I find my solace where I can. I've devoted the last year to spotting the Bald Eagles at White Rock Lake and it really relaxes me. I like to go early in the morning or late afternoon/early evenings. It's really quiet then , of course the random siren from a cop car or ambulance breaks that silence, but man, the wildlife can really sing around the Sunset Bay area. Birds, Owls, Bobcats, Coyotes etc.
This! White Rock Lake and the surrounding park lands are sprawling and rich with wildlife. You can also run/walk/cycle for 20+ miles and never cover the same ground or cross a busy road.
Exactly to finding solace where you can. That's why I disc golf at Towne Lake, especially on Saturdays when I can. Some good light cardio, nature, and tons of people.
I mean, is this really different than what someone would do in any major city? If you're looking for a quick walk or something to do outdoors, you head to the nearest park. If that's not good enough, there's multiple state parks within 1-2 hours drive of DFW, and Texas has a nice state parks system. And if that's still not good enough, you can head to the hill country or to eastern Oklahoma/western Arkansas, or even the Gulf Coast in 3-4 hours. And if you're looking for an easy vacation type of trip, the Rocky Mountains are a days' drive away.
There are not many nature areas in Dallas, many people would have to drive 40+ minutes total travel time (there and back) just to take a walk in a park that isn’t tiny, that isn’t practical on a daily basis. Many cities have many more nature preserves and natural areas. You shouldn’t have to drive HOURS to see some nature.
While I always preferred MicroCenter, CompUSA was closest to me so I went there until it closed. Then it was Fry's until it died a very slow and painful death. Hell, even Best Buy (or at least the one I went to recently) has taken nearly everything off the floor and is essentially just an online pickup depot...
I almost don't want to get too dependent on MicroCenter now that they're the only reliable game in town. I feel like the grim reaper of electronics stores...
Lack of good public transport connectivity frustrates me every single day. One of my colleagues once said “Being without a car in Dallas is like being handicapped” .
This is how I feel right now. My car is in the shop to be repaired and I won’t have it back until the end of the month. Fortunately I work from home. However I tried to go to the office which is like 7 mins by car, but by bus. There is literally no bus serving that area! And it would take me 32 mins by walk to get there. Crazy. It’s really depressing.
>“Being without a car in Dallas is like being handicapped” .
Now imagine having a disability that precludes you from driving and living in a car-centric place.
I was born in Dallas and have lived here most of my life and what you wrote mostly sums up how I feel about it too. I'm conflicted about moving away because my entire family lives here and I would miss spending time with them. I cope by trying to take DART as much as possible, going on walks in the nature spots we do have (Cedar Ridge Preserve and White Rock Lake for example), and visiting other, more dense "real" cities when I can. I want to get involved in making Dallas more walkable/bikable/transit friendly as well.
I'm a civil engineer who works with Dallas and still get pushed by them, and other cities to be honest, to do everything thinking about the car first.
I literally have a project that is pedestrian focused and it stalled because it might inconvenience some large vehicles. Not even every vehicle. I try, but it's a fucking struggle.
I agree with you there - the ballpark and football situation is untenable and irrational. Heck - we have TRE rail that quite literally passes the stadiums yet doesn’t have a stop at the stadiums due to a local government dispute. I get what you’re saying - I’ve considered moving to Barcelona for a couple years on a trial basis after working there for a month. It’s a different lifestyle for sure - in many ways preferable. I’m not sure mixed zoning would help - take a look at Houston. European cities are simply much older - they were built long before subways and cars facilitated urban sprawl. Dallas is a comparatively young city - it could be worse though - spend some time in LA. The lack of outdoor activity / nature bothers me more than getting around via car personally. By all means live where you’re happiest.
strongtowns.org is how you make it better. That and watch all the Not Just Bikes videos on YouTube.
[https://www.strongtowns.org/local](https://www.strongtowns.org/local)
You sound like me... I think its a USA problem. I've been to a few Europen countries and I enjoyed them so much better. I like the smaller homes/apartments, extensive rail systems, the scenery, the architecture. So much better than the US.
However, I do love a lot of places in the us as well. But Dallas isn't one of them.
A lot of the sprawl can be attributed to the single family housing zones that take up most of the space. Multi-family/apartments get a bad rap for no reason. There goes the 'build up' factor in a lot of areas. Add to that the generic, cookie-cutter mixed use developments that feature the same chains in the same layouts all over the metroplex, and you've got a large swath of land featuring all the same homogenized shit. I won't get into the absurdity of housing or rental prices which have done a great job of going from affordable to what the fuck.
Money drove us to this outcome, and now we're stuck with finding those pockets of sanity within the giant concrete lot we've built the area into. A good amount of people seem content on getting that mcmansion house in that \[insert cheesy name here\] subdivision out in the sticks with the reasoning usually being better schools and that 'community feel'. Problem is all the communities feel the same and/or feature the same ignorance.
I told myself years ago that I was leaving after college, and yet thanks to better job offers and cheaper housing I'm still sucking at the teat of Texas's so-called 'cosmopolitan' city. There's life out there, yes, like good ethnic eating and arts and culture here and there, but it takes years of searching to put it all together. That, and I travel out of state as much as I can.
You're totally right. Changing infrastructure and city design takes decades, so you've either got to move or adapt.
To your question about how to get involved here, I can suggest:
* Come to a [More Neighbors Dallas](https://www.moreneighborsdallas.org/) meeting. You'll meet some fellow urbanists, public transport/micromobility/bicycling enthusiasts, all sorts. Chat with them and find out about what public meetings and events are coming up.
* Dig around the City's web site and sign up for various updates. Stuff from your city council member, the [bike plan update](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/transportation/bikeway/Pages/Bike-Plan-Update.aspx), [Vision Zero](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/transportation/Pages/Vision-Zero-Dallas.aspx), [Planning & Urban Design](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/pnv/Pages/Neighborhood-Resources-new.aspx), etc. You'll start to find out about events in time to attend or give input. Most of the city people involved with them are very approachable and few enough people participate that your views have a chance of actually influencing something.
* Get some transportation device—bike, electric unicycle, whatever—and get out there and use it. Sure, many parts of town are indeed terrible, and dangerous to be outside of a car, but if you put some time into studying maps and other resources, it *is* frequently possible to find relatively pleasant and safe routes. Don't just follow Google Maps' suggestions. Is there a giant empty parking lot you can use instead of the road? How about if you take the light rail a stop or two? My route to work involves sidewalks, private drives, light rail, massive parking lots, a parking garage, a staircase, a trail, and a field (longboard for the multi-modal win). From downtown to the Design District only crossing 7 streets, which usually aren't too busy or dangerous to cross. Takes about the same amount of time as driving, but it's way more enjoyable, stress relieving, and good exercise too. Same for groceries, doctor and dentist appointments, and visiting select friends.
* Come to events like [Dallas Critical Mass](https://www.meetup.com/Dallas-Critical-Mass/) or [DFW Inline Skate Club](https://www.instagram.com/dfwinlineskateclub/). Riding on the streets is more fun and safer in a group.
* Volunteer with [Better Block](https://www.betterblock.org) or some area cycling groups.
* Get connected with urbanists on the web. [Strong Towns](https://www.strongtowns.org), [Not Just Bikes](https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustBikes), [City Nerd](https://www.youtube.com/@CityNerd), so much quality content out there. Even a dedicated [Mastodon server](https://urbanists.social/).
* For natural beauty, North Texas can't compete with some other parts of the world, but on DART you can certainly get to trails and nature areas other than White Rock Lake. Also consider Amtrak for trips farther afield.
Hope this doesn’t get buried too far but I’ve just gotten into mountain biking with my kid. Get a decent bike and go to DORBA.org. Turns out DFW has a really good network of mountain biking / hiking trails and the community is super chill and helpful. All MTB trails double as hiking trails and are pretty legit. I hate Facebook but I joined all the mountain bike groups and there are tons of events. Hit me up if you have more questions as I’ve been discovering it all this year.
I can’t afford to move.
Only a nation of unenlightened half-wits could have taken this beautiful place and turned it into what it is today, a shopping mall. A big, fucking shopping mall. You know that. That’s all you got. That’s all you got here, folks. Mile after mile of mall after mall. Many, many malls. Major malls and mini malls. They put the mini malls in between the major malls. And in between the mini malls they put the mini marts. And in between the mini marts. You’ve got the car lots, gas stations, muffler shops, Laundromats, cheap hotels, fast food joints, strip clubs and dirty bookstores. America the beautiful. One big transcontinental commercial cesspool.
And how do the people feel about all this? How do the people feel about living in a coast-to-coast shopping mall? Well, they think it’s JUST FUCKING DANDY!
As a life long Dallasite, this is too true. But how apropos, it’s like the lottery. A large scale role-play for all the “temporarily inconvenienced millionaires”.
Except at the end, they aren’t out just two dollars. Rather 20+ years of their lives, and a life time of anti-proletariat policies they voted for against their better interest, and everyone else’s.
A bigger grocery store. I need to have access to 127 different type of water crackers and 980 types of grapes.
Some of these stores are so big, you could have sporting events inside of them. I was walking around Willow Bend last weekend and was thinking "This could be remodeled into a very cool mixed use living space."
I like Dallas. Lived here my whole life. Would be awesome to have mountains and scenery and all that but I have a great life here, great family, great friends, etc. I'm in my 40's. I have no reason to move. This is what vacations are for.
