The most cosmopolitan of Texas’ super-sized cities, Dallas boasts an incredible amount of things to do. From your home base at The Kimpton Lumen Hotel in University Park, you’re right in the center of it all. Whatever you’re in the mood to see or do, there are plenty of ways to explore the big delights of the Big D — try these three itineraries on for size.
A guestroom at The Kimpton Hotel Lumen.
Off the Beaten Path
The Kimpton Lumen isn’t a standard hotel, so don’t visit the most standard attractions — explore a few of the area’s under-the-radar gems. As an alternative to the better-known GeO-Deck in Reunion Tower, start with the Sky Lobby in Chase Tower, where floor-to-ceiling windows on the 40th floor let you peek over the downtown skyline. (And better yet, it’s free.) Back on the ground, enjoy the charming Dragon Park at 3520 Cedar Springs Road in the Oak Lawn neighborhood — here, you’ll find everything from griffins and gargoyles to fairies and foliage all in one small, almost-hidden package.
Round out your experience with a visit to a trio of quirky museums, including the Eight Track Museum in Deep Ellum; the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame in Arlington, which covers 5,000 years of history in an interactive, surprisingly fascinating way; and the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, which is fresh on the scene having just opened this month. Try your hand at arcade classics like Donkey Kong Jr. and Frogger, learn about the industry’s crash in 1983, and check out rare artifacts like the never-released Sega Neptune console.
Digital worlds come to life at the National Videogame Museum. (Photo courtesy of The National Videogame Museum.)
Fashion Forward
To say shopping is a favorite pastime in Dallas would be something of an understatement — this is a city with more shopping centers per capita than any other.. So when you’re here, do as the locals do and indulge in some retail therapy. The mecca for that is the Neiman Marcus flagship store, which opened in its current location more than 100 years ago. The department store still sets the standard for customer service and is widely considered the birthplace of the city’s retail scene. More high-end shopping (and history) awaits at Highland Park Village, which happens to be America’s first shopping center and a National Historic Landmark. The carefully planned, Spanish Mediterranean–style plaza includes boutique shops from Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Diane von Furstenburg, Tom Ford, and other big names in fashion.
For more unique finds, stop by the revitalized Bishop Arts District, populated by cute shops and local eateries. Fete-ish has fun gifts you won’t find just anywhere, while Society offers all the specialty candles your nose could want. Settle in at The Wild Detectives, a café/bookshop tucked into a house, and before you leave the area, swing by Dude, Sweet Chocolate and grab some Fungus Amongus Toffee — butter toffee made with porcini mushroom powder and toasted pumpkin seed — for the road.
Collegiate Cool
The landmark campus of Southern Methodist University boasts a variety of architectural styles. (Photo courtesy of Southern Methodist University.)
With Southern Methodist University’s campus right at the doorstep of The Kimpton Lumen, you can use your stay to soak up the collegiate atmosphere. And it’s a pretty atmosphere, at that — SMU was recently named one of the most beautiful campuses in America by Condé Nast Traveler, thanks to its Neo-Georgian architecture, vast lawns, and tree-lined stretch known as The Boulevard. Don’t miss Dallas Hall, an impressive domed building dating back to the 1910s.
Iconic Dallas Hall, the oldest building on the SMU campus.
You can also partake in a little learning on campus, with stops at the Meadows Museum, known for having one of the largest Spanish art collections outside of Spain, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library, which opened in 2013 as the 13th presidential library. SMU beat out six other locations for the honor of hosting; the museum is notable for its interactive Decision Points Theater and full-size replica of the Oval Office.
When you want to grab a bite to eat, try a campus-area restaurant — choices range from lunch at the casual local institution Kuby’s Sausage House, where you can enjoy the Wurst teller with homemade sauerkraut, hot German potato salad, and red cabbage, to dinner at the truly memorable Knife, a modern steakhouse from Top Chef’s John Tesar that wows with selection and service.
