DALLAS — For Chicago Bears fans, the most anticipated reason for coming here didn’t pan out, unfortunately. But just in case you’re headed this way regardless, keep in mind that there are far more reasons beyond a little old Super Bowl to do Dallas.
Hook up with the right tour guide, and you’ll learn where bank robber Clyde Barrow was laid out (at Belo Mansion, a former funeral home), where to find the Neiman Marcus flagship store (1618 Main St., open since 1907) and why Dave Krupinski, the city’s director of tourism, confides that “we’re real proud of the Slurpee here” (Dallas is the corporate home of 7-Eleven).
The frozen margarita was invented in Dallas. The city boasts the most shopping centers per capita in the nation; NorthPark Center (214-361-6345, northparkcenter.com) is the biggest. Inside Dallas Arboretum (214-515-6500, dallasarboretum.org) is the country’s biggest public collection of azaleas, although camellias are what bloom in winter.
Wander the Nasher Sculpture Center (214-242-5100, http://www.nashersculpturecenter.org), whose 300-plus modern/contemporary works make it among the world’s largest such collections. Or order a cold one at the Hard Rock Cafe (469-341-7625, hardrock.com), a former Baptist church where a stained-glass window of Jesus was replaced with one of Elvis.
At the 277-acre Fair Park are restored and repurposed buildings from the 1936 Texas Centennial, making this a classy museum campus as well as home to the nation’s largest state fair (in October). Look for the Women’s Museum (214-915-0860, thewomensmuseum.org), a Smithsonian affiliate that honors the history, strength and diversity of women with exhibits that document relevant trivia, trends and transitional times.
Especially in this 50th anniversary year of the JFK inauguration, no visit to Dallas is complete without a visit to downtown memorials at Dealey Plaza, site of President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination, at Houston and Elm streets. Take a guided tour or wander on your own, but don’t skip the emotionally dynamic Sixth Floor Museum (214-747-6660, jfk.org).
Free McKinney Avenue trolley rides connect downtown and uptown, an artsy-foodie-entertainment area with a mix of historic homes and high-rises. Or ride Dallas Area Rapid Transit (214-979-1111, dart.org) light rail into Fort Worth; the trip takes less than an hour.
Arlington is in the middle of this route; buy a four-day, unlimited-use regional transit pass for $30, which includes transit service to Cowboys Stadium (northtexassuperbowl.com) — if you’re heading for the Super Bowl anyway. Ride the Trinity Railway Express to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, then board a bus to the stadium.
Also in Arlington: Six Flags Over Texas amusement park (817-640-8900, sixflags.com).
What’s the big difference between Dallas and Fort Worth? Personality. Think “cosmopolitan” for Dallas and “cowboy” for Fort Worth.
Twice daily, a herd of 15 longhorn steers — horn spans exceeding 6 feet — are routed down Exchange Street in Fort Worth’s Stockyards National Historic District (817-624-4741, fortworthstockyards.org). The cattle drive takes all of five minutes, but it attracts a crowd and is good for photos.
Also worth visiting: the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (800-476-3263, cowgirl.net), devoted to the stories of singers, ranchers, trick riders and Hollywood starlets who demonstrate the “cowgirl spirit.”
Lesser known is the JFK tribute at the Hilton Fort Worth (817-870-2100, hilton.com), where Kennedy spent his last night. A “follow the footsteps” exhibit retraces his last steps.
Regardless of where you roam, check out escapehatchdallas.com for advice about where to eat and invest your time while in the Dallas area. Writers Mike Hiller and June Naylor make it their business to stay on top of these things; Naylor also arranges food tours through junenaylor.com/tours.
More Top Picks Xiaomi Mi M365
Stephan Pyles (214-580-7000, stephanpyles.com) and Fuel City (214-426-0011) are two heavy hitters. Expect Southwestern fusion and white linens at the former, life-changing tacos from an off-interstate gas station at the latter.
For five-star dining, consider Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (214-443-4747, mansiononturtlecreek.com) for a French toast souffle or grilled shrimp and grits at Sunday brunch. It’s $49 for three courses and a mimosa, Bellini or Bloody Mary.
OK, so maybe you should watch the Super Bowl anyway. Order chicken fried steak, fried catfish or taco fingers (cheese and chicken/beef, rolled into corn tortillas) while watching the game at no-frills Vernon’s Grill (972-661-3707, myvernonsgrill.com). Another munching option there: Chickles and Pips (batter-fried pickle slices and potato chips, made on the premises).
For more about this part of northern Texas: 800-232-5527, visitdallas.com; 800-433-5747, fortworth.com; and 800-342-4305, arlington.org.
About drinking
A word about drinking alcohol in Texas, from Mike Howard, a criminal defense lawyer who blogs:
“Most states have public intoxication laws, but Texas has come under fire for having such extremely broad and vague laws regarding public drunkenness that officers have begun to abuse their power,” he writes. “The most recent controversies regarding public intoxication involve police officers entering bars and arresting drunks from within the bar.
“In fact, the law is so vague that an officer is legally allowed to arrest someone who is merely suspected of being drunk, without the need to issue a Breathalyzer.”