Dallas
Dallas / Fort Worth City Overview
Dallas and Fort Worth combine their distinct, seperate personalities to form the 4th largest metro area in the United States. Dallas itself is the 9th largest city in the country and the area is far and away the #1 visitor destination in the state of Texas. The entire metroplex, as it’s called, is everything Texas – big, sprawling, and forward looking.
The two cities are linked by a busy freeway system that circles the entire metroplex. Smack in between Dallas and Fort Worth is Arlington, one of the country’s most popular family destinations and home of the Texas Rangers.
As close as they are in proximity, Dallas and Fort Worth have distinctly different vibes. Both are appealing in their own way, from Dallas’ high end shopping districts to Fort Worth’s gateway to the west sensibilities. Dallas is a city of entertainment districts, like Deep Ellum, The West End, and Greenville Avenue. Fort Worth has the historic Stockyards District, while Arlington is home to all sorts of family attractions.
Staying in Arlington is ideal, especially if any of the immediate area attractions are on your agenda. You’ll have reasonably close access to both Dallas and Fort Worth, but be prepared to drive anywhere you want to go. There’s public transportation in the metroplex but everything is spread out which makes driving a necessity.
The Neighborhood – Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Arlington is home to two seperate Six Flags theme parks, so a family atmosphere prevails. Just about every chain restaurant imaginable is within sight. The ballpark itself is situated in somewhat of a residential neighborhood wiwth easy access to the freeway, so it’s just a short hop to any place you’d like to go in Arlington.
The Ballpark
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington opened in 1994 and is regarded as one of the best of its type – a modernistic yet retro style ballpark. There’s an asymmetrical playing surface, a home run deck in right field, and a handsome brick and concrete exterior. Capacity is over 49,000 and it’s easy to move around the ballpark to explore various amenities. There’s a huge manual scoreboard in left field which adds to the retro effect.
Ballpark Tours
Tours of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and Legends of the Game Baseball Museum are available year around at a cost of $12. You get to see just about everything in the ballpark – it’s a highly enjoyable tour.
Historic Baseball Sites
The Rangers former stadium, Arlington Stadium, is within a stone’s throw of the current ballpark. It was situated just 1/4 mile northwest and the site is now the furthest north parking lot for Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Arlington Stadium was demolished after the 1993 season. The foul poles and some of the bleacher sections are now incorporated into the new ballpark.
Texas Rangers Tickets
In recent seasons, the Rangers have struggled, so seats are available for most games. The team is popular, but sometimes the Texas heat keeps attendance down. You can almost always walk up and buy tickets day of game.
Public Transportation
There are a few public transportation options, particularly in Dallas where a light rail and trolley system shuttles people from one entertainment district to another. But you’ll need a car to get around, unless you plan on sticking close to your hotel, and what fun would that be?
Bars, Restaurants, and Taverns
There are a few good locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to find an interesting beer selection, but the closest to Arlington are two brewpubs in the shadow of the ballpark.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery: This location of the BJ’s chain is spacious and roomy, much like every other restaurant in the immediate area. The house beers are quite good and the food is always solid, featuring pizzas, big salads, and entrees. 201 Interstate 20 East, Arlington. Phone: 817-465-5225.
Humperdinks/Big Horn Brewing: This is a Texas based chain and they do a great job with special events, happy hour, daily specials, beer specials, and more. Portions are large and the food fresh and well prepared. There are usually at least one or two of the house beers that stack up quite well to their style. 700 Six Flags Dr., Arlington. Phone: 817-640-8553.
Outside of Arlington, there are a few good places to drink beer in both Dallas and Fort Worth. Sometimes your best bet is to find a good BBQ restaurant and quaff longnecks of Shiner Bock or Lone Star. Beyond that, here are a couple of personal favorites …
Two Rows Restaurant and Brewery: Located in the trendy Greenville Ave. entertainment district, this brewpub has a sports bar theme that turns a little nighclubby later in the evening. The menu is varied with lots of daily specials and the beer is very good. 5500 Greenville Ave., Dallas. Phone: 214-696-2739.
Uncle Buck’s Brewery and Steakhouse: You’ll find this brewpub inside the Bass Pro Shop complex in Grapevine, a small town not far from Arlington and the DFW Airport just north of Dallas. Grapevine is known for their Texas wineries and specialty shops, so if you like wine, stop and sample. As you might expect, the brewpub menu is filled with steaks, chops, burgers, and hefty sandwiches. The beers are clean and fresh. It’s a good value here and even if you’re not an outdoors type, a visit to Bass Pro Shop is always enlightening and enjoyable. 2501 Bass Pro Dr., Grapevine. Phone: 972-691-5100.
Covey Restaurant and Brewery: One of our two favorite beer destinations in Fort Worth, Covey takes their food as seriously as their beer. It’s a slightly sophisticated atmosphere appealing to the moderately upscale crowd. We like stopping in for lunch and having a wood fired pizza or sandwich on the pub side of the restaurant along with a Texas Wheat or Hefeweizen. The beer is exceptional, the service friendly and capable. If you’re in Fort Worth, go here! 3010 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth. Phone: 817-731-7933.
Rahr and Sons Brewery: This microbrewery is the labor of love of a family whose history is deeply rooted in brewing. Opened in Fort Worth in 2004 and has been expanding their production and distribution ever since. You can find the beer on tap in Fort Worth, but we prefer stopping by for the tour and tasting, held every Saturday from 1-3 p.m. There’s live music, BBQ, and the full line of Rahr’s beers. Ask about their Rare Breeds series, where proceeds are donated to the Texas Wildlife Foundation to help save endangered species. The first is a tasty pale ale, Blind Salamander Pale. 701 Galveston Ave., Fort Worth. Phone: 817-810-9266.
