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Car Free Journeys – Dallas TX – March and April 2013 By Steve Atlas 
Are you looking for a winter getaway that’s an often overlooked major city that’s warm enough for an enjoyable walk, and is easy to enjoy by light rail? Then, consider Dallas, Texas: the destination for this month’s column. Unlike other Texas cities, Dallas has a light rail system that can take you to many interesting neighborhoods and attractions. Downtown Dallas also has many attractions. Dallas Area Regional Transit (DART) operates light rail and local buses. Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is a commuter rail service, operating Monday-Saturday that connects Dallas and Fort Worth. Let’s begin our Car Free Journey to Dallas. Our guides are Johnny Elbow and Karen Ptacek from DART’s Marketing and Communications Department. Time’s a-wasting. Let’s get going. How to enjoy a weekend visit to Dallas without driving by Johnny Elbow and Karen Ptacek, DART Marketing & Communications Gone are the days when the automobile was practically Dallas’ mascot and a visit here meant taking taxis or renting a car. Whether you’re in Dallas for business or visiting as a weekend getaway, much of Big D is surprisingly transit-accessible and pedestrian-friendly. The best place to stay is in the heart of downtown Dallas, which is served by all four light rail lines of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the region’s public transportation system. Every hotel in downtown Dallas is within blocks from a modern DART Rail station, and the sleek trains arrive every few minutes to whisk you to the city’s most popular dining, shopping and entertainment destinations. And here’s the best part; you can ride just about anywhere DART goes - all day long - for as little as $5. With the recent opening of the Orange Line, DART now offers 85 miles of light rail service reaching 61 stations, complimented by a vast network of buses, operating seven days a week, plus commuter rail connections to Fort Worth and Denton. DART Rail will serve DFW International Airport directly in 2014. You can access online trip planning and much more information at DART.org, From your cell phone, go to DART’s Mobile site: m.dart.org. DART also has a Spanish language site: TransporteDart.org You can also visit Google Transit at maps.Google.com. 
You can also call DART customer service at 214-979-1111. Telephone customer service is available every day (Central Time), Weekdays: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The easiest and most affordable way to use DART for your visit is to buy a Day Pass for $5, which is good on all DART trains and buses and the TRE as far as CentrePort/DFW Airport Station. Two-hour and midday passes are also available, but the $5 Day Pass is probably the best choice. For a complete list of available fares, go to: http://www.dart.org/fares/fares.asp. You can purchase your $5 Day Pass (remember to buy one for each day you will be here) on local buses and at the ticket vending machines (TVMs) located on every station platform. Signs on the TVM and instructions on the touch screen will help you and answer most of your questions about how to pay. Your day pass is good on the day you purchase it until 3 a.m. the next morning. Getting Here http://www.dart.org/travelagent/darttravelagent.aspzeon=travelagentvisitandtravel#dallaslovefield Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Passengers arriving at DFW Airport can catch a DART bus on Route 500 from Terminal A connecting to the Belt Line Station. http://www.dart.org/riding/dfwairport.asp http://www.dfwairport.com/transport/public/p1_007747.php Dallas Love Field Airport Passengers arriving on Southwest Airlines and other carriers to Dallas Love Field can catch a DART bus on Route 39 connecting to Inwood/Love Field Station. http://www.dart.org/riding/lovefield.asp 
Amtrak Serves Dallas’ Union Station, which is also a transfer point for the DART Red and Blue Lines and the Trinity Railway Express to Fort Worth. Megabus Now offers service to “Dallas” from Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Be sure to select trips that arrive at and depart from the DART East Transfer Center and not Grand Prairie, Texas. The East Transfer Center is located at the corner of Pearl and Live Oak streets, a few blocks from the Pearl/Arts District Station. http://us.megabus.com/ Greyhound The Dallas Greyhound Station is located on Lamar Street, approximately three blocks from the West End Station. http://www.greyhound.com/ All four DART light rail lines serve all four Transit Mall stations: Pearl/Arts District, St. Paul, Akard and West End. You can switch lines at any of these locations, although most people seem to transfer at Pearl/Arts District, West End or Union Station (where the Red/Blue lines meet the TRE). The best station to begin your exploration of Dallas is the DART light rail station closest to your hotel. Where to Stay and the closest light rail station to each hotel: Numerous hotels are located in downtown Dallas, all within blocks of the DART Rail line. http://www.dart.org/travelagent/darttravelagent.asp?zeon=travelagenthotels Adolphus Hotel http://www.hoteladolphus.com/ Akard Station Crowne Plaza Hotel – Downtown Dallas http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/dallas/dalem/hoteldetail West End Station Dallas Magnolia Hotel http://www.magnoliahotels.com/dallas/magnolia-hotel-dallas.php Akard Station Dallas Marriott City Center http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/daldt-dallas-marriott-city-center/ Pearl/Arts District Station Fairmont Dallas Hotel http://www.fairmont.com/dallas/ Akard Station Hotel Indigo http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/dallas/dalar/hoteldetail?_requestid=1562990 St. Paul Station Hotel Lawrence Dallas http://www.hotellawrencedallas.com/ Union Station Hyatt Regency Dallas http://dallasregency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/events/meetings/index.jsp Dallas Convention Center Station The Joule, Dallas http://www.thejouledallas.com/ Akard Station Omni Dallas Hotel http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/DallasHotel.aspx Dallas Convention Center Station Sheraton Dallas Hotel http://www.sheratondallashotel.com/ Pearl/Arts District Station SpringHill Suites Dallas Downtown/West End http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/DALWE-SpringHill-Suites-Dallas-Downtown-West-End West End Station Here are a few interesting neighborhoods and attractions worth exploring. 