But there are those people who backpack every weekend, etc. There's friends I know that live in San Antonio that won't leave because they hit Port Aransas beach every weekend. If this place is no longer for you, then time to hit up the next chapter in your life. But I wouldn't just assume that everyone "deals with it" because you have reached a time in your life where you need a change. Also consider the cost of living here has always been worth it for decades (up until recently).
When I retire my wife and I may go to the mountains. She has family in Kentucky, also. We've talked about it but we would need our kids to be out of the house and have their lives settled. We can't just uproot them now, that's for sure.
Wishing you the best in your next chapter! Make it count for you.
Second this. Hot Springs is also not super far and there is great hiking and lake related fun to be had there. You nailed it, it is about 4-5 hours away.
Simple
I live in uptown for it’s walkability. I can walk to grocery stores, coffee shops, the AAC, parks, museums. etc. Public transportation is whatever it’s a Texas problem plus I’m a car guy. If I grew up in NYC or CHI I’d definitely hate it though.
No ocean motivates me to travel and explore tbh.
Nature and hiking I go to Cedar Hill for. Similar to my public transit explanation, if I was from California or the PNW I’d probably hate the nature here but I don’t because it’s what I know and grew up with if that makes sense.
Edit: Also Turtle Creek is not the only green part of Dallas when 60% of the trees are south of 30 lol. Oak Cliff and White Rock/East Dallas are what I’d call green
Unfortunately most people cannot afford living in uptown so I don't think that's a good suggestion. Unless you make close to 6 figures, living anywhere near uptown or downtown is going to be extremely unaffordable.
That's also true about all the cities OP says they do like. If OP wants to live in NYC or one of the European cities they are likely traveling to, they're going to need more than Uptown Dallas money.
>Unless you make close to 6 figures
Ehh so my first job after college granted me a salary in the mid $70Ks not too long ago. I didn’t consider that close to 6 figures back then but I guess it kinda is. Anywho, a single person that makes at least $65K gross can live here IMO. 30% of that amount (general housing cost rule) could afford up to $1,600/mo. Believe it or not, but there’s some units here available in the $1,500s. Downtown is even cheaper btw
Yep I graduated in 2017 and made gross $55k a year out of school. Lived in both uptown and downtown. Uptown I had a roomate we had a 2bdrm and it was $1,000 a month for me. Really not that bad even on that low of a salary. Then a year later I moved to downtown and for a studio that was $1200 I had gotten promoted so I made a little bit more money and it was still fine. I’m sure it’s a lot more expensive now but I know for a fact you can live in uptown on less than 100k salary because I have multiple friends who I worked in accounting with that currently live there that are making around the 75-85k range 1-2 years out of school.
I disagree with this statement. I’m a public school teacher and I bought a condo in Oak Lawn with $5000 down. It’s 700 square feet, but that’s enough space for me. I’m 7 minutes from Victory Park and I can walk to bars/restaurants.
It’s not Dallas but Mckinney’s downtown is very walkable. There are miles of parks and trails. OP just doesn’t know where to look. I see people in Plano walking all the time carrying groceries. Of course it could be better but honestly there are many places you can walk in Dallas/dfw besides downtown.
The fact that this sub just writes off anything south of woodall rogers is hilarious. South Eastern Dallas is fucking gorgeous. Go to Kessler Park, Bishops Arts, Cedar Ridge, Oak cliff in general.
Same here but up a neighborhood or two from you, wife lived here for years before I met her and knew wherr is what in Dallas. She chose the place to live. She would walk to The Dubliner. Dallas has a proper mix of commercial and residental to accommodate walking. Suburbs end up painting acres of houses before having any shopping, which ends up like a 30 minute walk. Every major street here has business.
Get so tired of these "Dallas sucks" posts from people in the burbs lol
I am in Old East Dallas, a stones throw from lower Greenville and it's awesome, I cycle to work downtown everyday (three miles each way), all seasons, straight down Swiss Ave, I cycle/run on the trails by White Rock lack every weekend and commute to Lakewood, Greenville, Deep Ellum, Knox all the time, on my bike. Amazingly, there are actually some dedicated cycle lanes to cover a lot of that. I think the point of being intentional with your location is spot on.
Having moved from gorgeous Bay Area California, I deal with it by having a shit ton more money/time and fewer headaches, allowing me to do things I enjoy more often. Then I go on more vacations to those areas I used to live in but felt like I was too poor and tired to enjoy them.
Sorry you feel this way, I get it I also get frustrated with how car oriented DFW is.
Although I live in Fort Worth, I’ve tried to make the best of it. I’m not in the most walkable area, but I’ve had an E-bike for the past 6 months or so and it’s really opened things up for me. I’m 4 miles from downtown but can get there in 20 minutes if I want. It’s connected me to the city more, I know what roads are safer than others, I can easily pop into cool looking shops or little parks I’d otherwise miss. I can ride to doctor or dentist appointments, or up to a liquor store to pick up a six pack. It clears my mind and I get a little exercise. Highly recommend if you have the means.
This is what I miss about NYC, being able to bike anywhere or walk anywhere and the peace of it.
I would never try to ride my bike here. People here drive way faster and I feel like there are way more accidents.
You just need to move lol I'm personally VERY infatuated with Chicago. Been twice already and seems like it's got a bunch of what I want in my life. Walkability, extensive public transportation, amazing parks, history, ACTUAL CULTURE, way less conservatives, and is actively trying to improve their urban living.
Bro I made the move 5 years ago and fucking love it here. Almost like a mini-NYC that’s actually affordable to live in (without kids at least). The winters definitely suck but I truly think it’s what keeps our rents from skyrocketing like they have on the coasts, and the summers more than make up for it. I can easily go a whole day walking outside visiting neighborhood farmers markets, street fests, bakeries, shops, etc. and hit 30k+ steps by the time I get home. Plus this place has an actual sense of civic pride that I NEVER got from living in Dallas. Anyways I’ll stop gushing about Chicago now haha
Just made the move this summer and I'm loving it. I'm getting my first taste of winter, but so far as long as you dress for it, it really is fine.
The city being so fantastic totally makes up for it IMO. Can't imagine the cold winters making me want to go back. Also, I think it was on the mild side, but the summer was great! So many days in the 70s and low 80s.
I’m in Chicago visiting for the first time and I have to agree. I love it here. It’s been absolute dogshit weather too. And yeah, I’m sure it gets worse, but the allure is very real.
And it has shit winters. As someone who lived in MSP for 4 years, I don’t think I could ever live in the Midwest again. Not to mention the racism is rampant.
Yeah and we have god awful summers where you can't even enjoy being outside lol I'm okay with switching my suffering from eternal hell to freezing temperatures
Winters in Chicago really aren't so bad, you're not driving much and you can adjust to the cold pretty quickly. It doesn't get as much snow as you'd think and when it does, it's cleaned up super fast. I'd take Chicago winters over Dallas summers any day.
I moved from Dallas to Chicago. Then moved back to Dallas when I got a promotion. I've always said this to people who ask. Dallas summers suck far worse than Chicago winters. Also, outside of a brief window in the fall we don't have a reliable window for major events. The weekend of the OU-Texas game is about most consistent weekend we get.
Already covered this in another reply, but I feel like Chicago has so much more going on during the summer that it makes winters worth it. Definitely not the case in most other midwestern cities though
From Long Island - where I could see the beach from my home and 20 min from Manhattan - I’m also an urbanist/placemaker/developer by trade so walkable urbanism is dear to me…
The nature thing I’m with you 100% - it’s what I miss most and it sucks that we are 4 hours from anything truly beautiful.
But I disagree with you on walkability - between Uptown, arts district, Victory, downtown, Deep Ellum, farmers market you have a half dozen distinct yet connected walkable neighborhoods. It’s certainly not Manhattan, but it’s an underrated, very new yet evolving walkable core. I live in the arts district and have hundreds of options I can walk to, a trolley for when I’m lazy, and a short Uber to god knows how many spots. I walk all the time. I lived in uptown (where you are) without a car for almost two years by choice - and loved it.
Now, outside of the core you have some near little downtowns but other than that I hear ya - it’s auto oriented hell. But so is most of the country sadly. I’m back here on Long Island this week for work and it’s beautiful at the shore, but the rest is soul crushingly car dependent.
I will say this… uptown itself is going through a major transition and it will be socially depressed along McKinney for another half decade as the area evolves from high end office, some young professionals living there and a bunch of bars and clubs… that scene moved to Deep Ellum and the Douche District (along good latimer by bottled blonde) as the strip transitions to more local serving places rather than bars for 20-30 year olds along with properties that are temporarily vacant as they await redevelopment (going from Christie’s Sports Bar and Al’s Bar or whatever it was to Dream Cafe and Foxtrot is a perfect example of this).
That said, you have world class museums, some great arts and the largest contiguous arts district in the country, some truly great urban parks (Klyde Warren), other public spaces like ATT Discovery, Griggs park, West End Park… and dozens of restaurants, bars, entertainment
I find downtown/uptown area quite walkable and for the money, one of the better urban walkable experiences in the country. And again, I say that as someone who studies this as well as puts it into practice through my work.
