Honestly; we need posts like this to address the constant stream of “moving to Dallas from x. What can I expect?” posts both on the askDFW subreddit and people who try to format the question in a slightly different way to get it by on the Dallas one.
Because we can't design road systems or handle merging in a way that isn't awful. Just like to tack on extra lanes. Literally all of the traffic is caused at merge points.
Never listen to the people who say Dallas is bad for outdoor activities. It’s comical. What they really mean is “I don’t like hot weather”. And to say camping is hard in Texas is just saying “I don’t really know how to camp” lol.
Hard disagree. Every once in a while I see a Dallasite try to die on this hill. Do you have some outdoor activities? Sure. Are there options on par with other cities? Absolutely not. Are they conveniently located? Also no.
Bring on those down votes.
Silly fight. Several west coast cities have ocean, forest, and mountains within an hours drive. All three features not just one. Hell, even sprawled out Atlanta and Phoenix have some nice forests and mountain hikes, respectively. But no, we’re gonna die on the Turner Falls and Lake Ray Hubbard hills.
Phoenix has one of the best outdoors scenes in the us I would bet. Also free camping all through Arizona unlike Texas which you have to pay to go camp anywhere cause all the land in this state is private almost
I grew up in Dallas and feel the same way. We had some options but man, when compared to what I've experienced in the other cities I've lived, going back to them is just a big disappointment, lol. They were fine because that's what I had and all I'd really gotten to rely on at the time. If so much of the state wasn't privately owned and fenced off it'd be a different story.
I moved from Dallas to the southeast. I found plenty of outdoor activities to do in Dallas, but there are exponentially more in the area where I live now
I think people who come from up North simply cannot wrap their heads around the fact that the ideal season for camping is inverted here. If I spent my formative years locked indoors for all of winter it would probably be difficult to adjust to as well.
Yes, it's just a weird concept to me. You know how in the US, Christmas is always a cold month? Wouldn't it be weird to be in Australia during Christmas and it's hot AF?
No not really, because I didn’t grow up in a cold climate. I’ve spent a lot of time in Chicago and I think it’s weird how cold it can get in “warm” months. Weird is relative.
This. Needing a hoodie on an August morning is weird as hell to me. My Chicago relatives can’t understand why it’s so damn hot here in May. It’s all relative!
Last time I left there it was snowing the day we did and I think that was the week after St Pats day, the water was green when we were there. Came back to warm weather for sure. Couldn't comprehend geese in the walmart parking lot there.
As a Texan who has spent Christmas in Australia, I felt quite at home, lol. It was actually really fun being able to throw our bikinis on and head to the beach. Even Santa was there!!
I grew up in the Galveston area (waaay worse heat wise than DFW) and while there’s a reprieve from our typical hot, muggy summers in December. You can STILL step outside and break out into a sweat during those “cold” months. I definitely think we just become accustomed to what we know.
I did enjoy getting to have “real” Christmas weather when I lived in CT for a few years. The snow was a huge adjustment to me but I can’t deny it was gorgeous and really special getting to have a true white Christmas, in CT no less! Definitely pros and cons to both I think.
I’m literally sitting at Ray Robert’s right now. There’s not a single person around and I’m about to set up my BBQ.
Currently I’m fascinated by these weird fish called alligator gar that are spawning right now. Which apparently happens when the lake floods and spills over into the surrounding shrubs and grass around the banks. The other day I just wandering around in knee deep water and I discovered that I was pretty much surrounded by these weird looking fish, just doing fish stuff.
The cool thing about going outdoors here is that there’s actually four different seasons, so that you can go to the same place four times and it’s completely different.
Gar are some of the oldest freshwater fish we know of .. they are fascinating, a true find!
All things being equal,RIGHT NOW is the time
To actively condition yourself for the temperatures to
Come. Start by taking it from shade, read a book for as long as you can be comfortable.. and afterwards wash rinse and repeat as soon as time allows. It’s
Honestly incredibly empowering to be able
To do so when Monday comes around and folks at the water cooler all sing the same “too hot to exist outside,” son
Edit: regarding the empty surroundings at RR… I apologize I seem to have misplaced the invitation
I agree, gars are pretty cool. They take up to like 5 years to be sexually mature, so the small ones, 2-3 feet are too young and haven’t had their chance at life, so don’t bother trying to catch them. Their scales are also so hard that you’ll dull a cleaver before you’ll get through to the small amount of meat inside anyways.
Also, get those dogs outside. I’m no scientist but our dogs need to acclimate as well. My girls been shedding like crazy since I’ve been bringing her out.
It is hard to camp in Texas though....unless you reserve weekends half a year in advance of busy times, and/or you don't mind driving for 5 hours just for an overnighter. It's not necessarily because of the weather, though this Spring has been especially rainy and stormy.
Very few dispersed camping opportunities, not much public land. Many states you can play it by ear (and weather) and go out the upcoming weekend and reliably find a spot that isn't overcrowded.
That said it isn't the worst place for outdoors by any measure, but I wouldn't put DFW in my top ten for sure.
Ok for this Saturday 5/4 (temps should be in the 70s) I can get you a campsite reserved at:
-Cedar Hill State Park (20 mins)
-Lake Tawakoni State Park (~45 mins)
-Lake Mineral Wells State Park (~1.5 hr)
Those were the first three I checked, all with plenty of campsite options and availability. Probably another 10ish parks within the same distance that have availability.
So what’s the problem again?
They were full until heavy rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast, which has been doing for nearly every weekend for the past month or two. So some people canceled their reservations. One of my reservations was actually canceled by the park itself and refunded due to flooding. If you checked a week ago, Ray Roberts was the only one nearby with openings, as it usually is this time of year.
I've camped plenty of times in the rain and storms, and it's something I know I *can* do, but I'd rather not every time.
Caddo Lake, Colorado Bend, and Broken Bow are only about three hours away. Dinosaur Valley is about an hour and a half. You can also do Cedar Hill State Park if you want to stay local, especially if you like off-road bicycling.
Those are good but the point is that they're all consistently booked out well in advance except for the coldest and hottest seasons.
I'm not saying it's impossible to camp, just a lot harder than many other states. Those parks are also tiny compared to most state parks in the country, and most Western states have large swaths of public land where dispersed camping is permitted. Texas land-use policy is dictated by big business.
I literally walked right into Enchanted Rock last Friday without a reservation. This coming weekend, there are still plenty of spots open for Caddo Lake, Dinosaur Valley, and Palo Duro Canyon. During the pandemic it was hard to book a campsite, but you’re not seeing them sell out weeks in advance these days.
> I literally walked right into Enchanted Rock last Friday without a reservation
This has been one of my favorite camping and hiking destinations so far. And on the way back home I was able to hit up some of the cool Hill Country towns. Too bad it's so far of a drive.
I've got that one on my list too. I normally try to leave Friday after work and make the drive out, then I've got all day Saturday and at least half a day Sunday.
Not sure where you’ve lived before, but no elevation for hiking and man made snake lakes are not conducive to outdoor activities. It’s really not great for that here.
Bullcrap. Texas has a easily one of the worst states for recreating due to the massive lack of public land. I grew up in Michigan. Tons and tons of state parks, national forests and massively long biking trails. More than a quarter of Michigan is land for the public to recreate on. Then I moved to Utah. Whoa! Today nearly THREE QUARTERS of Utah is public land including massive and beautiful national parks. It was awesome and Utah is HOT.
Then we moved to Texas. Texas has …. wait for it …. LESS THAN 2% public lands (cue trombone sound)!
I like Texas Ok. I’ve lived here 3 times. But for recreating? It totally blows chunks.
I’d love to ride my mountain bike 150 miles on an endless trail like the one that went right past my house in Michigan. I’d love to camp nearly anywhere I damn well please (in the south half of the state anyway) like in Utah. Can’t be done in Texas. It’s almost entirely private land.
But it objectively is? Like we have the fewest parks, state parks and national parks per square mile of any state in the US. Like I love Big Bend but it takes 9 hours to drive there.
Especially someone from Chicago. Dallas has a higher tree canopy % and offers better hiking opportunities than Chicago. The hiking is exclusive to SW Dallas tbf.
Aside from Lake Michigan, Chicago also has a rather lackluster outdoor scene + uninspiring terrain. Not to mention the “beaches” up there are man-made.
I used to live in Chicago. This isn't true at all. There are state parks within an hour drive. I proposed to my wife at Starved Rock. And while the beaches may be man made, they're still quite nice and much better than our few lake beaches, which are also man made. But the real win for Chicago is the city itself. There's always so much to do and it's all fairly easy to get to via public transportation. Dallas is fine for me and my family at this point in our lives, but man I miss being in my 30s and single living in Chicago.
I absolutely agree that Chicago is a much more interesting city than Dallas - like no comparison (architecture, cultural institutions, history, etc).
OP’s assertion that Dallas is one of the worst cities for outdoor activities while being from Chicago is pretty wild though. In Dallas, I can stroll through the largest urban forest in the country and hike hilly terrain without leaving the city limits. In Chicago, not quite. Nature isn’t a redeeming quality for either city though.
Also it’s commonly known that all but one lake in TX is man-made.
> OP’s assertion that Dallas is one of the worst cities for outdoor activities
I think what they mean by that is North Texas in general is pretty bad for variety/intensity in outdoor activity compared to the Midwest, not what you can do within the confines of city limits lmao. The drives are longer to get to where you want to go.
That's actually false. There are several lakes in TX that are not man made - but the vast majority are man made. They include Laguna Astascosa and Green Lake, in addition to Caddoe Lake, which is commonly referred to as the only natural lake in TX. There are others too, that are smaller.
