edit Dallas Travel Guide

• Dallas Cowboys, Dallas' famous football team.
• Dallas Stars, Dallas' professional hockey team.
• Dallas World Aquarium
• Dallas Zoo - Over 8,000 animals can be seen at this 97-acre zoo in south Dallas.

Historically, Dallas politics were dominated by the Republican Party, even when the rest of Texas was strongly Democratic. In recent years, however, an influx of people from outside Texas, coupled with a "re-urbanization" of Dallas, has created a liberal atmosphere in Dallas. With no geographical features to limit its growth, Dallas has accrued suburban sprawl that is among the largest in North America. Nevertheless, recent years have seen large population growth returning to Dallas' urban "Uptown" area, as well as the downtown area and the Victory development (surrounding the American Airlines Center). The "real Dallas" experience is to be had in the large area roughly described by the Dallas North Tollway to the west; White Rock Lake to the East; I-30 to the south; and Northwest Highway to the north. Within that area, it is perfectly possible to get around on public transit, but as in any Sunbelt boomtown (think Atlanta), you're best off with a car at your disposal.

By plane

There are two major airports in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, DFW, and Love Field (DAL). Love Field is within the city limits not far northwest of downtown, but has certain restrictions on flights in and out. Love Field is home to Southwest Airlines, so if you are flying from within Texas, a nearby state or don't mind connecting, you might check with them. Love Field is also served by Continental Express to Houston. American Eagle also flies to several cities from Love. The flight restrictions at Love Field were partially lifted when the "Wright Amendment Reform Act" was made law in October 2006. The restrictions will be fully lifted in 2014.

Otherwise, you will probably end up flying into DFW. DFW, one of the largest airports in the country by passenger volume, is physically large as well, reasonably clean, and during tourist-travel type times, lines are short and staff are friendly. Equally positioned between Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW is a great airport to fly into. Don't forget that as you drive out of the airport, you will have to pay a toll to leave.

No matter which airport you are flying into or out of, if it is during rush hour, traffic will be a factor. Make sure you budget at least 2-3 hours to get to/from the airport if you are traveling on I-635, the Bush turnpike (SH-190), or 75 (Central Expressway). It will probably only take you an hour (and traffic has been getting better lately), but it is far better to have that extra hour of cushion than to be stuck on the one road that will get you where you need to go, and to be moving at a crawl.

Once you've arrived at the airport, you will probably do best to take one of the Shared Ride shuttle services. They offer door to door pickup and drop off, probably costing ~$30 for ~20 miles, which will get you to most places.

For DFW, there are courtesy phones that will let you ring them directly (for free), and they are usually pretty quick about pickups and drop offs. (at most adding an extra 30-40 minutes while you wait for them to pick up more people, or to drop your fellow passengers off on the way to your place or hotel).

A less expensive option, to some places, would be DART, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, which offers regular daytime bus service from DFW Airport to a commuter rail station located South of the airport.

By train

There are two Amtrak routes which serve Dallas/Fort Worth, the Texas Eagle between San Antonio and Chicago, and the Heartland Flyer between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.

By car

To get here from Oklahoma, take I-35 or US 75 south. To get here from Houston, it's ~250 miles north on I-45 (which turns into US 75). To get here from Austin, take I-35 North. To get here from Louisiana, take I-20 east. Dallas is the junction-point for most cities within a 200-300 mile radius, with good road service to and from. Any map of the United States should have enough information to get you into Dallas with no problems.

However, once you are here, watch out for traffic. Traffic tends to go towards the city centers in the morning, and away from the city centers in the evening. Major choke points are 75 South in the morning (what takes 20 minutes with no traffic, ends up taking 1-2 hours with traffic). I-635 near US-75 is also usually a mess since I-635 (being the beltway that runs all around Dallas) is an often-traveled road. Also watch out for I-35E southbound in the mornings.

Also expect DFW drivers to drive discourteously. Local drivers often disregard the "Left Lane for Passing Only" rule. Strings of vehicles going ~5 MPH over the speed limit stay in the left lane to pass the 5% of drivers who travel ~5 MPH UNDER the speed limit in the right lane. A savvy driver can use this to his advantage as the right lane is often the least congested.

Dallas area drivers tend to be more aggressive than those in other areas, so be prepared to fight for you lane changes.

When stopped at a traffic light in DFW, be sure to give 1-2 seconds delay after the light turns green. DFW drivers are notorious for running red lights.

• US-75 is also called "Central" or "Central Expressway", and turns into I-45 just south of Downtown
• I-635 is sometimes called LBJ, which stands for Lyndon B Johnson.
• There are two branches of I-35. I-35 splits into I-35W at Denton (30 miles north of Dallas) through Fort Worth to Hillsboro (50 miles south of Dallas), and I-35E that runs from Denton through Dallas to Hillsboro. After I-35W and I-35E reach Hillsboro, they simply rejoin as I-35.

By bus

• Dallas' Greyhound terminal is near the center of downtown at 205 S. Lamar.

• Buses also run to and from Shreveport on the weekends, which is sponsored by the casinos. This is more for the locals to go and get their gambling fixes, but ask around if you're interested.

