• Restaurants + Bars
  • Entertainment
  • Arts
  • Society
  • City Life
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Real Estate
  • Home + Design
  • Innovation
  • Travel
  • City Guide
  • Events
  • Charity Guide
  • Subscribe
  • Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
culturemap logo
  • Restaurants + Bars

    THE LATEST

    Teresa Gubbins: New Plano restaurant opens with gourmet BBQ and tacos under one roof
    BBQ News
    New Plano restaurant opens with gourmet BBQ and tacos under one roof
    By Teresa Gubbins
    Katie Friel: East Coast cult beer Yuengling pours into Dallas-Fort Worth for first time ever
    Philly to Dallas
    East Coast cult beer Yuengling pours into DFW for first time ever
    By Katie Friel
    Teresa Gubbins: Hotels with weatherproof rooftop 'igloos' are a thing in Dallas-Fort Worth
    Hotel News
    Hotels with weatherproof rooftop 'igloos' are a thing in Dallas
    By Teresa Gubbins

    SPONSORED BY

  • Entertainment

    THE LATEST

    Alex Bentley: Icons of the '60s gather for charged meeting in One Night in Miami
    Movie Review
    Icons of the '60s gather for charged meeting in One Night in Miami
    By Alex Bentley
    Alex Bentley: These are the 5 best things to do in Dallas this weekend
    Weekend Event Planner
    These are the 5 best things to do in Dallas this weekend
    By Alex Bentley
    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Macy's store shutters lead this week's 5 most popular Dallas headlines
    This Week's Hot Headlines
    Macy's store shutters lead this week's 5 most popular Dallas headlines
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry

    SPONSORED BY

  • Arts

    THE LATEST

    Lindsey Wilson: Firehouse Theatre's artistic director resigns after COVID-19 show scandal
    Stepping Down
    Firehouse Theatre's artistic director resigns after COVID show scandal
    By Lindsey Wilson
    Lindsey Wilson: These are the 4 can't-miss shows in Dallas-Fort Worth theater for January
    Theater Critic Picks
    These are the 4 can't-miss shows in DFW theater for January
    By Lindsey Wilson
    Stephanie Allmon Merry: 5 fascinating works by Frida Kahlo come to Dallas for a limited time
    Museum news
    5 fascinating works by Frida Kahlo come to Dallas for a limited time
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry

    SPONSORED BY

  • Society

    THE LATEST

    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Oscar winner Octavia Spencer earns starring role in Dallas' buzziest spring luncheon
    Lunching with the stars
    Oscar winner Octavia Spencer gets starring role in hot Dallas luncheon
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Stephanie Allmon Merry: 2 all-time greatest gymnasts make these upcoming Dallas fundraisers perfect 10s
    Stuck the landing
    2 all-time greatest gymnasts make these Dallas fundraisers perfect 10s
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Dazzling Dallas debutante ball canceled for first time in its 35-year history
    bowing out
    Big Dallas debutante ball canceled for first time in 35-year history
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry

    SPONSORED BY

  • City Guide

    THE LATEST

    : Dallas Contemporary
    Entertainment
    Dallas Contemporary
    : III Forks
    Restaurants
    III Forks
    : Savor Gastropub (Closed)
    Restaurants
    Savor Gastropub (Closed)

    SPONSORED BY

  • Events

    THE LATEST

    : Oak Cliff Cultural Center presents "Glow Forest"
    1.15.21 | 10:00 am
    Oak Cliff Cultural Center presents "Glow Forest"
    : Rainbow Vomit presents Sanctuary
    1.15.21 | 12:00 pm
    Rainbow Vomit presents Sanctuary
    : Dallas Bites presents Dallas' Best Tacos & Margaritas Tour
    1.15.21 | 12:30 pm
    Dallas Bites presents Dallas' Best Tacos & Margaritas Tour

    SPONSORED BY

  • Subscribe
  • City Life

    THE LATEST

    Teresa Gubbins: 48 Hours covers tragic 2016 murder of college student in Grapevine
    Crime News
    48 Hours covers tragic 2016 murder of college student in Grapevine
    By Teresa Gubbins
    Teresa Gubbins: 6 Texans draw FBI interest following violent protest at Capitol in Washington, DC
    Protest News
    6 Texans draw FBI interest following violent protest at Capitol
    By Teresa Gubbins
    Teresa Gubbins: Collin County eagerly awaits supplies for COVID-19 vaccine mega center
    Coronavirus News
    Collin County eagerly awaits supplies for COVID-19 vaccine mega center
    By Teresa Gubbins

    SPONSORED BY

  • Fashion + Beauty

    THE LATEST

    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Dallas-based beauty app delivers at-home manis & pedis to new city
    Nails on demand
    Dallas-based beauty app delivers at-home manis & pedis to new city
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Popular West Coast medspa SkinSpirit picks Plano for DFW debut
    More than skin deep
    Popular West Coast medspa SkinSpirit picks Plano for DFW debut
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Katie Friel: Texas athleisure brand makes big moves with Nordstrom partnership
    Shopping news
    Texas athleisure brand makes big moves with Nordstrom partnership
    By Katie Friel

    SPONSORED BY

  • Real Estate

    THE LATEST

    Katie Friel: Here's how Dallas measures up among U.S. metros for millennial homebuyers
    Real Estate Rumblings
    How Dallas measures up among U.S. metros for millennial homebuyers
    By Katie Friel
    John Egan: This Dallas-Fort Worth city sees biggest spike in apartment rents, says new report
    Sticker shock
    This DFW city sees biggest spike in apartment rents, says new report
    By John Egan
    John Egan: Country radio legend's North Texas horse ranch listed for $8.2 million
    Making (air)waves
    Country radio legend's North Texas horse ranch listed for $8.2 million
    By John Egan

    SPONSORED BY

  • Home + Design

    THE LATEST

    Teresa Gubbins: Lowe's to open first Texas outlet store with discount appliances in Irving
    Outlet News
    Lowe's to open first Texas outlet with discount appliances in Irving
    By Teresa Gubbins
    Lindsey Wilson: Home and design experts look ahead to what will be trendy in Dallas for 2021
    Design Must-Dos
    Home and design experts look ahead to trends in Dallas for 2021
    By Lindsey Wilson
    Teresa Gubbins: Revered home goods name Pier 1 returns as a Dallas-based online store
    Shopping News
    Revered home goods name Pier 1 returns as a Dallas-based online store
    By Teresa Gubbins

    SPONSORED BY

  • Innovation

    THE LATEST

    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Dallas rideshare giant goes west to California city hit hard by COVID-19
    Rideshare news
    Dallas rideshare giant goes west to Cali city hit hard by COVID-19
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry
    : First commercial space station on the planet to be built in Texas
    new frontiers
    First commercial space station on the planet to be built in Texas
    By ABC13 Staff
    : Texas 'martian geologist' chosen for NASA's new Mars rover mission
    Space news
    Texas 'martian geologist' chosen for NASA's new Mars rover mission
    By Natalie Harms, InnovationMap

    SPONSORED BY

  • Travel

    THE LATEST

    John Egan: All-star Texas chef cooks up new Hill Country bistro and bar
    something's cooking
    All-star Texas chef cooks up new Hill Country bistro and bar
    By John Egan
    : Texas' favorite Mardi Gras celebration canceled amid COVID-19 concerns
    let the good times...wait
    Texas' favorite Mardi Gras celebration canceled amid COVID-19 concerns
    By ABC13 Staff
    Teresa Gubbins: Dallas-based Southwest Airlines rolls out crazy $29 spring break sale
    Spring Break News
    Dallas-based Southwest Airlines rolls out crazy $29 spring break sale
    By Teresa Gubbins

    SPONSORED BY

  • Charity Guide
  • Tastemaker Awards
Home » City Life
Pedal Posse
The sites and sights you'll experience during the Dallas Bike Ride
Airport News
Dallas Love Field nearly tops list in passenger satisfaction study
LATEST NEWS
Oscar winner Octavia Spencer gets starring role in hot Dallas luncheon
DARTable DFW

