A Whirlwind Tour of Dallas, Texas - It's not Impossible!

As the third largest city in Texas, Dallas attracts a diverse array of visitors every year - from Yankees hoping to get a dose of Southern culture to world businessmen attending conferences in the city. In fact, a large proportion of people who pass through Dallas belong to the latter category, but the transient nature of business trips means that not many get to see the attractions the city has to offer. However, even if you're only in Dallas for a couple of days, it's certainly possible to fit in some sightseeing, whether you're in between meetings or relaxing after a packed conference agenda.

Dallas is well known as the city in which President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and many visitors to the city make it a point to head towards Elm Street, the site of the shooting, to pay their respects. However, explore Dallas' streets a little more and you'll see that the city is replete with a vibrant museum and arts scene that many cities in Texas lack in such abundance. JFK conspiracy theorists should pay a visit to The Conspiracy Museum or the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Alternatively, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Meadows Museum of Art are central attractions for art lovers in the city.

Moreover, Dallas is home to a number of botanical and zoological attractions that children and adults alike will adore. If you're taking in the sights of Dallas on a business trip, you might not have time to discover the 97-acre zoo in south Dallas, home to over 8000 animals. But it's likely you'll have time to visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, as well as the Dallas World Aquarium, which houses a unique recreation of the canopy level of a rainforest.

If you love sports, pay a trip to the home grounds of Dallas' most popular sports teams - the Dallas Desperados (AFL), Dallas Stars (NHL) and the Dallas Mavericks (NBA). And, if you're able to find the space in your schedule, a short trip outside Dallas to Irving will reveal the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, while Arlington claims Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers as its own.

Of course, no trip to Dallas would be complete without sampling an authentic taste of its distinctive local cuisine. A mix of traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex, Dallas' most famous culinary delight is probably the frozen margarita. Food aficionados should take a trip to McKinney Avenue or the West Village to enjoy the city's best restaurants and dining establishments.

People hoping to find accommodation in the business heart of Dallas will find a range of places to stay in downtown Dallas, as well as a variety of hotels in Plano, Dallas, a suburb that is home to some of the city's most high profile company headquarters, including JC Penney, Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages and Cinemark Theatres. Furthermore, Plano is part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, so anyone staying in Plano will be able to take advantage of fast links into the city centre.

So whether you're on a short stay in Dallas on your own, or your family are keen to accompany you on your latest business trip, you can rest assured that Dallas is a city with much to offer.