The State Fair of Texas begins this weekend in Dallas at Fair Park which also has some of the best Art Deco architecture in America. Always a good time. Great food at the fair.
Very close to White Rock lake is the Dallas Arboretum. Considered to be the best park in the nation. And it is incredible; truly magnificent. Take the time to tour the sprawling DeGolyer house on the arboretum grounds - Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
Don’t ask Dallasites about JFK, Dealy Plaza or the school book depository. Even though that was 60 years ago, we would just as soon pretend that didn’t happen.
If you have your gal with you and she likes to shop, Dallas is a great destination. NorthPark Center is the best place to shop. Huge Neiman-Marcus and Nordstrom’s in that mall; many high end smaller stores. If you have money to blow, head to Highland Park Village to shop.
If you like modern architecture, try the Nasher Sculpture Center downtown and then walk over to Klyde Warren Park which is built over a downtown highway.
If you want to see nature, go to the Trinity River Audubon Center. It is a massive urban forest near downtown.
Don’t waste your time at Southfork - it is nothing but a big white house that has been over-commercialized.
If you are going to drive between Dallas and San Antonio, avoid I-35 - way too much traffic and everyone drives like a madman. Much more pleasant alternative is to take 281 north out of San Antonio; at Hico, continue north on 220 toward Glen Rose; turns into hiway 67 before Glen Rose; stay on 67 into Dallas. Good scenery. Nice small towns with names such as Blanco, Lampasas and Marble Falls. Relaxed drive.
Downtown Glen Rose has some charm. West of Glen Rose is the Creation Evidence Museum (biblical account of creation) and Dinosaur Valley State Park which has some fossilized dinosaur footprints in the creekbed.
Should you choose to stay in San Antonio, take a day to go to Fredericksburg. Settled by German immigrants. Has a good WW II museum - the National Museum of the Pacific War / Admiral (Chester) Nimitz gallery. A few tasting rooms for wineries (Texas is the nation’s fourth-largest wine producing state). Some good German food.
Just east of Fredericksburg is the LBJ Ranch (President Lyndon Baines Johnson) operated by the National Park service. You can drive some of the property and might see some white tails. You can see some longhorn cattle. There is some decent history to learn about at the family house.
The town of Boerne is another good excursion not too far from San Antonio. Not a lot to do there, but it is a charming town to see. Your wife will like the shopping on S Main St, just north of River Rd.
Adjacent to the town of New Braunfels (on I-35 between San Antonio and Austin) is the tiny town of Gruene. Try to catch an evening music performance at Gruene Hall; some boot-scooting dancing. Eat at the Gristmill restaurant and sit outside overlooking the river.
In San Antonio, ride one of the boats in the river walk area. And walk a portion of the river walk. Nice place to chill sitting in an outdoor cafe and drinking a margarita - definitely enjoy some Mexican food.
Avoid Austin - too pretentious. Badly overcrowded highways; terrible traffic. And whatever you do, stay away from Waco and all of the Chip & Joanna Magnolia trap - nothing but a place to buy home decorating knick-knacks.
If you insist on the fastest drive between Dallas and San Antonio, consider spending the money to take the 130 toll road that bypasses Austin. Don’t be surprised to find yourself driving 100+ mph on this road.
