Dallas

Famed for three things. The 'Cowboys' football team, the dubious goings on of the fictional Ewing family and the assassination of J.F.Kennedy. Dallas is everything a Texan City should be, it is large, loud and proud, the money from the oilfields has made it an affluent place and this is reflected in the shopping that is available.

Founded in 1839 its early prosperity came through cattle and the major railroad junction. Later, with the discovery of oil, the city boomed and despite the image setback of JFK's death, it has continued to grow ever since.

Where to Go and What to See

Fort Worth

Dallas and its near neighbour Fort Worth form a strange but complimentary combination known as the Metroplex.

Where Dallas is rushed and modern Fort Worth remains a very 'Western' kind of a place. Cattle are still important to the culture if no longer the economics of Fort Worth. The biggest event annually is the SouthWestern Stock Show and Rodeo held at the start of the year. Although one of the towns main attractions is the Stockyards National Historic District with its shops devoted to sales of cowboy kit and Stockyards Museum, Fort Worth has more to offer. It boasts at least 4 art museums and a Science and History Museum.

Southfork

That's right, it is possible to visit the place where all that bourbon was drunk. This is one for the fans only, the ranch that was featured on the TV soap Dallas. There is a small museum, which includes the actual gun that shot JR (why am I telling you this!?).

JFK

Dealey Plaza, the grassy knoll and the former Book Depository are all still there. On the sixth floor of the old depository, there is a small museum. For the sceptics and cynics, there is also a Conspiracy Museum. More respectfully, there is a John F Kennedy memorial.

Deep Ellum

Businesslike Dallas's bohemian conscience. This is a very trendy place to visit. Formerly housing jazz and blues clubs in the Twenties, it is now home to a number of galleries, high fashion stores and numerous bars and restaurants.

Fair Park

Home to the Texas State Fair (the biggest in the country) this was built for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. Notable for its historic art deco architecture it now houses several decent attractions. The Dallas Museum of Natural History is recommended, as is the Science Place. Also worth a look is the Women's Museum, the Dallas Aquarium (one of two in the city), the Age of Steam Railroad Museum and the Hall of State.

Old City Park

A place to go and relax; this was the city's first park and is now home to a living museum of Dallas history. Thirty buildings have been put up, each one transported from North Texas, to depict scenes from 1840 to 1910. It is possible to see a bank, a church and a railroad station amongst other things from this period.

Eating, Drinking and Sleeping

Food is reasonably priced, portions, even by American standards can be enormous. Texas is the place for prime steak, check out the local Tex-Mex specialities. Accommodation is for businessmen and therefore not cheap. Reasonably priced hotels are a long way out of town. There are hostels and camping available. For the best bars and nightlife, Deep Ellum is the place to go.