Dallas is a sprawling Texas metropolis devoted to business and shopping. In typical Texas style, everything is done in a big way. The nation’s 9th largest city sprawls across the north Texas plain and is home to many corporate headquarters of banking, technology and retail companies. Dallas exudes southern charm and a laid-back attitude that is rooted in the spirit of the Old West.

Shopping in Dallas

Dallas is known as a shopping mecca. While there are some small specialty shops, huge shopping centers, strips and malls are scattered throughout the expansive metropolitan area, which is known as the Metroplex. In the urban forest of sleek downtown high-rises, chic department stores, such as the original Neiman Marcus flagship store, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue meet the needs of the resident fashonistas. Several key malls, such as the famed Galleria in north Dallas and NorthPark Center in central Dallas offer an extraordinary array of shops and restaurants. Two of the newest, yet notable shopping centers on the Dallas Tollway are Willow Bend and Stonebriar Center. There are many others to discover; in fact, Dallas has more shopping centers per capita than any other city in the U.S. Travel Maestro tip: Shopping in Dallas isn’t just a pastime, it’s an art – one that is practiced in high style – and keeping up with the locals is not for the faint of wallet!

Dining & Nightlife in Dallas 

Along with Dallasite’s passion for shopping comes a zeal for dining out. Dining is a considered a social event and the city is famed for its fine dining. Dallas actually has more restaurants per capita than New York City, so visitors will enjoy a plethora of options for every taste and budget. Highly acclaimed chefs prepare sophisticated fare in elegant, upscale restaurants such as the Mansion at Turtle Creek and the French Room at Hotel Adolphus ($$$), or you can find quintessential Texas-style barbecue (beef brisket or pork ribs, not pulled pork) in a superb hole-in-the-wall. Travel Maestro tip: Dallasites frequent their restaurants, so inquire about reservations in advance.

Nightlife naturally follows dining and Dallas offers the full gamut. For trendy, twenty-something club hopping, Deep Ellum is the hotspot. Greenville Avenue attracts a slightly older crowd and suburbanites gravitate to Addison. For a cocktail sipping space with views of downtown, choose Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, or for real live honky-tonking, boot scoot over to Gilley’s.

The Arts in Dallas

The Arts scene, like everything else in Dallas, is done in a big way. The 19-block Arts District in the northeast corner of Downtown is the largest urban cultural district in the country containing the prestigious Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. The campus of Southern Methodist University houses the Meadows Museum and the George W. Bush Presidential Center.  The AT&T Performing Arts Center is a multivenue center for music, opera, theater and dance and several impressive museums and points of interest are clustered at Fair Park.

Sports & Weather in Dallas

Spectator sports fans can find a game to attend nearly year-round in Dallas. The infamous Cowboys football team joins Rangers baseball, Mavericks basketball, Stars hockey and FC Dallas soccer for the major professional teams. Rodeos are frequent and fun if you’re looking to reconnect with your inner cowboy.

Dallas summers under the intense Texas sun are hot and humid so dress light and loose, wear a hat and take water with you on outings. Winters are mild and the heaviest rainfall is in April and May. Keep in mind that Dallasites take their businesses and their fashion seriously, regardless of the weather, so think fashion-forward when planning your Dallas wardrobe.

For more information on what to do in Dallas, please read a previous post, What’s In Dallas Besides Football? To plan a visit to Dallas for business, shopping, art or sports, be sure to contact Covington Travel’s knowledgeable advisors.