Use DART to discover these charming Dallas-area downtowns

Use DART to discover these charming Dallas-area downtowns

By CultureMap Create
Sep 24, 2018, 12:40 pm
Enlarge
Slideshow
Downtown Plano
Drop into downtown Plano via DART. Photo courtesy of City of Plano
DART Akard rail station
Use the GoPass mobile app to plan your trip. Photo courtesy of DART
D-Link is a free shuttle in downtown Dallas
The D-Link is a free shuttle that runs in downtown. Photo courtesy of DART
2014 Festival at the Switchyard
Take DART to the Festival at the Switchyard in Carrollton. Photo courtesy of Festival at the Switchyard
DART Pearl rail station
Get to the Dallas Arts District without having to worry about parking. Photo courtesy of DART
Downtown Plano
DART Akard rail station
D-Link is a free shuttle in downtown Dallas
2014 Festival at the Switchyard
DART Pearl rail station

Dallas might be a car-focused city, but that doesn't mean it always offers the greatest parking options. One easy way around this inconvenience is to ride DART, which has lines not only to popular destinations such as the State Fair of Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport but also a whole host of bustling downtowns.

These suburban enclaves have reinvented themselves lately, becoming hot spots of cuisine, entertainment, and shopping. Take a trip out to visit them using the GoPass mobile app, which provides real-time trip planning tools and the ability to pay without needing cash.

Where can DART take you? Here's a glance at what each area has to offer.

Downtown Dallas
What to see: You have your pick of museums at the nation's largest arts district, including Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Crow Museum of Asian Art. The 5.2-acre Klyde Warren Park is nearby, and often hosts free exercise classes and concerts. Brush up on your biology at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, or step back in time at the Sixth Floor Museum, Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, and Dallas Holocaust Museum. Utilize D-Link, the free shuttle service that runs throughout downtown, to travel between areas.
Where to eat: CBD Provisions and Tei An have won a series of prestigious awards, while newcomers Commissary, Americano, Tortaco, and Flora Street Cafe have all generated buzz. Viennese-style coffee house Otto's, inside the Adolphus hotel, is an elegant respite during a busy day.
Fun upcoming festivals: Park & Palate at Klyde Warren Park, October 26-27. Sample from Dallas' favorite culinary artists, along with the trendiest wineries, breweries, and spirits in the area. Aurora, throughout downtown, November 3. This free public art event transforms downtown Dallas into an open-air, urban playground with installations of light, video, and sound presented in unexpected places.

Downtown Plano
What to see: See a show at the Courtyard Theatre and Cox Playhouse, or learn about the area's transit past with the free Interurban Railway Museum. Pop into luxury goods store Shinola to pick up a watch, bicycle, or any number of leather items. Schedule a night to sip and paint at Pipe and Palette.
Where to eat: Urban Crust and Urban Rio each offer a character-filled rooftop area, while the Fillmore Pub keeps its action on the ground floor. Craft a unique cocktail at Vickery Park before heading to Zalat Pizza for a creative pie, or get the extra napkins ready at the saucy Lockhart Smokehouse. End the night on a sweet note with Dude, Sweet Chocolate.
Fun upcoming festival: Steinfest, October 19-20. An Oktoberfest-style event that celebrates outstanding beer, great food, and polka music.

Downtown Garland
What to see: Get a glimpse into early settler life at the Landmark Museum at Heritage Crossing, or take a behind-the-scenes look at how an American icon is made at the Resistol Hat Plant Tour. Granville Arts Center and Plaza Theatre are each home to family-friendly plays and musicals.
Where to eat: Raise a glass (or several) at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, which is right on Lake Ray Hubbard. Need more of a beer fix? Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery and Lakewood Brewery & Taproom have got you covered. Dig in to comfort-food classics at Babe's Chicken Dinner House, or get a little spicy at Trompo Taqueria.
Fun upcoming festival: Snaketoberfest IV at Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery, October 13. Enjoy a taste of some of DFW's best barbecue and craft beer while discovering the local music scene.

