Go Frugal in Dallas

From cowboy bling and big hair to barbeque and southern hospitality, Dallas is a popular hub for travelers and residents who enjoy friendly "howdys" and Texas sun. It's easy to travel and reside for less in the Dallas Metroplex and the area is rapidly expanding entertainment venues. So button up your Wranglers, slip on those boots, and get ready to save in the Big D!


TRAVELERS

• Getting to Dallas
  Dallas hosts two major airports, DFW International and Dallas Love Field, and offers an impressive expanse of freeways. Several companies provide shared airport taxis for around $35.
  
  Unless you stay directly downtown or along the Central Expressway (Hwy 75), you'll need to rent a car. Most attractions in the area are spread across the Metroplex. Taxis and buses are not reliable options. The DART rail runs north and south through Dallas while the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) shuttles travelers from Fort Worth to Dallas. Both are very clean and empty outside of peak rush hours.
• Hotels
  Check out the Hawthorne Suites Dallas Market Center for great service and close proximity to downtown. North of downtown the Crown Plaza Dallas/Park Central is a short rail ride to the city center and is also a great central location. Check with Trip Advisor to get the best package deals for pricier downtown hotels--my personal favorites are The Adolphus, The W, and (farther away) Gaylord Texan.
  
  If you are traveling with children and can afford to splurge a bit, spend a couple of nights in Grapevine (25 minutes northwest) at the Great Wolf Lodge. With an indoor water park, puppet show, scavenger hunts, and easy access to great shopping, your family will have a blast. Get coupon codes for The Great Wolf Lodge here.
• Hostels and other traveler options
  The Dallas/Irving Backpackers Hostel is located very close to TRE access, a 10-minute ride to downtown. While it isn't in the most savory part of town, it is clean and safe. They offer free WIFI, a guest kitchen, bunk beds, shared bathrooms, and pool--a necessity during the summer. Abby Brown Guest House is a new addition close to downtown. The owners allow dogs and short-term rentals from $20/night.

RESIDENTS

• Recommended neighborhoods
  Dallas continues to be in the top five major cities for relocation due to low home values. Sprawling across multiple cities, the Metroplex is a huge area to comb for home buying or renting.
  
  While other cities' home values have crashed and burned, the Dallas area has remained virtually unscathed through the economic crisis. If you'd rather limit your commute to downtown, check out the new townhouse developments east of Central Expressway. Many of these areas are being renovated and early buyers can get in cheap.
  
  Uptown is a popular, albeit expensive, location just north of downtown for young professionals and singles. Go a bit further north off Lover's Lane for more reasonable options at The Village, a community of multiple apartments with a shared country club and other amenities. Real estate decreases as you move north. Frisco, Plano, Carrollton, and Richardson are popular cities for homebuyers seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle.
• Tips for house/apartment hunting
  Calculate your commute costs when selecting a house. There are several toll roads north of the city that tack on an extra $6 to your daily round trip. If you reside in Dallas County, be prepared to pay much higher property and utility taxes. Look for listings in Collin and Denton counties for lower rates. Apartment prices change daily and fluctuate based on percentage occupancy, so check around for several days before selecting a unit.

TRANSPORTATION

• Dallas Area Rapid Transit www.dart.org is expanding their rail offerings to other parts of the city. But until those massive projects are completed, you'll have to either live within close proximity to existing rails or hop behind the wheel. Buses are notoriously unreliable outside of downtown. Residents relocating to the area will need to own or share a car.
  
  Check out Craigslist for rideshare options to and from work. Outside of downtown, very few establishments charge parking fees and the highways are easy to negotiate. Multiple freeways have high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on the inside that accommodate more than one passenger vehicles during high traffic. Each lane offers several entrances and exits.

TOP DESTINATIONS

CULTURE

Being founded as the financial center for the East Texas Oil Boom, residents of Dallas have historically traveled to the city to work and then quickly commute back to the suburbs. This trend is rapidly changing with a myriad of arts and cultural initiatives aiming to bring residents together. Downtown is home to many museums, exhibits, and restored historic buildings that have rejuvenated the area.

• Jazz in the Museum
  Dallas Museum of Art hosts "Jazz in the Museum", a free soiree and intimate concert on Thursday Nights for free. Twenty minutes east of the city center sits the Dallas Arboretum, a 60-acre refuge of ecological serenity. It is a must-see throughout the year, but especially in the spring when the tulips are in bloom. Programs for children and families are included with the price of admission. Visitors are welcome to bring food and drinks into the park.
• Nasher Sculpture Center
  The Nasher Sculpture Center, a recent addition to the Dallas area, seamlessly blends nature and sculpture with traveling exhibits and a fascinating collection of outdoor art. Target First Saturdays provide free admission with activities for families and adults.

