Based near the enormous DFW airport we took advantage of the hotel shuttle and we taken to Terminal A which is the nearest terminal to the TRE and DART into the city.
The last time I was in Dallas in 2014 the DART didn’t run as far as the airport so this was all new. Purchasing a ticket was easy and an all day pass was a very reasonable $6 each.
DFW is the end stop so there was a train waiting on the platform. The journey took around 40 minutes and we alighted at West End stop.
It was about 09.45 and again another empty and quiet city. Amazing really. We headed down Elm St towards Dealey Plaza and the Old School Book Depository. There were the usual hawkers trying to sell home printed booklets about the events of November 22 1963 which we thanked but declined.
We joined other visitors in analysing what happened nearly 60 years ago and saw the X’s painted on Elm St whilst staring up at the permanently open window on the 6th floor. Being there does give me goosebumps.
The next stop was the JFK Memorial Plaza a little further up on Main St. This is a very simple monument and there isn’t even a statue of the slain President there. Literally there is a slab in the middle of white walls with his name engraved on the slab.
Pioneer Plaza to see the cattle drive with 40 Longhorns and 3 cowboys on horseback. The cattle are life sized and very realistic as they follow each other down a hill and across a stream. The Plaza is the largest open space in the city.
A wander further into Downtown Dallas and a bathroom visit in Neiman Marcus Department Store. This upscale store was preparing for Christmas and they do it beautifully.
The other thing that stood out is the Red Pegasus flying horse that is all over the downtown area. Apparently the famous symbol was on the roof of the tallest building of the time, the 29 floor Magnolia Hotel. All the road signs have Pegasus them as well as a large illuminated sculpture outside of the Omni Hotel in Pegasus Plaza.
Before long we returned to the West End stop to return to the airport. We had to wait a while for the shuttle back to the La Quinta. The rest of the day was dedicated to retail therapy.
Day 8 – San Antonio, Gruene & Austin
Day 5 – Oklahoma City & Route 66 (part 2)
Day 4 – Oklahoma City & Route 66
USA Road Trips by Max 
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