pre-curtain menu,” complete with a first, second and third act—courses, that is. The ravioli Florentine is a fan favorite. Cap the night with cappuccino and tiramisu, and it’s just like being in Italy (almost).  « hide

	Dallas Insider tips
	1. Take the DART to Fort Worth No trip to Dallas is complete without a pit stop to its neighboring metropolis, Fort Worth. Ride the Trinity Railway Express for $4 and amble the Chisholm Trail, a route used for cattle drives in the late nineteenth century. Explore Log Cabin Village to see what homes were like before the Industrial and Martha Stewart Revolutions. Billy Bob’s Texas touts itself the “World’s largest honky tonk,” so bring your cowboy boots and Stetson.  « hide 2. Dallas Neighborhoods to Avoid South Dallas appears neglected and unsafe in many sections, and is universally known as “the poor part” of town. The area encompasses several neighborhoods, including Bonton, Cedars, Dixon and FairPark. A good rule of thumb: don’t go there if you don’t have to and don’t have to if it’s dark. Lower Greenville area, a prime spot for nightlife and dining, sees its fair share of crime. In this case, don’t avoid the area altogether but be aware and travel in groups at night. Steer clear of the Galleria. That last one’s not a neighborhood—it’s a mall. And it’s the strongest tourist magnet known to the city of Dallas.  « hide 3. Myths About Taxi Cabs Myth: You can hail a cab outside NYC. Truth: if a cab’s empty on the road, it’s generally en route to collect someone else—a person who called the dispatcher. Rental cars can be pricey, so do take taxis, but plan ahead when one’s needed. The trip planner at http://www.dart.org/ is great for mapping a route on the rail, bus or paratransit lines. Many hotels provide free shuttles to the airport. For travelers who don’t have access to a free shuttle, car services are wonderful alternative cabs as they generally charge a reasonable flat rate.  « hide 4. Days of the Week for Culture Dallas’ culture is like a hairdresser—closed to the public on Mondays. No one likes being greeted by the rejection of a “Closed” sign. No one should have to be. Pen this list in the planner for Monday, because the following museums are open then: The Natural History Museums, The Aquarium and the Sixth Floor Museum. As for the other museums, there are way too many to include here.  « hide

	Dallas nightlife
	In Dallas 1. Gypsy Tea Room Kick back and enjoy an intimate performance in the small tea room or dance to live music in the ballroom. With two bars, the ballroom is well-equipped and staffed for the crowds it draws. There’s no dress code or formal requirements, other than a love of music. Country, rock, punk; you name it, they host it. Doors generally one to two hours before shows.  « hide 2. The Ginger Man The Ginger Man offers an extensive beer list—over 70 on tap and 100 bottled—and a large selection of fine wines. Local talent performs in the upstairs lounge, complete with a balcony and beer garden. Keep an eye out for the blackboards. Talented artists design funky, colorful displays for price lists and specials.  « hide

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