With San Antonio, Austin, and Houston already in the books, Dallas was the last major Texas city for me to complete the “Big Four.” So when work decided to send me to a conference there, and a favorite band happened to announce a local show for the exact same weekend, I flew in early to squeeze every drop out of a solo weekend in the city.
Stay
My conference hotel was the massive Sheraton Dallas Downtown, with multiple towers of guestrooms and several floors of event space. The hotel features several dining outlets – a full service bar and restaurant, a grab-n-go market, and a sports bar, which we were pleased to spend some time in to watch our Flyers who were in the NHL playoffs that week. My room was comfortable and roomy, which is why I thought my coworker was joking when he described his room as “dinky,” but he was staying in one of the hotel’s other towers so we figure he probably had a different style room than me.
During the weekend before checking into the Sheraton, I stayed in another hotel that was more budget-friendly for my personal travels and closer to my sightseeing plans for the weekend. I was at the Holiday Inn Express Dallas Downtown, located just steps from Dealey Plaza in a historic 1925 building that’s rumored to be haunted. My room was small but was all the space I needed for my jam-packed sightseeing days, and I enjoyed the hotel’s complimentary breakfast. I didn’t have any ghostly experiences, and had a great stay here.
Getting Here and Getting Around
I flew into the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) located a good 30-40 minute drive from downtown Dallas, and utilized rideshare to get to my hotel. Dallas’s central downtown area is fairly walkable, but it is a pretty sprawling city and I ended up using rideshare a good amount during my time there, especially since a few of the days were over 90-degree weather.
See and Do
On my first afternoon, I set out to wander the West End Historic District and see the sites relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I first headed to Dealey Plaza, the grassy park on land that was the site of the first homes built in Dallas, but more infamously today known as the location of the shooting that took the life of the U.S.’s 35th president in 1963. An ominous “X” in the middle of Elm Street marks the exact spot that JFK was struck by the fatal shot while riding in his motorcade. At 411 Elm Street is the Texas Book Depository Building, from which Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots at the president. Today the Sixth Floor Museum operates out of the building, providing a deep dive into the history of that fateful day and the legacy of President John F. Kennedy. From the windows of the sixth floor you can see the assassin’s view of that X on the street down below. Especially on a sunny day, much of Dealey Plaza appears today just as it did back then, allowing you to visualize the cheerful visit that turned sinister in a matter of seconds. It’s recommended to purchase your museum tickets in advance as visits are via timed entry with a limited number of walk-up tickets for each time slot.
Another of the well-preserved buildings on Dealey Plaza is “Old Red,” the Dallas County Courthouse, an ornate red sandstone building completed in 1892. A museum operated out of the building in recent years, but relocated to allow the building to once again serve its purpose as a courthouse. While you can’t go inside, it’s worth taking a walk around the building to check out its architecture. On the other side of Old Red from Dealey Plaza, you’ll find the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza, featuring a contemplative 1970 memorial designed by architect Philip Johnson, a family friend of the Kennedys. Just across Main Street in Founders Plaza is a replica of Dallas founder John Neely Bryan’s cabin, an ode to the city’s early pioneer days.
The West End Historic District is full of great shops and restaurants, and I completed my time in the neighborhood with a visit to Wild Bill’s Western Store to shop souvenirs – a great place to go if you’re looking for some authentic cowboy hats and boots!
I next headed further downtown on Main Street to see the Giant Eyeball, a 30-foot fiberglass eyeball sculpture, created by American artist Tony Tasset in 2007. The eyeball, viewable across a grassy fenced garden, gives a sense of wonder and whimsy in the middle of a bustling downtown.
I headed back towards my hotel via Young Street, passing by Dallas City Hall and stopping off to explore Pioneer Plaza and Pioneer Park Cemetery. Pioneer Plaza is the largest public park in the city’s central business district, and features bronze statues of cowboys driving a herd of longhorn steers, nestled amongst man-made cliffs and waterfalls. En route back to the hotel, I also came across The Pegasus located outside the Omni Dallas Hotel. This twirling red pegasus once topped the Magnolia building in the skyline. Originally an oil company logo, the flying horse has since become a symbol of the city. Beyond Pegasus in the distance was Reunion Tower, a 470-foot icon of the Dallas skyline that features an observation deck and restaurant.
After freshening up at my hotel for a bit and grabbing some dinner, I headed to my concert at The Echo Lounge, a short 5-minute ride from the hotel. This 1,000-capacity venue had an upscale feel and was a great spot to see a show!
The next day after some lunch, I stopped into Thanks-Giving Square, a privately-funded park designed by architect Philip Johnson in the heart of downtown. The park features a non-denominational chapel with an Instagram-worthy spiral stained glass design. The park is intended as a place of unity and diversity where visitors of all backgrounds and faiths can contemplate and reflect.
From there I continued on to Nasher Sculpture Center, a museum housing a collection of modern and contemporary sculptures, including works of Picasso, Rodin, and other renowned artists among an impressive two-story gallery and peaceful outdoor sculpture garden.
After checking out the sculptures, I ubered across town to City Park, an excellent option if you’re looking for something free to do. This park houses a collection of 19th-century pioneer and Victorian buildings that you can explore, with guided tours offered starting at the visitor center at the park’s main entrance.
Eat and Drink
On my first day of sightseeing, I stopped off for lunch in the West End Historic District at Moak’s Family BBQ. No trip to Texas is complete without some good BBQ, and I enjoyed some mouth-watering brisket here.
When the Texas heat started to get to me that afternoon, I stopped off to cool down in Pegasus City Brewery right in the heart of downtown in the 1931 Art Deco-style Dallas Power & Light Building. Their Beaming Blonde and Great Hall Hefe were nice and refreshing on a hot afternoon.
That night before the concert, I ubered from my hotel over to Taqueria La Ventana for dinner. This outdoor joint has some of Dallas’s best Mexican street food. I scarfed some delicious tacos and elote with a margarita.
For lunch the next day, I headed to the Dallas Farmers Market, an indoor-outdoor marketplace for local produce and goods, as well as dining options. I had some amazing tamales from El Mero Mero Tamalero, a family-owned restaurant serving up tamales since 1984.
That evening for dinner, I ventured to the Deep Ellum neighborhood, Dallas’s trendy neighborhood and nightlife hotspot, with tons of bars and restaurants. I had a few beers and a flatbread at Westlake Brewing Company, then headed down the street to Ruins for a nightcap. While inspired by the “ruin pubs” of Budapest, this Mexican bar and restaurant has an Oaxacan theme with moody and eclectic decor. Another night during my conference, I would return to the neighborhood for an event at Electric Shuffle, a shuffleboard bar with electronic scorekeeping. I had wanted to also get to Terry Black’s BBQ, arguably one of Dallas’s best BBQ spots, but wasn’t able to fit it in on this trip. Next time!
On the last night of our conference, a few coworkers and I set out for dinner. Upon recommendation from a local, we headed to Las Palmas, supposed to be a favorite for upscale Tex-Mex, and it certainly was – so busy that it would have been at least 45 minutes for us to get a table. We decided to head to option #2 instead, and had better luck getting a table at Mexican Sugar, where we all ordered some fantastic enchiladas.
Four major Texas cities down, zero regrets. Dallas offered a whirlwind few days of live music, historic landmarks, and some of the best Tex-Mex I’ve ever had. Even with a packed work schedule, having a few days to explore made all the difference. Until next time, Dallas. Best believe I’ll be back for Terry Black’s BBQ!
C to Shining C 
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