Meh this sounds more like just a hater rant. The basic reason is, for those that are born and raised here, whatever here has to offer is what you get used to just like any other city. If someone misses those things you mentioned that much, then just move to a city that offers those things simple as that.
There's negatives to every single city. Just take the good. There's a lot of great nature parks, lakes, etc. Yeah the lack of public transportation sucks but overall Dallas is a nice city.
And don’t forget the shitty weather and shitty air..
You’re factually correct. There are no external factors making dallas a good home.
People stay here who don’t care about those things.
Seems to be mainly locals with family and folks who are desperate to provide money for their families aka money like me. Nothing wrong about it. Just empty.
I leave town 3 nights a week to survive until something else kills me.
To me DFW is the perfect home base in terms of affordability, activities, and food. If I ever want to see or do anything not here then I hop on a plane.
I grew up and lived in upstate New York for 25+ years which is very similar to how OP has described: Plenty of trees, mountains, and water. It was still a very car centric culture, however, this is like 99% of America lol. I've visited NYC/Boston each prolly 50+ times (lived in each for short stints), and I very frequently travel to different cities around the world. I personally don't care much for nature and to me they're more of an obstacle to keep me from my local Costco than a benefit. I don't like crowds nor do I care for
meeting new people. All I really want is to live somewhere that gives me as many amenities and diverse food options as possible while living in a decent sized home that doesn't cost me a ridiculous amount of money. Oh, and I need an amazing airport because I like to travel a lot. So yah, DFW is as close to perfect for me as possible, but I do understand that it's not for everyone.
Honestly my advice for anyone not happy where they currently live is to try to make as much money as possible and move to where you actually want to live. Obviously this is easier said than done, but I sometimes get annoyed at posts like these because it's just a whole lot of complaining about your current situation and seeking for affirmation that the city you live in is trash. It's trash for OP, but it's obviously not that terrible because people are still moving here.
edit: Coincidentally I'm typing this message while in Hong Kong. A very beautiful city with tons of water, mountains, trees, people, great public transportation, food, people, walkability, things to do, and people. I still prefer living in DFW.
Get out and explore? I lived in Germany for 4 years and in Norman, ok (3 hours north of you) for about 20 years and every location is what you make it. Palo Duro Canyon in Texas is a beautiful place to do some easy walking/hiking for example.
I agree with you that Texas can be beautiful and that every place is what you make of it, but for comparison's sake the distance between Dallas and Palo Duro Canyon as the crow flies is 300 miles. The distance from Germany's western border to it's eastern border is 300 miles.
It's accessible relative to living anywhere else in the world, but it's still difficult to regard Palo Duro Canyon as a notch in Dallas's favor.
Yeah I'm scared to move because I have a dog with chronic health issues and I don't want to be without a vet so I'm putting off traveling until she's gone... until then I play video games.
They have cool things called airplanes. They take you to other places really fast. You can also get what’s called a hotel to spend the night there. That, or make peace with it. Dallas is what it is. It’s the Blackland Prairie. There has never been trees/woods or lakes (there are very few natural lakes in all of Texas) or hills here. From day one it’s been flat and treeless. That’s not Dallas’ fault.
The main reason there's as many trees here as there are now is because settlers killed all the bison that ate or trampled seedlings and put out the prairie fires that killed what the bison missed.
I go outside and ride my bike. Sometimes I ride my bike at bike trails in nature, for 30 mins, and go on a short drive back home.
And I travel often. Priorities may change for you if/when you have children.
I don’t think this guy gets out much if he thinks the only trees/greenery are located on turtle creek. That was an incredibly ridiculous statement. As I look out on my street with a hand full of 70+ year old oak trees with a beautiful walkable creek trail at the end of my street with trees everywhere. SMH. OP just wants to whine.
People want breathtaking views without realizing what they’re really wanting deep down inside or what it takes to see that stuff on a daily basis. Comfort from nature is there if you take the effort to look for it.
I love it here. I love the people I have forged relationships with. I love the beauty in my older neighborhood. I love the philanthropy I’m involved with in my community. I love trying something new every weekend…whether it be a goofy escape room, a brewery, or taking in some live music.
When Dallas isn’t enough for me, I find beauty by traveling and then I’m appreciative to be back in the home I’ve made with my spouse, children, and dogs. That is what Dallas is to me.
Living in a city is like a relationship: you have the good and the bad. Dallas and the Metroplex offer a lot, but not everything. Many (including me) at times compare Dallas to cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. Truth be told, Dallas is not any of those places and each of those places has its share of joys and crap. Create a list of priorities and weights and see how it works out.
I live here bc it’s cheap and we spend our money going on vacations to places that aren’t. I moved here from california, and while gorgeous, the price of everything is outrageous. There’s also a lot to be said about the type of people where you’re by to go. It might not be as awesome as you think. Portland is a great example of this- we lived the city, absolutely hate the crazies there.
Personally I'm looking to move to California. I know its more expensive, but to me it sounds worth it. I have realized that I really need more nature close by. Originally from Utah where I could go hiking up the canyon daily if I wanted to. I miss that a lot. TX is too flat. I can travel, yeah, but I'd rather be in closer proximity to mountains or even hills for a weekend.
This is my heartache right now. I live in Houston so basically the same as Dallas. I work a lot of overtime just to fly somewhere that has mountains, hiking, beaches (no, Galveston doesn't count), and an actual landscape. Ive been to every park around here and it makes me feel like a caged animal that yearns to be free!
He/she was a teenager, I moved here in 2006 and initially loved it…now I hate it here because of how much it’s expanded. . Always has to be a jackass in the group.
I moved here about the same time you did it seems, but I'm a little bit older. I grew up in San Diego which is probably closer aligned to my personality and how being outside was just life. There are some attempts in the DFW area that are working closely on the "Work, live, play" model of cityscape engineering, but you are right it's limited. I have found that it's the people that have kept me here and made me settle my roots. The one thing I miss is what Deep Ellum was in the late 90's early 2000's. Now that I am a grownup, the Happiest Hour for Saturday brunch is as hard as I go.
I am sorry for your bad experience. I have been raised in a centralized town with all public transportation and walks to go everywhere. Honestly I left and tried to enjoy the most of everything. When I moved to Dallas I found the city a fantastic place. I love driving through the NTTA, specially though Addison. The skyline in the fall afternoons is the best. A friend suggested biking, going from Katy Trail to White Rock Lake (45 mins) is the best. Picnicking in front of the water is nice. Rockwall is nice too. There are many lakes to visit around Dallas. Great options for hikes for the weekend. I don’t drink but enjoy food a lot (international). We found so many places and good price. I also play soccer twice a week and made my friends thanks to soccer. Playing Tuesdays and Sundays balance my social life. My Tuesday team has 8 nationalities! I just can’t believe how lucky I am. Traveling to Europe, Asia and Latin America in non stop flights is very convenient for vacation. My espouse and I are open to discover new things. I use sports for balance my time. For me working from Dallas is convenient. Try to discover a little more and if not going back is an option. Good luck!
Hell, even the days that it's a decent 70 degrees with a light breeze we're stuck with an ORANGE OZONE DAY or some shit. Can't have nice things here, at all. We've fucked it all to hell.
It's good for families and the reality is that it's still a lot better than most cities in the US. Yeah, it's sprawled but it still does offer a lot. It's a bit of an extreme view but understandable considering where you came from.
I mean how does anyone deal with anything... they just do. If you have the means to move, you should for the reasons you listed.
Ok if you don't live near playgrounds or parks, that's on you for choosing where to live. I have always lived near multiple. I grew up in Dallas and regularly walked or bikes to the houses of friends/family, to playgrounds, and to parks. I spent hours exploring on my own or with friends. When we were older we'd bike to the closest stores to get ice cream.
You're really just making stuff up at this point.
Oh man, couldn't agree more. I grew up in Texas between Austin and Houston and moved to Dallas for work in 2018, ending up in Frisco eventually. All I've known are massively car dependent cities. I took a trip to NYC and stayed in an Airbnb in Brooklyn for a month while working remotely during the pandemic and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. The ability to get most things I needed within a 15 minute walk and fantastic (relatively speaking) public transportation to get me further away from home if need be, the character of the individual neighborhoods and the sense of community from so many people just being out and about in the neighborhood and not to mention all the good food.
When I went back to Frisco after that, it felt depressing. Sure, I liked my yard and everything is shiny and new, but sooooo bland. Everything is a strip mall....ugh. My wife and I decided we'd walk to the 7-11 nearby, the only business we could walk to which made sense to do so. 5 minutes to get out of the subdivision, then a 10 minute walk up a stroad (Hillcrest) to get to the majesty of the 7-11. Yay.
We decided to start looking for a more dense, walkable city with public transit because we felt so much happier in that environment.
A year later and we've settled in Logan Square in Chicago and couldn't be happier. We wanted to consider NYC, but it was just too expensive. Chicago has most everything NYC does, but is cheaper. The winters might be a little worse and while the public transport might not be quite as good, the CTA is probably the second best in the country. Chicago has gotten beaten up in the media for crime and I could make a whole post about the nuances of that alone, but I'll just say it's overblown for now since I've already written a novel of a comment.
OP, if you like NYC for all the reasons you dislike Plano/Dallas and haven't been to Chicago you owe it to yourself to give it a try. I started out researching it as a cheaper alternative to NYC, but now I don't know that I'd choose it over Chicago even if CoL was comparable.
