Fair Park
Of course, you’ve heard the term ‘everything is bigger in Texas’, as a matter of fact, you’ve probably heard it about one hundred times just during this trip. Well, this stop is literally the perfect embodiment of that phrase, the Texas Fair Park being the breathtakingly massive spot that hosts the biggest state fair in the country each year! This 277-acre recreation and education complex sits just southeast of Downtown Dallas, not only a true city landmark but also an official National Historic Landmark. This is the most visited attraction in Texas, with over 5.3 million guests passing through annually. Yeah, you read that right, 5.3 million.
Built in 1936, this massive green space was styled in an Art Deco manner, becoming so gorgeous and talked about so quickly that it became a staple event center for the surrounding areas, the events including such things as the yearly Texas State Fair, the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix, the Cotton Bowl, and regular popular performances and sporting events. This place is huge, and by huge we mean it holds five museums, ten performance halls and sporting venues, and a 700-foot long reflecting pool and Esplanade. While here at the cultural and entertainment mecca you can visit Music Hall, Gexa, Texas Discovery Gardens, Cotton Bowl Historic Stadium, and so much more. Even just walking around and looking at it all from the green campus is astounding, this spot officially recognized as the ‘largest collection of 1930’s art deco expo style architecture in the United States’.
While visiting Fair Park be sure to check for any possible ‘special events’ happening, day or not, the grounds typically always hosting some sort of fair, concert, sporting game, or community class. If there’s nothing really going on just enjoy the views and take in a little, well huge, piece of Dallas. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring your camera, especially for that Esplanade and reflecting pool, the pool hosting live music shows with its three fountains. The 1936 Texas Centennial murals in the Automobile Building here are pretty astounding as well.
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