Top 10 Dallas Experiences

8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218 (map)

Shopping and eating seem to dominate Dallas activities but a day at the Arboretum is one unmatched by a plate of enchiladas or finding a Fendi bag. Many plant collections are displayed throughout the 66 acre gardens off the shore of White Rock Lake. Six and a half acres of that greenery showcase 2,800 specimens of Azaleas, which reminds you that the city blooms with new things to see daily.

4322 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219 (map)

Tex-Mex joints are a dime a dozen in Dallas but this one inspired many of those you'll see around town. The wait is long for tender brisket that is piled into a taco with Monterey Jack cheese, grilled onions and poblano peppers but this is why a bartender is at the door ready to serve you a mambo taxi margarita.

4300 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219 (map)

Everything is bigger in Texas and that doesn't exclude the steaks. Choosing where to eat your steak is tough though--too many options. But slicing into a hunk of meat at this chophouse is the quintessential Dallas experience. A 28-ounce porterhouse steak and a bat sized carrot will satisfy the Lone Star appetite anytime.

1200 S Second Ave, Dallas, TX 75210 (map)

The largest Art Deco collection in this 277-acre park was the backdrop for the 1936 World's Fair and is the epicenter for history buffs and art aficionados. A stroll around Fair Park will take you by the Cotton Bowl, the Music Hall where Martin Luther King spoke to the 20-story Texas Star Ferris Wheel and the Dallas Aquarium. The Big D may just stand for Deco.

8300 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218 (map)

One of the few outside area attractions, runners, bikers and rollerbladers love to circle the 9.33-mile path around this lake off Garland Road. Not only is it a meeting spot for many fitness enthusiasts but for families looking for a place to picnic and play with their pets. Despite the , the lake is a breath of fresh air for most.

3153 Oak Grove Ave, Dallas, TX 75204 (map)

A trolley ride is the best way for you to explore the 3.6 miles of restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues on McKinney Avenue. There is a stop along the route for all ages and tastes. Breadwinners can start the day with eggs Benedict, then a stop at West Village for some mean shopping, sushi at Gui and a drink at Fearing's or Frankie's Sport bar to finish off the Uptown trolley tour.

2001 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201 (map)

Soon to be the largest urban arts district in the nation, the 19 blocks of established and developing art venues provides a cultural day for art connoisseurs and a spot on the map for Dallas. Select performing and visual arts facilities on one block (including Nasher Sculpture Center) alone were designed by four different Pritzker Prize winning architects--the only street in the world for this to occur.

1030 Northpark Ctr, Dallas, TX 75225 (map)

Since the 1960s, this Ray Nasher (of Nasher Sculpture Center) development has been the model for luxury large scale shopping. Going to NorthPark Center is a right of passage for most Dallasites. It's a chance for you to shop at Neiman Marcus, Tiffany's and Oscar del la Renta as well as view works from renowned artists. Art and fashion equals a very stylized city.