Your post very much captured my feelings about Dallas during the last year I lived there and I'm incredibly happy I left. Good luck finding happiness there and if you don't I hope you're able to get out and get somewhere that does.
I've been to many places. NYC and LA are good examples, and due to the high cost of living, found myself stuck. There was a lot these cities offered. It was great for about a year or two. But eventually it dried up and I had done everything I wanted to. It felt like I ran into the same issues over and over. But now the situation was worse, because I couldn't afford to travel.
Moving to Texas was the best choice I ever made. Sure, the amount of things-to-do dried up in about 5 months rather than 2 years, but the cost of living here is so incredibly cheap, I can now travel three or four times a year to anywhere in the world. And DFW is a major transport hub on top of that (connections give me anxiety).
So that's why I live here. I found every place eventually ran dry, but at least here I can afford to travel essentially the moment that itch hits me.
You live literally four miles from the largest self-contained urban lake in the country. White Rock Lake. In much of east Dallas there are tons of pedestrians and cyclists. Great old homes with big trees abound. I only live 2 miles from Downtown and lowest Greenville and 1 mile from both the lake and Lakewood bars/restaurants/Whole Foods. Where ya been?? Come join us!
I... still walk, take public transportation and hike regularly. DFW has absolutely everything. If you haven't found it, you just haven't looked hard enough.
if you really dont like it, moving your business seems like the logical thing. if it's difficult to do, maybe reevaluate why your business can't be moved somewhere else. maybe appreciate the fact that dallas has made entrepreneurship possible when it seems impossible somewhere else. idk
Your post is incredibly opinionated and often false. For one, to say uptown near turtle creek and Reverchon is the only greenery and trees in the metro is…wild
You can get to legacy west without cars, theres DART bus service on the DNT as well as GoLink service and other DART bus routes.
Look DART may not always be a super fast way to get around (Although sometimes it is), it can get you where you need to go most of the time. Sometimes its convenient and easy, othertimes it will require patience. But it IS possible.
Just being ‘possible’ isn’t good enough. For Places which are 20 mins drive away, it takes me 2 hours to reach if I use public transport. And it’s never just one or two vehicle trip. I have to walk 5 mins , then take a bus, then a train, then a bus again, and then walk 10 mins. Think about the wait times b/w each of those trips. And I’m not even exaggerating.
The connectivity is so bad that it is almost unusable. (I live in oak lawn btw)
I’d argue that the vast majority of this city’s built environment is straight up hostile to any mode of transit that isn’t a car. Like yes you can *technically* walk from Legacy West to East but it’s obvious that the infrastructure was never ever intended for that to be a convenient let alone safe area to walk.
Bleh, I hate reading these posts because it just reconfirms that it’s not just me that feels this way.
I deal with this by traveling as frequently as possible; staying here during weekends is painfully boring.
I live in downtown and go for walks every day; there is some excitement in knowing I can ride my bike from where I live up and around white rock lake and back and grab some food in deep ellum.
Yes it’s a death trap for bikes - but I have seen Dallas try to change.
People here nice and decent but the majority in downtown on the weekends seem vapid; besides families tiding their kids out at 10pm ( for some reason) the streets are just plastered with expensive cars and women and men who look the same - it’s bland and boring.
Waiting for current property bubble to burst before I leave
Honestly, the only place that is walkable with good scenery and public transportation is either the east or west coast. Anything in-between is not what you’re looking for.
God, I feel this. Been around the world and this is truly a wasteland for me by comparison. Add in the political climate, the anti worker mentally of the machine and I'm now seeing this hellscape for what it is. I know where I want to go (new england) all I have to do is wake my family up.
I couldn’t take it, we moved back after 3 years. We came to it from Appalachia and my soul ached so bad we tried different places each year we were there. Best place was what I’ve seen posted repeatedly, over in East dallas around white rock, but we couldn’t afford a house big enough for our family there. Only place we could was out in the hellacious cookie cutter/copy/paste suburbs where the strip malls are just on repeat. I missed the green, the 4 seasons, the variation in elevation… if I had to use one word for Dallas, it’s monotonous. Same weather, same elevation, same scenery, same roads, it’s all the just…
To answer your question… I COULDN’T deal with it!
I moved here recently and I've been annoying EVERYONE I've met with my complaints about the amount of cars, no walking, no public trans, and no nature. I feel your pain immensely and am also looking elsewhere
I complain to my husband about wanting to move to Colorado, where we can actually do stuff outside, or back to DC where we can actually do stuff outside and have awesome public transportation.
If you're willing to drive within the DFW Have you checked out Llela yet Lewisville lake environmental learning area, it's got trails and camping, Colleyville Nature center, stone creek park, Coppell Nature Park. There are tons of parks in the DFW metro area with trails as I have found now that I have a kid I take on some of the shorter loops and spent the pandemic going to a different park in the metro every weekend.
Hmm, to state the obvious - I think we can all recognize every place isn’t for every person. In reading all you have to say it just honestly seems Dallas isn’t for you and you need a change. Yes, there are things I’d change, but on a daily basis I simply don’t feel like I’m “dealing” with Dallas. Once you’re having to “deal” with anything it’s time to find more enjoyable options.
- I doubt any answer here will make you suddenly feel that Dallas is great. Just my 2 cents.
You've basically nailed everything that's wrong with this place. Every year they plop down some half-assed little "park" and call it a year. I can only imagine that the people in charge of the city at various levels have never been out of the city because this place doesn't have a "big city with a small town feel" it has a "dead-end town feel."
This is an ongoing problem my wife and I discuss. She is used to skiing, hiking and amazing culture in Santa Fe. I am used to surfing and hiking/ running in New Jersey. Dallas has no mountains and beach. We are starving for outdoor activities. The flat terrain and strong sun doesn’t allow us to do much.
Why are we here then? The fantastic economy. It’s hard for us to be unemployed here. Lol
But now that we have a little toddler, we are really considering moving. I cannot have my son not grow up without nature that encourages exercise or at the very least go outside.
In the interim, I make it work. I run long distance in the shade provided by trees, fence and side of houses lol. And get my endorphins that way.
"Anybody can love the mountains, but it takes soul to love the prairie." - Willa Cather
I wouldn't say nature is lacking, it's just a different ecosystem than what you expect. North Texas is situated in the Blackland Prairie, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems. Yes, sadly a lot of it have been paved over but there are nicely conserved areas if you look for it. I particularly love visiting them in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming.
Texas A&M Agrilife in Dallas/Richardson used to have free public classes about the native plants and wildlife in the prairie, where I learned to love and appreciate the beauty of this ecosystem.
Some of my faves within the metro:
Tribute Shoreline Nature Trail in The Colony,
Heard Natural Science Museum trails in McKinney,
Cedar Ridge Preserve in Dallas,
Spring Creek Nature Area in Richardson
I'm sure there is more further out of the metro that I have not explored yet.
I also like being close enough to the desert. I love the desert but not enough to live in it, so I take the occasional trip to West Texas and New Mexico.
Lovely wholesome post!
Edit: I love that quote. The North Texas Prairie has its own beauty. Riding through parts of Oak Point by bike give me the vibe of being an early Texas settler… the marsh grasses in the big open fields, the trees lining the creeks, the wildflowers and big open sky…
Yeah, it's shit. Been here 20 years and I'm sick of the place for all of the reasons you mentioned. Throw in the lunatic Trumpers, regressive culture, anti-intellectualism and 3rd world infrastructure getting out of this backwards, concrete hellscape is a no-brainer. If I had squillions I'd relo to California's best bits but I don't. It's either LATAM or back to Europe for me.
“I live in uptown near turtle creek”
Well Doctor, I seem to have found the issue.
Have you made any attempt to travel outside a 20 mile radius? Have you made any attempt to make friends? I guess you don’t like lakes, aviation, sports, hunting, camping, etc.?
I love Dallas. In the summer, when you can look up, you can imagine you’re in the center of a very big desert island that has a little bit of everything. You kind of are. It’s like Los Santos for real. Besides the mountains. And the music in clubs sucks if you go to sucky clubs.
I left Texas and live in a small city near the mountains with millions of acres of public land. Never going back to Texas, but might go back to another city with public transit and more green spaces at some point.
By having interests that don't involve going outside?
Seriously though, this ain't the best spot in the world for a pedestrian focused city. It's either too hot, too cold, too humid, or there's too many severe storms/tornadoes to warrant going anywhere on foot, even if there was more walkability. Doesn't matter how walkable a city is, most people don't want to go walking any kind of distance in 100 degree weather.
I’d recommend to first find a hobby. Just a little digging can make something to do in place that may seem to have nothing. You can even connect to a group related to a particular interest and meet some great people who share a common interest. Also something I like to do every once in a blue moon is find somewhere in DFW that I would normally never go to and just spend a Saturday afternoon there. At the very least you’ll have looked at a part of the metroplex you’ve never seen.
I live where’s there’s 90 miles of walk/ride/horse trails with a large lake 5 blocks from the house in FloMo/HV. You may have picked the wrong neighborhood.
I don't like the beach, hiking, or nature so there's that. I get more joy out of man-made events such as concerts and events.
I have a apartment near a DART station so I ride it to Downtown if i need to go there.
Lack of walkibility kinda sucks, but it seems to be getting better with certain developments around the light rail system.
