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It has been said that Dallas is a city where some of the best adventures can be found or for just simply having fun. Big D has been entertaining visitors for years with its outstanding variety of dining, entertainment and exciting attractions.

For starters, take a stroll around Fair Park, a landscaped park that is the home of numerous events including the spectacular State Fair of Texas, the largest in the United States. As you walk along the colorful Esplanade, you will notice the grand statues and frescoes created for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. This artwork adorns one of the best collections of "art deco" architecture in the country. At the end of the Esplanade is the impressive Hall of State, with its outstanding collection of Texas and Dallas history and the inspirational Great Hall. Also located near the Esplanade is the Age of Steam Railroad Museum, and the Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where granite tablets are carved the names of the sons and daughters of Texas who died in that conflict. Texas had more casualties than any other state.

Another favorite area of Fair Park is the Leonhardt Lagoon, with its cat tails, gardens, walkways and benches. Growing out of the lagoon and inviting you to stroll on its branches is the largerthan-life sculpture of an aquatic plant "Saggitaria Platyphylia."

Surrounding the Leonhardt lagoon is a variety of informative and educational museums. Get a first-hand lesson in electricity or gravity at the Science Place I and 11, renowned for its hands-on, interactive exhibits. At the Museum of Natural History, the panoramic displays of Texas wildlife are so lifelike you can almost hear the coyotes howling and the hawks screeching.

Also located along the lagoon is the Dallas Aquarium, and coming soon to the park is the Museum of African American Life and Culture.

From Fair Park you get a great view of the Spectacular Dallas skyline, but the best place to view downtown is from the inside - on a bustling downtown street gazing straight up at the spires, turrets and angled glass above.

There is much to see and do in the cultural and entertainment heart of the city. For instance, you could spend a whole day in the West End Historic District, where red-brick, turn-of-the-century warehouses host an exciting array of 80 shops and 55 restaurants.

At the West End Marketplace you will find an array of specialty and souvenir shops in a colorful atrium setting. Fudge, antiques, handmade toys, tie-dyed T-shirts, jewelry and Dallas souvenirs are just some of the items you can find here. There is even a game arcade in the basement and a unique Dallas-style miniature golf course up in the rafters.

Market Street, adorned with brick archways and antique lamp posts, is lined with even more shops and a variety of restaurants - from Texas barbecue to spaghetti to haute cuisine. Adding to the nostalgic flavor of the West End are horse-drawn surreys that provide rides through the district as well as tours of downtown Dallas.

One of Dallas' newest and most-visited attractions is the Sixth Floor Exhibit, detailing the life, death and achievements of President John F. Kennedy. The Sixth Floor is housed in the former Texas School Book Depository Building on historic Dealey Plaza.

Just east of Dealey Plaza is the Dallas County Historical Plaza. Here you can visit the rustic one-room cabin of Dallas founder John Neely Bryan, travel the North Texas countryside on a giant terrazzo map of Dallas County, and pause for a moment of reflection at the John F. Kennedy Memorial.

The plaza is surrounded by county administrative buildings, including "Old Red," the old Dallas County Courthouse. This marvel of late-19th century architecture features walls of red limestone and gray granite, a slate roof and turrets complete with menacing gargoyles.

Just beyond "Old Red," is Reunion. Here the past meets the future as you stroll the grand terminal of Union Station and then ride a class elevator to the top of Reunion Tower for a bird's eye view of the city. On a clear day, you can see the Fort Worth skyline 30 miles to the west.

Also located downtown is Neiman Marcus, one of the most fashionable and trend-setting retailers in the world. This is the original store, and you'll want to take time out from shopping to visit the store's own museum.

A couple of blocks from Neiman's, in the heart of Dallas' bustling financial district, is Thanksgiving Square, a quiet oasis with bubbling streams, gardens, bells and a beautiful spiral chapel. On weekdays, Thanksgiving Square also provides access to Dallas' unique underground tunnel system. Below the busy streets, you will find a whole other world of shops and eateries.

The Dallas Arts District on the north side of downtown includes the renowned Dallas Museum of Art and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the latter designed by architect I.M. Pei., who truly created a visual symphony in this beautiful blend of stone and glass.

The Dallas Museum of Art is well known for its outstanding pre-Columbian collection and works of the Old Masters, modern American artists, Oriental and Oceanic artists. The Sculpture Garden presents modem sculpture amidst fountains, waterfalls and gardens. And just outside the garden walls, vendors sell food and beverages from their sidewalk carts.

