North Texas

Around North Texas

Photo: Matthew T Rader · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Greater area · Texas · 8.9M people

North Texas

Locals say DFW · “Big D”, “Cowtown”

Where the West meets the South

Cowboys blueRangers redVictory green

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Welcome to the heart of North Texas! Whether you're here for the Cowboys, the barbecue, or the arts, you'll find a mix of big-city energy and down-home charm. Get ready to explore the Stockyards, dive into the taco scene, and make some new friends along the way.

Clubs for North Texas

No clubs for North Texas yet.

The room

North Texas is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Dallas–Fort Worth's; the others are below.

One room for everyone around Dallas–Fort Worth. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around North Texas. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • AT&T Stadium Home of the Dallas Cowboys with a massive video board and retractable roof.
  • Globe Life Field Ballpark of the Texas Rangers in Arlington with a retractable roof.
  • Klyde Warren Park Urban park built over the freeway, connecting downtown Dallas to the arts district.
  • Dealey Plaza Historic site of the JFK assassination, now a National Historic Landmark.
  • Katy Trail Popular 3.5-mile rail-trail for running, biking, and people-watching.
  • Fort Worth Zoo One of the nation's top zoos with extensive exhibits and conservation programs.
  • Outdoors Hike at Cedar Ridge Preserve
  • Outdoors Bike the Katy Trail
  • With kids Dallas Zoo
  • With kids Fort Worth Zoo
  • Evenings Deep Ellum
  • Evenings Fort Worth Stockyards
  • Locals love Honky-tonks
  • Locals love Barbecue joints

Through the year

  • State Fair of Texas late September to mid-October Iconic fair at Fair Park with fried foods, auto show, and Big Tex.
  • Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo January to February Premier rodeo and livestock show at Will Rogers Memorial Center.
  • Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival April Huge outdoor art festival with live music and artist booths.
  • Dallas International Film Festival April Screens independent and international films across the city.
  • Dallas Margarita Festival June Tasting event with dozens of margarita vendors and live music.

DFW has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, often dry winters. Best times to be out are spring and fall when temperatures are moderate and outdoor events are plentiful. Best: Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are the most pleasant with mild temperatures and lower humidity.

Talk like a local

“Big D”
Dallas
“Cowtown”
Fort Worth
“DFW”
The entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex
“North Texas”
The region of North Texas

Getaways

  • Granbury Historic town square, lake activities, and wineries.
  • Gainesville Outdoor recreation at Lake Ray Roberts and a charming downtown.
  • Corsicana Collin Street Bakery fruitcake, a historic downtown and Richland Chambers Reservoir.
  • Athens Lake Athens for fishing and boating, plus the East Texas Arboretum.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Dallas Cowboys NFL
  • Dallas Mavericks NBA
  • Texas Rangers MLB
  • Dallas Stars NHL
  • FC Dallas MLS
  • Dallas Wings WNBA
  • SMU Mustangs NCAA
  • TCU Horned Frogs NCAA
  • University of North Texas Mean Green NCAA
  • UT Arlington Mavericks NCAA
  • Allen Americans ECHL

Eat and drink

  • Tex-Mex Fajitas, queso, tacos
  • Texas barbecue Brisket, ribs
  • Chicken-fried steak Classic Texas dish
  • Whataburger Local fast-food chain
  • Dr Pepper Iconic Texas soda
  • Kolaches Czech pastry, popular in Texas

Where people go

  • Honky-tonks Country music bars, e.g., Billy Bob's Texas
  • Stockyards Fort Worth Stockyards, cattle drives
  • Barbecue joints Smoke-filled BBQ spots
  • Taco stands Street tacos and Tex-Mex
  • Arts districts Dallas Arts District, Fort Worth Cultural District
  • Cowboy bars Western-themed nightlife

Heritage and traditions

DFW is proud of its bold blend of Wild West heritage and modern urban energy, from the Fort Worth Stockyards' cattle drives to Dallas's gleaming skyline and world-class arts. It's a place where cowboy boots and business suits meet, and where a diverse mix of cultures—Mexican, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, and more—adds to the region's flavor.