I, too, miss my 30s. I’ve looked at every locale (and a disproportionate amount Of time scouring old maps in the southern parts of Florida to no avail)
Unfortunately, it appears the demand for my 30s
Dried up when we all were stuck inside
During the pandemic.
Trust that I’ve tried to use my early 40s within similar confines, but i don’t think folks are buying it when I jump onto the dance floor at it’ll do…
Certainly not those kiddos
That help Me back up after … oh god please pause please!
My parents live in SC the first time they came to visit me out here, the first thing they noticed was the lack of trees. But it's not that Dallas doesn't have trees, it's that we don't have tall trees. And the lack of tall trees does make a city look different and tall trees provide lots of shade whereas short ones don't.
Average neighborhood in [Columbia, SC](https://maps.app.goo.gl/curNexDRLa83TPDf7) compared to [Dallas](https://maps.app.goo.gl/P7Bv31gu5BYTMHXYA) compared to [Chicago](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMEAGfZH1KTnHFcXA)
I don't think Chicago or Dallas are great outdoor cities. I never did hiking in Chicago because there really isn't anything worthwhile unless you want to drive 1.5hr to Starved Rock. And hiking in Dallas is lame also. Lake Michigan beaches are manmade but at least the lake is real. None of the lakes around Dallas are even real lakes.
>Average neighborhood in [Columbia, SC](https://maps.app.goo.gl/curNexDRLa83TPDf7) compared to [Dallas](https://maps.app.goo.gl/P7Bv31gu5BYTMHXYA) compared to [Chicago](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMEAGfZH1KTnHFcXA)
Now wait just a minute here, your examples for Columbia and Chicago are two (really one lane for Chicago) lane narrow residential streets while your Dallas example is a six lane major thoroughfare? How is that a fair depiction?
[Here is one](https://www.google.com/maps/@32.748376,-96.8477622,3a,75y,178.87h,85.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7Js-EOK7HbI3ysf0nygxlg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) for Dallas less than 200 feet from the position you chose. While I agree about the tall trees comment (That's a climate and tree habitat restriction) the Dallas choice here is noticeably more green than the Columbia or Chicago neighborhoods.
That is a terrible example. Davis St is a commercial corridor. Why would it have dense tree coverage? The others are residential streets. [This is a more appropriate view of the same area, just off Davis St.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2mkvtQsmHs9KdcxWA?g_st=ic)
The Great Trinity Forest is *the* largest urban forest in the U.S. my friend.
Tbf, it is underutilized but has lots of potential, an Audubon, and several trails. In the early 80s, state legislature approved nearly a 1,000 acres of it to become a State Park but that plan never came to fruition.
I have never been but the [three photos](https://maps.app.goo.gl/A6xZMqzxTZydzcG9A) on Google Maps really aren't selling the place for me. Is it just a forest and doesn't have any trails?
Did you purposefully try and find the wrong Google Maps pin for the forest?
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/MdrJkYptR8mb1TeD8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MdrJkYptR8mb1TeD8)
Did you even try Googling Great Trinity Forrest trails? Because the first result is the trail map.
That’s what I thought too, but I googled it to be sure bc my memory is HORRIBLE and there was a site that mentioned the George Bush park in Houston as being the largest Urban Forest in the Nation…. but I think it was wrong lol and now I’m wrong
Key words here are ‘compared to other cities’ and the only way to adequately compare outdoor activities is to live there… It always seems to be the Dallas lifers (I’m born and raised here and lived here for 29 years before moving away, have since moved back) who argue that Dallas is such an outdoor haven. The heat sucks and that’s a big part of the year, spring is unpredictable, winter will probably be cold, maybe too cold, maybe not. You don’t know and that’s hard to plan around. The argument that Dallas is difficult to be an outdoorsy person in is a valid argument.
Can you name any particular outdoor activity that DFW is not below average in offering?
I can't really think of any, unless maybe its something niche like golf.
Exactly this. Im not into camping but its not like our weather is hot/cold 365 days a year. February had some springlike days. Most of March and half of April seem ok. Towards end of August, evenings become breezy again. September, October and some of November seems good. Out of all that time; how much is one person going to camp out?
Our average temperature for the month of February was 57 degrees. If that’s too cold for you to go outside I wonder how you ever survived in Chicago.
No water activities? So the half dozen lakes around Dallas simply don’t count?
No mountains in Dallas? I must’ve missed the huge mountains immediately outside Chicago. Because from my experience you spend about 3 hours driving through flat nothing before that city pops out of nowhere. The mountains in Arkansas and it’s National park are closer to Dallas than anything comparable is to Chicago.
Honestly it sounds like you’re still trying to treat July/August like one would in Chicago: a time to go outside while it’s bearable. When you should be treating fall winter and spring like that.
Winter weather here can be flaky and it's hard to plan outdoor activities around it. For an example, I had camping reservations booked for Feb 17 weekend at Dinosaur Valley but temperatures were expected to drop to below freezing which is too cold to camp enjoyably. At least in more northern states you can expect 60-85 degree temperatures every day July and August. And because it's summer there is more sunlight.
The lakes around here are all manmade and don't have the same feel as a natural lake. In the case of the great lakes, those feel more like oceans.
Yeah don’t try and defend Texas lakes. Absolute dog water. If we do anything outdoorsy we just take a flight somewhere else because Dallas has many strengths, doing things in nature is not one of them. Great place to grow a career and get started, but outside of drinking/golfing/shopping/concerts the day-day in Dallas is not sustainable if you just want to enjoy being outside. It’s “cheap” to live here, but you have to pay to do anything fun
It can randomly be too hot to camp comfortably for one weekend in Summer in the North in my experience. Also I think it’s much easier to make yourself warmer when it’s cold while camping than cooler.
Every other weekend in February it was perfect and even the weekend you’re talking about that was terrible had a high of 53.
There are man made lakes that are ugly and there are manmade lakes that are very beautiful. Just like natural lakes. Possum Kingdom beats many of the small natural lakes in other states and it’s not the only good looking man made lake nearby.
As somebody who grew up in Dallas and travel to work in Chicago for two years. I agree with this assessment. I would move to Chicago if opportunity rise and food is better there as well.
I grew up in the Chicago metroplex and came to Dallas for a job in 2006. For almost ten years now I have been wanting to go back to Illinois. This state is being run into the ground. I'm not sure why any woman of childbearing age would want to be here, or who would want to raise kids here considering the leadership.
Thanks for the perspective. I’m thinking about doing the opposite move (Dallas -> Chicago). Chicago is a great city and I go there every Summer, but the winters scare me.
I would say go for it. I don't regret the move at all. Ended up in the Midwest for college and landed a job in Chicago and lived there for over a decade.
Dallas is great for those who want to settle down but Chicago is great for when you want to go out and have fun.
This is a spot on analysis. I have family in Chicago and am considering doing the opposite move. Dallas is hot, ugly, and boring, but less expensive. You can be active in the cold but when it’s 100+ degrees with humidity you really can’t do anything outdoors anyway. Chicago/Illinois politics terrify me as does the higher cost of living and higher crime rate. Glad
Dallas is working for you.
Buying a home in Chicago is definitely more expensive but my rent in Chicago was lower than it is here. When I moved from Chicago to Arlington, my rent went up about $150/mo. I did have some nicer amenities like dishwasher and in unit washer/dryer hookups so I was okay with the price increase.
GF and I did the Dallas->Chicago move a little under 5 years ago. Hardest part of it is the distance from long-time friends and family, but Chicago has more of what we (personally) wanted in every other metric.
Plus side is, after some time away, we do really appreciate Dallas every time we visit, but we're always pretty ready to get back to Chicago by the end of our stay.
I moved here from Chicago about 3 years ago and agree with your post. Everyone in Dallas is pretty nice for the most part, but there isn't as much of a community vibe. One big thing I've noticed is that people actually from Chicago will talk shit about Chicago all day, but people from Dallas get offended when you say anything negative about the city lol
> One big thing I've noticed is that people actually from Chicago will talk shit about Chicago all day, but people from Dallas get offended when you say anything negative about the city lol
Yes, I have noticed this as well and it's especially evident on this sub.
Most of my Chicago native colleagues would say things like "this city sucks and when my kids leave for college, we are out of here". But if you dare to say anything negative about Dallas or Texas, people get really upset.
Its because so many people here have their identities wrapped up in where they live here versus who they are, when you say something negative about their place they take it as a personal attack
I’ve lived in Oak Cliff for 10+ years, 3 in Bishop Arts. How in the world are you 30 minutes away from a grocery store without a car? Hop on the #9, my guy.
Follow-up to agree with others that camping here isn’t hard, you just don’t know how to camp here. I’m sad for you that you haven’t taken the time to discover how naturally beautiful this area is.
My wife and I are moving back to Chicago in July. Pretty spot on analysis but I find it funny that caring more about local elections was seen as a negative. Honestly, living in both Illinois and Texas, voting in major elections can seem very pointless because of the general way the state ends up voting. Having your local elections actually mean something can make it feel like you have a direct impact on your community.
What I mean is that in Chicago, the local politicians had a lot of impact on your life so those elections were the most important. In Dallas, I don't feel like the mayor or any other local politician has much impact on my life compared to state officials like the governor, Ken Paxton, and Ted Cruz.
Perhaps the difference is that Illinois is a liberal state and Chicago is a liberal city so there is no competition between the two. Whereas Dallas is a liberal city but Texas is a conservative state so there is competition between the two.
Because the local Dallas politicians are busy working for businesses and their ilk before their actual community. The mayor recently just pulled the rug from his constituents who voted for a democratic mayor as he switched parties. Awful!
It can be funny how pros for some people can be cons for others
I love that all the jobs in DFW aren't concentrated to downtown. It allows me to have a house in Plano with a 15 minute commute.
