Destination Spotlight: Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Addison, Frisco, McKinney

1. In the heart of the downtown arts district, the Dallas Art Fair offers collectors, arts professionals, and the public the opportunity to engage with a rich selection of modern and contemporary art. Thoughtfully curated exhibitions and innovative programming encourage lively conversations and close looking in a robust and rapidly growing arts community. Check it out November 12-14.

2. That same weekend, Tacolandia is back November 13 for its seventh year at the Dallas Farmers Market, serving up the best unlimited urban contemporary and authentic taco samplings in the city. With more than 25 vendors providing good eats, including local favorites and food trucks, this outdoor festival is ensuring going home hungry isn’t an option.

3. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many visitors may be wary to travel, but rest assured. VisitDallas led the nation as the first destination to seek the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation, the gold standard for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention protocols. To date, the convention center, both airports and several dozen hotels and venues have achieved this stringent accreditation.

4. Fort Worth’s new Dickies Arena, a $450 million multipurpose and sports arena, is now open and will host major events, concerts, and sporting events. Dickies Arena is located at the Will Rogers Memorial Center Complex in the Cultural District, 10 minutes from downtown.

5. Whiskey Ranch, the largest whiskey distillery west of the Mississippi is home to Firestone & Robertson’s award-winning TX Whiskey and TX Straight Bourbon. Located on the historic golf course where legends Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson once played in Fort Worth, its beautiful views of downtown make it perfect for offsite meetings and events.

6. You can’t go to Fort Worth and not check out the Fort Worth Herd. The world’s only twice-daily cattle drive runs every day (except for three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter) down East Exchange Avenue. Both cattle drives, which occur at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., are about eight minutes. The Fort Worth Herd is available for special events.

7. See Plano from new heights – literally! Plano is the Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas. For a good portion of the year, you can look up into the morning sky and find hot air balloons soaring by, especially leading up to the Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival, which will be back in 2022. Two groups – Air Adventures Aloft and Rohr Balloons – offer flights throughout the year for small groups.

8. The way we work is changing. The Addison TreeHouse, part of the Dallas Entrepreneur Center Network, is on the forefront of coworking spaces. The non-profit has created a space to help entrepreneurs start, build and grow their companies through mentorship and community. Regular events and speakers also offer education and motivation to lead you on a path toward growth.

9. If golf is more your speed, Frisco is set to become the modern home of American golf in spring 2023. Construction recently began on the Omni PGA Frisco Resort, which will feature 501 guest rooms and seven, four-bedroom golf villas. The resort will also have two 18-hole championship golf courses, 12 dining outlets, three pools including an adults-only rooftop infinity pool, a spa, and meetings and events space.

10. Take in a bit of history while getting in some steps with McKinney’s free historic walking tours on the second Tuesday and fourth Saturday of every month. The tours give residents and visitors alike a peek into the history, stories, and people that shaped the city. It also features architecture from the early 1900’s, when most of the buildings were originally constructed as the town grew.

Sources: Visit Dallas, Visit Fort Worth, Visit Plano, Visit Addison, Visit Frisco, Visit McKinney