BIG D Real Estate™

If you are planning to relocate to the Dallas/Forth Worth metroplex, congratulations! We think everyone should be Texan!

Texas pride is evident in its rich history. Visit the Handbook of Texas Online for historical stories/information about Dallas, Fort Worth, and every suburb in between. One favorite example involves the fact that the overall topography here is fairly flat, with an occasional roll. One of our lovely northwest suburbs, called Flower Mound, was actually named and located by a flower covered mound, visible on the prairie from a distance.

This area is so diverse and varied, we are confident in assuring everyone they will find a place to feel at home here. Many businesses have corporate headquarters, affordable housing is plentiful, roads are good, and there are countless restaurants to enjoy. We also boast fine medical facilities and excellent schools and universities. Individual school districts are rated by the Texas Education Agency. Ratings change annually based on a variety of criteria.

There are two commercial airports in Dallas. Check American Airlines flight schedules to DFW International Airport. DFW airport has an observation area open daily allowing viewing of the estimated 2,300 daily take-offs and landings, long distance binoculars, graph board and direct feed audio from the Control Tower. Check Southwest Airlines specials from Dallas Love Field, a smaller airport located closer in to downtown Dallas. If you would rather drive, Texas Tourism publishes a wonderful Texas Highways Magazine. 

Housing is plentiful in Dallas with a wide range of prices and styles of properties. Tax rates consist of a combination of city, county, and school assessments. In general, tax rates total between 2.25%-3% of the assessed value of the property.

City services are available online for both Dallas and Fort Worth:

City of Dallas

Dallas Convention & Visitor Center

Fort Worth City

Fort Worth Convention & Visitor Center

Hotels are plentiful, spread throughout the area, and virtually every major chain is represented here. The Hyatt Hotel at ReUnion is a landmark on the Dallas Skyline, with its rotating ball on top, which rotates 360 degrees each hour. There is an excellent restaurant there, and a viewing section on the top floor. There are other downtown area hotels, uptown hotels, north Dallas hotels, airport hotels, and individual suburban hotels. Many are listed on the site for the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas.

If you love to shop, you'll be right at home in Dallas. We have outstanding malls: The Galleria-voted by the Dallas Morning News Guide as the best place to people watch, NorthPark Center-offering premier well known designer names, Stonebriar Center-newest addition offering everything, Grapevine Mills-outlet mall north of DFW airport, to name only a few. Dallas is home to market centers including clothing, furniture, and gifts in the Market Center area near downtown.

Dallas has a wealth of things to do. Our friends at the Dallas Morning News publish a weekly guide of events, activities, and exhibits throughout the entire DFW metroplex.

We hope this page will answer some demographic questions and provide resources regarding Dallas, suburban cities, schools, hotels, news, recreation, restaurants, travel & tourism. We invite you to visit our other pages before leaving our site. They will provide some additional Texas "flavor"!

Dallas has diversity, and that includes recreation. There are passive things to do, artistic things to do, musical things to do, and extreme things to do. There are expensive things to do and inexpensive things to do. If you don't find something in Dallas, you can check out Fort Worth. Both cities offer cultural options and both have different events, exhibits, and fairs. The Dallas Morning News publishes a calendar and weekend guide which is updated weekly, and covers current events and showcases.

Beauty and art come in all forms, and gardens are among our favorites. The Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Dallas always has something in bloom and there are many special events, concerts, and activities for the kids. The Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth are the oldest in Texas. Check them out and you'll see why they are also a favorite setting for weddings.

If you love fresh and organic food, the Dallas Farmer's Market is for you. They are a landmark in downtown at the same location since the 1800's. We also have several chains of food stores who offer organics and foods for a health conscious diet: Market Street, Whole Foods, Sprouts.

Golf courses are open all year long in Dallas, with only a few short periods of winter weather. We have some beautiful public courses, along with many semi-private and private courses. One of our most noted courses is Tour 18, which offers one hole from 18 of the most well-known courses in the world. Our friends at Golfer's Web provide in-depth reviews of all of our Dallas area courses.

Dallas has television and movie filming action. We have movie studios located in Las Colinas (Irving). One of the most well-known television series, "Dallas", was filmed at Southfork Ranch. Southfork is now a tourist attraction and conference center. Several annual events are held there.

No review of Dallas/Fort Worth is complete without including the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. The Stockyards are home to Billy Bob's Texas. Billy Bob's takes up a full three acres and calls itself the largest honkey-tonk in the world. It houses its own indoor rodeo arena and guests can try their hand on a mechanical bull. You'll see real cowboys here, and some drive a herd of honest to goodness live Longhorn steer through the street to delight onlookers each day.