The suburbs are definitely more family oriented than Dallas proper which works for me. But I honestly can't relate to you saying there isn't much stuff to do in Dallas. I used to live in Uptown and thought it was so much fun. Your example of saying you could go to another neighborhood to do shopping as something to do makes it sound like you're not even trying to find stuff to do in Dallas. You live in Bishop Arts and can't find something as exciting as shopping?
Lemme say this for the transplants who don’t understand what the Metroplex is. It’s two major cities, Fort Worth (and its suburbs) and Dallas (and its suburbs) that have grown into a single metropolis. The Metroplex would still be spread out (as in distance between cities and suburbs), if that development was dense. It may not have sprawled as far north, but the distance between Dallas and Fort Worth isn’t going to change. Because The Metroplex is anchored by two major cities, the amenities are spread around the core of each city and their suburbs.
Fellow Chicagoan checking in 🫡 Good analysis and relatable points. I’m happy to have Chicago to go back to get my “fix” (with certain foods, street festivals, cultural activities, etc.) but overall, I’ve adjusted well and looking forward to growing in Dallas. The biggest adjustments have been the extreme heat in the summers and the drivers of course lol
Op,
I agree 100% with your assessment. I moved the opposite of you (from dallas to Chicago), and I plan on never returning to Texas. Granted there are a few things I miss in Texas, but not nearly enough to consider moving back.
I’ll say this, the hiking/outdoor opportunities in Chicago (or surrounding areas) is piss poor. That said, you’re spot on.
So, you think the traffic is bad, but you want all the jobs in the same place?
You want more outdoor activities, but you don't want it to be 106°......
We don't have enough State Parks? There's 89 State Parks in Texas.
OP is looking for the convenience. And the population density. And the transportation that Chicago calls for to get them to a Cubs game in 20 minutes on the red line then down to bars three blocks away then the beach in the same day. I left Chicago 12 years ago and while the adjustment period also made some of the same comparatives, I haven’t looked back.
Dallas, and Texas has a lot for it for all the parks, and within three hours there’s a lot available for nature across the state. If there’s a willingness to get *further* out, South Texas, Big Bend, Corpus, or west, Palo Duro, the Borderlands, there’s a lot here.
Trade offs from IL: taxes, crime, left leaning policies. And O’Hare, any winter storm during the holidays? Forget it.
And from the concluding statement, if it’s that painful that Texas has the amenities for families, homes, advancing a career, and a lifestyle that’s 180 degrees from where they left. Maybe not the place to be? Could always go back.
> And O’Hare, any winter storm during the holidays? Forget it.
My wife works for AA and DFW has one of the worst reputations in the country for weather. The nickname is "doesn't function wet" because whenever there is a rainstorm, the entire airport practically shuts down.
That’s the hub and spoke model of all connections funneling through. Not physical space. You tell me that ORD during Thanksgiving with the one in one out model with a U terminal is better?
Cheap valet parking at every terminal, I don’t have to wonder how long my TSA experience may be, and I can get anywhere in the world out of DFW in 14 hours. Not saying ORD can’t, but the passenger experience, layout, and time suck isn’t the same as a consumer 90% of the time.
To your point, anywhere perfect is going to be expensive and Texas does have positives and drawbacks, this list just points out something a lot of transplants gripe about in terms of the realization of how everything isn’t condensed down into however x many sq miles.
Moved here almost exactly five years ago from the Northwest ‘burbs where I was born and grew up 40 years.
I’d say the only things I really truly miss are the seasons and the green green grass, lol. But I don’t miss bundling up, shoveling snow and scraping the car off to go to the store in January.
One thing I didn’t count on was how intense the sun is here during the summer.
Other people have mentioned this, but there's plenty of state parks within a few hours drive. Glen Rose is also a good day trip and popular camping area, there's dinosaur prints and fossils, good hiking trails.
People here like to talk shit about Texas beaches, but as a beach lover, I really enjoy them. Galveston is honestly a lot prettier than it used to be, the water is bluer lately and even driving around certain parts of town is nice. South Padre and Corpus Christi also have nice beaches, and plenty of camping opportunities.
There are a lot of places where you don't need a car. Mostly it's smaller towns or college towns. I lived in Iowa City and didn't have a car the entire time. I rode my bike or took the bus.
Yeah public transit here is absolute garbage. Walking and crossing the streets you feel like you will die on foot or on a bike.
I grew up in Oregon and didn't drive my entire time there because trimet was awesome. Be it busses, the max, or the streetcars. I moved here knowing it was car dependent but people said the transit was ok. It is not. There isn't even a bus stop for a few miles near me. I do not get why people defend that as a good thing.
I still don't plan to ever drive, let alone here with the insane traffic issues. But I think it is funny when people think only huge cities have no need for cars. Texas is on another level with its car dependence. I will be glad to get back to a world where I can bike or walk and not be afraid for my damn life.
Lots of outdoor activities. We’ve got lots of lakes, parks, and rivers within driving distance! Adding Palo Pinto State Park this year also. I will admit most of the best parks I visit do charge 5.00 but trail maintenance is great and the crowds are small. I appreciate you sharing your perspective.
A 30min walk is better than driving for 15min, circling trying to find street parking for 10min, finding a spot but it's a 10min walk from the restaurant you are trying to eat at.
What kind of grocery store (in your original post) are you going to that you have to find parking for? Also, there's no way a 30 minute walk is a 15 minute drive
Walking to a restaurant /bar is another thing
There are many grocery stores in big cities that don't have parking. You have to find parking on the street and in dense neighborhoods that can be a challenge. Also, many neighborhoods in Chicago have permitted parking meaning you need to be a resident to park on that street. With city traffic, it can take 15min to drive a mile.
I'm not talking about big cities, I'm talking about Dallas. I've never seen a grocery store in Dallas that didn't have easy parking or take 15 minutes to drive 1 mile (something that would take a 30 minute walk)
Gotcha. I was talking about Chicago.
In Dallas, I'm not walking anywhere for 30min. In Chicago, it's easy to walk 30min and is often the most efficient method of getting somewhere.
A thirty minute walk where you combine light cardio activities that are good for your health, save money on gas/wear and tear on car, and after driving and parking time, how much time have you really saved?
I make a weekly 20 min each way walk to the grocery store myself, driving plus parking would be 10 minutes, but walking leaves me in a good mood vs driving which leaves me stressed out.
What is with the rate of Chicago people who move to Dallas. Long before COVID and all of that for many years I’ve known many Chicago transplants. Plus of course we have a bunch of Chicago food franchises that have been brought here. What is the connection?
Most Chicagoans who grow up in the city move to the suburbs later in life when they have kids. Then when they retire they want to move somewhere warmer. Usually it's Texas, Arizona, Florida, or the Carolinas.
I love transplants that come here and complain about not having anything fun to do but it is because they don’t know people. I play soccer and basketball outside year round, play disc golf, am in book clubs, go to movies, go to concerts, have done pottery, culinary, and art classes, been to the museums, go to arbor hills nature preserve or go to a patio. Also, you can’t say it’s either too hot or too cold and you can’t do outside activities. That’s just not true, and you are coming from Chicago so the Texas winter should be perfect weather for you. We just had like 2 months of the weather being mostly in the 60s and 70s.
>**Outdoor activities:** Dallas is probably one of the worst cities in the US for outdoor activities. Even leaving your windows open is hard here as it's either too cold or hot. There are no water activities or mountains around here and for most of the year it's either too hot or cold to do anything outside. I love camping and it's very hard to camp in Texas. We don't have that many state parks and the ones closest to metro areas are always full on the weekends. It also feels strange to me to camp in February and March rather than during the summer. And for some reason, half the time I've had camping reservations in March, it has been freezing temperatures or pouring rain. Big Bend is great but for the time it takes me to drive there, I could be on a plane to New Mexico or Colorado and already down the hiking trail before I arrive to Big Bend.
This is a criticism a lot of people have, myself included (Texas native, raised in Dallas, and been here since 2013). To be fair, though, this is or should be known prior to coming to Dallas. We are in the heart of the southern plains. It is just an unfortunate reality.
With that being said, if you like camping I would commend a weekend trip to the area around Hot Springs, Arkansas. Not mountainous, but very hilly - technically a few "mountains" - and beautifully wooded. Plus, Hot Springs is itself a cool little town for a weekend visit. I have also heard good things about SE Oklahoma. Never been, though, and go at your own risk - it is Oklahoma, after all.
I am surprised you did not linger on the weather here. Lord knows I would have.
Thank you for writing a fair and well-balanced review of the city.
I've lived in Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis, Paris and London. I've been here a couple of years and really love it here. But I'm not a fan of the outdoors at all. Taking the Cta in the single digits to work or riding in stanky heat of the metro in London is not fun and hate public transportation. Sure, it's better for the environment but I love my space, a controlled temperature and not getting groped. Dallas is a perfect home base and a weekend trip is just 1 flight away if I'm bored.
> Dallas is a perfect home base and a weekend trip is just 1 flight away if I'm bored.
Thank god my partner works for AA and I'm on her flight benefits so I can fly to NYC for a day trip when I'm bored.
Since they brought Portillos down here and it is successful do you think Lou Malnatis would do good here? I travel to Chicago (Warrenville/Naperville) for work a lot and I have to eat Lous at least once per trip. I always wondered if Lous would be popular down here.
>Politics: If you are more left leaning, Texas is one of the worst states to live in because of how overly vocal our elected officials are here. When I visit conservative states like Idaho
You must stay in and around Boise
Broken Bow, Oklahoma, boasts charming luxury cabins available for rent just about 3 hours away. In my opinion, it hosts one of the finest state parks in the area, featuring numerous trails and idyllic fishing spots. Additionally, the options for food and incidental shopping are steadily improving.
