Dallas/Fort Worth
 

I need help planning a birthday weekend in DFW. I live in California, but flying in to DFW to visit my friend for his birthday. He will not help with any ideas to do something for his birthday. I enjoys football and I though about taking him to a game, but I want to do something fun, adventures and where we can spend time with each other talking. The weekend I'll be there is Nov. 6-10. Please Help a California native in DFW. I would like to surprise too. He enjoys soul food. Any good restaurants in DFW?

Actually he likes football not me.:)

Well, the obvious would be the Nov. 9 Dallas Cowboys game against the Buffalo Bills at 3:15pm.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0C...p;minorcatid=8

Take him to a rodeo or any kind of cattle/horse show!

Another suggestion - go to the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Free walking tour provides lots of historic info, small museum, shops, novelty gifts, etc.

Check out the Guide from the Dallas Morning News: www.guidelive.com. It has listings of festivals and events by date. Early November is usually a good time for outdoor activities since the weather is usually nice.

As for rodeos, you're in luck! The Texas Stampede will be in town that weekend! It is the circuit finals for Texas, and it is GREAT! There are top-artist country music concerts after every performance. Here's the link: http://www.texasstampede.org/

Cowboys games are fun, but the tickets can be expensive, and then you add in the parking and $5 beers... We usually prefer to go to a good sports bar and watch the game on the big screen. Keep in mind that not everyone likes the Cowboys (especially if he is from California)...he might be a Niners fan...

Thanks all for your ideas. He is from Dallas and I am coming in from CA. I've been to DFW several times, but he has not giving me a tour of the city. :(

are there any good places to hike?

Good Sports Bar to hang out?

If you want something fun, forget Dallas and head to Frederickburg, Tx.
Visit Marble Falls and Inks Lake State Park on the way and hand feed the deer.
Hike Enchanted Rock.
Walk and shop Fredericksburg and stay in a romantic B&B.

How far Frederickbur from Dallas? Any good B&B that are not too femine?

Since I'm assuming these are two men who are just friends, I doubt that fredericksburg and a romantic b&b is in order. DFW is not a great place for hiking or "nature". You could always go to White Rock Lake and walk/run the trail, but it's not terribly out of the ordinary. The Hill Country is really the better area for that.

I honestly think a game sounds like a great idea...fun, full of energy, a good gift. You can go down to Deep Ellum for some visits to bars/listen to music. When my husband and I go back to Dallas to visit our family, he and my brother always head out to SpeedZone for the slick track racing. Between the rides and beers, they always have a great time :)

It would be about 3-4 hours into Austin, and another hour or so from there into Fredericksburg (you could always go camping at Enchanted Rock and bypass the B&B). Note: Frederickburg itself is mainly for antiquing/shopping/dining...thought my husband did enjoy the Admiral Nimitz museum. The area around it is the place that is good for hiking...as stated Enchanted Rock...or btwn Austin and Fredericksburg, Pedernales Falls.

As others mentioned DFW area isn't the best for hiking, BUT there are places to go and you don't have to schlep all the way down to the Hill Country. For starters, there is the former Dallas Nature Center --- now renamed the Cedar Ridge Preserve. Website = http://www.audubondallas.org/cedar_ridge_preserve.htm
Actually it's located in city of Duncanville, which is the southern portion of Dallas County (south of the city itself).

Another place to go hiking is west of Fort Worth (I've yet to actually get here) and I think it's called the Fort Worth Nature Center --- the area is larger than the one in Dallas and I've read it's got better flora/fauna.

Yes, it is the Fort Worth Nature Center; and it's located 8 miles outside the city of Fort Worth,
9601 Fossil Ridge Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76135

Oh, you might consider Glenrose...
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a great place to hike. You could canoe down the Brazos River. Fossil Rim has a great nature drive and spectacular **** "tents" on a pond to rent.
Have a look at these websites...
For the Hill Country/Fredericksburg:
http://www.hill-country-visitor.com/default.asp?city=10
For Glenrose:
http://www.glenrose.net/

Almost forgot Rough Creek Lodge:
http://www.roughcreeklodge.com/
Awesome. My husband loves it there!

I am a female.

We've had fun hiking around Glenrose, along the river, through the river and on the cliffs over it, but a little closer to home we've also hiked all around Eisenhower State Park at Lake Texoma.

I've camped at Eisenhower 100's of times. The lake was the destination. If you are looking to go to a lake, I would also recommend this park but it doesn't have as much to offer. I happen to live in Sachse (North of Dallas), about an hour and 15 minutes from Eisenhower. Glenrose is further for me but if I were on the other side of Dallas, say DeSoto (South of Dallas), Eisenhower is further.

Cowboys Sports Cafe in Valley Ranch is always a good place to watch games. Our favorite sports bar to watch Cowboys and Stars games is Ben's Half Yard on Greenville Avenue near Park Lane. Sports City Cafe in Mesquite is also fun, and they have a good menu. Any of the Humperdink's around Dallas are also nice, although pricier. I bet your friend can recommend a favorite sports bar of his own...

Fredricksburg is great, but my husband isn't a big fan of the place except during Oktoberfest. It's lots of fun for women who like to shop, but guys don't get much out of it. ;-)

I agree about Dinosaur Valley State Park having good hiking. The area around Glen Rose is very good for outdoor activities, and the weather should be nice that time of year

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas. I am taking him to the Dallas Cowboys game on Nov. 9. I am on section 127 row 20, hopefully these are good seats.

Have fun, Maric :)