SPORTS

• Dallas has no shortage of testosterone when it comes to professional sports. America's team, the Dallas Cowboys, is legendary and if you want to see them live, be ready to pay top dollar for tickets to the new stadium. Having been to a dozen home games myself, I prefer to watch them from the comfort of my recliner or at a hot wings joint rather than shell out $120 per seat. The area boasts a variety of other sporting events that are more economical and fun to visit.
• Take the TRE over to Arlington for a Texas Rangers game. The Rangers regularly offer deals like the Coca Cola Family Tickets (four tickets, jumbo hot dogs, soft drinks, and a parking pass for $60), free Friday Fireworks post-game shows, and Free Kid Tuesdays. Parking can cost as much as the tickets so take public transportation if possible.
• Half an hour north of Dallas, the Frisco Rough Riders, double-A affiliate of the Rangers, offer great entertainment in a fun, intimate ballpark. The Dr. Pepper Ballpark has tasty concessions, kids activities, and even a swimming pool. Tickets start at just $7. Stonebriar Mall and Ikea are across the parking lot for the shoppers in your group.
• American Airlines Center (AAC) is just a fun place to visit, hosting concerts, the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, and arena football Desperados. While basketball and hockey tickets can cost an arm and a leg, you can still catch a break on admission with preseason games or the cheap seats on the third deck. There's no bad seat in the house at the AAC, plus it's new, clean, and you just might catch a t-shirt.

ENTERTAINMENT

• Keep in mind that Texas weather changes in an instant, but you will always be guaranteed toasty summers. Consider planning outdoor events in the morning to avoid heat exhaustion. Most discount tickets for area attractions are during the week. Wednesday is half price admission to the Fort Worth Zoo, a sprawling sanctuary for 435 species. Skip the Dallas Zoo--it is in a questionable part of town and pales in comparison to its Fort Worth counterpart.
• Beginning at the American Airlines Center, the Katy Trail ends just short of Southern Methodist University and offers prime views of the city's best neighborhoods. Active types will also enjoy walking the 9-mile trail around serene White Rock Lake next to the Dallas Arboretum.
• Listen to first-rate classical music for free at a number of Dallas Symphony concerts. The orchestra plays in several indoor and outdoor venues.
• Six Flags Over Texas is the area's largest amusement park. Pick up a Coke six pack before heading out to take advantage of child admission prices. Arlington.org has a comprehensive list of time sensitive coupon codes to save even more. The park also has a shaded outdoor picnic area--so bring your own food and drinks. And you won't find many drinking fountains but vendors will give you a small cup with ice water if requested.

HISTORY

• State Fair of Texas
  Each September The State Fair of Texas clogs highways and arteries with thousands of vendors and creatively fried food. The fair has operated every fall since 1886 and the museums in Fair Park are open year-round. For a slightly higher admission you can obtain access to the fair and all museums. Teachers working in the state of Texas are given free admission. Take the DART rail Green Line (servicing the area starting in 2009) to save your sanity on the highway and a $15 parking fee. Kroger offers the deepest discounts on admission tickets.
• Sixth Floor Museum
  Dedicated to the 35th president, the Sixth Floor Museum next to Dealy Plaza stands as a somber reminder of the events on November 22, 1963. The Sixth Floor of the warehouse is converted to a museum chronicling the events and controversies related to Kennedy's assassination. Tour Texas coupons offer $2 off admission.
• Free Flight Programs for Kids
  Both the Frontiers of Flight Museum and Cavanaugh Flight Museum provide free science programs for school aged children, air shows, and aircraft tours.

SHOPPING

• Upscale Shopping
  NorthPark Center is a Dallasite staple. You're guaranteed loads of plastic surgery, celebrity sightings, and unpronounceable store names with several recognizable staples thrown in. The DART Red Line services the shopping center. NorthPark Center is a work of art; with extravagant displays year-round such as outlandish tree houses and Christmas trains, visitors can stroll the mall entertained without spending a dime. Southlake Town Center, The Galleria, and the original Neiman Marcus downtown offer unique shopping venues as well.
  
  
• Discount Areas/Merchants
  Located next to the airport, Grapevine Mills is home to over 200 indoor outlet stores located in Texas style "neighborhoods". Guest services offers a coupon for visitors who live more than 100 miles from the mall. At the intersection of interstate 35 and 635, Sam Moon is a mecca for faux accessory lovers. The place swarms with handbag hungry females 24/7, so bring your bulletproof vest. If your visit to Dallas falls on the first weekend of the month, head east to Canton First Mondays --the world's largest outdoor shopping event and flea market. Bring cash, a U-Haul, and brush up on your bargaining skills.

DINING

• Best Cheap Eats
  Jake's Old Fashioned Burgers off Skillman serves juicy patties with succulent fries for cheap while Wild About Harry's on Knox Street has the creamiest custard and best hotdogs in the south. In Deep Ellum, Soul's Taco Street stays open late for folks who need to hit the spot with spicy Mexican Fare.
• Restaurant Deals
  Each spring the Taste of Addison welcomes newbies to the tastiest selections of Addison's Restaurant Row. From prime steak houses to sleek sushi bars, participants can sample the best for a fraction of the cost. Visit Restaurant.com to pay just $10 for $25 at many area restaurants.
• Farmer’s Market
  Follow the signs downtown to the Dallas Farmer's Market, a huge outdoor produce market open daily from 8a-6p.

NIGHTLIFE

• Downtown the Iron Cactus has stellar chips and salsa as well as $2 margaritas from 4-7p. Visit Drink Live before heading out for the night to get the most up-to-date coupons and drink specials in Dallas.
• Top names perform in the House of Blues, a block east of the American Airlines Center. For a change of pace, check out the Sunday morning gospel singers and enjoy a delicious brunch with the show. Ghost Bar in the W Hotel is another hub of nightlife--visit Tuesday through Thursday to avoid paying the $20 cover charge.