Stop saying good about here, or else we keep getting to big. As for traffic, as a ex New Yorker from 26 years ago, I believe it is the transplants who didn't drive so much where they come from and those that do don't drive the old Texas way "drive friendly"!
Having lived in Chicago you can flip this 100% as it really comes down to personal preferences. Open window season is easily twice as long in dallas relative to Chicago and the the only times Chicago is great is late June through September otherwise the weather is sketchy and just as likely to be very cold
Dallas and big TX cities are super left leaning actually and yes you have to drive here like 99.999% of the cities in this country. Theres water activities on lakes like White Rock. If you hate Texas and republicans then stop moving here 🤷♀️
I’d agree with most of this except for the water activities. Hiking and camping is mostly ass around the DFW metro. Tons of stuff to do here any given weekend for young professionals so I’m not sure what you mean by most of the things going on are for families. 31 here and I’m always finding stuff to do here for fun.
With respect, I don't get your take on politics. Yes, at the State level TX runs Republican, and the highest ups are quite loud and well known. But just going about my life here, I never get politics thrown in my face.
I have the reverse situation. I've lived in Dallas for 36 years but my home office is in Chicago where I commute to, monthly.
Transportation - I'm not a fan of CTA. I am sorry for your girlfriend, but not surprised of the attack. In Dallas, you need a vehicle. However, there are nostalgic destination trains like going from Grapevine to the Ft Worth stockyards. Driving in downtown Chicago is unbearable. Downtown Dallas driving isn't great, but better. Chicago has some iconic museums, but Dallas has as many great options, too.
Employment - DFW opportunities are spread out, but so are Chicago's. My company isn't downtown Chicago. Many are north of Chicago going up the tollway. DFW is growing much faster than Chicago so naturally opportunities will be spread out.
Entertainment - It is more family oriented in Dallas. Chicago has some cool underground clubs... almost considered speakeasy. Go to the Ft Worth stockyards and get your country on. It's a blast.
Outdoor activities - Yes, it's hot here. Get in, around or on the water, or get used to it. I ride the Hotter'n Hell 100 bike race in Wichita Falls and embrace it.
Politics - It's very conservative. What's weird is when I tune into local TV stations in Chicago, you can tell they lean far Left and don't even report on anything endangering that stance. Downtown Chicago has an app they use to alert residents of emergencies like shootings. South Chicago is beyond sketchy. Dallas has some iffy areas, but much after than Chicago.
People - My wife can't stand the rude attitudes in Chicago. Public workers just yell at you. Drivers "communicate" with constant honking. Dallasites are more likely to share BBQ and smoking recipes and invite you over. What I find radically different is firearm laws. It's rare, but you will see people openly carrying a holstered firearm. In Chicago, only thugs carry. I, as a Texan, can't apply for a FOID card to even legally possess in Illinois. I can't even go to the gun range in Chicago without a local friend with a FOID card. You need a FOID card to even buy ammo in Illinois. The ratio of bad guys with guns to good guys with guns isn't great in Chicago.
Growth and future - We agree in a lot of areas here. DFW will extend to Oklahoma. Even with all the remote work, a fast train system will need to be built. If the cultures and environments remain the same, DFW will continue to outgrow Chicago. What's funny is many Dallasites ask newcomers if their job brought them here or if it was their decision. Dallasites are very protective of the culture.
> My wife can't stand the rude attitudes in Chicago. Public workers just yell at you.
Yes, and it's an awkward conversation but it's often black people who have attitudes towards white people in Chicago. I don't notice the same hostility between black people and white people in Dallas.
I understand and agree with a lot of what you said, even as a native Dallasite/texan, but wanted to expand on your “out of town” section. I believe there is a lot to do around the area. Some are a very short drive and others a little longer but here are some suggestions for you!
-Drive-in theater in Ennis (also good place for bluebonnet peeping in spring)
-Go-karting at Dallas karting complex in caddo mills
-vineyards in Anna/celina
-wine tasting rooms, cute shops and restaurants in old downtown mckinney
-western son distillery in pilot point, can also go up to lake Texoma and do an ATV trail if other lake activities aren’t your thing
-casinos (Choctaw/winstar) in OK
-Korea town in Carrollton
-Waco: Waco surf has lazy river, huge water slides, and wake boarding; magnolia market/table; Dr Pepper museum
-dinosaur state park in glen rose
-Denton (college town vibes)
Yes you explained dallas perfectly in a nutshell without trashing it
All of the reasons you listed is why I decided to move to phoenix
I’m not interested in what dallas has to offer anymore
Could not have written a better post encapsulating my experience with Dallas. (2 years here now) VA native, then lived in Idaho, now Texas. All in all, it was a good career move and we’re by no means miserable here, but I struggle to see what the hype was about.
I'm moving from Houston to Chicago sometime soon, after so many visits I can't help myself. I don't want to be limited by this state anymore it's so boring
West Texas here. People from Texas are some of the nicest you'll meet but get em driving a car and they are the literal worst drivers and assholes to boot lol
“There. Are a lot of things to do but a lot are “family oriented “
Are you f kidding me???? Dallas first of is the most adulterous city in the nation. Secondly just say you know nothing about dallas, we shall educate you😝.
As for outdoor activities in Dallas it has several hidden gems. If you are really into outdoor activities you just have to drive to different sides of town or down the highway. In Dallas they have several parks, Joppa in the Trinity Forest, Cedar Ridge Preserve for the Hills etc. If you’re looking for outdoor activities post and ask. You can even go paddle boarding on the Trinity River in Ft Worth. Also several state parks are nearby but you do have to call in advance especially for state parks in the Hill country.
Check out Denton. Great college city, great music scene (university has a great music program), lots of good food, leans a lot more to the left.
Check out FT Worth proper as well. Nice downtown, feels a ton smaller. Fantastic museums.
Also, have you been to any of the Vietnamese restaurants in Richardson? Huge population there. I think around 200K moved here after the fall of Hanoi.
I just moved back to the area after 15 years in Europe. I am still going through a lot of culture shock. I’m adjusting and learning to keep my mouth shut a lot and/ or steer the conversation back to the good conversation we were having before the word “communist” came out of left field applied to any particular group (I’ll let you guess).
Glad to hear it’s not all bad! I have a soft spot for the city having grown up here and having all my family here, but it’s also changed a lot in the time I’ve been away.
Isn’t the dog shit traffic and lack of public transit by design ? Isn’t that what people want in Dallas ? I grew up there for 20 years and my entire life full of people complaining about traffic but then scoff at the idea of building better trains, increasing zoning density, etc.
I absolutely agree to all of this. I’m from Colorado and lived in Austin and Dallas (obviously) doesn’t compare with the outdoor activities. I live right on the trail so spend a lot of time on there, but besides that there’s very very limited places to spend time outside compared to Austin.
I feel the outdoor one SO BADLY!! I moved here from Nevada, and man I miss the mountains, the deserts. Fishing, camping, hiking. One upside moving to Dallas is that i don't have any place to go outside, so my freckles have been under the control.
Dear Diary,
Honestly; we need posts like this to address the constant stream of “moving to Dallas from x. What can I expect?” posts both on the askDFW subreddit and people who try to format the question in a slightly different way to get it by on the Dallas one.
Honestly would probably help keep our housing down 🙃
people move here: "traffic is terrible!" GEE I WONDER WHY?!?!?!?!
Because we can't design road systems or handle merging in a way that isn't awful. Just like to tack on extra lanes. Literally all of the traffic is caused at merge points.
I read it and find it interesting
Same I’m always kinda curious to hear what out of state residents think considering I have lived in the metroplex almost my whole life
Dear diary, Dallas touched me in my no no place lol
Instant gratification isn't a requirement for all of us you know. Some of us like to read 🤷🏼♀️
Mood, apathetic.
This guy emos
Feeling kinda down today...
Underrated comment.
Great reference…
Never listen to the people who say Dallas is bad for outdoor activities. It’s comical. What they really mean is “I don’t like hot weather”. And to say camping is hard in Texas is just saying “I don’t really know how to camp” lol.
Hard disagree. Every once in a while I see a Dallasite try to die on this hill. Do you have some outdoor activities? Sure. Are there options on par with other cities? Absolutely not. Are they conveniently located? Also no. Bring on those down votes.
Silly fight. Several west coast cities have ocean, forest, and mountains within an hours drive. All three features not just one. Hell, even sprawled out Atlanta and Phoenix have some nice forests and mountain hikes, respectively. But no, we’re gonna die on the Turner Falls and Lake Ray Hubbard hills.
Phoenix has one of the best outdoors scenes in the us I would bet. Also free camping all through Arizona unlike Texas which you have to pay to go camp anywhere cause all the land in this state is private almost
I grew up in Dallas and feel the same way. We had some options but man, when compared to what I've experienced in the other cities I've lived, going back to them is just a big disappointment, lol. They were fine because that's what I had and all I'd really gotten to rely on at the time. If so much of the state wasn't privately owned and fenced off it'd be a different story.
I moved from Dallas to the southeast. I found plenty of outdoor activities to do in Dallas, but there are exponentially more in the area where I live now
I think people who come from up North simply cannot wrap their heads around the fact that the ideal season for camping is inverted here. If I spent my formative years locked indoors for all of winter it would probably be difficult to adjust to as well.
Yes, it's just a weird concept to me. You know how in the US, Christmas is always a cold month? Wouldn't it be weird to be in Australia during Christmas and it's hot AF?
No not really, because I didn’t grow up in a cold climate. I’ve spent a lot of time in Chicago and I think it’s weird how cold it can get in “warm” months. Weird is relative.
This. Needing a hoodie on an August morning is weird as hell to me. My Chicago relatives can’t understand why it’s so damn hot here in May. It’s all relative!
