Dallas, Texas: Why Go Now

Dallas, Texas: Why Go Now
More than $15 billion in new and ongoing development assists in creating a richly diverse city with countless luxury accommodations, leading arts district, endless shopping opportunities, a thriving culinary scene and trendy entertainment districts.

The city continues to position itself as a top destination for business and leisure travelers with the additions of The Ritz‐Carlton, Dallas and W Dallas-Victory and the renovations of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, The Fairmont, Hilton Anatole and the Hyatt Regency.

Culture is also drawing visitors to Dallas, as the city boasts the largest urban arts district in the U.S. Five cultural venues were designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects, and the 19-block area is a definite eye-catcher. Highlights include the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, Crow Collection of Asian Art and Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The feather in the cap of Dallas' Arts District is the multi‐million dollar, multi-venue AT&T Performing Arts Center. Venues include the 2,200‐seat Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, with its distinctive red panes; the 600-seat Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre for classical and experimental theater; and the 10-acre Sammons Park. City Performance Hall, constructed by the City of Dallas for smaller performing arts groups is slated for future opening.

Additionally, the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University displays the largest collection of Spanish art outside of Spain, drawing crowds to its cultural center. And Fair Park, the 277‐acre site of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, is home to the world's largest collection of 1930s exposition‐style buildings, State Fair of Texas, and the following attractions: Music Hall at Fair Park, Gexa Energy Pavillion, Women's Museum, African American Museum, Firefighter Museum, Museum of the American Railroad, Hall of State, South Dallas Cultural Center, Cotton Bowl, Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park, Texas Discovery Gardens and Museum of Nature and Science.

Home to the first planned shopping center in the U.S., Highland Park Village, Dallas is often called the “birthplace of shopping.” The city provides the best experience in the Southwest with unsurpassed locations such as NorthPark Center–the largest in North Texas with 235 distinctive stores–Victory Park, West Village, Mockingbird Station, Bishop Arts District and Galleria Dallas. The flagship Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas has set the standard for fashion and elegance since its grand opening in the early 1900s. The downtown store also features a fifth‐floor museum that tells the story of this read-to-wear couture retail legend.

Dallas features a cutting‐edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs such as Stephan Pyles, Dean Fearing, Kent Rathbun and Wolfgang Puck. And with more than 7,000 restaurants in the Dallas area, there is an endless variety of dining to please any palate and price point.

The city's 13 entertainment districts meet any visitor's needs. From family-friendly offerings and quaint settings to vibrant nightlife and exciting atmospheres, you can do and see it all in Dallas' various neighborhoods.

In this city of big ideas, sports and recreation are no exception. The Sporting News consistently ranks Dallas near the top on its list of the nation's “Best Sports Cities.” Teams from six professional sports leagues and associations call the Dallas area home – Dallas Cowboys, NFL; Dallas Desperados, Arena Football League; Dallas Mavericks, NBA; Dallas Stars, NHL; FC Dallas, MLS; and Texas Rangers, Major League Baseball.

Dallas enjoys a reputation as a “championship” city, having hosted a multitude of top competitions, both professional and amateur. It continues to build on this reputation by hosting the 2009 Visa Championships, NBA All‐Star 2010, SuperBowl XLV in 2011 and the NCAA Men's Final Four in 2014.

With more than 100 golf courses of varied levels of play within city limits, and more than 100 more in the surrounding area, Dallas is the premier locale for the golf enthusiast. And residents and visitors alike enjoy the 21,000 park acres in Dallas Parks, including 17 lakes and 61 miles of jogging/bike trails.

Travel to and from Dallas is convenient and enjoyable due to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field Airport. DFW, the world's third busiest airport and home to American Airlines, provides visitors with non-stop flights to more U.S. cities than any other airport in the nation and has flyer-friendly service, hotels, dining and shopping. Travelers enjoy DFW for its central location in the North Texas area, allowing for easy travel by rental service, taxi or the Trinity Railway Express, which services Dallas, Fort Worth and Irving.

Dallas Love Field Airport, located minutes from downtown, serves as the headquarters for Southwest Airlines and offers service to select cities across the U.S. A new, $625 million terminal with 20 gates opens in 2014.

For more Dallas information or to plan your next trip, see www.VisitDallas.com