This time of year in North Texas

  • Fall pumpkin patches October Visit local farms for pumpkins and corn mazes.
  • Greek Food Festival of Dallas October Greek food, dancing, and heritage at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to

Festivals

  • Dallas Blooms at Dallas Arboretum spring Hundreds of thousands of spring bulbs and blooms.
  • Deep Ellum Arts Festival spring Street festival with live music and local art.
  • Greek Food Festival of Dallas October Greek food, dancing, and heritage at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
  • Dallas Pride June Parade and festival in Fair Park.
  • Dia de los Muertos in Oak Cliff November Altars, processions, and community celebration.
  • Chinese New Year Festival in Richardson January/February Lion dances, food, and crafts.

Landmarks with a story

  • Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District Historic cattle drives and Western heritage.
  • Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe Spanish Colonial Revival cathedral in Dallas.
  • Thanks-Giving Square A non-denominational chapel and garden in downtown Dallas.
  • The Dallas Temple A Latter-day Saint temple in Dallas.
  • Hindu Temple of North Texas A Hindu temple in Irving.
  • The Texas Theatre Where Lee Harvey Oswald was captured after the JFK assassination.

Food traditions

  • Breakfast tacos A Tex-Mex staple, often from a local taqueria, with eggs, potato, and salsa.
  • Queso Melted cheese dip with peppers, a party essential.
  • Frito pie A Texas invention, often at fairs and stadiums.
  • Chicken and waffles A Southern comfort food, popular in soul food restaurants.
  • Texas caviar Black-eyed pea salad, a potluck favorite.

Music and arts

  • Deep Ellum's blues and jazz heritage Historic music district in Dallas.
  • Fort Worth's honky-tonk country scene With dance halls and live music.
  • Dallas Arts District Largest urban arts district in the US, with museums and performance venues.
  • Tejano music influence A blend of Mexican and American styles.

A little history

  • 1841 Dallas founded as a trading post on the Trinity River.
  • 1849 Fort Worth established as an army outpost to protect settlers.
  • 1873 Railroads arrive in Dallas, boosting its growth.
  • 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition at Fair Park showcases Dallas.
  • 1963 President John F. Kennedy assassinated in Dealey Plaza.

Rivalries

  • SMU vs TCU The Iron Skillet rivalry in college football.
  • Dallas vs Fort Worth Friendly civic rivalry over which city is the heart of the metro.
  • Game day Red River Showdown
  • Game day Friday night lights
  • Outdoors Visit the Fort Worth Water Gardens
  • Outdoors Explore the Dallas Farmers Market
  • With kids Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
  • With kids Dallas World Aquarium

DFW locals speak with a Southern drawl, using 'y'all' and 'fixin' to', but the region's many transplants bring a mix of accents. Spanish is common, and you'll hear 'howdy' in more rural areas.

Only here

  • The Fort Worth Stockyards has a daily cattle drive with Texas Longhorns.
  • The State Fair's Big Tex is a 52-foot-tall cowboy statue.
  • The Dallas Cowboys are known as 'America's Team'.
  • The DFW Airport is larger than the island of Manhattan.
New here? A few tips
  • Traffic can be heavy on I-35 and I-635; consider using the Dallas North Tollway.
  • Summers are hot (100°F+), but winters are mild; occasional ice storms.
  • Try breakfast tacos and brisket early on.
  • The metro is huge; plan for long drives between cities.
  • Check out the arts districts in both Dallas and Fort Worth.

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Areas in North Texas

Dallas–Fort WorthTexasWhere the West meets the SouthSherman–DenisonTexasRed River roots, Texas heartAthensTexasBlack-eyed peas, fiddles, and quiet lake evenings.GranburyTexasWhere Texas history meets lakeside living.CorsicanaTexasFruitcake capital, Texas proud.DurantOklahomaWhere the lake meets the Choctaw spiritGainesvilleTexasWhere Texas meets the Red River with small-town warmth.Sulphur SpringsTexasWhere the prairie meets the pines and the stew is always simmering.BonhamTexasSmall-town heart, wide-open skies.Mineral WellsTexasWhere the water runs deep and the hills hold stories.

Nearby

Every area
Glen RoseTexasSmall town, big tracks.Lake TexomaOklahomaWhere the lake meets the prairie, and everyone knows your name.CantonTexasPiney woods, lake water, and the world's biggest flea market.StephenvilleTexasSmall town, big cowboy heartMexiaTexasWhere the blackland prairie meets the piney woods.AtokaOklahomaRed earth, tall pines, and a slow pace.PalestineTexasWhere dogwoods bloom and the pines whisperMineolaTexasWhere the pines meet the water.

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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