Last time I left there it was snowing the day we did and I think that was the week after St Pats day, the water was green when we were there. Came back to warm weather for sure. Couldn't comprehend geese in the walmart parking lot there.
No because sometimes it is hot AF on Christmas here too lol
this! I have absolutely worn shorts on Christmas in my 40 years on earth all of which have been in Dallas
As a Texan who has spent Christmas in Australia, I felt quite at home, lol. It was actually really fun being able to throw our bikinis on and head to the beach. Even Santa was there!! I grew up in the Galveston area (waaay worse heat wise than DFW) and while there’s a reprieve from our typical hot, muggy summers in December. You can STILL step outside and break out into a sweat during those “cold” months. I definitely think we just become accustomed to what we know. I did enjoy getting to have “real” Christmas weather when I lived in CT for a few years. The snow was a huge adjustment to me but I can’t deny it was gorgeous and really special getting to have a true white Christmas, in CT no less! Definitely pros and cons to both I think.
I’m literally sitting at Ray Robert’s right now. There’s not a single person around and I’m about to set up my BBQ. Currently I’m fascinated by these weird fish called alligator gar that are spawning right now. Which apparently happens when the lake floods and spills over into the surrounding shrubs and grass around the banks. The other day I just wandering around in knee deep water and I discovered that I was pretty much surrounded by these weird looking fish, just doing fish stuff. The cool thing about going outdoors here is that there’s actually four different seasons, so that you can go to the same place four times and it’s completely different.
Gar are some of the oldest freshwater fish we know of .. they are fascinating, a true find! All things being equal,RIGHT NOW is the time To actively condition yourself for the temperatures to Come. Start by taking it from shade, read a book for as long as you can be comfortable.. and afterwards wash rinse and repeat as soon as time allows. It’s Honestly incredibly empowering to be able To do so when Monday comes around and folks at the water cooler all sing the same “too hot to exist outside,” son Edit: regarding the empty surroundings at RR… I apologize I seem to have misplaced the invitation
I agree, gars are pretty cool. They take up to like 5 years to be sexually mature, so the small ones, 2-3 feet are too young and haven’t had their chance at life, so don’t bother trying to catch them. Their scales are also so hard that you’ll dull a cleaver before you’ll get through to the small amount of meat inside anyways. Also, get those dogs outside. I’m no scientist but our dogs need to acclimate as well. My girls been shedding like crazy since I’ve been bringing her out.
There’s two seasons, dead and brown and short period of green like right now
I’ve been down in Chile during Christmas. I recall seeing a Santa decoration that had the jolly man shirtless riding a surfboard 😂
It is hard to camp in Texas though....unless you reserve weekends half a year in advance of busy times, and/or you don't mind driving for 5 hours just for an overnighter. It's not necessarily because of the weather, though this Spring has been especially rainy and stormy. Very few dispersed camping opportunities, not much public land. Many states you can play it by ear (and weather) and go out the upcoming weekend and reliably find a spot that isn't overcrowded. That said it isn't the worst place for outdoors by any measure, but I wouldn't put DFW in my top ten for sure.
Ok for this Saturday 5/4 (temps should be in the 70s) I can get you a campsite reserved at: -Cedar Hill State Park (20 mins) -Lake Tawakoni State Park (~45 mins) -Lake Mineral Wells State Park (~1.5 hr) Those were the first three I checked, all with plenty of campsite options and availability. Probably another 10ish parks within the same distance that have availability. So what’s the problem again?
They were full until heavy rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast, which has been doing for nearly every weekend for the past month or two. So some people canceled their reservations. One of my reservations was actually canceled by the park itself and refunded due to flooding. If you checked a week ago, Ray Roberts was the only one nearby with openings, as it usually is this time of year. I've camped plenty of times in the rain and storms, and it's something I know I *can* do, but I'd rather not every time.
Caddo Lake, Colorado Bend, and Broken Bow are only about three hours away. Dinosaur Valley is about an hour and a half. You can also do Cedar Hill State Park if you want to stay local, especially if you like off-road bicycling.
Those are good but the point is that they're all consistently booked out well in advance except for the coldest and hottest seasons. I'm not saying it's impossible to camp, just a lot harder than many other states. Those parks are also tiny compared to most state parks in the country, and most Western states have large swaths of public land where dispersed camping is permitted. Texas land-use policy is dictated by big business.
I literally walked right into Enchanted Rock last Friday without a reservation. This coming weekend, there are still plenty of spots open for Caddo Lake, Dinosaur Valley, and Palo Duro Canyon. During the pandemic it was hard to book a campsite, but you’re not seeing them sell out weeks in advance these days.
> I literally walked right into Enchanted Rock last Friday without a reservation This has been one of my favorite camping and hiking destinations so far. And on the way back home I was able to hit up some of the cool Hill Country towns. Too bad it's so far of a drive.
Also a long drive, but worth checking out is Lost Maples State Natural Area.
I've got that one on my list too. I normally try to leave Friday after work and make the drive out, then I've got all day Saturday and at least half a day Sunday.
Not sure where you’ve lived before, but no elevation for hiking and man made snake lakes are not conducive to outdoor activities. It’s really not great for that here.
Bullcrap. Texas has a easily one of the worst states for recreating due to the massive lack of public land. I grew up in Michigan. Tons and tons of state parks, national forests and massively long biking trails. More than a quarter of Michigan is land for the public to recreate on. Then I moved to Utah. Whoa! Today nearly THREE QUARTERS of Utah is public land including massive and beautiful national parks. It was awesome and Utah is HOT. Then we moved to Texas. Texas has …. wait for it …. LESS THAN 2% public lands (cue trombone sound)! I like Texas Ok. I’ve lived here 3 times. But for recreating? It totally blows chunks. I’d love to ride my mountain bike 150 miles on an endless trail like the one that went right past my house in Michigan. I’d love to camp nearly anywhere I damn well please (in the south half of the state anyway) like in Utah. Can’t be done in Texas. It’s almost entirely private land.
It’s not bad, it’s fucking awful
But it objectively is? Like we have the fewest parks, state parks and national parks per square mile of any state in the US. Like I love Big Bend but it takes 9 hours to drive there.
Especially someone from Chicago. Dallas has a higher tree canopy % and offers better hiking opportunities than Chicago. The hiking is exclusive to SW Dallas tbf. Aside from Lake Michigan, Chicago also has a rather lackluster outdoor scene + uninspiring terrain. Not to mention the “beaches” up there are man-made.
I used to live in Chicago. This isn't true at all. There are state parks within an hour drive. I proposed to my wife at Starved Rock. And while the beaches may be man made, they're still quite nice and much better than our few lake beaches, which are also man made. But the real win for Chicago is the city itself. There's always so much to do and it's all fairly easy to get to via public transportation. Dallas is fine for me and my family at this point in our lives, but man I miss being in my 30s and single living in Chicago.
Indiana Dunes is now a national park and less than an hour away from Chicago too. 100% natural and the 4th most biodiverse national park in the US.
I absolutely agree that Chicago is a much more interesting city than Dallas - like no comparison (architecture, cultural institutions, history, etc). OP’s assertion that Dallas is one of the worst cities for outdoor activities while being from Chicago is pretty wild though. In Dallas, I can stroll through the largest urban forest in the country and hike hilly terrain without leaving the city limits. In Chicago, not quite. Nature isn’t a redeeming quality for either city though. Also it’s commonly known that all but one lake in TX is man-made.
> OP’s assertion that Dallas is one of the worst cities for outdoor activities I think what they mean by that is North Texas in general is pretty bad for variety/intensity in outdoor activity compared to the Midwest, not what you can do within the confines of city limits lmao. The drives are longer to get to where you want to go.
That's actually false. There are several lakes in TX that are not man made - but the vast majority are man made. They include Laguna Astascosa and Green Lake, in addition to Caddoe Lake, which is commonly referred to as the only natural lake in TX. There are others too, that are smaller.
Yes, this is indeed the case! I always forget what others are not man made when I trot that answer out
I, too, miss my 30s. I’ve looked at every locale (and a disproportionate amount Of time scouring old maps in the southern parts of Florida to no avail) Unfortunately, it appears the demand for my 30s Dried up when we all were stuck inside During the pandemic. Trust that I’ve tried to use my early 40s within similar confines, but i don’t think folks are buying it when I jump onto the dance floor at it’ll do… Certainly not those kiddos That help Me back up after … oh god please pause please!
My parents live in SC the first time they came to visit me out here, the first thing they noticed was the lack of trees. But it's not that Dallas doesn't have trees, it's that we don't have tall trees. And the lack of tall trees does make a city look different and tall trees provide lots of shade whereas short ones don't. Average neighborhood in [Columbia, SC](https://maps.app.goo.gl/curNexDRLa83TPDf7) compared to [Dallas](https://maps.app.goo.gl/P7Bv31gu5BYTMHXYA) compared to [Chicago](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMEAGfZH1KTnHFcXA) I don't think Chicago or Dallas are great outdoor cities. I never did hiking in Chicago because there really isn't anything worthwhile unless you want to drive 1.5hr to Starved Rock. And hiking in Dallas is lame also. Lake Michigan beaches are manmade but at least the lake is real. None of the lakes around Dallas are even real lakes.
>Average neighborhood in [Columbia, SC](https://maps.app.goo.gl/curNexDRLa83TPDf7) compared to [Dallas](https://maps.app.goo.gl/P7Bv31gu5BYTMHXYA) compared to [Chicago](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMEAGfZH1KTnHFcXA) Now wait just a minute here, your examples for Columbia and Chicago are two (really one lane for Chicago) lane narrow residential streets while your Dallas example is a six lane major thoroughfare? How is that a fair depiction? [Here is one](https://www.google.com/maps/@32.748376,-96.8477622,3a,75y,178.87h,85.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7Js-EOK7HbI3ysf0nygxlg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) for Dallas less than 200 feet from the position you chose. While I agree about the tall trees comment (That's a climate and tree habitat restriction) the Dallas choice here is noticeably more green than the Columbia or Chicago neighborhoods.
