🚐 Switching Gears in Big D: Exploring Dallas by RV 🏙️🌟
- Switching Gears RV Diary
- Feb 16, 2024
- 4 min read
🏕️ From Boondocking to Big City: Hello, Dallas! 🌆
Last week, I shared why we shifted gears and made our way to Dallas, Texas, steering away from our usual off-grid, backcountry boondocking style. This week? We’re trading rugged for refined, solitude for skyline—and honestly, Big D surprised us in the best ways.
Sometimes, the best adventures happen when you step out of your comfort zone. And that’s exactly what happened in Dallas.
🏡 Resort Life in Garland, TX: Not Your Typical Campsite 🛶🔥
We set up camp at an RV resort in Garland, a peaceful suburb just outside Dallas. The park was clean, newer, and perfectly located for city exploration—but it definitely wasn’t our usual scene.
Instead of campfires and kayaks, we found ourselves surrounded by long-term RV residents and paved sites. It felt like camping in a suburban neighborhood, which took some getting used to. But that’s what this year is about: flexibility, detours, and finding joy in the unexpected.
🌇 First Impressions of Big D: A City That Lives Up to Its Name 📍
Dallas sits at the heart of the sprawling DFW Metroplex, the largest metropolitan area in the southern U.S. With more than 200 cities in its orbit, it’s no wonder the nickname “Big D” stuck.
Driving into downtown, you’re met with a mashup of modern skyscrapers and historic architecture—glass and steel standing shoulder to shoulder with century-old brick. But our first stop wasn’t just about sightseeing—it was something far more sobering.
🕊️ A Moment in History: The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza 🏛️📚
We started with a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum, housed in the infamous Texas School Book Depository, where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
Timed tickets made things smooth, and we arrived early to walk the plaza and reflect. The museum itself is powerful—low lighting, well-curated exhibits, and a window into JFK’s presidency and the events of that tragic day.
🪟 Standing by the corner window where the shots were allegedly fired was both surreal and chilling.
Outside, white Xs on the road mark the places where each bullet hit. Whether you believe the official story or think there’s more to it, this site carries deep emotional weight.
🌃 Dallas From Above: Skyline Views at Reunion Tower 🔭✨
Ready for a change of pace, we headed to Reunion Tower, Dallas’ iconic glowing orb. For about $40 total, we took the elevator up to a 360° observation deck.
The view? Absolutely worth it.
From up there, you can see the entire city laid out like a map, with the Trinity River, highways, and neighborhoods sprawling in every direction. It’s a classic tourist spot—and sometimes the touristy stuff is a blast.
🎨 Free Culture Fix: Dallas Museum of Art 🖼️💖
Next stop: the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA)—and guess what? General admission is totally free!
We visited on the first Sunday of the month, so even the special exhibits were free. Parking was also complimentary at nearby garages. 🎉 Total win.
Inside, we wandered through European classics, modern sculptures, and immersive installations. The DMA is huge, diverse, and surprisingly accessible. Even better? The crowd was as diverse as the art. Dallas really is a cultural crossroads.
🙏 A Space for Gratitude: Thanksgiving Square & Unexpected Art 🤯🦕
In the heart of downtown sits Thanksgiving Square, a peaceful plaza built around a spiral-shaped chapel. The space encourages visitors to pause, reflect, and practice gratitude.
But just around the corner, things got weird—in the best way:
🦖 A dinosaur sculpture hiding in a tree👁️ A massive 30-foot eyeball staring from a fenced lawn
Yes, a giant eyeball. It’s a public art installation called Eye, and it’s one of the most wonderfully random things we’ve seen on the road. Only in Dallas.
🐂 Cowboy History in Bronze: Pioneer Plaza 🤠🐎
You can’t come to Dallas without getting a taste of its Western roots. So we stopped by Pioneer Plaza, where 50 life-size bronze sculptures depict a cattle drive in progress—cowboys, longhorns, and all.
It’s massive. It's immersive. And it’s such a cool blend of art and history. You can walk among the sculptures, snap photos, and imagine life on the dusty trails of old Texas.
🍎 Local Flavor: Dallas Farmers Market 🧄🧀
We wrapped up our city adventure with a visit to the Dallas Farmers Market. We expected fruits and veggies. What we found? So much more.
The market is full of:
Artisan food stalls
Handmade goods
Local produce and plants
Cozy cafés and eateries
We picked up a few local treats, said goodbye to the city buzz, and headed back to our rig, feeling like we’d seen a whole new side of Texas.
💬 Final Thoughts: Dallas, You Impressed Us 🌟
We came to Dallas out of necessity, not curiosity. But what we found was a city of contrast—modern and historic, quiet and chaotic, artistic and gritty.
✅ It challenged our travel norms✅ It reminded us why we stay flexible✅ And it gave us unforgettable moments—from presidential history to giant eyeballs in a park
Life on the road is about more than epic views and hidden trails. Sometimes, it’s about leaning into the unexpected and finding wonder in the unfamiliar.
🐄 Coming Up Next: Fort Worth Stockyards Adventure! 🥾🎉
Our Texas tour isn’t over yet! Next up, we’re heading west to the Fort Worth Stockyards to walk with longhorns, visit historic saloons, and dive into full-on cowboy culture.
🎥 Be sure to subscribe or check back next week—this one's going to be a rootin’-tootin’ good time.
Until then, stay adventurous, stay flexible, and keep chasing those 70-degree days. 🌞
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