Top Rated Attractions in Dallas

The third-largest city in Texas, Dallas is a major transit and trade hub in the northeast region of the state. Speckled with a bevy of colorful neighborhoods with distinct personalities, a skyline dominated by modernist and postmodernist landmarks and a dynamic arts scene that is firmly rooted in profound icons like the Dallas Museum of Art, this city epitomizes an incredible balance between austerity and friendliness. Dallas' origin goes back to the time when French and Spanish colonists squabbled over property rights to the land. While the Spanish ended up controlling the territory, little development or settlement occurred until 1841, when John Neely Bryan established the first permanent structures on the land. Despite memorable historic accounts that detail its groundbreaking origin, Dallas is most infamously remembered for being the site of John F. Kennedy's assassination, an event that significantly altered America's course. This heartbreaking past is revisited at the Dealey Plaza Museum, the site of Kennedy's assassination. Dallas' urbane sprawl also strongly favors a robust cultural scene, housed within modern structures like the AT&T Performing Arts Center, the Dallas Convention Center, and an array of vibrant festivals that span arts, films, food and music.

Downtown Dallas is the vibrant heart of Dallas which is not only a business hub but also an entertainment zone for anyone who wants to explore its surroundings. From hip nightclubs, creative restaurants to lively dive bars, the Downtown has a lot to offer for everyone. Choose from any of its fifteen districts such as the Arts District, the Main Street District or the Reunion District, you will just be amazed by its versatility. Don't forget to visit the Reunion Tower which offers magnificent vistas of the city's skyline from its top.

Step into West End and you are instantly taken back in time. Beautifully restored and renovated old buildings among tree-lined streets and brick sidewalks, testify to the historical importance of this district that was established in 1872. Apart from the ancient buildings whose architecture never ceases to marvel, the district also has museums, amazing stores and delicious restaurants. Host to various events throughout the year, West End is definitely a hit amongst visitors and has something to offer for every individual!

The First Presbyterian Church of Dallas in Dallas' Historic District was founded in 1856 and has been through many incarnations. This church has been a mother church, spawning many of Dallas' other Presbyterian churches throughout the years. The Greek Revival style of the church features monolithic Corinthian columns which were shipped individually on their own flatcars from Indiana.

The Old Red Courthouse is an outstanding feature of the Dallas County Historic Plaza. It was built in 1892 in Romanesque Revival style. It is constructed of rough-cut, Pecos Red Sandstone and trimmed in Arkansas blue granite. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a City of Dallas Landmark and a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark. Four prior courthouses have graced the same location. The Old Red Courthouse contains the Old Red Museum.

Virtually unchanged from the time of the then President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, this historic site is a reminder of one of the most astonishing and despondent times in American American history. The landmark West End District, which includes the Dealey Plaza as well as the Texas School Book Depository, is one of Dallas's most important historical landmarks. The soaring skyscrapers form a modern backdrop against the park which chronicles the years gone past. Residing on the urbane landscape of downtown Dallas, Dealey Plaza is a stunning marker of the legacy left behind by the former president and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy. Dubbed as the Birthplace of Dallas, the plaza is home to the Sixth Floor Museum, which poignantly illustrates the incidents of the assassination, with the help of historic displays, artifacts and exhibits.