Super Bowl Spotlight: Top 5 Dallas–Fort Worth Experiences

With seats reputedly going for $2,000 and up, lucky Super Bowl XLV ticket holders are getting ready for the big event on February 6, 2011. But there's so much more to do in the Dallas–Fort Worth area than what goes on at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. (Opened in 2009, the state-of-the-art facility features a retractable roof, the biggest wall of videos in NFL history, and can seat up to 90,000 fans). Here are our must-do experiences for North Texas.

Incredible Shopping
Dallas, the city that gave the world Neiman Marcus, continually raises the standards for spending money with style. The Metroplex (Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding suburbs) boasts acres of shopping malls, stores, and boutiques, from high-end to discount.
Best Bets: Neiman Marcus, Galleria mall, Stockyards

Top Art Museums
Fort Worth and Dallas house important collections of art and regularly host major international exhibits.
Best Bets: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, Kimbell Art Museum

Stellar Dining
Sure you'll find Tex-Mex and barbecue here, but you'll also discover fine-dining experiences and multicultural influences.
Best Bets: Bijoux, Fearing's, Lola, The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Mansion Restaurant, Nove Italiano

Year-round Activities
It's possible to enjoy outdoor activities for about eight months of the year, and there are plenty of festivals, fairs, and parades to entertain every member of your family.
Best Bets: Stockyards Championship Rodeo, Festivals

History Lessons
Not all the area's history revolves around the 1963 Kennedy assassination. History buffs will also find re-creations of frontier life and architecture that reflect power and wealth in the early 20th century.
Best Bets: Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, West End Historic District, Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture

Photo Credit: Trinity river skyline reflection courtesy Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau