Places around Dallas that would impress my Californian friends (Houston: home, school)

[justme02]

The way I have impressed my friends from California is by the food and the people.

[HOAPRESIDENT]

Originally Posted by abpat2203

So I have a few friends coming down from San Jose during the July 4th weekend. Which are the places that I should take them to so that they go back impressed with what Texas has to offer? I am also open to a 4-5 hr road trip around Dallas.

Also I was wondering if there are any cooler places (weather-wise) nearby in case they think the Texas summer is too hot for them?

What do they like?

[eepstein]

Boy, its going to take a lot of effort to impress people from San Jose (i am a native of the bay area). However, if any Texas metro area is up to the task, it's the metroplex. I would say keep them north of downtown Dallas as much as possible. North Dallas is awesome filled with so much shopping and beautiful neighborhoods. Plano and also a good choice. Do a little clubing off Mckinney Street in uptown and they should have lots of fun.

Originally Posted by abpat2203

So I have a few friends coming down from San Jose during the July 4th weekend. Which are the places that I should take them to so that they go back impressed with what Texas has to offer? I am also open to a 4-5 hr road trip around Dallas.

Also I was wondering if there are any cooler places (weather-wise) nearby in case they think the Texas summer is too hot for them?

[TrueDat]

Without knowing anything about the people involved, their ages or interests, I'd suggest:

1) Sixth Floor Museum -- Uniquely Dallas as it's the site where JFK was assassinated. Definitely not something they're going to get in NoCal.

2) Fort Worth Stockyards -- Do the rodeo on Friday or Saturday night. Maybe catch a show at Billy Bob's. It's very touristy but very Texas.

3) The Other Museums -- If they're into museums and architecture, then definitely hit the Nasher in Dallas, the Kimbell, Amon Carter and the Modern in Fort Worth, and the museums at Fair Park.

4) Brisket tacos -- Take 'em to your favorite Tex-Mex place for brisket tacos, maybe Mia's on Lemmon. (Assuming they're not vegetarians. If they are vegetarians, then take them to Spiral Diner in Oak Cliff or Fort Worth). Or take them for tacos at Fuel City near downtown or El Si Hay in North Oak Cliff.

5) Happy Hour at Reunion Tower (The Building with The Big Ball on Top) -- Since the observation deck is still closed, the only way to get the view from Reunion Tower is to go to happy hour at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant (Mon-Thurs, 5-7 p.m. I think) at the top of the tower and order some (relatively) cheap appetizers while watching the Metroplex slowly revolve around you. There was a company online selling T-shirts emblazoned with: "Dallas: The City with One Big Ball." If those are still around, I'd buy them for your guests as parting gifts from our city.

6) Balcony at BelmontBar -- If you can't get to Reunion Tower, go for drinks at the balcony of the Belmont Hotel in North Oak Cliff. It has a killer view of downtown.

7) Uptown Barhopping -- Take the free trolley from near the arts district through Uptown on McKinney, getting off for drinks/food at popular spots like the Idle Rich and Black Friar and ending up at West Village for a meal at Taco Diner, Mi Cocina, or Village Burger Bar. And if they want to see where the Dallas species known as the $30K millionaires roam in their native environment, take them to Lemon Bar in West Village. I'm assuming Uptown will play a major role in the two new reality series about young singles that have been filming in Dallas, "Most Eligible: Dallas" and "The A-List," and will start airing later this summer. You can show them Uptown before the rest of the world (or at least the world that watches reality television) discovers it.

8) Henderson Ave. and Deep Ellum Barhopping -- A ton of new bars/hangouts have opened along Henderson Ave east of 75 (like Barcadia, Beauty Bar) as well as in the once-empty Deep Ellum (Anvil Pub). A night at Slip Inn (off Henderson) might be memorable, in either a good or bad way.

8) Cowboys Stadium Tour -- I've not done it but I've heard it's a good tour.

