Dallas in a Weekendfeatured
Everything’s bigger in Texas. Or so they say, anyways.
When my travel plans for April were pushed off into the summer and I needed a couple of days away to recharge from a crazy few weeks at work (and celebrate the end of an intense six month promotional cycle), an opportunity to visit Dallas came up. I didn’t know what I’d do in Dallas. The Alamo is in San Antonio, Austin is the cool part of Texas and Houston is the big city. Airfare to Dallas was ridiculously low (thanks largely to the fact that Dallas Fort Worth is American’s largest hub in the United States) and a daily repositioning flight of a 787 Dreamliner from Dallas to Chicago in between Asia flights meant I could check flying first class on a Dreamliner off the bucket list.
So what’s there to do in Dallas? We flew in early Sunday, flew home late Tuesday and in between, we took in everything Dallas had to offer.
Brunch + Caffeinate
Checking out the local dining and coffee scene is always on the to-do list for any weekend trip. I had plenty of options in Dallas.
Avocado Toast and Poached Eggs at Ascension
The local dining scene is particularly strong in Dallas and we had dozens of options for a Sunday morning brunch, but I already had my mind set on one particular place that I’d found on Instagram: Ascension. A coffee and wine bar located in the Design District, Ascension offers a farm-to-table menu of modern twists on simple dishes in a relaxed, open dining space.
On Monday, when I had a couple of hours to myself to pass a rainy morning, I turned again to Instagram to find a coffeehouse to grab a latte and read the newspaper. Instagram is rapidly becoming one of my favorite ways to discover new places and it hasn’t let me down yet.
Pain au Chocolat and a Mint Matcha Latte at Magnolias Sous Le Pont
It led me to Magnolias Sous Le Pont in the Harwood District, a coffee shop that combined the kitschy culture we were discovering in every corner we explored of Dallas with Parisian influences. I curled up on an oversized chair and waited out the rain with the local paper, a mint matcha latte and a pain au chocolat. Not a bad start to a Sunday.
Step back in time at the Texas School Depository
A white X on the pavement marks the spot where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated driving along a motorcade route in 1963. The Texas School Book Depository still stands, now a museum where you can peer at the window Lee Harvey Oswald stood at as he shot the President. And the grassy knoll still flanks the sides of the road, sometimes dotted with conspiracy theorists who hand out pamphlets and preach their theories to passersby.
X marks the spot
We skipped the museum, but we strolled along the grassy knoll, we waited for a red light and stood at the X in the road, staring back at the sixth floor window the President was shot from and we walked along the memorials at Dealey Plaza. It was simultaneously somber and riveting to stand at the *exact* footprint of a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
Explore the local (street) art scene in Deep Ellum
I keep a running list on my phone of various places to visit in different cities. I don’t remember when Deep Ellum made it onto the list or where I found it from, but I didn’t expect the explosion of culture that I found.
Exploring all of the graffiti and murals in Deep Ellum can be a full day proposition
Deep Ellum’s roots run deep, as the industrial center of Dallas as far back as the 1800s, and even deeper as an incubator for jazz and blues musicians in the 1920s. These days, Deep Ellum is home to dozens of small music venues and clubs, boutiques and restaurants, but more famously, to dozens of murals by local graffiti artists. I immediately texted Stephanie, telling her that my graffiti loving heart has found a new home.
The 42 Murals project showcases the works of different artists from across the world
The 42 Murals project is an initiative that aims to increase art awareness in Texas. Many of the walls in Deep Ellum are tagged with #42Murals and the artist’s name. I was so fascinated that I returned to Deep Ellum every day I was in Dallas to discover every piece I could.
You’ll find art in every cranny of Deep Ellum — even (and especially) in the parking lots
Weekends are the busiest time to visit Deep Ellum – not only are all of the shops and restaurants open (many of them close for most of the work week), but local bloggers fill the streets, each waiting their turns to do photo shoots with the various murals.
Browse through a time capsule
While we were strolling along the main street of Deep Ellum, we came across a sign offering real nostalgia and free time travel. My interest was piqued, and entering B4 was quite literally like stepping into your grandparent’s attic. Dark and slightly musty, with everything and anything retro lining the shelves.
Vintage shopping game strong at B4 in Deep Ellum
And when I say everything and anything, I literally everything and anything – there’s a shelf of mugs, a shelf of vintage school supplies, vintage typewriters and games, but the part of the store I had to be torn away from was the vintage camera and film section.
Sayonara, paycheck
It’s probably for the best that B4 was closed when I came back on Monday afternoon because I was tempted to kiss a good portion of my paycheck goodbye to vintage cameras and swizzle sticks.
Get Texas BBQ. And then get it again.
A few years ago, I was out to dinner with a friend who originally hails from Texas. We went out for barbecue in Chicago and she turned to me over her pulled pork sandwich and flatly told me “This isn’t real barbecue, you know. You won’t know real barbecue until you try Texas barbecue.”
When we landed in Dallas, I put out a note out on Instagram for suggestions on places to check out and someone told me that I had to try the Pecan Lodge (which was conveniently located right in the middle of Deep Ellum). When we arrived early Sunday afternoon, the line was out the door and if the aroma in the air was any indicator, we were in for something real good.
Chopped Brisket Sandwich at Pecan Lodge
The line wrapped around the inside of the restaurant. It took us a half hour just to reach the counter. And it was worth every single second. This barbecue was unreal – smoky and sweet, tender and textured, every bite tasted better than the last.
But the best mark of just how good the Pecan Lodge was? I didn’t have In-n-Out the entire weekend. I forewent my pre-airport Double Double in favor of a return visit for a chopped brisket sandwich and some mac and cheese.
Walk through an enchanted forest
Hidden away amongst low rise apartment buildings, in the middle of the street, is Dragon Park. It’s a small park – you can pace the perimeter in under three minutes – but it packs a lot of charm in its small space.
Dragon Park is one of the most enchanted little corners of this city
Dragon Park won’t take up much time in your day – a visit shouldn’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes – but a couple of minutes of quiet reflection in this hidden little oasis is 100% worth the time.
Stroll through the Bishops Arts District
One of the parts of Dallas I enjoyed the most on our visit was the fact that there was such a heavy emphasis on local businesses. Whenever I travel, I try to make a habit of dining and shopping at places I can’t find at home, which was the reason why one of my colleagues told me I had to stop at the Bishop Arts District on my visit.
A stop at Emporium Pies in the Bishop Arts District is a must
The Bishop Arts District has over 60 local, independent shops, eateries and bars. In one neighborhood. *60*. It’s a concentration of local flavor you could get lost in for hours.
Colorful aphorisms written in chalk line a sidewalk in the Bishop Arts District
And that’s exactly what I did – I spent a couple of hours on a blistering afternoon browsing boutiques, taking pictures of the colorful murals and artworks and snacking on the best slice of bourbon-laced pecan pie I’ve ever had.
Take in the views from the Skyline Trail
An evening flight home on Tuesday gave me almost an entire day to explore before we left, and I knew exactly where I wanted to start my day: Trinity Groves.
The Dallas skyline may be small, but it’s fitting of all the quirks and charm of the city
Trinity Groves is an entertainment district with plenty of restaurants and bars (…and a cake bar!), but it’s also the location of the Skyline Trail, which offers the best views of the Dallas skyline. On a Tuesday morning, the trail was quiet – I had it nearly to myself to enjoy the cityscape and the sounds of an old man playing the saxophone down by the creek below.
Not a bad way to cap off a trip.
Have you ever been to Dallas? What are your must-do’s?