Please continue below to visit links for outdoor recreation in Dallas, and a sampling of activities for the kids.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Dallas Camping sites and information

Dallas Cycling at the Superdrome

Dallas Fishing and Boating stats

Dallas Lakes information

Dallas State Park locations

Dallas Trails-Hiking, Horse, Biking

FOR KIDS AND TEENS

Adventure Landing-Go Karts, MiniGolf, Laser Tag, Teddy Bear Factory, Arcade, Bumper Boats

Build-A-Bear-Make your own bear, games, printables

Chuck E. Cheese-Games, parties, food with animated characters

Dallas Zoo

Dallas Symphony Kids-sponsored by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Fort Worth Zoo 

Gameworks-Gamers delight at Grapevine Mills Mall next to the skateboarding

Main Event Entertainment-Bowling, laser tag, games, rock climbing, food

Mountasia-Go Karts, Video Game Arcade, Laser Tag, Bumper Boats, MiniGolf, Batting Cages, Rock Climbing

Six Flags Over Texas

Movie Studio Grill

Tarantula Steam Railroad from Grapevine to Fort Worth Stockyards

DALLAS HOCKEY

Dallas Stars Professional Hockey Team

American Airlines Center - Home of the Dallas Stars and the Dallas Mavericks and hosting other events

Jr. Hockey Team Texas Tornado

Dr. Pepper Stars Center-Training HQ for the Dallas Stars and home of the Jr. Hockey Team Texas Tornado

DALLAS FOOTBALL

Dallas Cowboys Football Team

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

New Dallas Cowboys Stadium

DALLAS BASKETBALL

Dallas Mavericks Basketball Team

American Airlines Center - Home of the Dallas Stars and the Dallas Mavericks and hosting other events

DALLAS BASEBALL

Dallas Texas Rangers Professional Baseball Team

The Ballpark in Arlington - home of the Texas Rangers

 

Minor League Baseball Team Rough Riders

DALLAS SOCCER

FC Dallas (Formerly Dallas Burn) Professional Soccer

Pizza Hut Park - home of FC Dallas and other events

Cafe Cipriani

Babe´s Chicken Dinner

The Cheesecake Factory

Deep Sushi

The Grape Restaurant  

Lawry´s Prime Rib

Mango Thai´s

Midieval Times

The Old Warsaw

The Palm Steakhouse 

Nana Restaurant Fine Dining

Pappadeaux Seafood 

Rainforest Cafe

Reunion Tower

Ruth´s Chris Steakhouse   

Scotty P's Hamburgers 

Uncle Julio´s Fine Mexican

We love horses! And horses have been in the news in Texas. Over 470,000 Quarter Horses call Texas home. These fine animals typify the spirit of Texas with their versatility and character. Perhaps that is why on August 20, 2009 Governor Rick Perry signed an official declaration making the American Quarter Horse the official horse of Texas. We are Texas proud! Visit the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).

Many companies search for a meaningful retreat or company picnic location. Diamond B-Rockin A Ranch offers themed events in the heart of "Horse Country" Pilot Point, Texas on their 150 acre horse and cattle ranch. Award winning speakers deliver a genuine experience in the warm atmosphere of the 4,800 square foot timber-frame facility.

If you enjoy horse events, you'll be impressed with the Thoroughbred Racing facility in Dallas at Lone Star Park. Spend a day at the horse races!

The Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth hosts the Southwest Exposition and Livestock Show, American Quarter Horse Youth World Show, American Paint Horse World Show, and National Cutting Horse Association events, among other things.

English riding is as popular in Dallas as Western riding. The Las Colinas Equestrian Center holds a variety of hunter-jumper and dressage shows, and also has a nice boarding facility. For more information on the Dallas Dressage Club click here. For the North Texas Hunter Jumper Club click here.

If you're looking to buy a reliable horse, our friends at Valley View Ranch have wonderful horses for sale that have been evaluated and determined to be safe and sound. Ask them about their responsible return policies. They want all their horses to be in excellent, loving homes.

Lake Ray Roberts offers wonderful trail riding around the lake, with the best access through Pilot Point. Lantana Lodge is located lakeside offering accommodations, marina, and horseback riding. You may bring your own horse and rent a stall at their barn, or call Monica at Black Mustang Ranch to bring well-cared-for horses to you to ride. Check out Texas Parks & Wildlife for information on riding in state parks and Texas Trails for horse riding trails statewide.

AREA HORSE BOARDING

Bridlewood Equestrian Center

Cartwright Ranch & Stables

High Meadow Arabians

Las Colinas Equestrian Center

Nelson Hixson Land & Cattle

Rising Star Ranch