Downtown Dallas/Main Street; Closest Rail Stop: St. Paul and Akard Stations From here, you’re steps away from Main Street’s bustling restaurants and nightlife, including Dallas Fish Market, Charlie Palmer’s and The Chesterfield. Shopping doesn’t get any more stylish than at the landmark original location of Neiman Marcus and its Zodiac Room restaurant. Need a breather? Thanks-Giving Square at Akard Station is an oasis of trees, flowing water and exhibits, while Pegasus Plaza and Main Street Garden are popular gathering places for live music and festivals. Head the opposite way from the Akard Station down Field Street a half mile, and you’ll arrive at the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science, filled with hands-on learning experiences, interactive digital displays and lifelike simulations of the natural world.
Dallas Arts District; Closest Rail Station: Pearl/Arts District and St. Paul Stations The Dallas Arts District is a unique 68-acre, 19-block neighborhood that is the centerpiece of the region's cultural life and home to some of the finest architecture in the world. The AT&T Performing Arts Center’s impressive venues -- the Winspear Opera House, the Wyly Theatre, the Annette Strauss Artist Square, the Dallas City Performance Hall and Sammons Park -- join a thriving collection of cultural landmarks, including the Dallas Museum of Art, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center and Crow Collection of Asian Art. The new Klyde Warren Park creates an urban oasis at the district’s outer edge. The arts district also is home to more than a dozen fine restaurants and bistros, including two Stephan Pyles’ restaurants on Ross Ave.
West End Historic District; Closest Rail Stop: West End Station The West End -- a historic district of red-brick warehouses -- offers a variety of cuisine, from Texas-style barbeque at Sonny Bryan’s to fine dining at The Palm. You can shop for unique gifts and Texas fashions, take in the marine life and natural rainforest exhibits at the Dallas World Aquarium or get a taste of local history at the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture, which is located inside the county’s landmark 1892 courthouse. Of course, few make a visit to the West End (or Dallas, for that matter) without stopping at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza where JFK was shot and, nearby, the infamous grassy knoll.
Victory Park; Closest Rail Station: Victory Station When you want high-voltage sports and entertainment, head to Victory Park. Just a short ride from downtown, Victory Park is the home of American Airlines Center, the House of Blues and unique dining such as the fresh sushi and Pan-Asian fare of Kenichi and the artisanal dishes of the celebrated Craft Dallas in the W Dallas-Victory Hotel. Victory Park is also the home of two organizations that know a few things about the word “victory” -- the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars.
Uptown; Best way to get there: M-Line Trolley Uptown, just north of the downtown area, is one of Dallas’ oldest neighborhoods transformed with high rise condos, apartments and hotels. At the street level, there’s a vibrant mix of restaurants, bars, cafés, retail shops, galleries, antique dealers and live theatre. One such destination for live performance is Theatre Three, one of Dallas’ best-known and longest-running community theatres. Tying the uptown area to downtown is the vintage (and free to ride) M-Line Trolley, running from the Dallas Arts District through Uptown, McKinney Avenue and West Village to the West entrance of Cityplace/Uptown Station.
West Village; Closest Rail Stop: Cityplace/Uptown Station Located three blocks west of Cityplace Station -- DART’s only subway stop -- Uptown’s West Village is home to destinations such as Mi Cocina, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, the Magnolia art house theatre and chic boutiques. Hop aboard one of the free M-Line’s restored trolley cars for a relaxing tour of McKinney Avenue’s upscale taverns and restaurants -- including Fearing’s (run by celebrity chef Dean Fearing) in the Ritz-Carlton or Hotel ZaZa’s posh Dragonfly and Urban Oasis Lounge.
