I’d been dreaming of Texas for a long time.
The land of country music, cowboy boots, and wide-open skies.
Our trip began in Houston, rolled through Austin, paused for a day in San Antonio… and finally, Dallas.
We arrived by Greyhound from Austin — and if you’ve ever travelled by Greyhound, you’ll know the stations aren’t usually in the most charming parts of town. Dallas was no exception. The area felt tired, a little rough, and not exactly welcoming.
Our hotel, Hotel Indigo, sat downtown. On paper, the location sounded great. In reality, the streets around us felt quiet, empty, and — if I’m honest — unsafe, especially with New Year’s Eve approaching.
Despite this, we set out to explore.
Reunion Tower was our first stop. The glass lift carried us up to a slow-spinning deck with drinks and views that wrapped all around the city. Touristy, yes — but sometimes that’s the point.
Next, the JFK Assassination and 6th Floor Museum. If history is your thing, it’s worth a visit. I found it eerie, fascinating, and heavy all at once.
But beyond that… Dallas didn’t draw me in or keep me wanting more.
Even finding breakfast was a challenge — nothing within easy walking distance, no bustling cafés to tempt us.
So, we decided to leave the city behind for a bit.
One day, we headed out to Southfork Ranch — famous from the TV show Dallas. I’ve never seen an episode, but I still loved the open space, the tour, the little glimpse into another time.
The next day, we went farther — to Fort Worth Stockyards. This is where Texas truly came alive for me. The streets were lined with old-west charm, longhorn cattle strolled by twice a day, and the historic Cowtown Coliseum hosted a rodeo that was pure adrenaline. We spent hours wandering, ducking into shops, soaking in the atmosphere. Billy Bob’s Texas — the world’s largest honkytonk — served up cold drinks, hearty food, and photo opportunities that screamed “cowboy.”
We kept finding reasons to stay in Fort Worth. It felt safer, friendlier, and more alive than Dallas.
Back downtown, the police presence around our hotel was heavy. They even advised us not to go out for New Year’s Eve. They needn’t say no more – we brought the new year in sound asleep.
If you’re planning a trip, here’s what I’d tell you:
– Stay in Fort Worth. You’ll find more to do, and you’ll feel more at ease.
– Take the trip to Southfork Ranch — even non-fans of the show will enjoy it.
– Dive into the full western experience at the Stockyards.
– If history calls to you, the JFK tour is worth it.
If you’re planning a trip to Dallas and/or Fort Worth and still need to sort out where to stay, I’ve got a link that might come in handy. It’s what I use to browse hotel options—it’s easy to compare places and prices all in one spot.
Dallas didn’t quite meet my expectations, but Fort Worth more than made up for it. In the end, the Stockyards turned my Texas trip into something I’ll remember.
Molly Levi Travels 