1991 Ad

Shooting Industry, Dec, 1990 by Kathryn Fuller

It has been said that Dallas is a city where some of the best adventures can be found or for just simply having fun. Big D has been entertaining visitors for years with its outstanding variety of dining, entertainment and exciting attractions.

For starters, take a stroll around Fair Park, a landscaped park that is the home of numerous events including the spectacular State Fair of Texas, the largest in the United States. As you walk along the colorful Esplanade, you will notice the grand statues and frescoes created for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. This artwork adorns one of the best collections of "art deco" architecture in the country. At the end of the Esplanade is the impressive Hall of State, with its outstanding collection of Texas and Dallas history and the inspirational Great Hall. Also located near the Esplanade is the Age of Steam Railroad Museum, and the Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where granite tablets are carved the names of the sons and daughters of Texas who died in that conflict. Texas had more casualties than any other state.

Another favorite area of Fair Park is the Leonhardt Lagoon, with its cat tails, gardens, walkways and benches. Growing out of the lagoon and inviting you to stroll on its branches is the largerthan-life sculpture of an aquatic plant "Saggitaria Platyphylia."

Surrounding the Leonhardt lagoon is a variety of informative and educational museums. Get a first-hand lesson in electricity or gravity at the Science Place I and 11, renowned for its hands-on, interactive exhibits. At the Museum of Natural History, the panoramic displays of Texas wildlife are so lifelike you can almost hear the coyotes howling and the hawks screeching.

Also located along the lagoon is the Dallas Aquarium, and coming soon to the park is the Museum of African American Life and Culture.

From Fair Park you get a great view of the Spectacular Dallas skyline, but the best place to view downtown is from the inside - on a bustling downtown street gazing straight up at the spires, turrets and angled glass above.

There is much to see and do in the cultural and entertainment heart of the city. For instance, you could spend a whole day in the West End Historic District, where red-brick, turn-of-the-century warehouses host an exciting array of 80 shops and 55 restaurants.

At the West End Marketplace you will find an array of specialty and souvenir shops in a colorful atrium setting. Fudge, antiques, handmade toys, tie-dyed T-shirts, jewelry and Dallas souvenirs are just some of the items you can find here. There is even a game arcade in the basement and a unique Dallas-style miniature golf course up in the rafters.

Market Street, adorned with brick archways and antique lamp posts, is lined with even more shops and a variety of restaurants - from Texas barbecue to spaghetti to haute cuisine. Adding to the nostalgic flavor of the West End are horse-drawn surreys that provide rides through the district as well as tours of downtown Dallas.

One of Dallas' newest and most-visited attractions is the Sixth Floor Exhibit, detailing the life, death and achievements of President John F. Kennedy. The Sixth Floor is housed in the former Texas School Book Depository Building on historic Dealey Plaza.

Just east of Dealey Plaza is the Dallas County Historical Plaza. Here you can visit the rustic one-room cabin of Dallas founder John Neely Bryan, travel the North Texas countryside on a giant terrazzo map of Dallas County, and pause for a moment of reflection at the John F. Kennedy Memorial.

The plaza is surrounded by county administrative buildings, including "Old Red," the old Dallas County Courthouse. This marvel of late-19th century architecture features walls of red limestone and gray granite, a slate roof and turrets complete with menacing gargoyles.

Just beyond "Old Red," is Reunion. Here the past meets the future as you stroll the grand terminal of Union Station and then ride a class elevator to the top of Reunion Tower for a bird's eye view of the city. On a clear day, you can see the Fort Worth skyline 30 miles to the west.

Also located downtown is Neiman Marcus, one of the most fashionable and trend-setting retailers in the world. This is the original store, and you'll want to take time out from shopping to visit the store's own museum.

A couple of blocks from Neiman's, in the heart of Dallas' bustling financial district, is Thanksgiving Square, a quiet oasis with bubbling streams, gardens, bells and a beautiful spiral chapel. On weekdays, Thanksgiving Square also provides access to Dallas' unique underground tunnel system. Below the busy streets, you will find a whole other world of shops and eateries.

The Dallas Arts District on the north side of downtown includes the renowned Dallas Museum of Art and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the latter designed by architect I.M. Pei., who truly created a visual symphony in this beautiful blend of stone and glass.

The Dallas Museum of Art is well known for its outstanding pre-Columbian collection and works of the Old Masters, modern American artists, Oriental and Oceanic artists. The Sculpture Garden presents modem sculpture amidst fountains, waterfalls and gardens. And just outside the garden walls, vendors sell food and beverages from their sidewalk carts.