One of my adult nieces was turned 21 just before Labor Day and she wanted to do something big for the long weekend. In a place that prides itself on doing things “big”, it stands to reason that Dallas was the ultimate choice. We had fun exploring, eating, rooftop lounging, and window shopping.
Dallas Farmers Market
I have never been to a farmer’s market quite like this before. The Dallas Farmers Market is so much more than your ordinary market. There is an indoor and outdoor market (the Shed) where you can eat, drink, and shop from some of the most popular spots around the city all in one spot. What stood out to me was a large representation of black farmers and farm-to-table entrepreneurs. Besides restaurants, these businesses were making fantastic consumer products, such as spices, jams, wine and beauty products – all-natural and locally sourced. We saw a good selection of vegan and gluten-free products.
Make sure to check out Revive Spices. With interesting flavors such as Hawaiian Black Salt and Morrocan Rub, she definitely got my attention. The owner was offering a $5 off your order in exchange for a Google review. Another tasty treat was MaDears Jellies. I sampled lots of the jellies and the Carribean Heat and Jalapeño Pepper Jelly were my top two favorites. Be sure to stop by Berkshire Farms Winery as early as possible because they often run out of the mimosa. BUT they had flavored wine popsicles y’all!! The owners say that the frozen wine popsicles are outselling their pork!! Yenisi Beauty had a body butter that is to die for. Since I had only carry-on luggage, I have to place an online order. So many of the vendors are worthy of a mention here but sadly I didn’t take note of all there names.
Dallas Has Morphed into a Foodie Town!
The food scene in Dallas has definitely heated up since my last visit there over a decade ago. Lots of options on the cuisines from street tacos to BBQ brisket and steamed mussels and grilled halloumi. Did I mention crispy Chicken skins?!! Where we ate: El Bolero, The Henry, Wheelhouse, HG Sply Co, Amarinos (I first stumbled into Amarinos in Paris, imagine my surprise in seeing it in Dallas of all places! See what I mean about the big D stepping up its food game?!), Meddlesome Moth and various food stands at the Food Hall at the Legacy West Shops.
No 21st birthday celebration is complete without an introduction to rooftop bars and day drinking. If that rooftop comes with delicious food, refreshing drinks and good vibes, even better. Get outside and enjoy some great views and soak up the Texas sun in Dallas! Two places that stood out to us were: Happiest Hour and HG Sply Co. We hoped to make it to Stirr and Waterproof but we actually run out of time because we were having so much fun at our other rooftops.
The Dallas World Aquarium
The Dallas World Aquarium is really more of a Tropical Rain Forest Exhibit than a complete Aquarium. Visitors venture into an ecosystem complete with a living rain forest, which is home to exotic birds and some wild animals. While it was nice to see this exotic wildlife, it was a little bit disappointing we did not see more sea life.
The aquarium itself features its own underwater ecosystems with coral reefs and a kelp forest. Visitors can also get a feel for what it’s like to be underwater, and get a unique look at the manatee, stingrays and other fish as they walk through the tunnel exhibit.
Dallas Nightlife
Whether you want to go clubbing, sip fancy cocktails on a rooftop, bar hop, two-step, reggae or do a little bit of everything, one thing’s for sure: You’re bound to have a good time. We shook out booties afrobeat and reggae clubs: Aldeez (Afro-Caribbean restaurant by day) and Villa Lounge. There are countless breweries, hipster bars, underground clubs, swanky upscale lounges and even a honky-tonk or two (hey, this is Texas, after all) scattered around every square inch of the city. If you don’t mind a little driving, exploring the nightlife scene is one of the top things to do in Dallas.
This Dallas girls’ trip was a memorable experience. We enjoyed exploring the sprawling city and I’d recommend it for a long-weekend getaway that’s easy on the wallet with lots of options for day and night fun.
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