24 Things to Expect When Moving to Dallas

Dallas is not quite like any other city. There are many good reasons to move there, such as a growing economy, friendly people, and lots of culture. However, it’s also good to learn as much as you can about the city and its customs to minimize culture shock. So here are the top 24 things to expect when moving to Dallas.

1. Dallas has lots of seriously wealthy people. Topping the list is banker Andy Beal, worth over $8 billion. Other billionaires on the list include Mark Cuban, Ray Rice, and Jerry Jones.
   

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   2. A huge airport. DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) airport is America’s second largest airport and is almost 30 square miles, larger than many cities, including Manhattan.

   
   3. You might recognize scenes from TV and movies. Among the TV shows and movies filmed in Dallas include the famous series Dallas, which ran from 1978-1991. Silkwood, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Born on the Fourth of July.

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4. Lots of art galleries. The arts scene in Dallas is really taking off. In fact, the Dallas Arts District is the largest arts district in the United States, with art, music, dining, and shopping for all tastes.

5. A history of outlaws. While many famous and noteworthy people are from Dallas, it also has its share of criminals and desperadoes, including Bonnie & Clyde, the Newton Gang, and Jack Ruby, who shot Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. You can visit the graves of Bonnie and Clyde, who were both buried in Dallas, though in separate cemeteries.

6. Snow. Don’t be surprised to see it snow in Dallas, though it only happens once or twice per year on average. Winter days are more typically chilly but not below freezing, so rain is more common than snow. The point to remember is that it’s not always hot in Dallas, so bring winter clothes and maybe even a snow shovel.

7. It’s a center for many large corporations. Businesses have really been flocking to Dallas (and other cities in Texas) over the last decade. This includes startups as well as established companies. In fact, some of the best known companies in the world have headquarters in Dallas, including Frito-Lay, Chili’s, Rolex, and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

8. Summer days that top 100 F. It’s not exactly a secret that Dallas gets hot in the summer, but if you’re not from around here it will take some getting used to. Make sure you have air conditioning during the summer. On average, temperatures break 100 degrees 17 days every summer. On the bright side, many people find that the dry heat typical in Dallas isn’t as oppressive as the humidity found in many other parts of the country.

9. Fanatical sports fans. Dallas is definitely a sports-minded city. The NFL Cowboys, the NBA Mavericks, the MLB Rangers, and the NHL Stars all enjoy large and enthusiastic followings.

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10. An impressive skyline. Downtown Dallas is full of skyscrapers, including Bank of America Plaza, Reunion Tower, and The Dallas Convention Center, making for a bright and colorful skyline at night.

11. Plenty of museums. Among the many cultural attractions of Dallas are several excellent museums to help you and your family enjoy educational outings. Some of the leading museums include the Dallas Museum of Art, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, African American Museum of Dallas, and Bath House Cultural Center.

12. The world’s best cheerleaders. The Dallas Cowboys, in fact, were the first team to introduce cheerleaders and today the team’s cheerleaders are still the most famous in the world. For example, they have their own reality show and frequently tour the world, often giving performances for U.S. armed forces.

13. The world’s largest farmer’s market. Dallas Farmer’s Market has one of America’s largest and oldest farmer’s markets, dating back to the 19th century. With a total of 26,000 square feet of stalls, restaurants, shops, and seating areas, it’s easy to spend hours here sampling the artisanal foods and gathering ingredients for your latest culinary creations.

14. Lots of people. You’re not the only one who’s moving to Dallas. The Dallas Metropolitan Area is one of the country’s fastest growing regions. In addition to Dallas itself, lots of folks are buying homes and starting businesses in the suburbs and neighboring cities. Among the fastest growing areas are Fort Worth, which is a distinct city, and the suburbs of Frisco, Plano, and McKinney are all exploding with people and businesses.

15. You’ll have many dining options. While Dallas is famous for barbecue and Tex-Mex, the city is now home to many diverse restaurants of every description. Right now, some of the most popular food trends include Korean barbecue, pizza, and Japanese.

16. It’s one of the best places to buy wholesale goods. It’s one of the top places for wholesale markets in the U.S., especially for items such as gifts and apparel. Dallas Market Center is the largest wholesale marketplace in the world.

17. People are friendly. If you’re from a big city back East, you’ll be surprised that even strangers wave and say “hi” when you pass them on the street.

18. Red River Showdown. Dallas residents aren’t only fanatical about professional sports, they also get very excited about the annual college football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners.

19. One of the nation’s greatest state fairs. The Texas State Fair  has been running since 1886 and draws millions of visitors every year.

20. Be prepared for severe weather. Listen to weather forecasts and beware of severe thunderstorms, flash floods, hail, and tornadoes. The tricky thing about Dallas weather is that it often changes fast, so it’s essential to prepare for anything.

21. Formal attire is still in fashion. While dressing casually is now the trend in many places, people still love to dress up in Dallas. Tuxedos for men and cocktail dresses for ladies are still in fashion. Dressing up is especially prevalent at country clubs, high-end restaurants, and dinner parties.

22. People love to drive. Highways and streets are often congested during rush hours. There are plenty of places to walk downtown and there’s also public transportation but cars rule. Many people commute to work, such as between downtown and the suburbs or to Fort Worth. If you’re still searching for the perfect place to live, don’t forget to calculate commuting time.

23. Lots of interesting events at Deep Ellum. This is a trendy downtown neighborhood that has many clubs, restaurants, art galleries, and shops. This area has over 30 live music venues and more than 60 restaurants. It also boasts some exciting special events, such as the So What?! Music Festival.

24. A huge library. If you love to read or need to do research, you have plenty of reference materials in Dallas. In addition to lots of books, the The Dallas Public Library boasts original copies of documents such as Shakespeare’s First Folio and the Declaration of Independence. And that’s just the main library. When you count the 27 branches, there are more than 2.5 million volumes of books, videos, magazines, and other materials.