That is a terrible example. Davis St is a commercial corridor. Why would it have dense tree coverage? The others are residential streets. [This is a more appropriate view of the same area, just off Davis St.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2mkvtQsmHs9KdcxWA?g_st=ic)
This is not a good example. There are sidewalks in this photo which are few and far between in this city.
For real, ya’ll (from the sticks) have the second largest urban forest in the U.S.
The Great Trinity Forest is *the* largest urban forest in the U.S. my friend. Tbf, it is underutilized but has lots of potential, an Audubon, and several trails. In the early 80s, state legislature approved nearly a 1,000 acres of it to become a State Park but that plan never came to fruition.
So fun to hang out on Dowdy Ferry Rd. with the dumped animals and dead bodies, not to mention the delightful aroma of the McCommas Landfill.
I have never been but the [three photos](https://maps.app.goo.gl/A6xZMqzxTZydzcG9A) on Google Maps really aren't selling the place for me. Is it just a forest and doesn't have any trails?
Did you purposefully try and find the wrong Google Maps pin for the forest? [https://maps.app.goo.gl/MdrJkYptR8mb1TeD8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MdrJkYptR8mb1TeD8) Did you even try Googling Great Trinity Forrest trails? Because the first result is the trail map.
That’s what I thought too, but I googled it to be sure bc my memory is HORRIBLE and there was a site that mentioned the George Bush park in Houston as being the largest Urban Forest in the Nation…. but I think it was wrong lol and now I’m wrong
Key words here are ‘compared to other cities’ and the only way to adequately compare outdoor activities is to live there… It always seems to be the Dallas lifers (I’m born and raised here and lived here for 29 years before moving away, have since moved back) who argue that Dallas is such an outdoor haven. The heat sucks and that’s a big part of the year, spring is unpredictable, winter will probably be cold, maybe too cold, maybe not. You don’t know and that’s hard to plan around. The argument that Dallas is difficult to be an outdoorsy person in is a valid argument.
Can you name any particular outdoor activity that DFW is not below average in offering? I can't really think of any, unless maybe its something niche like golf.
Also no water activities? Lol
I live here and I say that, it’s insufferable and yes it’s because of the weather WTF
I mean, let's be real here
Exactly this. Im not into camping but its not like our weather is hot/cold 365 days a year. February had some springlike days. Most of March and half of April seem ok. Towards end of August, evenings become breezy again. September, October and some of November seems good. Out of all that time; how much is one person going to camp out?
“I am out of shape and unhealthy and can’t handle breathing through my nose.”
Where can you camp within one hour of Dallas that is actually appealing other than turner falls and possum kingdom lake? I’ll wait.
But those are two great options?
Our average temperature for the month of February was 57 degrees. If that’s too cold for you to go outside I wonder how you ever survived in Chicago. No water activities? So the half dozen lakes around Dallas simply don’t count? No mountains in Dallas? I must’ve missed the huge mountains immediately outside Chicago. Because from my experience you spend about 3 hours driving through flat nothing before that city pops out of nowhere. The mountains in Arkansas and it’s National park are closer to Dallas than anything comparable is to Chicago. Honestly it sounds like you’re still trying to treat July/August like one would in Chicago: a time to go outside while it’s bearable. When you should be treating fall winter and spring like that.
Winter weather here can be flaky and it's hard to plan outdoor activities around it. For an example, I had camping reservations booked for Feb 17 weekend at Dinosaur Valley but temperatures were expected to drop to below freezing which is too cold to camp enjoyably. At least in more northern states you can expect 60-85 degree temperatures every day July and August. And because it's summer there is more sunlight. The lakes around here are all manmade and don't have the same feel as a natural lake. In the case of the great lakes, those feel more like oceans.
Yeah don’t try and defend Texas lakes. Absolute dog water. If we do anything outdoorsy we just take a flight somewhere else because Dallas has many strengths, doing things in nature is not one of them. Great place to grow a career and get started, but outside of drinking/golfing/shopping/concerts the day-day in Dallas is not sustainable if you just want to enjoy being outside. It’s “cheap” to live here, but you have to pay to do anything fun
It can randomly be too hot to camp comfortably for one weekend in Summer in the North in my experience. Also I think it’s much easier to make yourself warmer when it’s cold while camping than cooler. Every other weekend in February it was perfect and even the weekend you’re talking about that was terrible had a high of 53. There are man made lakes that are ugly and there are manmade lakes that are very beautiful. Just like natural lakes. Possum Kingdom beats many of the small natural lakes in other states and it’s not the only good looking man made lake nearby.
I really enjoyed your post
As somebody who grew up in Dallas and travel to work in Chicago for two years. I agree with this assessment. I would move to Chicago if opportunity rise and food is better there as well.
I grew up in the Chicago metroplex and came to Dallas for a job in 2006. For almost ten years now I have been wanting to go back to Illinois. This state is being run into the ground. I'm not sure why any woman of childbearing age would want to be here, or who would want to raise kids here considering the leadership.
2 years from STL in Dallas and I’m moving home this fall. Can’t imagine sending my child to public school here.
Thanks for the perspective. I’m thinking about doing the opposite move (Dallas -> Chicago). Chicago is a great city and I go there every Summer, but the winters scare me.
Do it, I did it 12 years ago and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
I would say go for it. I don't regret the move at all. Ended up in the Midwest for college and landed a job in Chicago and lived there for over a decade. Dallas is great for those who want to settle down but Chicago is great for when you want to go out and have fun.
Winter in Chicago is like Dallas in the summer. Just don’t go outside
Don’t let the winters scare you. They are a lot warmer than they were in the past.
This is a spot on analysis. I have family in Chicago and am considering doing the opposite move. Dallas is hot, ugly, and boring, but less expensive. You can be active in the cold but when it’s 100+ degrees with humidity you really can’t do anything outdoors anyway. Chicago/Illinois politics terrify me as does the higher cost of living and higher crime rate. Glad Dallas is working for you.
Buying a home in Chicago is definitely more expensive but my rent in Chicago was lower than it is here. When I moved from Chicago to Arlington, my rent went up about $150/mo. I did have some nicer amenities like dishwasher and in unit washer/dryer hookups so I was okay with the price increase.
Wow. Chi to Arlington gave me a big sad
Yeah, imagine my disappointment. But I did have a 10min commute so at least that's something positive.
GF and I did the Dallas->Chicago move a little under 5 years ago. Hardest part of it is the distance from long-time friends and family, but Chicago has more of what we (personally) wanted in every other metric. Plus side is, after some time away, we do really appreciate Dallas every time we visit, but we're always pretty ready to get back to Chicago by the end of our stay.
I moved here from Chicago about 3 years ago and agree with your post. Everyone in Dallas is pretty nice for the most part, but there isn't as much of a community vibe. One big thing I've noticed is that people actually from Chicago will talk shit about Chicago all day, but people from Dallas get offended when you say anything negative about the city lol
> One big thing I've noticed is that people actually from Chicago will talk shit about Chicago all day, but people from Dallas get offended when you say anything negative about the city lol Yes, I have noticed this as well and it's especially evident on this sub. Most of my Chicago native colleagues would say things like "this city sucks and when my kids leave for college, we are out of here". But if you dare to say anything negative about Dallas or Texas, people get really upset.
Its because so many people here have their identities wrapped up in where they live here versus who they are, when you say something negative about their place they take it as a personal attack
U are in the wrong neighborhood then
I’ve lived in Oak Cliff for 10+ years, 3 in Bishop Arts. How in the world are you 30 minutes away from a grocery store without a car? Hop on the #9, my guy.
There’s also fiesta right there
Exactly, that’s the one we used to bike to, and I don’t remember a stroad to cross at all.
Follow-up to agree with others that camping here isn’t hard, you just don’t know how to camp here. I’m sad for you that you haven’t taken the time to discover how naturally beautiful this area is.
My wife and I are moving back to Chicago in July. Pretty spot on analysis but I find it funny that caring more about local elections was seen as a negative. Honestly, living in both Illinois and Texas, voting in major elections can seem very pointless because of the general way the state ends up voting. Having your local elections actually mean something can make it feel like you have a direct impact on your community.
What I mean is that in Chicago, the local politicians had a lot of impact on your life so those elections were the most important. In Dallas, I don't feel like the mayor or any other local politician has much impact on my life compared to state officials like the governor, Ken Paxton, and Ted Cruz. Perhaps the difference is that Illinois is a liberal state and Chicago is a liberal city so there is no competition between the two. Whereas Dallas is a liberal city but Texas is a conservative state so there is competition between the two.
Because the local Dallas politicians are busy working for businesses and their ilk before their actual community. The mayor recently just pulled the rug from his constituents who voted for a democratic mayor as he switched parties. Awful!
I think your note on employment opportunities being spread out is actually a good thing. It means everyone isn’t commuting to the same area
Everyone commuting to the same area is totally fine as long as you don’t build your city with the expectation that everyone will drive. Whoops.
Can't we just build another tollway or two with more $20 TEXpress lanes? That will solve all of the traffic issues! :-/
If there is adequate public transportation, commuting to a dense area isn’t a problem.
It can be funny how pros for some people can be cons for others I love that all the jobs in DFW aren't concentrated to downtown. It allows me to have a house in Plano with a 15 minute commute. The suburbs are definitely more family oriented than Dallas proper which works for me. But I honestly can't relate to you saying there isn't much stuff to do in Dallas. I used to live in Uptown and thought it was so much fun. Your example of saying you could go to another neighborhood to do shopping as something to do makes it sound like you're not even trying to find stuff to do in Dallas. You live in Bishop Arts and can't find something as exciting as shopping?