Downtown Rowlett
What to see: Feed that shopping addiction with visits to Girlfriends Boutique and Farmhouse Living, or channel your healthy side at the Rowlett Farmers Market.
Where to eat: El Centro is your spot for Mexican food, but if you want to camp out on a patio then order up a few wood-fired pizzas and a couple of pints at Bankhead Brewing Co.
Fun upcoming festival: International Festival, October 6. This free inaugural event celebrates all the cultures of Rowlett and its surrounding areas, with food trucks, vendors, and entertainment. Also on October 6, DART will host a music station from Cumbia Trio at the Downtown Rowlett station to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Downtown Irving
What to see: Heritage House, built in 1912 and one of Irving's oldest homes, is furnished with antiques from the Schulze family (one of Irving's founders) and provides a look back in time. A replica of a settler's cabin also resides in Heritage Park, along with a gazebo and plenty of green space and trails. Centennial Park celebrates Irving's first 100 years, with statues of J.O. Schulze and Otis Brown.
Where to eat: Craving an authentic milkshake? Big State Fountain Grill has been serving them since 1948, along with hamburgers and other essential diner fare. For Italian, it doesn't get much more romantic than Di Rosani's. Villa's Grill carves beef, pork, chicken, and sausage tableside in the evenings, capped out with a huge salad bar. Discover authentic and homemade Lao and Thai food at Sapp Sapp.
Fun upcoming festival: Holiday Extravaganza, December 1. This free event includes a community parade (with typically more than 100 participants) that travels through the Heritage District, followed by a tree lighting ceremony outside of Irving City Hall.

Downtown Carrollton
What to see: The landmark Carrollton Plaza Arts Center plays hosts to not just performing arts groups, but also classes and visual arts. Pop into Silver Star Mercantile for a selection of Texas-made foods, or stroll over to Blooms Candy & Soda Pop Shop for a taste of nostalgia.
Where to eat: The ultra-popular Cane Rosso has an outpost (and its dog rescue group is headquartered nearby), and other Dallas favorites Monkey King Noodle Company, Babe's Chicken Dinner House, and Twisted Root Burger House also have locations here. Carrollton faves El Rincon Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar, Beth Marie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream, and 55 Degrees Wine Bar and Bistro provide some local flavor.
Fun upcoming festival: Festival at the Switchyard, November 3. Honoring the critical role the railroad played in putting Carrollton on the map, and the continuing importance of rail in Carrollton's present and future, this free event features free concerts, games, and rides.

CityLine
Okay, so this isn't technically a downtown, but the booming new Richardson development is quickly becoming a must-visit area. In addition to Good Union Urban BBQ, Jasper's, Luna Grill, Fish City Grill, Top Pot Doughnuts, Tricky Fish, and Taco Diner, you can find a live music series, free yoga in the plaza, and a whole roster of classes devoted to everything from painting to wine tasting. The CityLine Merry Market and Festival is currently scheduled for December 8.

Read These Next
Delaney Vineyards
Famous and one-of-a-kind Grapevine vineyards hit the auction block
Barons Creek Vineyards in Fredericksburg
Work, learn, and relax during a Fredericksburg vacay this year
Gabe Sanchez
Downtown Dallas hotel to reopen underground bar with cocktail king
Delaney Vineyards
Famous and one-of-a-kind Grapevine vineyards hit the auction block
Barons Creek Vineyards in Fredericksburg
Work, learn, and relax during a Fredericksburg vacay this year
Gabe Sanchez
Downtown Dallas hotel to reopen underground bar with cocktail king
  • Latest News
  • Most Popular
  • New Plano restaurant opens with gourmet BBQ and tacos under one roof
  • East Coast cult beer Yuengling pours into DFW for first time ever
  • 48 Hours covers tragic 2016 murder of college student in Grapevine
  • Famous and one-of-a-kind Grapevine vineyards hit the auction block
    - promoted -
  • Icons of the '60s gather for charged meeting in One Night in Miami
See All Latest News >
  • Hotels with weatherproof rooftop 'igloos' are a thing in Dallas
  • New restaurant in northwest Dallas will serve hot chicken 'til 4 am
  • These are the 5 best things to do in Dallas this weekend
  • 48 Hours covers tragic 2016 murder of college student in Grapevine
  • New Plano restaurant opens with gourmet BBQ and tacos under one roof
Vote Now
Where to Eat
1/13
Where to eat in Dallas right now: 5 restaurants to get healthy dishes
12/11
Where to eat in Dallas right now: Best restaurants for holiday dining
11/17
Where to eat in Dallas right now: mini-holiday feasts for November
Home | About Us | News Tips & Suggestions | Submit An Event | Submit A Charity | Advertise | Media Sponsorship | Jobs | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
© 2021 CultureMap LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Be A CultureMap Insider
Get Our Emails
Sign Up

We will not share or sell your email address

Newsletters for exploring your city

Thank you for signing up Please verify your e-mail by following the link we just sent you.
Look for an e-mail from CultureMap <info@culturemap.com>
How do you want to stay healthy this year?