Dallas – Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures

Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth, established in the late 1800′s as a cattle hub along the legendary Chisholm Trail, has blossomed into the sixteenth largest city in the United States. Still refereed to as a “cowtown,” Fort Worth is now considered as the cultural gateway to the American West. Located in central Texas, this bustling city proudly displays its roots through traditional architecture, museums, and activities centered around its Western heritage.

While Forth Worth’s city center features many Art Deco style buildings, in 1981, all the structures around Sundance Square were painstakingly restored to their original turn of the century condition. Named after the folkloric Sundance Kid, this vibrant metroplex of art galleries, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment spots. Thousands travel to this area in order to get a taste of the Old West. Some of the hot spots include Billy Miner’s Saloon and the Woolworth’s Building.

Nowhere can Forth Worth’s devotion to its heritage be seen more than in the city’s Cultural District. Here, five museums, all set in a park-like setting of beautiful gardens and green spaces, offer visitors the opportunity to explore world-class exhibitions and collections. Considered the “museum capital of the Southwest,” many of Ft. Worth’s museums are dedicated to the city’s Western Heritage. Just two of the many examples of such institutes that exemplify the spirit of Forth Worth are The National Cowgirl Museum, dedicated to celebrating the courageous women that helped shape the American West; and Texas Cowboy Museum, which is dedicated to the understanding of the West’s multi-cultural heritage.

From the introduction of the first railroad in 1876, Forth Worth began to prosper from a sleepy “cow-town” into a thriving business center. The best place to catch a glimpse of this significant time in Fort Worth’s history is at The Fort Worth Stockyard District. The Stockyards, listed on the National Historic Registry, celebrates the city’s heritage in the cattle industry. The area retains its Western motif, and features a stockyard museum, local cattle sales, rodeos, and a cattle drive re-enactment. The area also offers a variety of shopping and dining venues.

While Fort Worth’s past economic well-being depended on the cattle industry, today Fort Worth boasts a thriving oil and natural gas industry. The city itself contains over 1000 natural gas wells which can be found in the surrounding countryside as well as in residential areas. Along with the oil and gas industry, Fort Worth is a diverse manufacturing center. Some of the major employers in the area are Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, Bell Helicopter, Radio Shack Corporation, Burlington Northern, and American Airlines.

It’s easy to see why Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing city’s in Texas. With a moderate subtropical climate and average temperatures in the mid-seventies, the city is a pleasant place to live. Adding to its desirability, is an abundance of entertainment venues, proximity to professional sport teams such as the Texas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, and plenty of family-friendly activities such as the renowned Fort Worth Zoo. Overall, Fort Worth is a city that offers something for everyone. It’s truly one of Texas’s finest stars!

Dallas, Texas

Dallas is a city located in the state of Texas, and with a population of just over 1.2 million people Dallas is the third largest city in the state and the ninth largest city in the United States. The metropolitan area of Dallas also includes the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth and has a population of nearly 6.5 million people. This makes it the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country.

The first inhabitants of the city of Dallas were the Caddo Native Americans. They were the only inhabitants of the land until the early 16th century when the land was claimed by the Spanish. Dallas remained under Spanish control until 1821. Mexico declared independence from the Spanish, and the city became apart of Mexico until 1836. Texas became its own independent country in 1836 when it separated from Mexico. This lasted 10 years until Texas became a member of the United States of America.

There was not an area in Texas known as Dallas until 1856. During this time, Dallas was allowed to become a town in the state of Texas. Within a few years, Dallas had a growing population and already had several railroads passing through the area. Dallas’ population skyrocketed in the late 19th century because it was one of the only striving areas after the Civil War. Dallas had become one of the industrial leaders in Texas and was annexed as a city in 1890.

When traveling to the city of Dallas, it may be best to avoid the summer months of June, July and August. Dallas is known for its severely hot weather, and the summer months will see the average high temperatures for the day reach above 95 °F. Dallas’ proximity of the Gulf of Mexico also means that the summers are also very humid. The combined heat and humidity can make it very hard to breathe for someone unfamiliar with that type of weather. The remaining months are much more mild than the summer months. The high temperatures will rarely get above 80 °F during the spring, and freezing temperatures are usually not seen in the winter.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the Dallas area is the Dallas Museum of Art. The Dallas Museum of Art was established in 1903 and now contains more than 24,000 items. Some of the items in the collection of the museum date back nearly 4000 years. There is also a library connected to the museum that contains over 50,000 books. The art collections in the museum range from all around the world, with each collection specializing in a specific area.

If you are a sports fan, then you have to go to Cowboys Stadium while in Dallas. Cowboys Stadium was build in 2009 and cost over $1.3 to construct. It is also now the world’s largest domed stadium. Inside Cowboys Stadium is the world’s largest high definition television that measures 152-by-72 feet. Cowboys Stadium is the home of the Dallas Cowboys and other various sporting events throughout the year. Even if you do not attend an event, it is worth a trip to the stadium just to see the amazing piece of architecture.

Fort Worth, Texas

Dallas, Texas

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