help me plan my vacation!

[semidevil]

question about the dallas world aquarium. How long should I plan to stay there? the website says it closes at 5:00PM. would 2 hours be sufficient? Maybe more?

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by semidevil

question about the dallas world aquarium. How long should I plan to stay there? the website says it closes at 5:00PM. would 2 hours be sufficient? Maybe more?

2 hours would be plenty. I'd say 2 hours is right about on and maybe a little less.

[Lakewooder]

I have not been to the new Hard Rock Cafe but it is withing walking distance from the Aquarium as is Kennedy Museum and Memorial. Victory Plaza can be dead if there is no game at AAC but it's another place to see around there - Hotel W is in the middle of all that and is pretty cool (not as cool as the Joule however). Za-Za is another cool hotel just north of downtown but you could walk to the Arts District from there or ride the McKinney Avenue Trolley (MATA).

I will probably be at Primo's on the patio very late Sunday afternoon the 16th (it's in the shade after 4 or 5 and part of it is covered). Very good people watching!

[semidevil]

update: okay, so here is the updated schedule, still deciding, but let me know.

sat
9:30AM drive to dallas
12:30PM arrive and have lunch
2:00PM aquarium
3:30/4:00PM check in hotel, freshen up.
4:30 - 7:00PM -- ????????
7:30PM dinner
9:00 to ---- ???????

I think this looks like a jam packed saturday. from 4:30 to 7:00PM, Im debating as to what to do. tell me more about the MATA. Is this an actual tour, or is it just a street car driving around? Does it go through some visually appealing areas or little boutiques? Is the area walkable? Where do I park my car? As for the after 9:00PM, what do you guys suggest?

Sunday
-lunch
-segway tour
-grapevine mills
-chinatown
-dinner
go home.

Im debating between 2 hotels. either the one near reunion tower, or the omni hotel. any advantage or disadvantage to each?

[momof2dfw]

Fill in the 4:30 - 7 time slot on Saturday w/ a trip to NorthPark Mall and dinner. Or stop at the Arboretum and stroll around and take some pics. Then head over to the mall and dinner. Lots of great restaurants near both. Besides, both spots would be cool for the hot temps that are bound to be around during that time of the day.

MATA, are you talking about the McKinney Avenue Trolley? If so it is very short and there are some neat shops and restuarants in the area. Not an all day thing for sure. It might take you 15 minutes to ride it from one end to the other.

Eat lunch somewhere near the aquarium. There are plenty of places to pick from in that area as well and you won't have to worry about driving far to get there.

9:00 pm, head to the bar at the top of Reunion Tower for a drink and just to gaze at the lights.

[semidevil]

that sounds good. dang, just checked the website for the aboretum, and it closes at 5......

as for northpark, my mind is already set on grapevine, and we are not really interested in malls that much, so dont reallly want to go to more than 1 mall, unless there is something that can't be missed over there.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

I have not been to the new Hard Rock Cafe but it is withing walking distance from the Aquarium as is Kennedy Museum and Memorial. Victory Plaza can be dead if there is no game at AAC but it's another place to see around there - Hotel W is in the middle of all that and is pretty cool

I forgot to mention Old Red Courthouse Museum home and the John Neely Bryan Log Cabin next to the Kennedy Museum and Memorial - also you can walk right over to Reunion Tower from there.

I think you ought to include the Arboretum if possible.

I would cross Grapevine Mills off my list - I have never been up there but I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the one in Ontario, CA. I hate that place!