Giants road trip 2011: Dallas
Michelle Blasie, left, takes a photograph of Walter Alcivar, right, both of New York, outside Cowboys Stadium before the Cowboys' first regular-season NFL football game at the site, against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman) Credit: AP Photo/Sharon Ellman
The Giants travel to Dallas for a match-up against the rival Cowboys on Sunday, Dec. 11, in what could help determine a playoff spot. If you're heading to Big D for the game, here's a quickie travel guide of 10 things to do and places to see while you're in the Dallas area, in no particular order. Use the comments section at the bottom to share your favorite places.
1. The Sixth Floor Museum
411 Elm Street
214-747-6660
jfk.org
Located on the sixth and seventh floors of the former Texas School Book Depository, The Sixth Floor Museum chronicles the life of President John F. Kennedy. The museum's location is at the spot where Lee Harvey Oswalt shot Kennedy. Patrons can browse various material, including photos and film, pertaining to the assassination. Admission is $13.50.
2. Dallas Zoo
650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway
469-554-7500
dallaszoo.com
For $12 ($9 for kids), why not see a plethora of new additions at the Dallas Zoo? The zoo boasts that it is experiencing a "baby boom," with newborns including llamas, turtles, chimps, warthogs and giraffes. Two main areas make up the zoo: the Wilds of Africa, where many of the larger animals are located, and Zoo North, where you can see camels, rhinos and several other exhibits.
3. TopGolf Dallas
878 Park Lane
214-341-9600
topgolf.com/dallas
What exactly is TopGolf? We're not completely clear, but the Dallas location includes five games: TopGolf, a precision point-based golf game, TopChip, a short game version of TopGolf, TopPressure, TopShot and TopDrive. There's also plenty of food and beer to whet your appetite.
4. Zero Gravity Thrill Park
11131 Malibu Drive
972-484-8359
gojump.com
If you're a thrill seeker, Zero Gravity is for you. The theme park touts a quintet of thrill rides: a bungee jumping ride, the Skycoaster, which sends riders in circles at 60 miles-per-hour, 110 feet in the air; Nothin' but Net, a 130-foot freefall into a safety net; Skyscraper, which sends riders into the air on a windmill; and Blastoff, which propels riders into the air from zero to 70 mph in just over a second. If you're not queasy reading the descriptions, give it a shot.
5. American Airlines Center
2500 Victory Ave.
214-222-3687
americanairlinescenter.com
One of the best arenas to visit in the United States, the American Airlines Center is the home to both the Stars and Mavericks. The Stars won't be in town the week of the 2011 Giants game, but if you're lucky and the NBA lockout is resolved, the Mavericks are home against the Nuggets the Monday after Big Blue takes on the Cowboys
6. Dallas World Aquarium
1801 N.Griffin St.
214-720-2224
dwazoo.com
Ever wanted to see a three-toed sloth in person? The Dallas World Aquarium has the only public display of the animals in the United States. The feature exhibit is the aquarium's model of the Orinoco Rainforest, which features various species of birds flying amongst patrons. You can also see vampire bats, poison dart frogs and crocodiles in the exhibit. Admission is $20.95 for adults.
7. John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza
411 Elm St.
214-747-6660
jfk.org
After seeing The Sixth Floor Museum, you should walk over to the original Dallas memorial to President John F. Kennedy one block away. Dedicated in 1970, the structure is a 30-foot high roofless room. The best time to see the memorial is at night, when light fixtures on the support columns are lit, giving the illusion that the memorial is almost floating in mid-air.
8. Wildcatter Steakhouse
6062 Highway 16 South, Graham
940-549-3500
wildcatterranch.com
You can't go to Texas and not try out one of its highest-rated steakhouses. Winner of numerous awards and a user favorite on opentable.com, the Wildcatter Steakhouse boasts the exact menu you would expect to find in Texas, with plenty of chili, barbecue, chicken and steak options.
9. Dallas Arboretum
8525 Garland Road
214-515-6511
dallasarboretum.org
The Dallas Arboretum features 66 acres of gardens with countless flowers and foliage. There are seasonal events frequently at the arboretum, and dining options -- Restaurant DeGolyer and the Lula Mae Slaughter Dining Terrace -- on the premises. Adult admission is $12.
10. Harry Hines Boulevard
Named after Harry Hines, who served on the Texas Highway Commission in the 1930s, and a prominent part of the route that President John F. Kennedy's motorcade took after Kennedy was shot, the boulevard is now a shopping district with several wholesale warehouses. Nicknamed "Shopper's Alley," it's the perfect spot for bargain hunters.
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