Things to do in Scarborough Faire Area

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

After a long flight from Chicago to Minneapolis to Dallas, I don't think we'll want to get in a car and drive to San Antonio for 5 hours.  Thanks for the geography lesson, I didn't realize it was that far!  I think we'll stay in the Dallas area.

And eloquent, as it gets closer, we can make dinner plans, because we'll probably be there Wednesday and Thursday nights, since I don't think we'll drive too far away.  And anyone else who is in the area, it would be fun to get together before RenDezvous.   

[dbaldock]

If you'd be interested in something that might bring flashbacks to your youth, try visiting the Fort Worth Water Gardens in downtown Fort Worth, where part of the 1976 movie Logan's Run was filmed.

Google Maps Aerial Photo - Fort Worth Water Gardens



Driving across Texas from Orange (on the LA border) to El Paso is 856 miles.  Driving across three states from El Paso, TX to San Diego, CA is only 726 miles.          

[Lady Kett]

Two things I do with all visitors - the Stockyards in Fort Worth. Downtown Fort Worth is also a great walk-around-shop-and-look-at-stuff place. The other is the JFK Grassy Knoll & 6th Floor Museum. Downtown Dallas in the West End is great for walk-around etc but I prefer Fort Worth. I plan on taking a few days off around Rendezvous so if you're interested in a pre-Rendezvous meet & greet, I'd be willing to bet we could set one up and meet for lunch and be touristy.

[mieljolie]

...The other is the JFK Grassy Knoll & 6th Floor Museum. Downtown Dallas in the West End is great for walk-around etc...

If you choose to do the JFK thing, you wouldn't be far from the Dallas World Aquarium.  It's a really nice indoors place with more than just fish.  It has a cool 3 story jungle to explore from underwater up to the top of the canopy.  Lots of animals including sharks, crocs, penguins and even jaguars.  It used to be pretty inexpensive place to frequent, but with all the additions they seem to have just about tripled the admission costs in the last 5 years.  I think it's around $20 for adults, now.

Dallas Zoo is great, too.

Also in Dallas:

If you're up for something completely different during the evenings and like swing dancing or live jazz and blue music, you could check out the historic Sons of Herman Hall near Deep Ellum.  Wednesday nights are swing dancing.  Live music throughout the week.  Have to check their calendar. 

If you like mundane shopping, the Galleria Mall is the top end as far as malls here go and has ice skating year round.  It may sound strange, but the geeks in us like to visit the Frye's Electronic Stores everywhere we travel to see what themes they use.  Don't ask.  Garland's is a ranch theme, of course. 

To me, Medieval Times is just getting ridiculous on their pricing.  We used to go to the one near Anaheim, CA, which cost us around $30 a person.  The last time we visited the one here in Dallas it was just about double! And, I'm not sure I liked the show as much.  Best find coupons for that one, if you try it.

Well, that's all I could think of.

[dragonslayer808]

I wouldn't suggest Southfork, it is kind of out of the way in relation to other sights around Dallas, What you see on TV, is just what you see there (a big ranch house up a long driveway).  However you might consider touring the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, it's half way between Dallas and Fort Worth. It's size and grandure is beyond comprehension.

[Clarendon]

Lady Renee,
Fossil Rim is pretty neat. Here are a few shots of what you might see at the park.
http://www.pbase.com/paul42/fossil_rim

The Fort Worth Stockyards is also a cool place to walk around. There are some neat shops
and great restaurants there.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ScottD6057/FortWorthStockYards#

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Everything sounds so wonderful!  I hope we can cram as much as we can in the 2 1/2 days before RenDezvous starts.  I love the pictures of the animals.  And I think Southfork is a no-go, especially after the comments here.  I mentioned it to Steve about going there, and in a serious voice he said, "You're kidding, right?"

[CelticOne]

Coming from one who moved up to MN from the North Dallas area I would suggest the 6th Floor & Dealy Plaza, The West End Shopping area you can walk there easily from Dealy Plaza(or at least you could) Check out the veiw from Reunion Tower if its a good day you can see the skyline of Fort Worth, also in walking distance from the two places mentioned above.

The Dallas Musuem of Art also in Downtown(I do believe it was free last time I was there), also Fair Park if you make it there at the right time of the month they have a huge flea market plus you can also check out The Science Place, The Nature Muesem, THe Railroad Muesuem(I recall seeing Bonnie & Clyde's shot up car there). Besides The Texas Star is also in Fair Park, you can't help but see that .

Ohh fun resturant, The Magic Time Machine in Addison, not so much a show as Medieval Times but still a blast. The one time I was there I we had Batman & Robin as our servers.