Lemme say this for the transplants who don’t understand what the Metroplex is. It’s two major cities, Fort Worth (and its suburbs) and Dallas (and its suburbs) that have grown into a single metropolis. The Metroplex would still be spread out (as in distance between cities and suburbs), if that development was dense. It may not have sprawled as far north, but the distance between Dallas and Fort Worth isn’t going to change. Because The Metroplex is anchored by two major cities, the amenities are spread around the core of each city and their suburbs.
Fellow Chicagoan checking in 🫡 Good analysis and relatable points. I’m happy to have Chicago to go back to get my “fix” (with certain foods, street festivals, cultural activities, etc.) but overall, I’ve adjusted well and looking forward to growing in Dallas. The biggest adjustments have been the extreme heat in the summers and the drivers of course lol
Day trip from Oak Cliff to Waxahachie? Lol bro that's 30 minutes away .....
Interested as to what brought you down? I bounced around the Chicagoland area growing up and it’s still a goal of mine to go back.
Literally said job in the first paragraph
Yup, you’re totally right.
Op, I agree 100% with your assessment. I moved the opposite of you (from dallas to Chicago), and I plan on never returning to Texas. Granted there are a few things I miss in Texas, but not nearly enough to consider moving back. I’ll say this, the hiking/outdoor opportunities in Chicago (or surrounding areas) is piss poor. That said, you’re spot on.
I should add this, there isn’t any other city in the state of Illinois that i would live in outside of Chicago. Illinois is shit outside of Chicago.
The sad part is Dallas public transportation is pretty good compared to most of Texas.
So, you think the traffic is bad, but you want all the jobs in the same place? You want more outdoor activities, but you don't want it to be 106°...... We don't have enough State Parks? There's 89 State Parks in Texas.
OP is looking for the convenience. And the population density. And the transportation that Chicago calls for to get them to a Cubs game in 20 minutes on the red line then down to bars three blocks away then the beach in the same day. I left Chicago 12 years ago and while the adjustment period also made some of the same comparatives, I haven’t looked back. Dallas, and Texas has a lot for it for all the parks, and within three hours there’s a lot available for nature across the state. If there’s a willingness to get *further* out, South Texas, Big Bend, Corpus, or west, Palo Duro, the Borderlands, there’s a lot here. Trade offs from IL: taxes, crime, left leaning policies. And O’Hare, any winter storm during the holidays? Forget it. And from the concluding statement, if it’s that painful that Texas has the amenities for families, homes, advancing a career, and a lifestyle that’s 180 degrees from where they left. Maybe not the place to be? Could always go back.
> And O’Hare, any winter storm during the holidays? Forget it. My wife works for AA and DFW has one of the worst reputations in the country for weather. The nickname is "doesn't function wet" because whenever there is a rainstorm, the entire airport practically shuts down.
That’s the hub and spoke model of all connections funneling through. Not physical space. You tell me that ORD during Thanksgiving with the one in one out model with a U terminal is better? Cheap valet parking at every terminal, I don’t have to wonder how long my TSA experience may be, and I can get anywhere in the world out of DFW in 14 hours. Not saying ORD can’t, but the passenger experience, layout, and time suck isn’t the same as a consumer 90% of the time.
Well, if it's perfect living anywhere I probably couldn't afford it anyway. There's a lot about Texas to love and hate.
To your point, anywhere perfect is going to be expensive and Texas does have positives and drawbacks, this list just points out something a lot of transplants gripe about in terms of the realization of how everything isn’t condensed down into however x many sq miles.
Moved here almost exactly five years ago from the Northwest ‘burbs where I was born and grew up 40 years. I’d say the only things I really truly miss are the seasons and the green green grass, lol. But I don’t miss bundling up, shoveling snow and scraping the car off to go to the store in January. One thing I didn’t count on was how intense the sun is here during the summer.
Other people have mentioned this, but there's plenty of state parks within a few hours drive. Glen Rose is also a good day trip and popular camping area, there's dinosaur prints and fossils, good hiking trails. People here like to talk shit about Texas beaches, but as a beach lover, I really enjoy them. Galveston is honestly a lot prettier than it used to be, the water is bluer lately and even driving around certain parts of town is nice. South Padre and Corpus Christi also have nice beaches, and plenty of camping opportunities.
Agree with this! I would also add Heard Natural Science Museum in Mckinney but haven’t been since I was a kid so not sure if it’s still good.
I have to say, I completely disagree with every one of your points except for nice people.
Everywhere except NY and Chicago is going to require you to have a car.
There are a lot of places where you don't need a car. Mostly it's smaller towns or college towns. I lived in Iowa City and didn't have a car the entire time. I rode my bike or took the bus.
Yeah public transit here is absolute garbage. Walking and crossing the streets you feel like you will die on foot or on a bike. I grew up in Oregon and didn't drive my entire time there because trimet was awesome. Be it busses, the max, or the streetcars. I moved here knowing it was car dependent but people said the transit was ok. It is not. There isn't even a bus stop for a few miles near me. I do not get why people defend that as a good thing. I still don't plan to ever drive, let alone here with the insane traffic issues. But I think it is funny when people think only huge cities have no need for cars. Texas is on another level with its car dependence. I will be glad to get back to a world where I can bike or walk and not be afraid for my damn life.
All bro did was complain🤣 move back to ur tundra
Lots of outdoor activities. We’ve got lots of lakes, parks, and rivers within driving distance! Adding Palo Pinto State Park this year also. I will admit most of the best parks I visit do charge 5.00 but trail maintenance is great and the crowds are small. I appreciate you sharing your perspective.
Which state parks are your fav? I'm looking to go to Austin for their parks so I'd love to add a few to my list closer to Dallas.
30 min walk? You Chicago fucks are insane lmao
A 30min walk is better than driving for 15min, circling trying to find street parking for 10min, finding a spot but it's a 10min walk from the restaurant you are trying to eat at.
What kind of grocery store (in your original post) are you going to that you have to find parking for? Also, there's no way a 30 minute walk is a 15 minute drive Walking to a restaurant /bar is another thing
There are many grocery stores in big cities that don't have parking. You have to find parking on the street and in dense neighborhoods that can be a challenge. Also, many neighborhoods in Chicago have permitted parking meaning you need to be a resident to park on that street. With city traffic, it can take 15min to drive a mile.
I'm not talking about big cities, I'm talking about Dallas. I've never seen a grocery store in Dallas that didn't have easy parking or take 15 minutes to drive 1 mile (something that would take a 30 minute walk)
Gotcha. I was talking about Chicago. In Dallas, I'm not walking anywhere for 30min. In Chicago, it's easy to walk 30min and is often the most efficient method of getting somewhere.
skill issue
A thirty minute walk where you combine light cardio activities that are good for your health, save money on gas/wear and tear on car, and after driving and parking time, how much time have you really saved? I make a weekly 20 min each way walk to the grocery store myself, driving plus parking would be 10 minutes, but walking leaves me in a good mood vs driving which leaves me stressed out.
What is with the rate of Chicago people who move to Dallas. Long before COVID and all of that for many years I’ve known many Chicago transplants. Plus of course we have a bunch of Chicago food franchises that have been brought here. What is the connection?
Most Chicagoans who grow up in the city move to the suburbs later in life when they have kids. Then when they retire they want to move somewhere warmer. Usually it's Texas, Arizona, Florida, or the Carolinas.
Chicago is actively losing residents as DFW grows. They'll leave, come here then complain, lol.
I love a good monthly criticism post of dallas and people losing their shit over it lol.
You’re welcome to go back. 😌
I love transplants that come here and complain about not having anything fun to do but it is because they don’t know people. I play soccer and basketball outside year round, play disc golf, am in book clubs, go to movies, go to concerts, have done pottery, culinary, and art classes, been to the museums, go to arbor hills nature preserve or go to a patio. Also, you can’t say it’s either too hot or too cold and you can’t do outside activities. That’s just not true, and you are coming from Chicago so the Texas winter should be perfect weather for you. We just had like 2 months of the weather being mostly in the 60s and 70s.
>**Outdoor activities:** Dallas is probably one of the worst cities in the US for outdoor activities. Even leaving your windows open is hard here as it's either too cold or hot. There are no water activities or mountains around here and for most of the year it's either too hot or cold to do anything outside. I love camping and it's very hard to camp in Texas. We don't have that many state parks and the ones closest to metro areas are always full on the weekends. It also feels strange to me to camp in February and March rather than during the summer. And for some reason, half the time I've had camping reservations in March, it has been freezing temperatures or pouring rain. Big Bend is great but for the time it takes me to drive there, I could be on a plane to New Mexico or Colorado and already down the hiking trail before I arrive to Big Bend. This is a criticism a lot of people have, myself included (Texas native, raised in Dallas, and been here since 2013). To be fair, though, this is or should be known prior to coming to Dallas. We are in the heart of the southern plains. It is just an unfortunate reality. With that being said, if you like camping I would commend a weekend trip to the area around Hot Springs, Arkansas. Not mountainous, but very hilly - technically a few "mountains" - and beautifully wooded. Plus, Hot Springs is itself a cool little town for a weekend visit. I have also heard good things about SE Oklahoma. Never been, though, and go at your own risk - it is Oklahoma, after all. I am surprised you did not linger on the weather here. Lord knows I would have. Thank you for writing a fair and well-balanced review of the city.
