Known for having a healthy ego, "Big D” embraces out-of-towners with high-society polish and Southwestern hospitality. Indeed, Dallas is a study of contrasts.  On the one hand, it’s a cosmopolitan center, worldly in its interests, dashing and charming.  On the other hand, it proudly represents the individuality and steadfast idealism of its Texas birthright.

Downtown, such dichotomies are most obvious.  Here, sleek, glass and steel skyscrapers stand alongside architectural gems designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and I. M. Pei. Here, 50-story Reunion Tower affords a bird's-eye view of the modern cityscape, while the nostalgic McKinney Avenue Trolley gives riders an old-fashioned lift Uptown.  And here, a museum on the sixth floor of the Dealey Plaza Book Depository Building remembers the life and death of President John F. Kennedy, and, just a few blocks away in the Downtown Arts District, originals by Monet and Matisse are on display at the Dallas Museum of Art.

The business world covets Dallas’ no-frills sensibility and big-city savvy; Bank of America, Texas Instruments, Exxon Mobile, Frito-Lay and JCPenney Co. all have major operations in the area.  When the time comes to unwind and refresh, however, few places know how to let go quite like Dallas.  On nice days, some natives flock to places like White Rock Lake Park, its 1000 acres of woodland ideal for hiking, fishing and bird-watching.

For other folks, the diverse entertainment and shopping scenes are more attractive diversions.  In Deep Ellum, east of downtown, live music and the arts have thrived since the 1800s.  Honky-tonks and venues like the Gypsy Tea Room welcome packed houses.  Greenville Avenue, split into Upper and Lower sections by Mockingbird Lane, has remained a favorite of the young and trendy thanks to a wealth of boutiques, bars and restaurants.  Ultra-chic McKinney Avenue (more popularly known as Uptown) and Knox-Henderson lay claim to high-end retailers, exclusive nightclubs and acclaimed restaurants such as the innovative Abacus.

Of course, any discussion of playtime in Dallas is incomplete unless sports is mentioned.  Arlington, to the west, is home to baseball’s Texas Rangers, and the NBA Dallas Mavericks have developed a loyal following over the years.  But make no mistake: in Dallas, football reigns supreme, from the collegiate action on Saturday to the Cowboys' Sunday slate.  Perhaps most surprising to visitors, though, is the enormous popularity of high school football, with Friday night’s highlights dominating the Saturday headlines of the Dallas Morning News.

And yet, after proclaiming Emmitt Smith the greatest running back who ever lived, the modern Dallasite is perfectly adept discussing opera or the ballet.  First-rate facilities at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Campbell Center (home of the Dallas Opera) and Kalita Humphreys Theater help Dallas maintain a strong presence in the arts, and the city’s rich Latino, African-American and Asian heritages create countless opportunities for experiencing sights and sounds beyond rodeo and country-western music.

Accommodating, versatile and a bit of a show-off, Dallas has little trouble winning over travelers.  In fact, it ranks among the nation's top cities in convention business and is the state’s top travel and leisure destination.  Yes, with uniquely Texan style and swagger, Dallas always lays out the welcome mat.

On one of our many trips to Dallas, some 15 years ago, Dixie was having Hi-Tea in JR's Bedroom at the Ranch used on Televisions "Dallas", while I was playing in a golf tournament at the Colonial.  I shot a 67 for low gross and with my handicap at a 3 at the time a net 64 and I lost the handicap part to a guy who shot a 93 with a 30 handicap.  I think to this day he was sandbagging, what do you think.  I was so hot that I changed shirts at the turn and still blistered thru my shirt.  It was 105 in the shade that day.

Dixie also took me shopping and that was excellent.  You got to go to the Big D.