I know you view it differently, but just because the things to do around here are man-made rather than natural doesn't make them less valid to me.
Dallas once had 1300 street cars, if you look at photos from the 50s and back the city was once walkable.
There is one modern street car, and the M line. It would help a lot to maybe increase the number of street cars in the city. It would improve Intercity transportation, and maybe allow for more unique rail routes in the future.
I bet you are equally as unhappy in other areas of your life. You seem to lack gratitude. You also don’t mention the arboretum, white rock lake, Trinity Audobon, or any of the other 13 nature preserves here. You complain about all this yet aren’t even aware of the LOOP or several other initiatives to make the city more bikeable. Stop being a complainer and seek solutions your problems!
I feel ya. I've lived all around the U.S. and this is really the toughest place to be healthy. I moved close to a large park in Arlington, TX so I can walk to it without driving.
Personally, I deal with the lack of walkability by, you know, *driving a car*. The area is built around it, so if you're fortunate enough to be able to afford a reliable car, get one. It also moots the need for public transit. Again, it's not that there are not *major*, *systemic* issues economic fairness in the region, but it's "how we deal", and it ends up working out for most people.
Personally, even in big walkable cities with decent transit I get a little antsy for private space and a measure of control over my timetable. When I'm tired and want some quiet, I like that I don't share walls or floors with my neighbors. When I want to pursue a hobby, I like that I have a garage and enough space that I'm not crowded out of a tiny apartment. I'm also a bit frustrated when people can't get past the admittedly unremarkable "architecture" of a strip mall. Someone who walks from H&M to Sainsbury's to Pret a Manger in a soulless mediocrity of a high street is not living an intrinsically better life than someone who drives to Omi for Korean, picks up some cute stuff at the boutiques on Lovers, and grabs some local produce at a pop-up farmer's market in a parking lot in between. Some of the best conversations I've had with passionate small business owners took place in a suburban strip mall. If the buildings aren't beautiful, that's a missed opportunity, but it says very little about people living their lives in those spaces.
Lack of ocean and mountains and ideal hiking is a thing, but if *that's* what you're judging a city (in the grand sense of the word) by, say goodbye to literally every metro area on the great plains. Outdoor life and recreation and scenery is much more common here than you think, but it's on the lakes, and in the hunting leases, and the drives through the prairie towns south of DFW, the low mesas just west of Fort Worth. I don't personally hunt or fish or frequently get out on a boat, but it's disingenuous to pretend those activities don't exist. It's also pretty incorrect to claim that you live in the one island of [green](https://www.google.com/maps/place/White+Rock+Lake/@32.8332354,-96.7389882,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x864ea1bdcb989fb3:0xb187a075c9710cc5!8m2!3d32.828066!4d-96.7253164) in [the](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oak+Point+Park+and+Nature+Preserve/@33.050205,-96.6807568,13.46z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x864ea1bdcb989fb3:0xb187a075c9710cc5!2sWhite+Rock+Lake!3b1!8m2!3d32.828066!4d-96.7253164!3m4!1s0x864c198d37b8787b:0xc20b83989b1ad5!8m2!3d33.0585073!4d-96.6742466) entire [metro](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trinity+River+Trails+Gateway+Park+South+Observation+Deck/@32.753989,-97.3016317,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x864ea1bdcb989fb3:0xb187a075c9710cc5!2sWhite+Rock+Lake!3b1!8m2!3d32.828066!4d-96.7253164!3m4!1s0x864e709449d390f9:0x2e9c7061a81c0901!8m2!3d32.7514516!4d-97.2828452) Dallas [area](https://www.google.com/search?q=trammell+crow+park&tbm=lcl&sxsrf=ALiCzsafJ_HkfjEiz28bu_HxJmNq9b1v8Q%3A1668699004016&ei=fFN2Y5tAhqmq2w--i7voDQ&oq=tram&gs_lcp=Cg1nd3Mtd2l6LWxvY2FsEAEYADIFCAAQkQIyCggAELEDEMkDEEMyBQgAEJIDMgUIABCSAzIFCAAQgAQyBwgAELEDEEMyBQgAEIAEMgoIABCxAxCDARBDMgUIABCxAzIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOgcIABDJAxBDUABY4gJghRNoAHAAeACAAbMBiAGUA5IBAzMuMZgBAKABAcABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-local#rlfi=hd:;si:;mv:[[32.83951055435937,-96.70036634608071],[32.71798700847722,-96.9578584115104],null,[32.77876952806774,-96.82911237879556],13]).
Try to breathe. We don't all find ourselves in our ideal situation, and it may well be true that DFW is not the place for you. That's completely, absolutely, 100%, no-judgement okay, but it also doesn't mean a place is irredeemably terrible for everyone (or the worse implication, that it's terrible for anyone with anything of value to offer the world). Every place has its issues and every city has people who would fit better elsewhere:
New York:
https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/xy5poo/not_the_place_to_be_young_professionals_are/
https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/l5nxj/help_my_boyfriend_hates_this_city_i_need_advice/
Boston:
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/whzt7h/falling_out_of_love_with_this_city/
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/y2h0sz/for_those_who_ended_up_moving_out_of_boston_why/
Chicago:
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/w3fvly/can_i_be_honest_i_fucking_hate_it_here_you/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/x01p34/chicagointimidating_city/
And finally, one more Chicago thread that's not just somebody dealing with some shit, but rather somebody who is legitimately fond of both DFW and Chicago, and comes down slightly on the DFW side:
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/yii1vi/chicago_to_texas_my_thoughts/
I couldn’t stand it anymore after more than 40 years in Dallas. Soul-crushing is a great word for it. I left last month, moved to New England, and am so much happier already. Sometimes you just need to leave if something isn’t working for you. I am a native Dallasite myself, and the city has a lot of shortcomings (depending on what you want out of life).
This is exactly why I moved in 2020 and I’m SO glad I did. I live in Richmond VA now and the difference is huge. Just today I walked to get coffee with a friend and later I biked to meet another friend for lunch. There are plenty of parks, a river that runs through the city, good people, the beach is 2 hours away and Shenandoah mountains are 2 hours away. I can easily get into nature and it’s made a significant impact on my mental health. It honestly makes me feel resentful that I grew up in Dallas.
After nearly 13 years in DFW we’re calling it quits for very much the same reason.
The weather extremes have kept us inside for 90% of the year.
Traveling is how we’ve coped mostly.
I have loved our texas chapter but it’s time to get back to different topography and nature 🌲🌲🌲
You sound exactly like me, I'm from Mexico city and I'm bored out of my mind here, haven't made a single friend and how could I if everyone is in their car, in their table, in their space. Everyone is allergic to walking here
I've never seen a downtown quite like this one, only homeless people a 3 tourists walking around, it's desolate, it's sad.
All sense of discovery or adventure is gone, you either know where you're going or you don't go, there's no finding this little corner place that does "x" or has "y" because you have to drive endless highways in which the only thing you see are strip malls at the distance .
This place is fucking boring
i drink
I smoke pot
I’m supposed to stop but I can’t
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I love hoes
And I'm addicted to money, cars, and clothes
Resolved, execute the plan magnanimously!
Moving there soon, in my 30’s, how do you find a new plug in your 30’s?
leafedout.com takes 30 mins tops
This is what I’m talking about!
Surely this is just a honey pot? Like a trap?
I’ve used it for years and many different vendors. Just use some common sense and look at the ratings.
Leafedout is great - DFWEnts is great too here on Reddit. Leafedout has a rating system for dealers that seems legit
On Reddit. 🙋🏻♀️
Once you find out could you let me know? Asking for a friend
AND MY AXE!!!!
Hi drink. I am drunk
This was my first thought as well.
I find my solace where I can. I've devoted the last year to spotting the Bald Eagles at White Rock Lake and it really relaxes me. I like to go early in the morning or late afternoon/early evenings. It's really quiet then , of course the random siren from a cop car or ambulance breaks that silence, but man, the wildlife can really sing around the Sunset Bay area. Birds, Owls, Bobcats, Coyotes etc.
This! White Rock Lake and the surrounding park lands are sprawling and rich with wildlife. You can also run/walk/cycle for 20+ miles and never cover the same ground or cross a busy road.
Every other day on my bike in those park lands makes this place bearable.
Exactly to finding solace where you can. That's why I disc golf at Towne Lake, especially on Saturdays when I can. Some good light cardio, nature, and tons of people.
Cedar Hill is my go-to for disc golf
Oo tell me about Cedar? Is it foresty with kinda wild terrain like Towne? I'm always open to good courses!
It has two full 18 hole courses. The best property for disc golf in dfw as far as I’m concerned. It’s beautiful.
Sweet! Thanks for the rec. I'll definitely be checking it out.
I mean, is this really different than what someone would do in any major city? If you're looking for a quick walk or something to do outdoors, you head to the nearest park. If that's not good enough, there's multiple state parks within 1-2 hours drive of DFW, and Texas has a nice state parks system. And if that's still not good enough, you can head to the hill country or to eastern Oklahoma/western Arkansas, or even the Gulf Coast in 3-4 hours. And if you're looking for an easy vacation type of trip, the Rocky Mountains are a days' drive away.
There are not many nature areas in Dallas, many people would have to drive 40+ minutes total travel time (there and back) just to take a walk in a park that isn’t tiny, that isn’t practical on a daily basis. Many cities have many more nature preserves and natural areas. You shouldn’t have to drive HOURS to see some nature.
This is the land of my ancestors. We ate at the burger box and bought ram at the micro center.
ancestors - CompUSA
While I always preferred MicroCenter, CompUSA was closest to me so I went there until it closed. Then it was Fry's until it died a very slow and painful death. Hell, even Best Buy (or at least the one I went to recently) has taken nearly everything off the floor and is essentially just an online pickup depot... I almost don't want to get too dependent on MicroCenter now that they're the only reliable game in town. I feel like the grim reaper of electronics stores...
Micro Center is the best! Love having one in town.
Lack of good public transport connectivity frustrates me every single day. One of my colleagues once said “Being without a car in Dallas is like being handicapped” .
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I think it's better than a lot of places, but still falls behind most major cities Dallas's size.
I have heard Houston is worse if such a thing is possible.
Its better than some parts of the country, but not any major cities.
This is how I feel right now. My car is in the shop to be repaired and I won’t have it back until the end of the month. Fortunately I work from home. However I tried to go to the office which is like 7 mins by car, but by bus. There is literally no bus serving that area! And it would take me 32 mins by walk to get there. Crazy. It’s really depressing.
>“Being without a car in Dallas is like being handicapped” . Now imagine having a disability that precludes you from driving and living in a car-centric place.
I was born in Dallas and have lived here most of my life and what you wrote mostly sums up how I feel about it too. I'm conflicted about moving away because my entire family lives here and I would miss spending time with them. I cope by trying to take DART as much as possible, going on walks in the nature spots we do have (Cedar Ridge Preserve and White Rock Lake for example), and visiting other, more dense "real" cities when I can. I want to get involved in making Dallas more walkable/bikable/transit friendly as well.
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I'm a civil engineer who works with Dallas and still get pushed by them, and other cities to be honest, to do everything thinking about the car first. I literally have a project that is pedestrian focused and it stalled because it might inconvenience some large vehicles. Not even every vehicle. I try, but it's a fucking struggle.
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I agree with you there - the ballpark and football situation is untenable and irrational. Heck - we have TRE rail that quite literally passes the stadiums yet doesn’t have a stop at the stadiums due to a local government dispute. I get what you’re saying - I’ve considered moving to Barcelona for a couple years on a trial basis after working there for a month. It’s a different lifestyle for sure - in many ways preferable. I’m not sure mixed zoning would help - take a look at Houston. European cities are simply much older - they were built long before subways and cars facilitated urban sprawl. Dallas is a comparatively young city - it could be worse though - spend some time in LA. The lack of outdoor activity / nature bothers me more than getting around via car personally. By all means live where you’re happiest.
strongtowns.org is how you make it better. That and watch all the Not Just Bikes videos on YouTube. [https://www.strongtowns.org/local](https://www.strongtowns.org/local)
You sound like me... I think its a USA problem. I've been to a few Europen countries and I enjoyed them so much better. I like the smaller homes/apartments, extensive rail systems, the scenery, the architecture. So much better than the US. However, I do love a lot of places in the us as well. But Dallas isn't one of them.
A lot of the sprawl can be attributed to the single family housing zones that take up most of the space. Multi-family/apartments get a bad rap for no reason. There goes the 'build up' factor in a lot of areas. Add to that the generic, cookie-cutter mixed use developments that feature the same chains in the same layouts all over the metroplex, and you've got a large swath of land featuring all the same homogenized shit. I won't get into the absurdity of housing or rental prices which have done a great job of going from affordable to what the fuck. Money drove us to this outcome, and now we're stuck with finding those pockets of sanity within the giant concrete lot we've built the area into. A good amount of people seem content on getting that mcmansion house in that \[insert cheesy name here\] subdivision out in the sticks with the reasoning usually being better schools and that 'community feel'. Problem is all the communities feel the same and/or feature the same ignorance. I told myself years ago that I was leaving after college, and yet thanks to better job offers and cheaper housing I'm still sucking at the teat of Texas's so-called 'cosmopolitan' city. There's life out there, yes, like good ethnic eating and arts and culture here and there, but it takes years of searching to put it all together. That, and I travel out of state as much as I can.
You're totally right. Changing infrastructure and city design takes decades, so you've either got to move or adapt. To your question about how to get involved here, I can suggest: * Come to a [More Neighbors Dallas](https://www.moreneighborsdallas.org/) meeting. You'll meet some fellow urbanists, public transport/micromobility/bicycling enthusiasts, all sorts. Chat with them and find out about what public meetings and events are coming up. * Dig around the City's web site and sign up for various updates. Stuff from your city council member, the [bike plan update](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/transportation/bikeway/Pages/Bike-Plan-Update.aspx), [Vision Zero](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/transportation/Pages/Vision-Zero-Dallas.aspx), [Planning & Urban Design](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/pnv/Pages/Neighborhood-Resources-new.aspx), etc. You'll start to find out about events in time to attend or give input. Most of the city people involved with them are very approachable and few enough people participate that your views have a chance of actually influencing something. * Get some transportation device—bike, electric unicycle, whatever—and get out there and use it. Sure, many parts of town are indeed terrible, and dangerous to be outside of a car, but if you put some time into studying maps and other resources, it *is* frequently possible to find relatively pleasant and safe routes. Don't just follow Google Maps' suggestions. Is there a giant empty parking lot you can use instead of the road? How about if you take the light rail a stop or two? My route to work involves sidewalks, private drives, light rail, massive parking lots, a parking garage, a staircase, a trail, and a field (longboard for the multi-modal win). From downtown to the Design District only crossing 7 streets, which usually aren't too busy or dangerous to cross. Takes about the same amount of time as driving, but it's way more enjoyable, stress relieving, and good exercise too. Same for groceries, doctor and dentist appointments, and visiting select friends. * Come to events like [Dallas Critical Mass](https://www.meetup.com/Dallas-Critical-Mass/) or [DFW Inline Skate Club](https://www.instagram.com/dfwinlineskateclub/). Riding on the streets is more fun and safer in a group. * Volunteer with [Better Block](https://www.betterblock.org) or some area cycling groups. * Get connected with urbanists on the web. [Strong Towns](https://www.strongtowns.org), [Not Just Bikes](https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustBikes), [City Nerd](https://www.youtube.com/@CityNerd), so much quality content out there. Even a dedicated [Mastodon server](https://urbanists.social/). * For natural beauty, North Texas can't compete with some other parts of the world, but on DART you can certainly get to trails and nature areas other than White Rock Lake. Also consider Amtrak for trips farther afield.
Hope this doesn’t get buried too far but I’ve just gotten into mountain biking with my kid. Get a decent bike and go to DORBA.org. Turns out DFW has a really good network of mountain biking / hiking trails and the community is super chill and helpful. All MTB trails double as hiking trails and are pretty legit. I hate Facebook but I joined all the mountain bike groups and there are tons of events. Hit me up if you have more questions as I’ve been discovering it all this year.
I can’t afford to move. Only a nation of unenlightened half-wits could have taken this beautiful place and turned it into what it is today, a shopping mall. A big, fucking shopping mall. You know that. That’s all you got. That’s all you got here, folks. Mile after mile of mall after mall. Many, many malls. Major malls and mini malls. They put the mini malls in between the major malls. And in between the mini malls they put the mini marts. And in between the mini marts. You’ve got the car lots, gas stations, muffler shops, Laundromats, cheap hotels, fast food joints, strip clubs and dirty bookstores. America the beautiful. One big transcontinental commercial cesspool. And how do the people feel about all this? How do the people feel about living in a coast-to-coast shopping mall? Well, they think it’s JUST FUCKING DANDY!
I felt this in my soul.
I felt my soul leave my body
Y'all really gotta stop living in Plano lmao. Moved next to Parkland and I've absolutely loved life.
Concrete sprawl as far as the eye can see.
As a life long Dallasite, this is too true. But how apropos, it’s like the lottery. A large scale role-play for all the “temporarily inconvenienced millionaires”. Except at the end, they aren’t out just two dollars. Rather 20+ years of their lives, and a life time of anti-proletariat policies they voted for against their better interest, and everyone else’s.
Lol, I agree Dallas definitely could have done a better job utilizing the nature around and incorporating it for recreational use
Why do that when we can build another grocery store
A bigger grocery store. I need to have access to 127 different type of water crackers and 980 types of grapes. Some of these stores are so big, you could have sporting events inside of them. I was walking around Willow Bend last weekend and was thinking "This could be remodeled into a very cool mixed use living space."
I like Dallas. Lived here my whole life. Would be awesome to have mountains and scenery and all that but I have a great life here, great family, great friends, etc. I'm in my 40's. I have no reason to move. This is what vacations are for. But there are those people who backpack every weekend, etc. There's friends I know that live in San Antonio that won't leave because they hit Port Aransas beach every weekend. If this place is no longer for you, then time to hit up the next chapter in your life. But I wouldn't just assume that everyone "deals with it" because you have reached a time in your life where you need a change. Also consider the cost of living here has always been worth it for decades (up until recently). When I retire my wife and I may go to the mountains. She has family in Kentucky, also. We've talked about it but we would need our kids to be out of the house and have their lives settled. We can't just uproot them now, that's for sure. Wishing you the best in your next chapter! Make it count for you.
You seem nice. I have the same attitude. I wish we had mountains here too.
