Know All About Dallas, Texas

Dallas is the best city in the world if you want to relax and soak in the old world charm of cattle ranches and cowboys along with the modernity that comes from industrialization and growth as well as development. From Spanish colonizers who molded this city to its more American avatar, Dallas has the best of both worlds.

By Wadems (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

History of Dallas

It was in 1839 that Dallas was surveyed and a permanent settlement was established here by John Neely Bryan in the 1840s. Railroads were established in the city during the 1870s and the Federal Reserve Bank was established in 1914. Southern Methodist University came about in 1915 and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in the 1970s. Prior to the advent of Anglo American settlers, Spanish colonizers were residents of the region comprising Dallas. In 1963, downtown Dallas became the center of news on account of the assassination of American President JFK by Lee Harvey Oswald. Towards the close of the 1930s, discovery and development of oil fields in East Texas made Dallas the center of the oil industry. Known for being the turf of talented and intelligent businesspersons such as R. Perot and M. K. Ash, Dallas was named as the number one business center in the world towards the 1980s.

Important Locations in Dallas

Dallas is one of the leading convention centers in the nation known for its entertainment and recreation facilities as well. Dallas Art District and the West End District are the center for cultural activities. Dallas is also home to the Summer Musicals, Starplex, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Classical Guitar Society and the US Film Festival. It has numerous higher educational institutions such as Southern Methodist University, Paul Quinn College, Bishop College, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Horse racing was a massive attraction in the city of Dallas and it continues to be known as the centre for the State Fair of Texas.

Other important locations include the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas Zoo, Love Field, Union Terminal and Dallas Public Library. City also has some stellar tourist spots such as Dallas Arboretum and Meyerson Symphony Hall. Dallas is home to 406 parks spread over an area of 50,000 acres. These include Bachman Lake, Lake Cliff and White Rock Lake parks apart from the Trinity River region. Historic Preservation League was founded in the 1970s in Dallas. This city is known for numerous landmarks such as Munger Place, Swiss Avenue, State Thomas, South Boulevard Park Row and more. Fair Park in Dallas, Texas is known to be the biggest art deco center across the globe. Old City Park has one of the oldest public parks in the city.

Dallas Golf Centers

City of Dallas Texas is home to 6 accolade winning 18 hole courses with novices and experts alike enjoying a game or two here. In the 2000s, there were over 100 pavilions distributed across 365 parks. The Special Services Division is responsible for managing these pavilions.

Address: 5620 Parkdale  Dallas, TX 75227 

Telephone Number: 214-670-8860 

Texas Discovery Gardens

The Texas Discovery Gardens are the place to visit, if you are a nature lover. Situated in Fair Park, a historic hotspot in Dallas, this is an annual organically maintained urban paradise filled with amazing wonders. It is also home to a world class butterfly house and insectarium. This is the first 100 percent certified organic garden complete with water conservation for protecting the ecology. Apart from family festivals, this organic garden also promotes learning about the natural outdoors.Want to know more? Click here

Address - 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Dallas, TX 75210

Telephone Number - 214-428-7476 x 341

Dallas Audubon Society

Trinity River Audubon Center located in the outskirts of Dallas is the perfect spot to learn about trails and local birds as well as wildlife. Visitors can also take part in programs and special events. This Center is located at a distance of 8 miles from downtown Dallas. It is a 120 acre society and part of the Dallas Trinity River Corridor Scheme. Apart from 5 miles of natural trails, there are unique discovery gardens and academic programs to induce critical thinking skills about nature. This Center is the first building to be certified by LEED and constructed by the Dallas government. Apart from a vegetated roof, there is a system for collecting rainwater, apart from systems which promote energy efficiency and recycling.

Address - 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas, TX 75217

Telephone Number - 214-398-TRAC(8722)

Wish to find out more? Here is the link.

White Rock Lake

For a fun filled and adventurous time, the best place to visit is White Rock Lake which has some amazing features. Winfrey Point is a historic place near White Rock Lake where you get to see the massively beautiful Dallas skyline. Big Thicket is located in the trees at White Rock Lake and offers a marvelous view of the lake and is perfect for special events such as vacations and family get together.

Address: 8100 Doran Circle, Dallas, Texas 75238 8100

Telephone: (214) 670-8740

Bachman Lake

This lake measuring 205 acres is located towards the north of Love Field Airport and has a lot of facilities such as a bike trail, boating and sailing, a golf pavilion and a hike trail not to mention an indoor aquatic center and a recreation center. This lake has many water fountains and there is an extensive 16 station trail in this locale.

Find out what fun filled activities you can engage in at this lake right here

Address - 3500 W. Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75220

Telephone Number - 214-670-1923

Bahama Beach Waterpark

This awesome water park is the perfect place to cool off. It is located within 10 minutes distance of downtown Dallas towards the south. Perfect as a getaway for those who do not want to leave town, Bahama Beach has the best and most fun filled family water park in all of Texas. Attractions include the Bermuda Triangle, Cabana, Coconut Cove and more. From water slides which are 45 feet tall to a water playground with dumping buckets, Bahamas Beach Waterpark offers a gamut of experiences for persons to enjoy and savor.

Get to know more facts about this amazing water park here.

Address -1895 Campfire Cir., Dallas, Texas 75232 

Telephone Number - 214-671-0820 

Cedar Ridge Preserve

Experience the natural habitat of 600 miles and close to 9 miles of trails, tress, butterfly gardens and picnic areas replete with every type of flora and fauna at Cedar Ridge Preserve.

