Moving to Dallas from Miami, FLorida (Fort Worth, Plano: section 8, apartment complex, to rent)

[maluisa]

My fiance just got a promotion at his job but he needs to relocate to Dallas. He is gonna be working at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport so we need to rent a place close to the airport. We dont know anything about Dallas, the only thing I've heard and read is that Uptown Dallas is nice but dont know too much about it either. We want to move in to an apartment first, while we get to know the area, close by the airport, nice restaurants, nightlife, shopping centers etc since we are young couple with no kids.
We are also a little scare about the fact that we dont know if the differece between miami and dallas is a lot.. or the if Dallas culture itself is totally opposite from Miami!!
Any advice will be totally helpful!

Thank you!!!

[Drew610]

I mean, the airport is like a 25-35 drive on the highway from downtown/Uptown or any of that. If nightlife, restaurants, etc are important to you then you want to live that distance from the airport and there are plenty of really nice areas to rent (Uptown, West Village, even downtown). However, if you insist on being close to the airport, you will pay a price on entertainment, and I think you best shot would be Las Colinas, which I have seen on the drive to the airport. But I have only been here a year, so others may know more about what actually goes on in what appears to be a yawning chasm being Dallas and the airport.

[FarNorthDallas]

The West Village area is a great place for young childless couples, but it's not near the airport. Besides Los Colinas, you might also consider Grapevine, just north of DFW. For lower cost of living, you could live in Fort Worth.

I don't know how Dallas compares to Miami. We have no ocean, obviously. No natural setting of any kind really. No mountains. There is a large Latino presence, but I don't know if as much as Miami. This is part of the Bible Belt so there's lots of organized religious stuff and conservative view points. Eating out and shopping are the main past times.

[LOK222]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

. No natural setting of any kind really

is that really possible?

[momof2dfw]

Considering your age and wanting to be somewhat near attractions, work and a nice place I'd consider these three areas: Uptown (all areas in that vicinty such as around Victory Plaza, State-Thomas, etc), Las Colinas and Addison.


Uptown and vicinity: Very close to downtown Dallas. Depending on where you locate you could walk to events at American Airlines Center and many restaurants and shops. Growing, dynamic area w/ lots of options. It would be a decent drive to the airport but for a good bit of the commute you would be going against the majority of the traffic. A little bit of noise from planes going to and from Love Field.

Las Colinas: Home of many corporate headquarters. You'll find more large typical for Dallas apartment complexes that will make it hard to walk to area attractions (restaurants, etc). A few "modern" type living places that have an urban feel but not as many as the Uptown area. More spread out. Lots of dining options nearby but more chains than the individually owned places that are found around Uptown. Would have to drive to them. Closer to lots of large grocery stores. Be careful and not get into an apartment complex that accepts government subsidies (ask if they take gov't assistance like Section 8 when you call). Close to work at the airport for sure. Lots of plane noise being so close to the airport. Stay in the immediate Los Colinas area and do not venture to live further south into Irving.

Addison: Addison Circle is neat and the Taste of Addison can be fun with a Friday and Saturday filled w/ vendors, local restaurants w/ booths and a wide variety of musicians performing. Lots of restaurants nearby and depending on where you locate and what you want to eat you could walk. Nice park area w/in walking distance that allows dogs (doggie clean up stations all around). Close to Addison Airport. Small airport that serves a lot of jets and prop planes. Can be somewhat congested on weekends. Look for the article in the Dallas Morning News that came out this week (www.dallasnews.com) about the new plans for Addison. The city leaders met w/ residents to help replan and keep Addison vibrant by creating zones that target different catagories. Commute could be the longest from here depending on time of day and traffic congestion. TONS of restaurants to chose from for sure.

Comparing Miami to Dallas: well if you ask a native where a local historic landmark is they will more than likely be able to tell you. Ran into this problem in and around Miami on our visits. Sad, I mean really sad. We were looking for directions to the lighthouse on Key Biscayne and NO ONE even knew about it not even the guy working the toll booth going INTO Key Biscayne. Sad, very sad. Overall the attitude of most people will be a lot more friendlier. You won't find bumper to bumper traffic at all times of day and night unless there was an accident or road construction during non-peak times. More green space in Dallas than in Miami and more rolling hills here. Yes, Dallas has more green space than Miami believe it or not. More inland lakes for recreation too. So we may not have the beach but we do have LOTS of lakes. Yes they are manmade but so what, so are half the bodies on South Beach . Depending on what area of Miami you hung out in you will find the people to be MUCH younger. Kind of like Miami in that our downtown is also kind of quiet on the weekends and evenings. Overall the Dallas area is not as "hodge podge" as the Miami area. Our school districts are different too. In Florida they are county districts whereas here they are by city/town. There may be a few neighboring cities that share a school system (Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD or Garland ISD also includes Rowlett and Sachse) but you won't find "county school districts". Our license plates also do not have what county they are registered in. Depending on how much you get out and take advantage of everything going on in and around Dallas will make a difference. There is always something going on around here. This weekend in Richardson is the Wildflower Festival. If you prefer more dressed down types of hangouts then you will like to go hangout at the places along Greenville Ave in Dallas. More dressy or looking to be seen then you'll want Las Colinas, Addison, North Dallas and some of the Uptown area.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

No natural setting of any kind really.

Actually there are quite a few natural settings in and around Dallas. We have one area that is native to palm trees. Sadly many have been lost but it is a native habitat for them. We also have the park down in Cedar Hill that is great for birdwatching and hiking. The Trinity Hardwood Forest. The Spring Creek Nature Preserve that is home to 100's of bird species, a natural body of water (small river/creek that always has water in it) that is cut out of white rock and lots of walking/hiking trails. The Rowlett Creek Preserve that is a natural path enjoyed by TONS of bicycle enthuasists all the time. Oh, and near Uptown is the Katy Trail that is a GREAT trail for walkers and joggers. Very pretty natural setting in the trees.

[FarNorthDallas]

I've been here 43 years and have never been to any of those places. I did go to the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano recently and it was very nice (and crowded), but compared with mountains or an ocean or a forest or a desert or beaches or a real river, we are lacking in Dallas, but y'all go ahead and spin it for the newcomers.

Since most of the people who relocate here move to the northern half of Dallas and beyond, they are rarely going to go to Cedar Hill or Mountain Creek or Joe Pool Lake, especially when they find out they have to drive through the "bad" part of town to get there.

This is just from my experience, your mileage may vary.

[Drew610]

Why would you live in a city for 43 years and then come on a board and trash the city?

[FarNorthDallas]

How am I trashing a city by talking about its topography? It is what it is.

[SPORTBIKER1450]

ive been here for three months from ft. laud. all my life.its different but people are nicer here.drivers and traffic are just as bad as home.you will miss the water even if you did'nt go to the beach often i miss just knowing that its there.good luck