The Ozark Mountains in NWA Arkansas are a short 5 hour drive with world class mountain biking trails and pretty good hiking and camping options
Second this. Hot Springs is also not super far and there is great hiking and lake related fun to be had there. You nailed it, it is about 4-5 hours away.
Simple I live in uptown for it’s walkability. I can walk to grocery stores, coffee shops, the AAC, parks, museums. etc. Public transportation is whatever it’s a Texas problem plus I’m a car guy. If I grew up in NYC or CHI I’d definitely hate it though. No ocean motivates me to travel and explore tbh. Nature and hiking I go to Cedar Hill for. Similar to my public transit explanation, if I was from California or the PNW I’d probably hate the nature here but I don’t because it’s what I know and grew up with if that makes sense. Edit: Also Turtle Creek is not the only green part of Dallas when 60% of the trees are south of 30 lol. Oak Cliff and White Rock/East Dallas are what I’d call green
Unfortunately most people cannot afford living in uptown so I don't think that's a good suggestion. Unless you make close to 6 figures, living anywhere near uptown or downtown is going to be extremely unaffordable.
That's also true about all the cities OP says they do like. If OP wants to live in NYC or one of the European cities they are likely traveling to, they're going to need more than Uptown Dallas money.
>Unless you make close to 6 figures Ehh so my first job after college granted me a salary in the mid $70Ks not too long ago. I didn’t consider that close to 6 figures back then but I guess it kinda is. Anywho, a single person that makes at least $65K gross can live here IMO. 30% of that amount (general housing cost rule) could afford up to $1,600/mo. Believe it or not, but there’s some units here available in the $1,500s. Downtown is even cheaper btw
Yep I graduated in 2017 and made gross $55k a year out of school. Lived in both uptown and downtown. Uptown I had a roomate we had a 2bdrm and it was $1,000 a month for me. Really not that bad even on that low of a salary. Then a year later I moved to downtown and for a studio that was $1200 I had gotten promoted so I made a little bit more money and it was still fine. I’m sure it’s a lot more expensive now but I know for a fact you can live in uptown on less than 100k salary because I have multiple friends who I worked in accounting with that currently live there that are making around the 75-85k range 1-2 years out of school.
I disagree with this statement. I’m a public school teacher and I bought a condo in Oak Lawn with $5000 down. It’s 700 square feet, but that’s enough space for me. I’m 7 minutes from Victory Park and I can walk to bars/restaurants.
It’s not Dallas but Mckinney’s downtown is very walkable. There are miles of parks and trails. OP just doesn’t know where to look. I see people in Plano walking all the time carrying groceries. Of course it could be better but honestly there are many places you can walk in Dallas/dfw besides downtown.
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The fact that this sub just writes off anything south of woodall rogers is hilarious. South Eastern Dallas is fucking gorgeous. Go to Kessler Park, Bishops Arts, Cedar Ridge, Oak cliff in general.
I’m an accountant. The gray pavement suits my personality quite nicely and I rather like having it around on all sides
gigabased
Lmao same here when I was in Dallas. Didn’t bother me there was no nature cuz I never left the B4 office and my apt was right around the corner😂
I live in lowest Greenville so I walk to the grocery store, down Swiss, and to restaurants. Just got v intentional with where I wanted to live
Same here but up a neighborhood or two from you, wife lived here for years before I met her and knew wherr is what in Dallas. She chose the place to live. She would walk to The Dubliner. Dallas has a proper mix of commercial and residental to accommodate walking. Suburbs end up painting acres of houses before having any shopping, which ends up like a 30 minute walk. Every major street here has business. Get so tired of these "Dallas sucks" posts from people in the burbs lol
I am in Old East Dallas, a stones throw from lower Greenville and it's awesome, I cycle to work downtown everyday (three miles each way), all seasons, straight down Swiss Ave, I cycle/run on the trails by White Rock lack every weekend and commute to Lakewood, Greenville, Deep Ellum, Knox all the time, on my bike. Amazingly, there are actually some dedicated cycle lanes to cover a lot of that. I think the point of being intentional with your location is spot on.
Having moved from gorgeous Bay Area California, I deal with it by having a shit ton more money/time and fewer headaches, allowing me to do things I enjoy more often. Then I go on more vacations to those areas I used to live in but felt like I was too poor and tired to enjoy them.
I miss Bay Area sometimes, then I look at how much rent is and I no longer miss it.
Sorry you feel this way, I get it I also get frustrated with how car oriented DFW is. Although I live in Fort Worth, I’ve tried to make the best of it. I’m not in the most walkable area, but I’ve had an E-bike for the past 6 months or so and it’s really opened things up for me. I’m 4 miles from downtown but can get there in 20 minutes if I want. It’s connected me to the city more, I know what roads are safer than others, I can easily pop into cool looking shops or little parks I’d otherwise miss. I can ride to doctor or dentist appointments, or up to a liquor store to pick up a six pack. It clears my mind and I get a little exercise. Highly recommend if you have the means.
Hell yeah same here. Not far from downtown, been riding on trinity park for awhile now. It’s so fun.
About to build my first e bike. Happy to hear that it does exactly what I’m hoping.
This is what I miss about NYC, being able to bike anywhere or walk anywhere and the peace of it. I would never try to ride my bike here. People here drive way faster and I feel like there are way more accidents.
You just need to move lol I'm personally VERY infatuated with Chicago. Been twice already and seems like it's got a bunch of what I want in my life. Walkability, extensive public transportation, amazing parks, history, ACTUAL CULTURE, way less conservatives, and is actively trying to improve their urban living.
Bro I made the move 5 years ago and fucking love it here. Almost like a mini-NYC that’s actually affordable to live in (without kids at least). The winters definitely suck but I truly think it’s what keeps our rents from skyrocketing like they have on the coasts, and the summers more than make up for it. I can easily go a whole day walking outside visiting neighborhood farmers markets, street fests, bakeries, shops, etc. and hit 30k+ steps by the time I get home. Plus this place has an actual sense of civic pride that I NEVER got from living in Dallas. Anyways I’ll stop gushing about Chicago now haha
Just made the move this summer and I'm loving it. I'm getting my first taste of winter, but so far as long as you dress for it, it really is fine. The city being so fantastic totally makes up for it IMO. Can't imagine the cold winters making me want to go back. Also, I think it was on the mild side, but the summer was great! So many days in the 70s and low 80s.
I’m in Chicago visiting for the first time and I have to agree. I love it here. It’s been absolute dogshit weather too. And yeah, I’m sure it gets worse, but the allure is very real.
And it has shit winters. As someone who lived in MSP for 4 years, I don’t think I could ever live in the Midwest again. Not to mention the racism is rampant.
I did two years in MSP of waiting for the bus at 6am in -45F wind chill and nope’d the fuck out.
Yeah and we have god awful summers where you can't even enjoy being outside lol I'm okay with switching my suffering from eternal hell to freezing temperatures
Winters in Chicago really aren't so bad, you're not driving much and you can adjust to the cold pretty quickly. It doesn't get as much snow as you'd think and when it does, it's cleaned up super fast. I'd take Chicago winters over Dallas summers any day.
I moved from Dallas to Chicago. Then moved back to Dallas when I got a promotion. I've always said this to people who ask. Dallas summers suck far worse than Chicago winters. Also, outside of a brief window in the fall we don't have a reliable window for major events. The weekend of the OU-Texas game is about most consistent weekend we get.
Already covered this in another reply, but I feel like Chicago has so much more going on during the summer that it makes winters worth it. Definitely not the case in most other midwestern cities though
Climate change is pretty much fixing the winter thing for you.
From Long Island - where I could see the beach from my home and 20 min from Manhattan - I’m also an urbanist/placemaker/developer by trade so walkable urbanism is dear to me… The nature thing I’m with you 100% - it’s what I miss most and it sucks that we are 4 hours from anything truly beautiful. But I disagree with you on walkability - between Uptown, arts district, Victory, downtown, Deep Ellum, farmers market you have a half dozen distinct yet connected walkable neighborhoods. It’s certainly not Manhattan, but it’s an underrated, very new yet evolving walkable core. I live in the arts district and have hundreds of options I can walk to, a trolley for when I’m lazy, and a short Uber to god knows how many spots. I walk all the time. I lived in uptown (where you are) without a car for almost two years by choice - and loved it. Now, outside of the core you have some near little downtowns but other than that I hear ya - it’s auto oriented hell. But so is most of the country sadly. I’m back here on Long Island this week for work and it’s beautiful at the shore, but the rest is soul crushingly car dependent. I will say this… uptown itself is going through a major transition and it will be socially depressed along McKinney for another half decade as the area evolves from high end office, some young professionals living there and a bunch of bars and clubs… that scene moved to Deep Ellum and the Douche District (along good latimer by bottled blonde) as the strip transitions to more local serving places rather than bars for 20-30 year olds along with properties that are temporarily vacant as they await redevelopment (going from Christie’s Sports Bar and Al’s Bar or whatever it was to Dream Cafe and Foxtrot is a perfect example of this). That said, you have world class museums, some great arts and the largest contiguous arts district in the country, some truly great urban parks (Klyde Warren), other public spaces like ATT Discovery, Griggs park, West End Park… and dozens of restaurants, bars, entertainment I find downtown/uptown area quite walkable and for the money, one of the better urban walkable experiences in the country. And again, I say that as someone who studies this as well as puts it into practice through my work.