The Arts District is the perfect place to catch a ride on the McKinney Avenue Trolle, an authentic earl 20th century trolley system complete with red velvet seats, wooden floors and clanging bells.

While the ride down the red-brick streets is well worth the $1 fare, you may want to get off and visit one of the many shops and restaurants that line the route. Seafood, Tex-Mex and homemade hamburgers are just some of the tastes you will find here. Side streets offer adventures in antique shopping, and rock and roll lives at Dallas' own Hard Rock Cafe.

North, east and northwest from downtown are a multitude of opportunities to satisfy your hunger for world-class shopping and dining. Small shopping centers such as Highland Park ViLlage, with its distinctive Mediterranean architecture,offers shopping and browsing in luxurious and elegant surroundings, And at large mega-centers such as The Galleria and NorthPark, you will find retailers such as Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany's, as well as blooming gardens and fountains.

For one-of-a-kind, handmade items, you'll want to browse the rough-hewn nooks and crannies of Olla Podrida, where local artists create and sell truly unique clothing, jewelry and collectibles. As the saying goes, If you can't find it in Dallas, you can't find it anywhere."

Nothing works up an appetite like shopping and browsing, and with more that 5,000 restaurants (more per capita than New York City), Dallas is the place to be. Local favorites such as barbecue, Tex-Mex and Southwestern are plentiful, but Dallas is also renown for fine continental, New American and international cuisine.

Dining establishments can be found throughout the city, including Dallas' fine hotels, in shopping centers and on neighborhood comers. Historic districts such as Lower Greenville, Deep Ellum and Oak Lawn offer an eclectic mix of restaurants, galleries, boutiques and live music clubs. Here you are likely to see adults dressed for the symphony strolling the same sidewalks with teens bound for a rock concert.

While shopping and dining are favorite pastimes in Dallas, there is plenty more to see and do. Dallas has more than 46,430 acres of public parks, including 16 small lakes. The largest of these, White Rock Lake. is a 1,873-acre park with scenic trails, paddleboats, bike rentals and horseback riding. If you're in the mood for a winter workout. try, walking, jogging or bicycling around the lake on the nine-mile paved path. Don't worry - there are plenty of rest stops along the

On the east bank of White Rock Lake is the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, where there is always something blooming and special events to enjoy year-round. The Arboretum offers a spectacular view of downtown Dallas, as well as some of Dallas' finest estates.

Another scenic area is Turtle Creek Park, a lush chain of streams, ponds and greenbelts that meanders past the elegant high-rises of Oak Lawn and into the mansion-lined neighborhoods of Park Cities. Here, children can feed the ducks while their parents admire the large, well-manicured homes.

Just south of downtown Dallas is Old City Park, Dallas' first park and today the home of 37 restored buildings from the days of the Texas Republic to the Victorian Era. Take a step back in time as you tour the homes, log cabins, commercial buildings, a church and a school.

Also south of downtown in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas is the Dallas Zoo, with its exciting new Wilds of Africa Exhibit. Here, a new monorail carries you on an African safari past animals roaming freely in their natural habitats. Jungle trails and an African village bring the culture of the Dark Continent to life.

With all this and even more to see and do in Dallas, visitors can choose from a selection of transportation systems. Many hotels offer free shuttle service to major malls, attractions and entertainment areas, and Dallas Area Rapid Transit has routes and shuttles that crisscross the city. A variety of taxi companies operate throughout the region, and rental cars are available at both D/FW Airport and Love Field Airport, as well as at satellite agencies throughout the region.

To find out more about places to go and things to see in Dallas, consult your hotel concierge, or stop by one of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau's convenient Visitor Information Centers, where trained staff offer helpful tips as well as brochures and more information about specific sites and events:

* West End MarketPlace, 603 Munger

* Union Station, 400 5. Houston

* DCVB Offices, Renaissance Tower. 1201 Elm Street, Suite 2000

And if you want to begin planning your Dallas sightseeing before your next trip, contact the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau by writing to 1201 Elm Street, Suite 2000, Dallas. TX 75270, or by calling (214) 746-6700. Also, call the 24-hour Special Events Info-Line at (214) 746-6679 for an up-to-the-minute selection of events going on in Big D.

Courtesy of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

COPYRIGHT 1990 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group