Mockingbird Station; Closest Rail Stop: Mockingbird Station Want a textbook example of transit-oriented living? Check out Mockingbird Station, a high-density development of loft apartments, bistros, boutiques, national retailers and a multi-screen independent film theater. Indulge in Southwestern cuisine at Café Express, grab a pint at Trinity Hall or Mockingbird Taproom, catch a movie at the Angelika, enjoy a laugh at Hyena’s Comedy Nightclub or simply people-watch. Mockingbird Station mockingbirdstation.com NorthPark Center and Shops at Park Lane; Closest Rail Stop: Park Lane Station Dallas is known for its shopping, and NorthPark Center is one of the city’s best examples. A convenient shuttle to and from Park Lane Station lets you explore its more than 235 stores, restaurants and theatres for yourself. Named as one of the "7 Retail Wonders of the Modern World", anchors include Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s and Barney’s. To top off a full day of fun, catch a flick at the mall’s 15-screen AMC movie theatre. Across the street from the station, The Shops at Park Lane pairs the best in stylish shopping with distinctive dining and entertainment options, including Nordstrom Rack, Bloomingdale’s Outlet and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, as well as Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, a Gordon Biersch high-end brewery bistro, and the largest Whole Foods Market in North Texas.
Deep Ellum; Closest Rail Stop: Deep Ellum and Baylor University Medical Center Stations 
Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood dates back to the late 1800s and gets its name from the pronunciation of Elm Street favored by early residents. Over the years, the brick structures have been home to businesses as diverse as the people who frequent them: dance halls, restaurants, bars, live music venues, speakeasies, meat markets, pawnshops, vaudeville theatres, art galleries and auto repair shops. Popular hotspots today include Adair’s Saloon, Angry Dog and St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin restaurants, Twisted Root Burger Co., Trees alternative music showcase and the Latino Cultural Center. One of the newest attractions welcoming visitors to DART’s Deep Ellum Station is “The Traveling Man,” a landmark, three-part sculpture installation including “Walking Tall,” a jovial, 38-foot-tall man strolling down the street. Deep Ellum Community Association deepellumtexas.com Fair Park; Closest Rail Stop: Fair Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Stations A true Dallas gem, Fair Park contains one of the world’s largest collections of 1930s Art Deco-style architecture, originally built for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. Best known as the home of the State Fair of Texas®, which attracts 3.5 million attendees each fall, Fair Park has a lot more to offer than just the fair. You can visit its museums and performance venues year-round, including the African American Museum, Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park, Hall of State, Texas Discovery Gardens, Texas Museum of Automotive History and the South Dallas Cultural Center. Performance venues inside the park include the Music Hall at Fair Park, the Gexa Energy Pavilion, the Magnolia Lounge and the Fair Park Band Shell. Fair Park www.fairpark.org, State Fair of Texas http://www.bigtex.com/sft/ The Cedars; Closest Rail Station: Cedars Station The Cedars, a once-neglected inner-city neighborhood, has been turned into a cultural hotspot thanks to the transformation of the old Sears warehouse into the South Side on Lamar residential/retail/gallery complex. From Cedars Station, you’re just blocks from great food and live music -- including the Palladium live showcase, the country music of Gilley’s world-famous honky tonk, the roaring good time of eclectic Lee Harvey’s, and the unique musical offerings of Poor David’s Pub.
Dallas Zoo; Closest Rail Stop: Dallas Zoo Station There are always exciting things to see and do at the Southwest’s oldest and Texas’ largest zoological park. The 95-acre Dallas Zoo is known for The Wilds of Africa -- a 20-minute monorail tour through six African habitats -- as well as the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo, the Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center and Giants of the Savanna ,which takes you on a safari adventure complete with giraffes, lions, elephants, cheetahs and other African species. Wild, huh?
Fort Worth Fort Worth’s Cultural, Stockyards and Sundance Square districts are accessible by taking the Trinity Railway Express, a commuter rail line connecting to Dallas’ Union Station, DFW Airport and downtown Fort Worth. Scheduled train service is provided Monday through Saturday. No service is available on Sunday. Evening service is limited, so be sure to check schedules before traveling. Once in Fort Worth, The T’s buses can transport you from the TRE’s Intermodal Transit Center (ITC) Station to your destination.
Cab-Accessible Attractions Cowboys Stadium – The home of the Dallas Cowboys is located in Arlington, Texas, which is not transit accessible. Self-guided, educational and art tours of the facilities are offered on days when the stadium is not in use. http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/tours/tourInfo.cfm 
Southfork Ranch – Made famous by on the television series Dallas, the home of the fictional Ewing family is a tourist attraction and event facility located in the suburb of Parker, Texas. Tours of the ranch and Ewing mansion depart from the visitors’ center. To see this piece of TV nostalgia, you’ll need to take a cab ride. http://www.southforkranch.com/ For More Information For information about Dallas attractions, places to stay, and shopping, go to www.visitdallas.com, or call the Tourist Information Center at (214) 571-1316. For information about DART routes, schedules, fares, and getting to where you want to go by public transportation, visit www.dart.org, or call (214) 979-1111. Steve Atlas enjoys hearing from readers. To contact Steve, share feedback about this or other “Car Free Journey” columns, or suggest destination for future columns, e-mail steveatlas45@yahoo.com. |
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