using DART to take the kids around

[vfib]

first of all, we don't have kids yet, but he had a great time taking my wife's younger cousins around town on the DART this past Tuesday. We drove to park at the garage by Frankies (under the Residences on McKinney) and rode the M-Line to CityPlace Station. We rode the red line to Union Station. It was nice having the underground walkway to Reunion Tower. After looking around on the observation deck, we took the DART to West End to eat and Chipolte and then walked to the Dallas Aquarium. That was awesome. Didn't realize it was so interesting (this coming from someone who usually isn't into "nature"). We walked back to West End to ride the DART up to Mockingbird Station (my first time there) and have some ice cream at the Coldstone Creamery there.

(pics are at: http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/andykahn/album?.tok=phUQnPBB3RupOzhf&.dir=/c4db&.src=ph
CLICK on the picture to see each pic
or
CLICK WHERE IT SAYS "Slideshow" AND THEN (speed: fast) FOUND ON UPPER RIGHT to best view the photos. Most of the pics are from the aquarium.)

I figure when my friends come visit, it would be fun to downtown Ft. Worth, West Village, and go to Mavs/Stars games via the DART/shuttle or M-Line. What along the DART stops would you suggest for showing the out-of-towners?

Also, I am hoping to take the DART and TRE all the way out the various routes sometime. Anything I should remember to check out along those stops?

Thanks,
Andy

[freewaytincan]

Stop through Galatyn Park. It's a crowd pleaser for sure, with the fountain and whatnot, not to mention it being on the way to downtown Plano, which is a great example of old North Texas life.

[tamtagon]

Anything I should remember to check out along those stops?

just remember, everyone should pay the fare....

[Foucault]

St. Paul is just a few blocks away from the Arts District. The Crow Collection and Nasher are amazing, and the DMA could be, too, depending on where they're from. The MADI museum and MAC are near the streetcar route.
West End is the station closest to the Sixth Floor, Aquarium, and West End.
Park Ln is close to NorthPark and convenient to UA Plaza, one of my preferred conventional cinemas.
Mockingbird Station has a Virgin and some other shopping. My favourite video rental store is in a strip mall across the street.
ITC Station on the TRE is close to Sundance Square.
Cityplace is underground, acessible by the streetcar (which is a tourist attraction in and of itself and goes to the Arts District), in Dallas, and right by the West Village, which has a Paciugo in it, not to mention incredible shopping, dining, and urbanity, and, IMO, much cooler than Mockingbird Station.
Union Station is worthless except for Reunion Tower.
Convention Center isn't near anything except the convention centre, which is mediocre.
Pearl is near Plaza of the Americas and the Meyerson.
Akard is the station closest to Neiman's and Thanksgiving Sq. (which is what I think it should be called, just for aesthetical purposes).
Walnut Hill is near a lot of medical facilities.
The Zoo's great for kids. Great African exhibits and very cool monorail.
I think that's it.

[Foucault]

What's Galatyn Park? All the website talks about is a hotel and the Eisemann Center.

[psukhu]

Ride the LRT to Mockingbird Station:

http://www.mockingbirdstation.com



pub:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/170871/

tapas:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/357567/

sushi:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/294215/

seafood:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/104501/


(not to mention the Angelika, Virgin Megastore and others)

[vfib]

just remember, everyone should pay the fare....
yes, i agree. i definitely want to support the DART (and not break the law/get fined!). We got the day pass. is the only advantage for the premium pass the ability to also ride TRE past DFW? If the monthly pass is $30, then it would be cheaper for me to buy as i go but i will have to look into the discounts at stores and restaurants that come w/ the monthly deal.

-ak

[vfib]

West End is the station closest to the Sixth Floor, Aquarium, and West End.
I am definitely interested in checking out the JFK stuff. Is it worth the $10 for the tape tour?


Park Ln is close to NorthPark and convenient to UA Plaza, one of my preferred conventional cinemas.
How often does the free shuttle run btwn the DART stop and NorthPark Mall?


ITC Station on the TRE is close to Sundance Square.
What all is in Sundance Square? Is that in downtown Ft. Worth?


Pearl is near Plaza of the Americas and the Meyerson.
What are those 2 things?


Akard is the station closest to Neiman's and Thanksgiving Sq. (which is what I think it should be called, just for aesthetical purposes).
What's at Thanksgiving Sq?


Thanks for all the help! Hope you dont mind the questions. Trying to learn more about what all is available.

-ak

[vfib]

Ride the LRT to Mockingbird Station:

http://www.mockingbirdstation.com (http://www.mockingbirdstation.com/)



pub:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/170871/

tapas:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/357567/

sushi:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/294215/

seafood:
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/104501/


(not to mention the Angelika, Virgin Megastore and others)
I've enjoyed Rockfish and the Sushi place. I will definitely check out the other 2 sometime. thanks for the info

-ak

[vfib]

Stop through Galatyn Park. It's a crowd pleaser for sure, with the fountain and whatnot, not to mention it being on the way to downtown Plano, which is a great example of old North Texas life.

