Reunion Tower has been a fixture on the Dallas skyline since 1978. At 561 feet tall, it was one of the tallest structures in Dallas, and it is one of the city's most recognizable features at night. Described by one reporter as a "giant dandelion", the building is surrounded by a superstructure in the shape of a sphere that has over 250 lights placed at all the joints.

Inside the three outside legs that hold up the sphere are elevators that will give visitors a ride to the 50th-floor observatory as well as the restaurant and café that make up the top floors. The ride takes about a minute and the elevators have a windowed front that allows for spectacular city views. The high-end rotating restaurant, called Five Sixty (a nod to the building's height) was opened by Wolfgang Puck in 2009 and the food has a very definite Asian flair.

The Reunion Complex – which consists of Reunion Tower, Reunion Arena, and the Hyatt Regency Hotel – was seen as a tremendous boost to downtown Dallas and civic pride. The long-awaited opening on April 15, 1978, featured a spectacular light show on the tower and a massive fireworks display that brought freeway traffic all over the city to a halt.

Pioneer Plaza is a 4.2-acre open space – the largest in the central Dallas business district – where a natural setting of native Texan plants, with a flowing stream and waterfall, all combine to memorialize the hundreds of cattle drives that took place at this old junction once known as the Shawnee Cattle Trail. The photo-ops are numerous, and you can wander in through the herd to see how much attention to detail was put into each individual longhorn, from facial expression down to hooves. Created by Robert Summers of Glen Rose, Texas, this is the largest bronze monument of its kind in the world.

The plaza and its accompanying cattle drive were the idea of real estate developer Trammell Crow, who wanted an iconic "Western" sculpture in the city of Dallas and assembled a group to donate the works. The first bronze longhorn was unveiled September 21, 1993, along with the trail boss and his horse; the entire project was completed in 1994. With the striking Dallas skyline as its background, this has become an iconic new landmark in downtown Dallas, and is free to visit.

Tip:
The adjacent Pioneer Cemetery is interesting to walk through, surrounded by tombstones that date back some 150 years.

Thanks-Giving Square was developed initially to help relieve downtown traffic. While it has helped to accomplish that task , the area is so much more than just a traffic relief spot. There are three levels to the Square, although most people only think about the ground level area. The inner most layer is the Bullington Truck Terminal. It lies 50 feet below the park above and handles a fair amount of truck traffic.

The Dallas Pedestrian Network lies above the truck terminal and below the ground level Square. It covers 36 city blocks and connects buildings, parks, hotels, office space and garages through a network of tunnels and sky bridges. Underground there are restaurants, spacious walkways, and areas where employees of the surrounding businesses can relax for a few minutes. This area is open to the public during normal business hours.

Thanks-Giving Square is spectacular. The park entrance starts with a praise wall followed by the bell tower. This tower has three large bells that are reminiscent of the Liberty Bell. These bells chime the hour and then carol at noon. Visitors are then encouraged to enter the courtyard through the Ring of Thanks. This is a large aluminum ring that is covered by 23 carat gold leaf and is just beautiful. The highlight of the square has to be the Chapel of Thanksgiving. The building spirals toward the sky and inside it is a breathtaking stained glass ceiling. Around the park are waterfalls, a meditation garden, mosaics, and just a general feeling of peace and thanksgiving.

The use of "aquarium" in the name is a little misleading, as there is much more than fish and creatures of the water to be found here. Starting out on the 3rd floor, in the reproduced rainforest, you'll get to see a large number of birds, sloths, anteaters, monkeys, reptiles and amphibians; there is even a wild cat habitat that changes every few years. Though somewhat labyrinthine, the layout is quite beautiful, with winding paths and overhanging plants allowing for multiple photo opportunities. With no guiding signs to follow, your best bet is to follow the map in the provided brochure.

Going deeper down the path, the aquarium portion of the facility features ten panoramic windows into 85,000 gallons of saltwater exhibits, each designed to take you to a different aquatic locale: Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, British Columbia, the Bahamas, Fiji, Palau, Southern Australia, Lord Howe Island, and the Solomon Islands. An additional 22,000- gallon walk-through aquarium, recently renovated, puts visitors in the middle of reef life native to the Continental Shelf, including an unusually large number of stingrays. At some point, you will eventually come back out to be greeted by flamingos and stand above a shark tank. It's like a winding maze that leads you through all the levels of this vivarium. Enjoy the adventure!

Tip:
There might be fewer people on weekdays or off-season if you want to explore at a more leisurely pace and really get your money's worth. At other times, arrive early to get a jump on the crowds!

Dealey Plaza and the high bluff referred to as the "grassy knoll" figure prominently in the Kennedy assassination. It is this site on the north side of Elm Street where the famed Abraham Zapruder film of the assassination was taken and where eyewitnesses to the shooting dropped to the ground, believing they were in the line of fire. The area looks much as it did in 1963, and one will usually see a dozen or more visitors milling about, pointing to the actual (X-marked) site of the shooting, taking photos, or discussing theories about the tragic event, which continues to be a source of controversy today.

There is lots of good signage with extensive historical information throughout the plaza, as well as many commemorative plaques, but to really embrace the full experience, consider visiting the Sixth Floor Museum located on the actual sixth floor of the old Texas School Book Depository, where Lee Harvey Oswald fired his fatal shots. Most visitors are fascinated by the tour, which includes a photo maze of the Kennedy family and presidency, as well as continuous videos with never-before-seen footage of JFK's funeral, interviews from witnesses, and evidence used by the Warren Commission on display.

Why You Should Visit:
A visit to this plaza and its museum is truly like going back in time and promises to leave you wondering.

The John F. Kennedy Memorial in Dallas stands as a poignant tribute to the 35th President of the United States, who was tragically assassinated nearby at Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963. Located just two blocks east of the assassination site, within the Dallas County Historical Plaza, this memorial was dedicated seven years after the event, symbolizing both remembrance and reverence.

Designed by the renowned American architect and friend of the Kennedy family, Philip Johnson, the memorial is a striking example of architectural minimalism and thoughtful commemoration. Its design is notably marked by a cenotaph structure, an "empty tomb" that serves to honor the memory of President Kennedy while symbolizing the eternal freedom of his spirit. This concept is beautifully embodied through the memorial's key feature: a simple, yet profound, black granite slab inscribed with Kennedy's name in gold letters, all enclosed within an open-roofed concrete pavilion.

Johnson's architectural approach to the memorial was to create something "very humble and spartan," aiming to capture the essence of Kennedy's legacy rather than provide a grandiose monument. This intention is reflected in the monument's design, which is both understated and powerful, with several of its concrete columns ingeniously engineered to appear as though they are floating without visible support. This not only adds to the aesthetic appeal of the structure but also to its symbolic representation of Kennedy's spirit and ideals.

The John F. Kennedy Memorial complements the nearby Sixth Floor Museum, located in the very building from which Lee Harvey Oswald is believed to have fired the fatal shot. Together, these sites offer a comprehensive and deeply moving exploration of one of the most significant and sorrowful events in American history, providing visitors with a space for reflection on the life and legacy of John F. Kennedy.