Dallas - Fort Worth has become one of the fastest - growing metropolitan areas in the US . turn out we ’re really accessible – with two major airports and multiple interstate main road go through town –   and we have the proper feature to charm visitors , with our southerly hospitality , beautiful skyline , and smorgasbord of restaurant & bar , many of ‘em on the chintzy . However , let ’s see if we ca n’t make the slip a small chintzy , and the hold time a bit shorter , with this inclination that still declare oneself a Big five hundred welcome .

Skyline view

Skip : Reunion TowerInstead visit : NYLO Hotel SODA Bar

After wait for a reservation and miss century of dollar for a individual meal , sitting atop Reunion Tower eating dinner is n’t croak to answer for the best view of Dallas or the just experience you may have look at our beautiful visible horizon .

So , head down to the Cedars and find the NYLO hotel . Its rooftop bar gives the FULL view of business district , serves pretty price drinks , and get along with an non-finite pool for the rut and a fire pit for when it gets cold . You ’ll be helping your pocketbook exponentially . You could probably reserve a room at the NYLO , too , and spend the same amount of money that you would have at Reunion Tower .

dealey plaza dallas texas avoid tourist traps

Flickr/Marco Becerra

Brunch

Skip : OddfellowsInstead visit : Ten Bells Tavern

When fellowship and Quaker come to confab on the weekends , it ’s only a right of passage to brunch . In Dallas , coming to the Bishop Arts District has becomethatdestination to end your calendar week and start the next . But if you ’re going to do brunch flop , you ’ll have to keep off the farseeing waits and verify the day beverage are chintzy .

Ten Bells Tavern isthatspot . It has $ 3 Bloody Marys , screwdrivers , and mimosas , and even $ 10 Acacia dealbata carafes from 11 am until 3 pm . The crybaby and waffles may even be the reason that Roscoe ’s Chicken and Waffles filed for bankruptcy of late . It ’s just that good !

nylo dallas pool bar

Courtesy of NYLO Dallas

BBQ

omission : Pecan LodgeInstead sojourn : Cattleack Barbeque

It ’s no Trygve Lie that saying one berth ’s barbecue in Dallas is better than another is the segue to pugilism . While Pecan Lodge is justly uphold by pitmasters asthe best barbeque in the land , if you ’re front to avoid the long lines and still get a unfeigned Texan barbecue experience , Cattleackhas your back . It announced on its site that between 1 - 2pm is the good prison term to avoid foresightful waits and get savory smoked goods . Cattleack even has a hotline that you could call to see what marrow are still available . exhaust it there or take it on the road with you , but do n’t miss the hazard to get great barbecue without the long wait . But be certain to take a Wiley Post ‘ cue nap before direct out to go …

Shopping

omission : NorthPark CenterInstead sojourn : Highland Park Village

Dallas ’ flashy lifestyle and expensive shops are a giving draw for visitors from all over . However , parking , drive , and walk all over NorthPark Center can take a full day in and of themslves . If you want the loudness and glamour of Dallas shopping without the feeling of high schooltime hallway , your good bet is to head to Highland Park Village .

Highland Park Village is full of shop that most only hear about in rosehip - hop song , or see haggard on the cerise carpet . There ’s even the chance you ’ll run into some celebrities on your own quest there . Once you ’re done drop a pretty penny , find a flick to catch at the movie theater .

cattleack barbecue dallas

Cattleack Barbeque

Parks & recreation

Skip : Klyde Warren ParkInstead visit : White Rock Lake

If Leslie Knope teach us anything , it ’s that parks are something to be treasure and loved . They ’re useful as an escape from everything , and a luck to be at peace with nature . If you ’re needing a spot of nature with more privacy and some comforting shade , while avoiding Downtown parking and the sound of a highway beneath your foot , then you have to go to White Rock Lake . You ’ll have over 1,000 acres of opened blank space and a stunning position of Downtown . There ’s even a dog Mungo Park and events year - round of drinks that are family friendly , or even solo fun .

Live music

Skip : House of BluesInstead visit : Tree

Do n’t consume your metre in Dallas by going to a range of mountains venue with overpriced potable ! You are n’t drop dead to get the unquestionable Dallas nightlife and music vibration that direction . Head to Deep Ellum , where there are stacks of venues all down the street , and constant live music .

You ’re reverberate to thrust a rock in Deep Ellum and hit somebody that will differentiate you they were at Trees in ‘ 91 when the infamous Nirvana incident took position . You ’re also bound to strike someone who has witness some other hardcore rock ' n ' roll shit happen that was n’t Nirvana . tree has been a Deep Ellum raw material since the early ‘ 90s , reopened in the previous 2000s , and still offers a broad array of deed from different genres , generation , and geography . Be certain to need about what happen .

highland park village dallas

Highland Park Village

JFK

Skip : Taking a JFK tourInstead : Take the flit around Downtown and then to Oak Cliff

Let the conspiracy unfold , and economise your money . Instead of paying your hard - earned buck on an expensive JFK tour , pull up a Wikipedia Thomas Nelson Page , and when you ’re done meter reading , buy an all - day pass for the DART for $ 5 . Getting to Downtown and get to the grassy knoll is only the beginning of it all . you’re able to see the ill-famed sixth floor and postulate your magic bullet theory all on your own ; seek to relive and reshoot that infamous Erykah Badu music picture ; and then jump on the tramcar down to Oak Cliff for cheap . Hulu and James Franco ’s take on Stephen King ’s take of the JFK character assassination throw you clearly - cut location that public transportation will take you retiring . After you ’ve seen Lee Harvey Oswald ’s house , you may head to the Texas Theatre – where Oswald ran post - assassination – to arrest a kitschy film and a stiff drink !

Festivals

Skip : Index FestInstead visit : Untapped Festival

The main reason to skip Index Fest : they cancelled it recently . So get your penury for great alive music and cautiously curated craft beer from Untapped Festivals . Both of the fest ’s location ( either Fort Worth or Dallas ) come with a great backdrop of their respective skyline . Visiting Untapped tolerate you to select 1 ) the positioning , 2 ) the time of year you ’d require to go to a festival , and 3 ) the lineup that you ’d prefer . What more could you ask for ? Oh ? Beer SAMPLES ? Well , they ’ve got you covered there , too .

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white rock park dallas

Flickr/Nathan Vaughn

trees dallas live music

Flickr/Neff Conner

texas theater

Courtesy of Texas Theatre

untapped festival dallas

Matthew Horton/Untapped Festival