Arlington, TX: A guide to short-term rentals

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the world’s third busiest airport, is just 10 miles away from Arlington, making it an extremely convenient option if you’re flying into the city. But if you’re flying into Dallas Love Field Airport instead of DFW, don’t worry: that airport (DAL) is only 25 minutes away. You can also take an Amtrak train to Arlington if you’re interested in going slow and savoring some exceptional views of the surrounding country.

Once you’re in the city, the best way to get to your short-term rental is by car. You can take a taxi or use a ride-share service, or you can rent a car. Given how spread out the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is, and how frequently it’s necessary to drive to and from major attractions and restaurants, renting a car is the way to go for stays of any significant length.

There are great biking trails in Arlington, but it’s best not to plan on relying on a bike to get where you need to go if you plan to do a fair amount of exploring.

If you’re a sports fan, Arlington is a paradise. Depending on the time of year, you can see up to three different professional sports teams play: the NBA’s Dallas Cowboys, the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, and the MLB’s Texas Rangers.

If amusement parks are your thing, there’s more good news: you can visit Six Flags Over Texas or its sibling park, Hurricane Harbor. For another taste of sports culture, visit the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, where you’ll learn more about the history of the sport and its finest strike-getting athletes.

Art lovers should head to the Arlington Museum of Art or the Gallery at UT Arlington, which both have exciting collections, and for live music check out the schedules at Arlington Music Hall and Symphony Arlington.

To get a taste of the wonders of the cosmos, visit UT Arlington’s Planetarium, which has a 60-foot diameter dome and a sophisticated projection system.

Because of all of its tourist attractions, Arlington attracts chain restaurants catering to visitors. But if you’re interested in a more exciting food scene, it’s there. You just have to know where to look. East Arlington is a great place to find pho and banh mi, authentic tacos, and delicious sandwiches. To the northwest, between Pioneer Parkway to the south and Tom Landry Freeway to the north, there are plenty of gems serving up barbecue, burgers, pork adobo, chilaquiles, shawarma, chicken fried steak, and much more.

River Legacy Park is a 1300-acre oasis of green along the banks of Arlington’s Trinity River. It’s a great place to walk, jog, bike, picnic, bird watch, or read. There are over 10 miles of trails in the park, passing through a lush forest rich in animal life. Golfers will feel at home in Arlington, which has an abundance of beautiful golf courses, so there’s no shortage of opportunities to hit the links. If you’re interested in geology, pay a visit to Crystal Canyon Natural Area, which scientists believe was at one time a near-shore marine environment. Interesting fossils and stones abound.

Before Las Vegas became the center of the gambling world, Arlington was the place to be for betting, winning, and (usually) losing money. Top O’Hill Terrace was a particularly popular destination. In 1920, the building was opened as a tea room, then it became a restaurant. But there was a hidden basement that functioned as a casino (and also a brothel). Most of the restaurant's visitors weren’t aware of what was happening below. Sometimes they were dining above gambling celebrities like John Wayne and Clark Gable, who had access to secret escape tunnels if they needed them.