[Ryk Rakham]

Oh no, you guys should come up to the Winstar World Casino (just 2 hours north of Dallas). Tell you what, I'll message you OT and give you some info...perhaps we can meet you guys and show you around a bit....and El, you could meet us since it's really close to Denton!

[Merlin]

Thanks for the input.  I'll start getting tourist info from the places mentioned, and if anyone has more, please jump in, because since it's so early, of course, we won't decide what to do until it gets closer, but I want to get the information pulled together so when we are ready to decide, I'll have all the info at my fingertips.  

We have been to Excalibur in Las Vegas, and there is a Medieval Times just outside of Chicago, so that probably won't be a place we'll visit, but we love animals, so the fossil rim and the both zoos sound great -although, never thought of what driving on a safari could do to a rental car!

I've always wanted to go to Texas since I was a little girl, and so I'm really looking forward to visiting the state as well as going to RenDezvous.

I forgot to ask this.  How far is San Antonio from the Scarborough area?  I've always also wanted to ride a boat on the Riverwalk, and since we're getting there on Wednesday afternoon, we have 2 full days until we want to be back to our hotel on Friday for the Rendezvous activities.  We fly into Dallas, so is it feasible to get in the rental car that afternoon and drive to San Antonio and spend a couple of days there?  Thanks.

Southfork...no bueno

San Antonio... 250 miles (about 4 hours) -- Definitely a must do some time in your life.

Fossil Rim http://www.fossilrim.com/is a neat place...especially if you are bringing kidos... April is a good time because it's so hot that the animals are all resting and hiding in shade. However... it is highly likely that your car may show evidence of being there afterward. We have had rear view mirrors bitten (scratched)..things like that.

I live in the Ft. Worth area and I really would recommend this area over Dallas. It's much safer...much easier... nicer... pretty much a better bet. If you go to Sundance Square in Ft. Worth... you can find lots to do.

http://www.eightobar.com/ 8.0's is a great place for light foods ...usually has a band too (no cover charge)
http://www.delfriscos.com/ For formal dining and the best steak in Texas... runs about $75 each
http://www.fourdayweekend.com/ 4 Day Weekend is an improve comedy team... very funny and cheap.
For beers: http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/fortworth This is a pub with 100's of beers (don't try to drink them all)
http://www.petesduelingpianobar.com/ This place is a BLAST !

The great thing about Sundance Square is you can park and walk to all these great things...only a few blocks apart.

PM me if you want anymore information... but unless you just want to see Dallas... Ft. Worth is much nicer.

[Ryk Rakham]

I'll second Fort Worth...

[lady M]

Lady Renee, you might like visiting http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/dallas/ . My son went to see and said it was awesome. Haven't been there yet but going to next month. On the website it states until April hopefully it'll still be in town at the end of April.

[angusmacinnes]

Other places in Fort Worth of course include the Stockyards with Billy Bobs, Cattlemens Steak House, Booger Reds Saloon and the Star Cafe.  Also in Downtown there is a favorite of mine Billy Miners, Drinks and Hamburgers.

Yeah like Merlin, I am a Ft. Worth kid.

[eloquentXI]

Even though there is plenty to do in Fort Worth, saying its much nicer and its safer is a bit of an insult to Dallas.
I'm downtown in Dallas almost weekly without trouble, but like both cities, as long as you know where not to go, you'll be alright.

If you're into art, there is a lot of incredible options in both cities.

For Dallas there is:
The Dallas Museum of Art-www.dm-art.org/
The Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art- http://www.crowcollection.com/

For Fort Worth:
Kimbell Art Museum: www.kimbellart.org
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth: www.themodern.org

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Ok, the romantic side of me is coming to forefront.  I have dreamed about going on a boat on the riverwalk in San Antonio for many, many years.  Here's what I've dreamed up.  I need you good folks to tell me if this is do-able.

We arrive on Wednesday before the RenDezvous in Dallas Ft. Worth Airport at 3 pm.  I thought about picking up the car and driving to San Antonio (or somewhere on the way close to it) and then spend the night there.  Go on the boat ride either Wednesday night if we get there & it's not too late or else during the day on Thursday.  Spend Thursday there and drive back to Fort Worth in the evening and spend the night either in Ft. Worth (or somewhere close to it).

Then on Friday morning go to the Ft. Worth zoo, because we love animals and going to different zoos.  Then leave there in enough time to check into the Super 8 in time for the beginning RenDezvous festivities.

Is it do-able?  Will we spend most of our vacation sitting in a car?  Is it worth it?  Thanks for the input.