Dallas: A guide to short-term rentals

Flying into Dallas, you’ll most likely arrive at Dallas-Fort Worth airport (DFW), one of the busiest international airports in the entire world, and the second largest in the the country. DFW is about halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, and about 20 miles from downtown. You also might be flying into Dallas Love Field airport (DAL), only 7 miles from the city. Both airports are accessible from the city by the DART system, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, which features 90 miles of light rail lines that serve most of the city and its surrounds.

Within the city, the easiest way to get around is probably by car, but in certain areas, you can take the DART, or Dallas Streetcar, which costs just $1 and connects the city’s Union Station with the historic Bishop Arts District. The city also has many parks and outdoor areas you can easily explore on a rental bicycle.

Dallas’ Arts District is the largest in the country, but is still easily walkable from end to end and the perfect place to explore after getting situated in your short-term rental. Within its borders are the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center (both with free admission), as well as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Also within the district is the AT&T Center for Performing Arts, which includes the Dallas Theatre Center and the iconic Kalita Humphreys Theatre, the only theatre building ever designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. You can easily fill a day exploring the impressive works of architecture and art within, and finish it off with a show.

While it only happens for a few weeks each year, the Texas State Fair is one of the city’s greatest attractions. Every year since 1866 (with only a few exceptions), the enormous state fair is held typically from late September to mid October. During the fair, you can take the Texas Sky Way, a gondola ride around the 227-acre fairgrounds. The 55-foot-tall statue of cowboy “Big Tex” looms over the park each year.

Take a ride to the top of Reunion Tower, where you can get a sweeping panoramic view of the Dallas skyline. Also called “The Ball” in reference to the light-studded sphere at the top, the indoor/outdoor viewing deck sits 470 feet above the city.

For a more sobering experience, visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Square. The museum, located on the sixth floor of the Dallas County Administration Building, marks the exact place from which John Wilkes Booth infamously shot President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Operated by the Dallas County Historical Foundation, the museum explores the life and lasting legacy of one of the country’s most beloved Presidents.

Dallas is famous for its barbecue, and you can find excellent smoked meat, sausages, and brisket all over the city. The Deep Ellum neighborhood, famous for its jazz and blues venues, is also home to some of the city’s greatest barbecue joints. Get your fill of barbecue and finish the night with a live jazz show.

Another Dallas staple is Tex-Mex cuisine, named so for the state’s twist on classic Mexican fare. Look for chili, fajitas, crunchy tacos, and margaritas at any number of the city’s Tex-Mex restaurants, whether it’s in the fancy Highland Park neighborhood or in lively Deep Ellum.

For a wide selection of modern American and international restaurants, visit both the Downtown and Uptown neighborhoods, where you’ll find everything from Thai and tacos to tapas and tagines. In Uptown, you can take the historic trolley along McKinney avenue to scope out the scene.

For an open-air luxury shopping experience, check out Highland Park Village, originally constructed in 1931, making it one of the country’s first shopping centers. Amidst the Spanish-style architecture, you’ll find dozens of high-end fashion brands like Balenciaga, Cartier, and Hermes, as well as restaurants with European-style patios.

The Design District in Central Dallas is an art lover’s paradise, nestled along the south bank of the Trinity River and full of home design showrooms, fine apparel boutiques, and art galleries. On Slocum Street, just south of the main drag, you’ll find an abundance of antique shops, and on Howell street, you’ll find some of the city’s best vintage and thrift stores.

Beloved by locals and tourists alike, the 3.5-mile-long Katy Trail runs right through the city, and is a popular path for joggers, walkers, and bikers. Formerly a railway, the 12-foot-wide trail is surrounded by a 30-acre park, and planted with a variety of native Texas flora. The public trail is open from 5 am until midnight daily.

Open year-round, the Dallas Farmers Market was started in 1941 and is still open to the public daily. Spend an afternoon wandering through the hundreds of food vendors and produce stands, and keep your eyes peeled for monthly events and festivals.

Just northeast of downtown Dallas, White Rock Lake is a popular urban park that also houses the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Take a hike on any of the 9 miles worth of trails, or rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the park on the water. There’s also a dedicated Audobon Society birdwatching area.

In the center of the Arts District, Klyde Warren Park is a sort of outdoor community center, filled with an ongoing roster of cultural events and activities. Catch an outdoor yoga class, guest lecture, or bring a picnic dinner for an outdoor movie night.

You can thank Dallas for the invention of the Slurpee. The first 7-Eleven convenience store was built in Dallas, and it started as an ice company. They launched the “Icee” in 1965, and the rest is history. It also inspired the world’s first frozen margarita machine, which now lives at the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, the infamous criminals, grew up in Dallas, and are both buried there, albeit in separate cemeteries—Bonnie’s family refused to allow them to be together. Much of Arthur Penn’s 1967 film Bonnie & Clyde was filmed throughout the city.

As a city known for its vibrant music scene, Dallas is the home to a host of renowned musical artists, including Erykah Badu, Kelly Clarkson, Post Malone, Demi Lovato.