Want to get more details? Here are the facts

Address: 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, Texas 75249

Telephone Number - 972-709-7784

Dallas Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is responsible for building and maintaining a public garden that is responsible for the promotion of horticulture and art. This is one of the most attractive outdoor spots in all of Dallas spread across 66 acres showcasing flowers, trees, and beautiful shrubs. Apart from outdoor festivals, this botanical garden is also a venue for art shows and concerts.

To find out more about the Dallas Arboretum, click here

Address - 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas,TX 75218

Telephone Number: 214-515-6615

Dallas Zoo

This 106 acre zoo is wonderful for those craving entertainment and interactive fun. Animal lovers would adore the immense variety of fauna here. This zoo also promotes conservation of endangered species. The zoo has a monorail safari tour and a koala walkabout along with the tropical beauty of rainforests and the outbacks of the Land Down Under.

Get all the details here.

Address - 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy. (I-35), Dallas, TX 75203

Telephone Number - 469-554-7500

Fair Park

No visit to Dallas is complete without a trip to the historic Fair Park. This is home to over 5 museums and 10 performance arenas and sporting venues. There is a music hall, band shell, Cotton Bowl stadium and more. It also has the biggest selection of 1930s art deco style architecture located in 277 acres of grounds with professional landscaping. The Fair Park holds over 1200 special events each year including the annual State Fair

Address: 3809, Grand Ave., Dallas Texas 75210

Telephone Number - 214-670-8400

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

This monumental museum and library located in the campus of the South Methodist University presents an interesting set of exhibits and data about the American president . This library and museum is near the DART Mockingbird station.

Find out a list of things to do here

Address - 2943 SMU Blvd, Dallas Texas

Telephone Number - 1 214 346 1557

Thanksgiving Square

Thanksgiving Square was set up by the Thanks Giving Foundation for gratitude to be the medium for understanding and healing people. This spiritual sojourn in Downtown Dallas is the top spot for relaxing and feeling positive. This center has a museum devoted to gratitude, an international thanksgiving chapel and a wall of praise.

Get to know more about what activities you can do here.

Address - bounded by Bryan St, Pacific Ave & Ervay St, Dallas Texas

Telephone Number - 1 214 969 1977

Kennedy Memorial

This is a tribute to the late American president who was assassinated in Dallas. This is an open tomb with a view of the sky. This cenotaph is a popular choice for tourists who value history and cultural legacy of America.

Address: 646 Market St, Dallas Texas

Dallas Heritage Village

This is a massive 13 acre museum which is showcasing life in North Texas from the years 1840 to 1910. With over 38 historic structures, this has a wonderful skyline that makes for an interesting view.

Learn more about the Dallas Heritage Village at this link.

Address - 1515 S Harwood St, Dallas Texas

Telephone Number - 1 214 421 5141

People and Culture of Dallas

Apart from African Americans and Anglo Americans, Dallas is home to diverse ethnic groups such as Hispanic, Asian and American Indians. During the 1920s and 1930s, Dallas was the musical center of rebut e and renown. Major jazz and blues performers such as Blind Lemon Jefferson performed at local clubs and Ella B. Moore Park Theater. Culturally, Dallas is a vibrant and active city with some of the leading jazz and symphony orchestras in the world. During the same period, theaters were established in Dallas. The historic Dallas Theater Center was founded in the 1950s and other groups of repute in this field in Dallas include Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Teatro Dallas, Theatre Three and more. From the Arts District to the Meadows Museum, Dallas has the pulse of cultural activities in Texas. It was also one of the first cities in Texas to get a radio station. It is the location for the popular television show Dallas apart from being the filming venue of the popular sci-fi series, X-Files.

Time Zone and Phone Codes of Dallas

Central Daylight Time is roughly 5 hours prior to UTC/GMT. This time zone is used in North America and has a DST.

Standard time zone: UTC/GMT -5 hours

Daylight saving time: 1 hour

Current time zone offset: UTC/GMT - 6 hour

Time zone abbreviation: CDT

Phone Codes of Dallas

Dallas City Area Code: 214

Fort Worth Area Code: 927

Metroplex and East Texas Area Code: 469

International code: 1

Best Time to Visit Dallas

The best time to visit Dallas is in the spring is when the temperature is not rising and the Texas State Fair is on. While March to May is a period which is fairly comfortable, hotel prices tend to shoot up on account of the football season. Winter is the best time to visit Dallas because temperatures are bearable and hotel costs are reasonable. Precipitation is around 1 mm. Cold weather is rare in Dallas. Most of the year, it is sunny and warm. Many tourists also prefer to visit Dallas in spring.

Sporting events are generally on the rise as are activities for outdoor events, during this period. Business travelers visit Dallas all the year round as this city is a major convention center. From March to May, Dallas is a very hectic place to visit while the months from November to February are more manageable. Dallas experiences a temperate climate with warm weather throughout the year and average annual temperature of 76 degree.

Spring and fall temperatures range from 66 to 89 while summer can peak close to 96 degree and winter an average high of 58 degree. If you are visiting Dallas in Spring, be sure to participate in various sporting events across White Rock Lane or attend concerts at the American Airlines Center. Also do not miss out on Dallas Blooms in March and April and the City Arts celebration in June’s second week.