By boat

By Car

This is the best way to get around Dallas. Car rentals are the most convenient for transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.

By Mass Transit

There is public transportation in the form of buses and trains (light rail), but again, these best serve the local needs (commuting to work, etc), and are very difficult to get good timings if you are trying to get anywhere exotic.

The transportation system is called DART, and they do an excellent job of catering to special events (Cowboys games, State Fair), or special places (Dallas Zoo, West End, Arboretum) and will instantly give you a trip plan if you call them up (214-979-1111) or use their website (http://www.dart.org/). You will usually want to get a day pass, since it will probably take you a lot of buses to get where you need to go.

The bus system, not unlike in many large cities, can be quite confusing. Because mass transit is still far behind in popularity than that of other countries, foreigners may be surprised that Dallasites will be unable to help direct them very well. The train system is easiest to understand, and connects to several suburban areas. Therefore, if it is at all possible, try to get an automobile. Prices are relatively cheap, especially for train travel. On DART, bus drivers check tickets at the door, but on the trains, tickets are checked by DART security officers who sporadically board trains between stations. Being caught on the train without a valid ticket usually results in you being asked to immediately depart at the next stop, but you can also receive a fine not to exceed $500. Tickets are not as likely to be checked while the train is downtown or on excessively crowded trains, but it is always a risk to go for a free ride.

By Foot

Police

Fire Department

Hospitals

Crime

Go out with a group at night and valet your car so that you don't have to walk far at the end of the night. If you are downtown after dark, there is a fair amount of homeless people in the area. Uptown and North Dallas are generally very safe after dark. South Side is generally a little bit more rough around the edges than the north sides. Also avoid driving on the highways on the weekends after 2:00 a.m. It can be unnerving because all the bars and clubs kick everyone out at two, so most of the drivers have been drinking and are in a hurry to get home.

Smoking

• State Fair. In September and October, State Fair is held at Dallas. It takes place in Fair Park,which is a 277-acre city park that is just two miles east of downtown Dallas, and is held for 24 days every year starting in mid to late September. The fair is open from 10AM until 10PM. You can come to the fair by car and the parking is only $10 per car. The ticket prices are $13 for general admission, $9 for kids under 48" tall, children 2 and under, seniors 60 and older are free. At the State Fair, there are many entertainments and events for example, "Looney Tunes Hollywood Screen Test", "Budweiser Oktoberfest", "Backyard Circus", "Milking Parlor", "College Football", and "Hot Diggity Dog Shows". Not only kids but also adults can enjoy the events. Don't miss the corndogs.
• Six Flags Over Texas. Arlington, just to the west is home to the famous amusement park's flagship location. 10 new rides have opened in 2006 alone.
• Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Just across the way from Six Flags' amusement park is the best waterpark in the area. Don't forget the sunblock.
• White Rock Lake. Escape the city bustle for a stroll at this large park in east Dallas.
• Golf in Dallas. There are a ton of wonderful golf courses in the Dallas area.
  
• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens - Located along the south banks of White Rock Lake.

Shopping is big in Dallas. In days of yore, folks would come from all over the country to shop in Dallas' exclusive shops. Neiman Marcus was founded in Dallas, supplying dresses and diamonds to debutants and family scions. The downtown flagship store remains a popular destination for visitors and locals alike.

• The West Village offers trendy shopping for the 20/30-somethings.

• Highland Park Village offers something for the silver spooned set. Generally credited with being the nation's first modern shopping mall, Highland Park Village houses a variety of upscale brands, including Jimmy Choo, Escada, Ralph Lauren, and Hermes.

• Galleria Mall - 13350 Dallas Parkway. An upscale shopping mall located in North Dallas. There are over 200 stores and restaurants at the Galleria, including an ice rink and The Westin Hotel. It is located at the intersection of Interstate 635 and the Dallas North Tollway.

• Grapevine Mills - 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, in Grapevine. Large outlet shopping mall with close to 200 stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

• Willow Bend Mall - Like the Galleria but farther north in Plano and with fewer shops.

• North Park Mall - After completing a significant renovation and expansion in 2006, Northpark is the largest and generally regarded as the nicest shopping center in Texas. Expect to spend some money if you go there as it is filled with high-end stores and chains, though stores such as Dillards, which cater to the more budget conscious, still abound. Northpark contains much of the Nasher family's modern art collection, and is well worth a visit for art and architecture lovers.

• There are some good antique stores in the Knox-Henderson area.

• Mockingbird Station - For urban-planning and real-estate types, this is a must-see: a premier example of transit-oriented development on the DART Rail line. A mixed-use area featuring loft apartments with retail and restaurants at the ground level, Mockingbird Station also boasts one of Dallas's best arthouse/independent cinema theaters, the Angelika. There is some nice shopping, including Victoria's Secret, and West Elm.

• First Saturday - An electronics flea market that is a must for geeks. Begins at midnight on the first Saturday of every month and is held near the West End. Be prepared to find more flea-market-style garbage than actual computer equipment.

Southfork Ranch, 3700 Hogge Road, Parker, TX 75002, Tel. 972-442-7800. The ranch made famous by the TV series "Dallas". An easy daytrip from Dallas. Tours run 364 days a year (except Christmas).