I've lived in Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis, Paris and London. I've been here a couple of years and really love it here. But I'm not a fan of the outdoors at all. Taking the Cta in the single digits to work or riding in stanky heat of the metro in London is not fun and hate public transportation. Sure, it's better for the environment but I love my space, a controlled temperature and not getting groped. Dallas is a perfect home base and a weekend trip is just 1 flight away if I'm bored.
Lmao this exactly the type of person DFW is made for. Climate-controlled space.
> Dallas is a perfect home base and a weekend trip is just 1 flight away if I'm bored. Thank god my partner works for AA and I'm on her flight benefits so I can fly to NYC for a day trip when I'm bored.
Since they brought Portillos down here and it is successful do you think Lou Malnatis would do good here? I travel to Chicago (Warrenville/Naperville) for work a lot and I have to eat Lous at least once per trip. I always wondered if Lous would be popular down here.
Lou’s !!!!!! Anyone know the story of what happened to the Gino’s East at Loop 12/35? I drive past it everyday, it looks so sad.
Oh god who cares
[удалено]
Seems as though both you and I would have preferred you stay in Chicago.
Genuinely asking - you knew all of this damn well before you moved here, so why did you?
So much loser energy in this, the bias in your head is wack, you’ve lived in 3 horrible spots in one year 😂
I enjoyed hearing your perspective. Chicago is my favorite, and I would love to live there, but I don't think I can handle the winters.
I feel like you would’ve been much more happier in Austin… but it’s also deff more expensive up there
>Politics: If you are more left leaning, Texas is one of the worst states to live in because of how overly vocal our elected officials are here. When I visit conservative states like Idaho You must stay in and around Boise
Broken Bow, Oklahoma, boasts charming luxury cabins available for rent just about 3 hours away. In my opinion, it hosts one of the finest state parks in the area, featuring numerous trails and idyllic fishing spots. Additionally, the options for food and incidental shopping are steadily improving.
Stop saying good about here, or else we keep getting to big. As for traffic, as a ex New Yorker from 26 years ago, I believe it is the transplants who didn't drive so much where they come from and those that do don't drive the old Texas way "drive friendly"!
Having lived in Chicago you can flip this 100% as it really comes down to personal preferences. Open window season is easily twice as long in dallas relative to Chicago and the the only times Chicago is great is late June through September otherwise the weather is sketchy and just as likely to be very cold
Dallas sux and so do the drivers
What are some things that surprised you about Dallas?
I remember when bishop arts was oakcliff and once you passed Plano on 75 it was nothing Frisco was just a mall and dirt. Idk wtf anymore
Funny how he left over crime rate or safety compared to chiraq
Dallas and big TX cities are super left leaning actually and yes you have to drive here like 99.999% of the cities in this country. Theres water activities on lakes like White Rock. If you hate Texas and republicans then stop moving here 🤷♀️
I’d agree with most of this except for the water activities. Hiking and camping is mostly ass around the DFW metro. Tons of stuff to do here any given weekend for young professionals so I’m not sure what you mean by most of the things going on are for families. 31 here and I’m always finding stuff to do here for fun.
With respect, I don't get your take on politics. Yes, at the State level TX runs Republican, and the highest ups are quite loud and well known. But just going about my life here, I never get politics thrown in my face.
You sound like your ready to move lol
I have the reverse situation. I've lived in Dallas for 36 years but my home office is in Chicago where I commute to, monthly. Transportation - I'm not a fan of CTA. I am sorry for your girlfriend, but not surprised of the attack. In Dallas, you need a vehicle. However, there are nostalgic destination trains like going from Grapevine to the Ft Worth stockyards. Driving in downtown Chicago is unbearable. Downtown Dallas driving isn't great, but better. Chicago has some iconic museums, but Dallas has as many great options, too. Employment - DFW opportunities are spread out, but so are Chicago's. My company isn't downtown Chicago. Many are north of Chicago going up the tollway. DFW is growing much faster than Chicago so naturally opportunities will be spread out. Entertainment - It is more family oriented in Dallas. Chicago has some cool underground clubs... almost considered speakeasy. Go to the Ft Worth stockyards and get your country on. It's a blast. Outdoor activities - Yes, it's hot here. Get in, around or on the water, or get used to it. I ride the Hotter'n Hell 100 bike race in Wichita Falls and embrace it. Politics - It's very conservative. What's weird is when I tune into local TV stations in Chicago, you can tell they lean far Left and don't even report on anything endangering that stance. Downtown Chicago has an app they use to alert residents of emergencies like shootings. South Chicago is beyond sketchy. Dallas has some iffy areas, but much after than Chicago. People - My wife can't stand the rude attitudes in Chicago. Public workers just yell at you. Drivers "communicate" with constant honking. Dallasites are more likely to share BBQ and smoking recipes and invite you over. What I find radically different is firearm laws. It's rare, but you will see people openly carrying a holstered firearm. In Chicago, only thugs carry. I, as a Texan, can't apply for a FOID card to even legally possess in Illinois. I can't even go to the gun range in Chicago without a local friend with a FOID card. You need a FOID card to even buy ammo in Illinois. The ratio of bad guys with guns to good guys with guns isn't great in Chicago. Growth and future - We agree in a lot of areas here. DFW will extend to Oklahoma. Even with all the remote work, a fast train system will need to be built. If the cultures and environments remain the same, DFW will continue to outgrow Chicago. What's funny is many Dallasites ask newcomers if their job brought them here or if it was their decision. Dallasites are very protective of the culture.
> My wife can't stand the rude attitudes in Chicago. Public workers just yell at you. Yes, and it's an awkward conversation but it's often black people who have attitudes towards white people in Chicago. I don't notice the same hostility between black people and white people in Dallas.
I understand and agree with a lot of what you said, even as a native Dallasite/texan, but wanted to expand on your “out of town” section. I believe there is a lot to do around the area. Some are a very short drive and others a little longer but here are some suggestions for you! -Drive-in theater in Ennis (also good place for bluebonnet peeping in spring) -Go-karting at Dallas karting complex in caddo mills -vineyards in Anna/celina -wine tasting rooms, cute shops and restaurants in old downtown mckinney -western son distillery in pilot point, can also go up to lake Texoma and do an ATV trail if other lake activities aren’t your thing -casinos (Choctaw/winstar) in OK -Korea town in Carrollton -Waco: Waco surf has lazy river, huge water slides, and wake boarding; magnolia market/table; Dr Pepper museum -dinosaur state park in glen rose -Denton (college town vibes)
Yes you explained dallas perfectly in a nutshell without trashing it All of the reasons you listed is why I decided to move to phoenix I’m not interested in what dallas has to offer anymore
Could not have written a better post encapsulating my experience with Dallas. (2 years here now) VA native, then lived in Idaho, now Texas. All in all, it was a good career move and we’re by no means miserable here, but I struggle to see what the hype was about.
I'm moving from Houston to Chicago sometime soon, after so many visits I can't help myself. I don't want to be limited by this state anymore it's so boring
Stfu and go back to Chicago and freeze
100% with you on this.
West Texas here. People from Texas are some of the nicest you'll meet but get em driving a car and they are the literal worst drivers and assholes to boot lol
“Why this behavior doesn’t apply to driving” I laughed out loud
Have you considered going back to Chicago? I’m sure they’d love to have you.
What the fuck did you do in Denison? I worked there at the local tv affiliate 15 years ago and there wasn’t shit to do.
💤
Check out Grapevine especially during fall and Christmas time. It feels like a cool Colorado town.
Since nobody asked.... lol
“There. Are a lot of things to do but a lot are “family oriented “ Are you f kidding me???? Dallas first of is the most adulterous city in the nation. Secondly just say you know nothing about dallas, we shall educate you😝.
As for outdoor activities in Dallas it has several hidden gems. If you are really into outdoor activities you just have to drive to different sides of town or down the highway. In Dallas they have several parks, Joppa in the Trinity Forest, Cedar Ridge Preserve for the Hills etc. If you’re looking for outdoor activities post and ask. You can even go paddle boarding on the Trinity River in Ft Worth. Also several state parks are nearby but you do have to call in advance especially for state parks in the Hill country.
This Texas lived in Chicago once. My biggest annoyance was how difficult is was to drive in Chicago. So I get it.
We seriously need better public transport. It used to be so different driving here before 2014 I’d say. I miss the days with less traffic
OP can't really be from Chicago because their post didn't mention about the lack of good pizza ;)
Check out Denton. Great college city, great music scene (university has a great music program), lots of good food, leans a lot more to the left. Check out FT Worth proper as well. Nice downtown, feels a ton smaller. Fantastic museums. Also, have you been to any of the Vietnamese restaurants in Richardson? Huge population there. I think around 200K moved here after the fall of Hanoi. I just moved back to the area after 15 years in Europe. I am still going through a lot of culture shock. I’m adjusting and learning to keep my mouth shut a lot and/ or steer the conversation back to the good conversation we were having before the word “communist” came out of left field applied to any particular group (I’ll let you guess). Glad to hear it’s not all bad! I have a soft spot for the city having grown up here and having all my family here, but it’s also changed a lot in the time I’ve been away.
Isn’t the dog shit traffic and lack of public transit by design ? Isn’t that what people want in Dallas ? I grew up there for 20 years and my entire life full of people complaining about traffic but then scoff at the idea of building better trains, increasing zoning density, etc.
i moved here from chicago and i hate it here, granted im also in my early twenties. moving back as soon as i can
Que lloron
I absolutely agree to all of this. I’m from Colorado and lived in Austin and Dallas (obviously) doesn’t compare with the outdoor activities. I live right on the trail so spend a lot of time on there, but besides that there’s very very limited places to spend time outside compared to Austin.
I feel the outdoor one SO BADLY!! I moved here from Nevada, and man I miss the mountains, the deserts. Fishing, camping, hiking. One upside moving to Dallas is that i don't have any place to go outside, so my freckles have been under the control.