Dallas

Founded in the mid 19th century, Dallas is the 9th largest city in the United States, and was formerly an important trading centre for cotton and grain. In the 1930s oil was discovered to the east of the city, and as well as the financial centre for Texas’ oil industry, Dallas is also a centre for banking and insurance. However, Dallas is perhaps best known for being the place where President Kennedy (JFK) was assassinated in November 1963. The city has also made contributions to American culture, for example through the Dallas Cowboys football team and the famous Dallas television show.

Attractions

The 6th Floor Museum is located in the Texas School Book Depository at Dealey Plaza, and is the location from where JFK was shot. Perhaps the most interesting exhibit is an X painted on the spot from which Lee Harvey Oswald fired his sniper rifle, and offers visitors views of the grassy knoll below. There are also a number of exhibits displaying newspaper clippings and video footage from the event. For conspiracy theorists, the Conspiracy Museum contains displays claiming that JFK’s assassination was in fact a coup d’état.

TheDallas Museum of Art has an impressive collection of artwork from the Americas, as well as contemporary pieces by artists such as Pollock and Warhol, and European art by Monet and Van Gogh, amongst others. The Crow Collection of Asian Art is worth a visit for its exhibits of Qing period jade from China and ancient scrolls from Japan. The Nasher Sculpture Centre is one of the few places in the world dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of modern sculptures, and contains more than 300 pieces, including works by Picasso, Rodin, and Matisse.

Fair Park was established in the late 19th century for the State Fair of Texas, and is a 277 acre National Historic Landmark, home to the largest collection of 1930s Art Deco architecture in the country. Some of the sites worth visiting in the park include the Museum of Natural History, Dallas Aquarium, the African American Museum, and the Women’s Museum. Every year at the end of September, the State Fair of Texas comes to town and features the Texas Star Ferris Wheel, which at 212 foot high is the tallest Ferris wheel in the country.

Shopping

Dallas is home to a number of large shopping malls that offer a huge range of branded goods, and some of the better-known ones include Dallas Galleria, Grapevine Mills, and the NorthPark Centre.

Also worth visiting is the Farmer’s Market, one of the largest open-air markets in the United States, where local farmers come to sell their produce, such as flowers, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and baked goods. Another place for food lovers to visit is Central Market, which offers fresh meat, baked goods, and around 600 varieties of cheese.

Nightlife and Eating Out

There are thousands of restaurants in Dallas that cater to every taste and budget, and the largest concentration is in the Uptown and Deep Ellum areas. For barbeque food, Dickeys BBQ and Sonny Bryans Smokehouse are worth a try, while the Saltgrass Steakhouse and Bob’s Steak and Chop House offer diners high quality steak.

Dallas also offers a large selection of international cuisine to visitors. Gloria’s Restaurant offers El Salvadorian specialities, and On The Border is a famous Mexican establishment. Also worth visiting are Café Istanbul for their Turkish dishes and live music, Bangkok City for Thai food, Campisis for Italian cuisine, and Deep Sushi for Japanese food.

The city has a good nightlife, and Deep Ellum, formerly a warehouse district, is the hub of most activity, including live-music at venues such as Tree’s and the Gypsy Tea Room. For jazz enthusiasts, Sambuca is worth a visit, and for blues music, The Bone and Blue Cat Blues come recommended. For dancing enthusiasts, there a lot of Country and Western bars that sometimes offer free dance lessons to visitors.

Tourist Information

Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau325 North Saint Paul StreetDallas75201

Telephone: +1 214 571 1000Website: www.dallascvb.com

Airport

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is northwest of the city centre, and easily reached by taxi, bus, or light-rail train. It is the main gateway to Texas, and is served by many major international and domestic carriers.