What's Galatyn Park? All the website talks about is a hotel and the Eisemann.

http://www.cor.net/GalatynPark/community.html only mentions some trails and Spring Creek Nature Area but the site below had more info.

http://www.dart.org/inmotion/summer01/6.htm "With these uses in mind, the city recently approved a $1.2-million fountain for Galatyn Park Plaza. The fountain, designed by the same company that built Fountain Plaza in downtown Dallas, is a vanishing pool fountain with 70 jets in the shape of two interlocking ellipses."

[JBB]

On your question about shelling out $10 for the taped tour of the Sixth Floor Museum, save your money unless you're too lazy to read (which I'm guessing is not the case). You can get plenty out of it by reading the material and viewing the exhibits.

[freewaytincan]

http://www.cor.net/GalatynPark/community.html only mentions some trails and Spring Creek Nature Area but the site below had more info.

http://www.dart.org/inmotion/summer01/6.htm "With these uses in mind, the city recently approved a $1.2-million fountain for Galatyn Park Plaza. The fountain, designed by the same company that built Fountain Plaza in downtown Dallas, is a vanishing pool fountain with 70 jets in the shape of two interlocking ellipses."

Okay, I admit, it's not as much right now, but I assure you, that fountain is a people magnet, I swear. I never see it unattended. And yes, kids can play in it. It's perfectly safe.

http://www.greenscapepump.com/images/photos/galatyn2.jpg
http://www.greenscapepump.com/images/photos/galatyn3.jpg
http://www.greenscapepump.com/images/photos/galatyn4.jpg
http://www.greenscapepump.com/images/photos/galatyn1.jpg
http://www.greenscapepump.com/images/photos/galatyneisemann2.gif

During Wildflower! Festival.
http://dallasmetropolis.com/exhibitionhall/data/500/5MCJ_222.jpg

If the bloody exhibition hall were working properly again, I'd have more...

[Foucault]

"How often does the free shuttle run btwn the DART stop and NorthPark Mall?"
Every 20 minutes, Monday through Friday from 8:42 a.m. to 10:12 p.m., Saturday from 8:52 a.m. to 10:31 p.m. and Sunday from 10:32 a.m. to 6:51 p.m.
http://www.dart.org/npshuttle.asp

"What all is in Sundance Square? Is that in downtown Ft. Worth?"
http://www.sundancesquare.com/

"What are [Plaza of the Americas and the Meyerson]?"
Plaza of the Americas is a development with an indoor ice-skating rink and a food court with the outside of rooms from the Westin City Center looking in. Very neat. The Meyerson is the symphony hall, beautifully designed by I. M. Pei. The orchestra is usually quite good, and the acoustics are amazing.
http://www.meyersonsymphonycenter.com/
http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=1633

"What's at Thanksgiving Sq?"
Thankgving Square is a really cool park with some fountains and a nondenominational chapel in it.
http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=2004
http://www.thanksgiving.org/

[freewaytincan]

"What are [Plaza of the Americas and the Meyerson]?"
Plaza of the Americas is a development with an indoor ice-skating rink and a food court with the outside of rooms from the Westin City Center looking in. Very neat. The Meyerson is the symphony hall, beautifully designed by I. M. Pei. The orchestra is usually quite good, and the acoustics are amazing.
http://www.meyersonsymphonycenter.com/
http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=1633

Ahh, the old glory days when I played in the Meyerson. That's an experience.

And of course, there was the time on the roof of the Plaza of the Americas. Get a good climber to go with you, because the roof is a whole world of fun.

[texcolo]

Andy,

Can I use some of your Cityplace Station pictures for my DART website???

Matt

[psukhu]

I've enjoyed Rockfish and the Sushi place. I will definitely check out the other 2 sometime. thanks for the info

-ak

I ended up at here on Saturday. I had an hour to kill before my movie started, so I went to the noodle place. It was pretty good.

http://www.guidelive.com/portal/page_pageid=33,97400&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&item_id=14334


Also, if you're there later in the evening:
http://www.guidelive.com/portal/page_pageid=33,97400&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&item_id=14404

And this steakhouse looked ok: (review for Addison location)
http://www.guidelive.com/portal/page?_pageid=33,97400&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&item_id=6712

[vfib]

Andy,

Can I use some of your Cityplace Station pictures for my DART website???

Matt
sure, feel free to use them. where will your website be?

-andy

[texcolo]

It'll be at www.transitdallas.com.

I'll be using the pics of the escalators and the mezzaniane.

Thanks a bunch!!

I'll give you photo credit.

[zigwamo]

Wow, in that night-time photograph the Eisemann Center resembles the new Modern art museum in Fort Worth (which is an awesome building). Is it so noteworthy in the daytime?

[RobertB]

It'll be at www.transitdallas.com.

I'll be using the pics of the escalators and the mezzaniane.

Thanks a bunch!!

I'll give you photo credit.
Hey, you haven't bought the domain yet, according to whois.
http://www.whois.sc/transitdallas.com
You need to do it NOW, before someone grabs it. Just registering the domain is cheap:

* Less than 10 bucks these days with my host: http://www.drylinehosting.com/
* 12 euros (under 15 bucks) at my previous favorite registrar: http://www.gandi.net/
* Under 25 bucks if you need an interface that holds your hand for you: http://affiliate.domaindirect.net/t.asp?id=3879 (sponsored link)

Don't end up like the Collin County Green Party -- their former web site turned into a porn portal when someone forgot to renew it! Ouch! :eek: