Dallas is a modern cosmopolitan city with Old West roots: in the midst of the downtown high-rises sits one of the city's first log cabins. The "shiny ball" in Dallas' skyline is Reunion Tower, adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. For a spectacular view of the cityscape and surrounding areas, ride the glass elevator to the Observation Deck, or to the Top of the Dome Club for food and drinks.
What will you see at the top? Dallas's downtown is full of unusual architecture, but it's the kind of unusual architecture Frank Lloyd Wright might have appreciated. Also, although Dallas has more shopping centers per capita than any other city in the U.S., it has a lot of culture as well. A few of these many cultural destinations are the African-American Museum, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and Dallas Arboretum. Pioneer Plaza is home to the largest bronze monument in the world, which consists of forty longhorn steers driven by three mounted cowboys. Dealey Plaza, though, is more famous, or infamous. This is the site of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza covers this event and JFK's legacy in a comprehensive, sensitive fashion.
Neighborhoods around Dallas have their own unique atmosphere. Early wealthy residents built sprawling homes on Swiss Avenue, which remains a great place for a picturesque stroll, especially during holiday light displays. Historic houses are converted to antique shops in chic Uptown. Greenville Avenue is one of the oldest entertainment areas in the city but very trendy, and the Deep Ellum district was the birthplace of Dallas jazz. Near Southern Methodist University (north of downtown), Knox-Henderson is full of old-world charm.
Located in north central Texas and about 90 minutes south of Oklahoma, Dallas is crossed north-south by Highway 75 and east-west by I-30. I-45, I-20 and I-35 all connect to downtown Dallas.
