DALLAS - BIG "D"

Dallas is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, stretching over 40 miles east to west. The Metroplex includes Fort Worth and Arlington, as well as a number of smaller communities in between. Arlington is where the ballpark is located, and as it is also the site of Six Flags over Texas, but other than that, there isn't much to see other than hotels. 

Dallas is about 25 miles east of Arlington, and will always be known as the city in which JFK was assassinated in 1963 and where J.R. Ewing was shot. Dealey Plaza and the 6th Floor Museum are where most tourists can be found, and frankly there isn't much more to the downtown core. Fair Park, just outside of downtown, contains a number of museums and the Cotton Bowl, and the West End is a good place to enjoy a meal. Southfork, the Ewing ranch, is now a tourist attraction, but it is north of the city and we didn't make it there.

From Reunion Tower

Our impressions: Dallas was very hot and very few people were outside. There is really no reason to wander around the city, all of the interesting attractions are located within minutes of each other, including Reunion Tower, 6th Floor Museum, and the West End. Fair Park is a bit outside of town and requires a car to get to.

The train is a good way to get into town from the suburbs; you can get a day pass for only $2. If you are staying outside Dallas, you can park at one of the police-patrolled park-and-ride stations, such as Westmoreland, and then take the train in. The train also provides access to the Dallas Zoo. However, parking in Dallas seemed plentiful and reasonably priced, so a car is also possible, and may be preferred if you want to see some of the spots outside the city.

Overall, I didn't get the feeling of Dallas as a city by itself, but more of a big continuous metropolis. There's a lot of traffic in the suburbs, but everything seemed to move quickly, and the large number of highways keep things going. I enjoyed driving here, but found that there was a lot of driving necessary to see all of the tourist spots. But once you have seen the 6th Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza, everything else seems anti-climatic. Dallas is worth visiting, but you probably only need a couple of days, and that includes spending time at the Ballpark in Arlington and maybe even a game in Fort Worth.

Dealey Plaza