Toman - Moon Dallas & Fort Worth

The Wild Detectives bookstore and cafe.

Big oil and big hair, cowboys and cattle fieldsthese are the images of Dallas and Fort Worth that prevail.

Established as a profitable trading post on the banks of the Trinity River, Dallas grew into a vibrant community of merchants, and then a cosmopolitan city as the center of the Texas oil boom. With all that money and status came wealthy socialites with sky-high hair, designer clothing, and flashy BMW convertibles. Thirty miles away, cowboys herded millions of cattle down the Chisholm Trail, founding Fort Worth as the place where the West begins. That citys western culture continues to thrive.

Over the years, however, all kinds of people moved here and the cities have changed. Transplants from both coasts have set down roots in DFW, influencing the regions dining and shopping scenes with a homegrown, handmade philosophy. Today, diversity is everywhere, from the colorful quinceaera celebrations in Oak Cliff to the massive Korean spa center in Northwest Dallas. The Fort Worth Cultural District boasts world-renowned art museums full of Picassos and Andy Warhols. Punk rock bars and craft breweries are peppered in with the more classic jazz clubs and dance halls in Deep Ellum. Historic cemeteries preserve the regions heritage in West Dallas while restaurant rows in Trinity Groves and on Fort Worths Magnolia Avenue showcase modern redevelopment.

Look beyond the rodeos and honky-tonks and Dallas and Fort Worth will defy your expectations.

The city center houses important history and art museums that top the list of Dallas attractions. Dealey Plaza, the site of President John F. Kennedys assassination in 1963, still fascinates visitors. Spanning 19 blocks, the Dallas Arts District bursts with activity most of the year. Besides the major sights, event venues, and all-star restaurants, downtown has a mostly commercial feel compared to the more community-oriented neighborhoods around it. Although the city has invested in more public spaces, locals dont spend much time here when they leave the officethats what Deep Ellum is for. A few blocks east of downtown, its the heart of Dallas nightlife.

Dealey Plaza

Lakewood/East Dallas

The diverse landscape of Lakewood and East Dallas ranges from the peaceful nature of White Rock Lake and iconic turn-of-the-20th-century mansions to the walkable Greenville Avenue restaurant and shopping strip. The sense of pride is palpable here because these thriving destinations resulted from grassroots neighborhood planning rather than big Dallas money.