North Texas is hosting more World Cup games—nine—than any other venue this go-around. The region is hot, flat, and sprawling, and the air quality isn’t great. But Dallas–Fort Worth is also chock-full of great restaurants, amazing bars, fascinating museums, monolithic football stadiums, and a variety of places where you can make lifelong memories between the matches. Dallas, in particular, has been witness to some of the most important moments in American history. The area has also been shaped by oil booms, cattle drives, immigration, technology, sports, and massive population growth. And yes, you’ll quickly discover that anywhere you want to go in North Texas is somehow at least thirty to forty-five minutes away. (And yes, highways are just about the only effective way to get anywhere.) But that landscape of freeways, frontage roads, and overpasses is all part of the bittersweet charm of a place that swirls together glitz and grime like nowhere else.
Take in the beauty of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
If you only have a few hours to spend outside a soccer stadium in North Texas, spend them at the Dallas Arboretum. The sixty-six acres of impeccably cultivated flora set against the shore of White Rock Lake—one of the prettiest views in North Texas—make this the gem of Dallas. If you’re traveling with children, the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is worth a visit, too.
See history up close at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
On November 22, 1963, a few bullets forever altered the trajectory of global history. Who fired those bullets and which direction they were going will be the subject of permanent debate. Regardless of where you fall on the conspiracy spectrum, though, the Sixth Floor Museum, housed in the former Texas School Book Depository, tells the story of what happened that day with remarkable care and restraint.
Take a stroll around the Bishop Arts District.
There aren’t a ton of walkable neighborhoods in North Texas. That’s part of what makes Bishop Arts so great. You can spend an afternoon or evening exploring the fantastic mix of restaurants, bars, bookstores, boutiques, and coffee shops. You can try authentic Texas barbecue, listen to a jazz band, catch a show at the historic Kessler Theater, then cap the night with the best slice of pie you’ve ever tried at Emporium Pies.
Spend a day in Cowtown.
If you have a full day in the area, head west to Fort Worth. While Dallas and Fort Worth are only thirty miles away from each other, the two cities can feel centuries apart. Start at the Stockyards, where twice-daily cattle drives still rumble through the streets, then spend the afternoon at the Kimbell Art Museum, where you’ll find everything from ancient artifacts to works by Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Monet. It’s a very different view of Texas.
Pay homage at the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
America’s relationship to the Beautiful Game is complicated. While the U.S. men’s national team has mostly struggled over the last century, the U.S. women’s national team has dominated. You can see the ups and downs of that history, including artifacts like Mia Hamm’s cleats, Pelé’s New York Cosmos jersey, and four World Cup trophies—all won by the women—at the beautifully curated (and fantastically air-conditioned) National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco. The interactive exhibits are engaging for all levels of soccer fandom. And if you have time, check out the National Videogame Museum just a few miles away. For anyone who loves classic arcade games or grew up with a Nintendo in the ’80s or ’90s, the place is an overdose of nostalgia.
Bonus: Cozy up at Clifton Club Bar & Lounge.
If you’re looking for something a little less family-friendly, stop by the Clifton Club, slotted between Uptown and Highland Park. It’s dark. It’s hazy. It’s perfect for great cocktails and conversation with strangers. The place is best known for its adult Happy Meal: a mini smashburger, delicious fries, any happy hour cocktail, and a single unlit cigarette. Beef, booze, starch, and smoke—a decent encapsulation of Dallas, actually.
