So I did a Dallas city tour yesterday. Taking in what I’d been told were the highlights of downtown. It was nice. Not amazing. But nice.
The 8 places I visited: Pioneer Plaza / Cattle Drive, Reunion Tower, Old Red Courthouse, John F. Kennedy Memorial, Dealey Plaza / Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas World Aquarium, Perot Museum of Nature and Science Museum, and Klyde Warren Park
Dallas, Texas, or simply the "Big D," is allegedly America's maverick city. It is certainly bigger, brasher, and glitzier than many other US destinations and is not shy about it.
Situated in the northeastern part of the Lone Star State, Dallas's story began in 1841. The city's name is believed to honour George Miffin Dallas, the US Vice President who served under James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. With the construction of railroads, Dallas evolved into a prominent commercial hub, experiencing substantial growth by the close of the 19th century. This transformation saw Dallas become an industrial city, attracting workers from Texas, the South, and the Midwest. In a mere 100 years, what used to be a small group of primitive cabins on a muddy riverbank became a huge, sprawling metroplex of skyscrapers and modern offices that rise out of the prairie like a mirage, visible for miles.
JR Ewing was the epitome of the brash Dallas businessmen who ruled the city.
So, to my tour…
One of the most iconic features of Dallas is the Pioneer Plaza and its mesmerising Cattle Drive sculpture showcasing life-sized bronze statues of cattle and cowboys, providing a sense of the Old West that once defined this region. It was pretty cool.
Nearby, the skyline of Dallas is punctuated by the distinctive Reunion Tower, an iconic landmark that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Apparently. I was too scared to go up.
Not far from that towering structure stands the Old Red Courthouse, a historic red sandstone building that now houses a museum. It looks like. Ghostbusters set.
Dallas is also known for its connection to one of the most tragic events in American history, the assassination of President Kennedy.
The John F Kennedy Memorial and Dealey Plaza, where the fateful event occurred, serve as solemn reminders of this momentous event.
The Grassy Knoll was spookily like the RVT one.
The Sixth Floor Museum, housed in the former Texas School Book Depository, offers a detailed and poignant exploration of the assassination and its aftermath. Selfies by the spot the shot was fired anyone?
In a more scientific vein, I walked passed the Dallas World Aquarium and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science which are meant to be good but I’d didn’t have time to visit them.
Finally I visited the Klyde Warren Park which offers a sprawling urban oasis in the heart of the city.
So, as I say, Dallas is a nice place. But to be honest. A bit dull.
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