Dallas

A North Texas metropolis where the Sixth Floor Museum revisits the Kennedy assassination, the Arts District showcases buildings by star architects, and neighboring Fort Worth's Stockyards keep the Old West alive.

Dallas lies in North Texas and, together with Fort Worth about 50 km to the west and cities such as Arlington, forms Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), the fourth-largest metro area in the US. Built on oil, finance and commerce, the city is best known today for its modern skyline, its Arts District architecture and the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy. The climate is humid subtropical; Mar–May and Oct–Nov are the most comfortable, Jun–Sep often tops 35°C, spring occasionally brings thunderstorms and hail, and winter sees the odd cold snap. Sightseeing falls into four areas. First, the West End downtown, where the Sixth Floor Museum, Dealey Plaza, the John F. Kennedy Memorial, Old Red and Reunion Tower are all within walking distance. Second, the Arts District and Klyde Warren Park, where the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science sit side by side, leading north into Uptown. Third, characterful neighborhoods such as Deep Ellum and the Bishop Arts District, plus White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum to the northeast. Fourth, a day trip west to Fort Worth: in the morning watch the longhorn cattle drive and soak up the Western atmosphere at the Stockyards, in the afternoon visit the Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in the Cultural District, and dine at Sundance Square in the evening; Arlington, on the way, has AT&T Stadium and Six Flags Over Texas. Getting there: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a hub for American Airlines, with nonstop or connecting domestic flights. The city has DART light rail and streetcars, and downtown is walkable, but getting between districts or to Fort Worth and Arlington largely requires a car or rideshare; the TRE commuter train links the two downtowns. Plan to stay 3–4 days: 2 in Dallas, 1 in Fort Worth, plus another for a game or a theme park. Texas barbecue (especially brisket), Tex-Mex and steak are must-tries; look out for the State Fair of Texas from late September through October and Dallas Cowboys home games. In summer wear sunscreen and stay hydrated, and go out in groups at night in nightlife districts such as Deep Ellum.

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Itineraries