This trip was taken in November 2019 before COVID-19 restrictions came into play.
I am planner. I like to organize most details of my trips well in advance and always have a Plan B or C just in case.
Sometimes, though, it’s best just to go with the flow. Out of the blue, a colleague offered me some tickets with American Airlines with the expiry date to be in just a couple of months. We didn’t know where to go but knew we wanted to make the most of wherever we choose with non stop flights. From Calgary, there isn’t a whole lot to choose from, but narrowed it down to Dallas. I got some great advice from Meg at Visit Dallas.
We began our Texas Adventure with a Dallas city tour. We explored the city with Efrogs. This guided tour takes you through Downtown, Uptown, the Arts District and Deep Ellum in an electric cart. If you are being more adventurous, try the Segway Nation segway tour. Or if you prefer a van tour, Best DFW Tours is the way to go. Our home for our extended weekend was the Fairmont Dallas. It’s ideally located in heart of the downtown Dallas Art District, surrounded by an array of fine-dining restaurants, shopping, arts and entertainment. Great touches like customized bathroom amenities with your name on the bottles.
Dallas is about American History and the opportunity to pay tribute to JFK by visiting The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Then head to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and take your presidential picture at the full-sized Oval Office.
You can satisfy your Texan cravings by enjoying a variety of culinary experiences in a city with 12K restaurants! Try the cuisine of celebrity chefs Dean Fearing and John Tesar, or the irresistible BBQ of Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum! Don’t miss Trinity Groves, featuring 16 original dining concepts and the best views of the city.
If you are a sports fan; Dallas – Fort Worth is one of the few cities in America that has a national league team in all four sports. Undoubtedly, the most popular team is the world famous Dallas Cowboys, the National Football League team. Going to a live game is something else! Visit Dallas treated us to infield suite tickets to the Dallas Cowboys vs the Minnesota Vikings game. This is where I get my #bestgirlfriendever award. My partner is a huge NFL fan and his favourite team is the Dallas Cowboys. He even went out and got an Emmitt Smith jersey so he could wear to the game. The Cowboys play in Arlington, Texas. There is no public transit to the stadium. There are plenty of parking spaces in 15 lots surrounding the football stadium, and you can pre-book your parking space before the game. Parking spaces for an NFL game cost approximately $75. Tailgating is an important and fun part of any football game, especially ones in Texas. Tailgating can only occur in certain parking lots, so if you plan on partaking, book a parking space in one of the following lots: 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Please be aware that while you can bring a gas or charcoal grill, deep fryers and open flames of any kind are not permitted. We took Uber. The cost to go out was about $20; the cost to return is over $160. It’s busy after the game and you may have to wait for your ride.
The average ticket for a Dallas Cowboys NFL game starts from $110. Seating is arranged in an oval around the field and the closer you are to the field the more expensive the ticket costs. If you’re looking for a low cost option, standing room tickets can sometimes be purchased for as little as $30. When booking a ticket, pay attention to which side of the stadium you’ll be on. If you’re cheering for the Cowboys, book a seat on the left, if you’ll be cheering on the visiting team, book a seat on the right side of the stadium.
While the football game is the big draw, there is lots to see and do when visiting the AT&T Stadium. The Stadium itself is very beautiful and home to many great works of art. Plan to arrive to the stadium early so you can take a guided tour. On the tour you’ll learn about the history of the Cowboys and also discover lots of behind the scenes information, like what it takes to get the world’s largest HDTV to function properly. If it’s your first time attending a Cowboys game, head on over to one of the Guest Service Centers and ask for a “My First Cowboys Game” Certificate.
Food and drink are a large part of the Cowboys experience. You can bring alcohol to your seat, but there is a limit of 2 beers per person at a time. When you’re hungry, there are dozens of food vendors to choose from, and you’ll find everything from basics like popcorn and peanuts to more exotic fare like sushi and Frito Pie. A highly recommended item is the Kobe Nacho Dogs!
It was a jammed packed weekend with lots to do and see. The Universe was definitely looking after us in making the most of our time.
“Live Large. Think Big”