9) Dinner in the Bishop Arts District -- Some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the city have been opening in and around this North Oak Cliff area. Lucia (which is apparently booked well in advance), Bolsa, and Veracruz to name three. Eno's has good cracker-crust pizza, gets a fun crowd, and is a good place to hang out, especially on the second floor.

10) Since you don't mind driving 3-4 hours away, they should also hit the Hill Country and Austin. If you're looking for some nature, maybe rent some bikes down there. If they're into off-trail biking and don't want to go that far, there are some half-decent trails in southern Oak Cliff and Cedar Hill areas, near Joe Pool Lake. Check the Dallas Off-Road Bike Assn. site for details. DORBA | Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association

[hamiltonpl]

Shopping:
Highland Park Village- http://www.hpvillage.com/
NorthPark- http://www.northparkcenter.com/

Modern Sculpture:
Nasher- http://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/

Live Performances:
Arts District- http://www.attpac.org/

Architecture:
Swiss Avenue- http://www.dougnewby.com/neighborhoo...enue/swiss.asp
Turtle Creek- http://www.dougnewby.com/neighborhoo...reek_Corridor/
Lakeside Drive, Highland Park- Grand Streets of Highland Park - Lakeside Drive - You + Dallas
Hall of State Fair Park- The Hall of State at Fair Park, Dallas, Texas

Outdoors:
Dallas Arboretum- http://www.dallasarboretum.org/
White Rock Lake- http://www.dallasparks.org/parks/whiterock.aspx
Katy Trail- Friends of Katy Trail:
McKinney Avenue Trolley- http://www.mata.org/index.shtml
Knox-Henderson- (no website) It has furniture stores and great restaurants

Indoors:
Dallas World Aquarium- www.dwazoo.com
Cowboys Stadium- Home


Archetypal Texas:
Fort Worth Stockyards- Fort Worth Stockyards

[HockeyDadof2]

You beat me to it.

Originally Posted by jeffari-al-texani

In-n-Out???

[Mr.Bungle]

LOL @ In n Out

I would say to impress them - get them a job, let them see a paycheck with no state income tax. Then let them buy a mcmansion for what their rent on a one bedroom apartment is in CA.

I kid, I kid.

[hsw]

SJ itself is a big, dumpy suburb in SiliconValley (land of suburban sprawl with no one CBD, kinda like DFW or Houston or LA) with very few relevant HQs (aside from Cisco; other BigTechs are scattered in various industrial suburbs N of SJ) and nearly no one who matters chooses to live in SJ itself....so Dallas region holds it own in economic/cultural relevance w/Exxon HQ in Irving and a few rather smart hedge funds and oil&gas guys based in Uptown and in FtWth

That said, SV's <80F non-humid, bug-free "Summer" weather and nearby scenic mtns/coast will be a tough comparo for any non-business traveler/visitor

Would brag about TX's lack of a 10% state income tax to explain away the weather and topography

But don't let 'em figure out that desirable land in HP or PrestonHollow is far more costly than comparable land in Woodside...keep the "cheap" TX housing myth going

[HOAPRESIDENT]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Boy, its going to take a lot of effort to impress people from San Jose (i am a native of the bay area). However, if any Texas metro area is up to the task, it's the metroplex. I would say keep them north of downtown Dallas as much as possible. North Dallas is awesome filled with so much shopping and beautiful neighborhoods. Plano and also a good choice. Do a little clubing off Mckinney Street in uptown and they should have lots of fun.

If you think Plaino would impress people from California, then it will be easy. It's like showing people Santa Clara when they come to California for a visit.

[Metro Matt]

San Jose (Bay Area) to Dallas (North Texas) will be a tough sell, but its been done before.

The best thing you can do, as someone else mentioned, is take them around & show them all the large homes they can get for their money for what they are paying to rent a dumpy old apartment.

What ever you do don't brag on Dallas' diversity because the Bay Area trumps it. You'll just end up looking stupid.