Step off the jet in this city and amidst cowboy hats and leather boots, the sea of silver and blue that emblazons “Dallas Cowboys Football” is immediate. Stars begin to surface everywhere to represent “America’s Team.” From towels to mugs and even baby bibs, there are so many stars you’d think your lights just got knocked out. But despite all the attention the Cowboys receive, the city has far more to offer that makes it star quality.
Outside of the crazed football nation, there are plenty of other things to get excited about if you’re ever in Big D. To start, the city is home to the Dallas Mavericks, who have a future hall-of-famer in power forward Dirk Nowitski. Any hoops follower should definitely give him a look at the American Airlines Center before he retires. On top of seeing NBA royalty, fans of the ice can go see the Dallas Stars, who currently have a 22-6-2 record and are in one of the top spots in the NHL’s western conference. If you’re unable to catch a game live and in-person, consider going to “Owners Box” at the Omni Hotel. The crowd is jam packed full of Stars faithful decked out in green, who support their team from the very beginning of the contest by enthusiastically chanting “Stars!” at every point it’s sung in the pledge of allegiance.
As far as the grub goes, with a city knee-deep in southern cuisine, restaurants and eateries city-wide are a slam dunk. From the blackened fried fish at Fish City Grill, the happy hour at the Grand Lux café, or the southern fried chicken dish at Ellen’s Southern Kitchen, anybody’s worst hunger pains are sure to be cured once they sink their teeth into the food that Big D has to offer.
For any historical buff, travel up six flights at the Texas School Book Depository to revisit the scene of the assassination of the 35th president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. There you can revisit the snipers nest, JFK’s rise to fame as the youngest president elected to office at the age of 43, the frantic manhunt for Lee Harvey Oswald, and the historical impact that his assassination had on the nation.
Need some artistic inspiration? The Dallas Museum of Art deserves a wander. Especially since entry is free of charge. The museum houses a variety of collections that focus on the African art, Asian art, European art, Decorative Arts and Design, and more. The museum even sports a collection from Wendy and Emery Reves, which recreates five rooms of their Villa La Pausa that was built by famed fashion designer, Coco Chanel. Pieces within the collection, that surpass more than 1,000 items, include a number of sculptures, paintings, works on paper, and furniture compositions that will surely spark the inner interior designer in those who lack that creative “it” factor.
If a Texas trip is planned in the foreseeable future, Dallas is a hidden gem that should not be overlooked when deciding on the several cities in the state to choose from. For any fan of southern cuisine, a wide spectrum of entertainment, and the arts and culture scene, Dallas will not disappoint.
