Dallas and Fort Worth

Known for its gleaming skyscrapers and reputation as one of Texas’ cultural hubs, Dallas is a bustling city with world-class arts and culture, the best Tex-Mex cuisine in the state, excellent shopping and the home of two world-famous sports teams: the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers. Founded in 1841, the city was originally a trading post for settlers heading west, but after the American Civil War, rapid growth and development turned the city into a thriving hub for oil, banking and tech.

A vibrant and dynamic city, you’ll find plenty to do – from the Dallas Museum of Art to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, you can even visit the site where John F. Kennedy was assassinated at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza. Shopping in Dallas is a treat with options ranging from traditional Western stores to designer boutiques, and dining is a delight, especially if you like Mexican. Visit Southfork Ranch for a real-life look at the city’s iconic soap opera or take in the stunning skyline views along the Katy Trail running through the heart of the city. Dallas is easy to navigate with free public buses, streetcars, underground walking tunnels and a citywide rail system.

A trip to Dallas wouldn’t be complete without a stop in its neighbouring town of Fort Worth. A perfect contrast to the glittering lights of Dallas, Fort Worth offers Western culture at its most authentic in the Stockyards National Historic District where you can still witness the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive, sip a cold beer in an actual saloon, listen to live music in the world’s largest Honkytonk, Billy Bob’s Texas and watch locals perform at the weekly rodeos at Cowtown Coliseum. The town has also recently become a model of urban revitalisation with a newly developed 35 square block entertainment district known as Sundance Square.