Posted in Dallas - Fort Worth
August 26, 2017
13 Ways Living In Dallas – Fort Worth Ruins You For Life
There’s nothing quite like the pride of a Texan, but Dallasites and Fort Worthians even take it a step further, vowing never to leave. The Metroplex has set the bar high with so many things to do, places to go, and we’re pretty darn close to Heaven on Earth. Here are 13 ways that living in Dallas – Fort Worth ruins you for life.
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We’ve got America’s team, and Da Boys are definitely back! It football isn’t your forte, how about the professional teams of the Texas Rangers baseball, Dallas Mavericks basketball, Dallas Stars hockey, or even the Texas Motor Speedway? We love ALL of our teams!

With 24 days of a fair season that welcomed almost 2.5 million people through its gates in 2016 alone, the fair continues to get bigger and more popular each year. The 2017 fair is approaching (Sept. 29-Oct. 22) at Fair Park in Dallas, and predictions are for it to surpass last year’s total attendance. From the moment you enter and are greeted by our 55-foot Big Tex, you know it’s a fair like no other.

Sure, we have the urban types who might dress the part and don pricey boots for show, but real working cowboys still exist here. The area has numerous cattle ranches and farms in every direction of the city. Fort Worth may be the only city nationwide where you can watch a professional rodeo year-round. The annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo brings in the really big boys (as in bulls) and rodeo pros in pursuit of large cash prizes.

The area boasts of more than 230 days of sunshine every year, making it an outdoor paradise. Locals enjoy golf, festivals, hiking, biking, recreational sports, and more all year long.

It does break the triple digits sometimes in the summers, but that’s what our backyard and community pools, as well as air-conditioned comfort is for. Jump in!

If you want to work, there’s a job for you here. The Dallas - Fort Worth area continues to draw in top companies due to its workforce, proximity to an international airport for travel, affordable housing and cost of living, and room to grow. Lockheed-Martin in Fort Worth just had a hiring fair, with people lining up all down the street for a chance to work on its next big project.

Robin McClure/The Dallas Pin Show
Dallas has Market Hall and the Apparel Mart, and trying to list all of the fantastic museums and cultural centers spread across both cities would be an impossible task. Most weekends feature fashion shows and art events. Both cities have a thriving eclectic and trendy arts district. There seems to always be special exhibits and concerts in the park, making the area somewhat of an art extravaganza.

Located less than 35 miles from one another, Dallas and Fort Worth enjoy both a competitive spirit as well as a harmonious family relationship with the other. Each city has a unique personality and culture, and while they are different in many ways, they agree they are better off together. Many locals pledge loyalty to one city or another; others choose to live in a suburb conveniently located in between and enjoy the best of both. This view is from the Irving suburb, which is in the middle between both cities.

We love our steak and our barbecue, without a doubt, but Texans REALLY love their Tex-Mex. How do you know? Take a look at the sheer number of Mexican restaurants, tamale stands, taco food trucks, and food stands.

What makes Tex-Mex so different? It’s all in the spice, and here we like it hot! If you have a mild side, don't be afraid to ask for it to be toned down.

Dallas and Fort Worth both boast beautiful skylines, filled with high-rise views that make locals and visitors alike swoon, but what’s different here is that a matter of minutes, you can leave the city lights behind and return to a quieter and calmer lifestyle. Neighborhoods can be found where there are one-acre minimums, and ranch style homes with room to roam are still in demand. Best of all, the area still has lots of undeveloped land to explore.

The Dallas – Fort Worth area features 13 lakes, which were created by the construction of dams on one of the four forks of the Trinity River or its creeks and tributaries. They serve as reservoirs, but each provides plenty of year-round recreational opportunities. This one is Grapevine Lake, which is conveniently located between Dallas and Fort Worth.

Texans are indisputably among the friendliest sort of folk around. We really mean it when we say "howdy!". And "ya’ll" isn’t just slang; it’s a way of life. Just don't talk smack about our Cowboys.

With two award-winning zoos (one in each city, of course), a world class aquarium, outdoor concerts and street fairs almost every weekend, and hands-on exhibits for the young ones, there is no shortage of activities for children. Your kids will never be bored… and neither will you!

Both cities are proud of their western heritage, especially their place in cattle drive culture and getting the railroads to connect through their towns. There are numerous statues, art galleries, western museums, historical markers, and even ghost tours about days of the past that will interest history buffs and entertain all ages.
What called you to Texas and what makes you stay? Let us know what you find most appealing and endearing to the Dallas – Fort Worth area.