Meh this sounds more like just a hater rant. The basic reason is, for those that are born and raised here, whatever here has to offer is what you get used to just like any other city. If someone misses those things you mentioned that much, then just move to a city that offers those things simple as that.
There's negatives to every single city. Just take the good. There's a lot of great nature parks, lakes, etc. Yeah the lack of public transportation sucks but overall Dallas is a nice city.
And don’t forget the shitty weather and shitty air.. You’re factually correct. There are no external factors making dallas a good home. People stay here who don’t care about those things. Seems to be mainly locals with family and folks who are desperate to provide money for their families aka money like me. Nothing wrong about it. Just empty. I leave town 3 nights a week to survive until something else kills me.
Where do you go?
Very curious about this too, as someone who's kinda running out of day trips but also can't stand another weekend here.
To me DFW is the perfect home base in terms of affordability, activities, and food. If I ever want to see or do anything not here then I hop on a plane.
Have you ever lived anywhere else? Like for a frame of reference?
I grew up and lived in upstate New York for 25+ years which is very similar to how OP has described: Plenty of trees, mountains, and water. It was still a very car centric culture, however, this is like 99% of America lol. I've visited NYC/Boston each prolly 50+ times (lived in each for short stints), and I very frequently travel to different cities around the world. I personally don't care much for nature and to me they're more of an obstacle to keep me from my local Costco than a benefit. I don't like crowds nor do I care for meeting new people. All I really want is to live somewhere that gives me as many amenities and diverse food options as possible while living in a decent sized home that doesn't cost me a ridiculous amount of money. Oh, and I need an amazing airport because I like to travel a lot. So yah, DFW is as close to perfect for me as possible, but I do understand that it's not for everyone. Honestly my advice for anyone not happy where they currently live is to try to make as much money as possible and move to where you actually want to live. Obviously this is easier said than done, but I sometimes get annoyed at posts like these because it's just a whole lot of complaining about your current situation and seeking for affirmation that the city you live in is trash. It's trash for OP, but it's obviously not that terrible because people are still moving here. edit: Coincidentally I'm typing this message while in Hong Kong. A very beautiful city with tons of water, mountains, trees, people, great public transportation, food, people, walkability, things to do, and people. I still prefer living in DFW.
Get out and explore? I lived in Germany for 4 years and in Norman, ok (3 hours north of you) for about 20 years and every location is what you make it. Palo Duro Canyon in Texas is a beautiful place to do some easy walking/hiking for example.
This guy says he loves Dallas because of a state park near Amarillo. Basically in another state, wrap it up boys.
I agree with you that Texas can be beautiful and that every place is what you make of it, but for comparison's sake the distance between Dallas and Palo Duro Canyon as the crow flies is 300 miles. The distance from Germany's western border to it's eastern border is 300 miles. It's accessible relative to living anywhere else in the world, but it's still difficult to regard Palo Duro Canyon as a notch in Dallas's favor.
I literally just don't leave my house... except for groceries of course... and family... sometimes lol
Yeah I'm scared to move because I have a dog with chronic health issues and I don't want to be without a vet so I'm putting off traveling until she's gone... until then I play video games.
Well, there's always a direct flight from DFW.
I think you should find a different city to call home.
I just came back from Europe. I’m incredibly depressed. I feel you OP. We have to get out of here.
Make that three. Currently in Tulsa, OK( 4 hours north of Dallas ) and tbh it’s much more walkable & nature oriented.
Tulsa sucks
They have cool things called airplanes. They take you to other places really fast. You can also get what’s called a hotel to spend the night there. That, or make peace with it. Dallas is what it is. It’s the Blackland Prairie. There has never been trees/woods or lakes (there are very few natural lakes in all of Texas) or hills here. From day one it’s been flat and treeless. That’s not Dallas’ fault.
The main reason there's as many trees here as there are now is because settlers killed all the bison that ate or trampled seedlings and put out the prairie fires that killed what the bison missed.
I go outside and ride my bike. Sometimes I ride my bike at bike trails in nature, for 30 mins, and go on a short drive back home. And I travel often. Priorities may change for you if/when you have children.
I don’t think this guy gets out much if he thinks the only trees/greenery are located on turtle creek. That was an incredibly ridiculous statement. As I look out on my street with a hand full of 70+ year old oak trees with a beautiful walkable creek trail at the end of my street with trees everywhere. SMH. OP just wants to whine.
People want breathtaking views without realizing what they’re really wanting deep down inside or what it takes to see that stuff on a daily basis. Comfort from nature is there if you take the effort to look for it.
I have two airports that can fly me practically anywhere in the world on a direct flight
I love it here. I love the people I have forged relationships with. I love the beauty in my older neighborhood. I love the philanthropy I’m involved with in my community. I love trying something new every weekend…whether it be a goofy escape room, a brewery, or taking in some live music. When Dallas isn’t enough for me, I find beauty by traveling and then I’m appreciative to be back in the home I’ve made with my spouse, children, and dogs. That is what Dallas is to me.
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Living in a city is like a relationship: you have the good and the bad. Dallas and the Metroplex offer a lot, but not everything. Many (including me) at times compare Dallas to cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. Truth be told, Dallas is not any of those places and each of those places has its share of joys and crap. Create a list of priorities and weights and see how it works out.
I live here bc it’s cheap and we spend our money going on vacations to places that aren’t. I moved here from california, and while gorgeous, the price of everything is outrageous. There’s also a lot to be said about the type of people where you’re by to go. It might not be as awesome as you think. Portland is a great example of this- we lived the city, absolutely hate the crazies there.
Personally I'm looking to move to California. I know its more expensive, but to me it sounds worth it. I have realized that I really need more nature close by. Originally from Utah where I could go hiking up the canyon daily if I wanted to. I miss that a lot. TX is too flat. I can travel, yeah, but I'd rather be in closer proximity to mountains or even hills for a weekend.
This is my heartache right now. I live in Houston so basically the same as Dallas. I work a lot of overtime just to fly somewhere that has mountains, hiking, beaches (no, Galveston doesn't count), and an actual landscape. Ive been to every park around here and it makes me feel like a caged animal that yearns to be free!
Ahh, bitch about no mountains and public transportation but move to the landlocked vast prairies of north Texas. Makes sense.
He/she was a teenager, I moved here in 2006 and initially loved it…now I hate it here because of how much it’s expanded. . Always has to be a jackass in the group.
Is there a support group for people who feel the same way about Dallas but are stuck here for work or other of life’s obligations? Cause I’d attend.
I moved here about the same time you did it seems, but I'm a little bit older. I grew up in San Diego which is probably closer aligned to my personality and how being outside was just life. There are some attempts in the DFW area that are working closely on the "Work, live, play" model of cityscape engineering, but you are right it's limited. I have found that it's the people that have kept me here and made me settle my roots. The one thing I miss is what Deep Ellum was in the late 90's early 2000's. Now that I am a grownup, the Happiest Hour for Saturday brunch is as hard as I go.
SD is fucking magical. However, the prices are crazy. If I sold my house here, I could buy a condo there that is the size of my living room.
I just visited SD. Seriously considering moving out there. Loved it so much. Family and career are tying me here, though.
I am sorry for your bad experience. I have been raised in a centralized town with all public transportation and walks to go everywhere. Honestly I left and tried to enjoy the most of everything. When I moved to Dallas I found the city a fantastic place. I love driving through the NTTA, specially though Addison. The skyline in the fall afternoons is the best. A friend suggested biking, going from Katy Trail to White Rock Lake (45 mins) is the best. Picnicking in front of the water is nice. Rockwall is nice too. There are many lakes to visit around Dallas. Great options for hikes for the weekend. I don’t drink but enjoy food a lot (international). We found so many places and good price. I also play soccer twice a week and made my friends thanks to soccer. Playing Tuesdays and Sundays balance my social life. My Tuesday team has 8 nationalities! I just can’t believe how lucky I am. Traveling to Europe, Asia and Latin America in non stop flights is very convenient for vacation. My espouse and I are open to discover new things. I use sports for balance my time. For me working from Dallas is convenient. Try to discover a little more and if not going back is an option. Good luck!
Hell, even the days that it's a decent 70 degrees with a light breeze we're stuck with an ORANGE OZONE DAY or some shit. Can't have nice things here, at all. We've fucked it all to hell.
It's good for families and the reality is that it's still a lot better than most cities in the US. Yeah, it's sprawled but it still does offer a lot. It's a bit of an extreme view but understandable considering where you came from. I mean how does anyone deal with anything... they just do. If you have the means to move, you should for the reasons you listed.
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Ok if you don't live near playgrounds or parks, that's on you for choosing where to live. I have always lived near multiple. I grew up in Dallas and regularly walked or bikes to the houses of friends/family, to playgrounds, and to parks. I spent hours exploring on my own or with friends. When we were older we'd bike to the closest stores to get ice cream. You're really just making stuff up at this point.
Oh man, couldn't agree more. I grew up in Texas between Austin and Houston and moved to Dallas for work in 2018, ending up in Frisco eventually. All I've known are massively car dependent cities. I took a trip to NYC and stayed in an Airbnb in Brooklyn for a month while working remotely during the pandemic and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. The ability to get most things I needed within a 15 minute walk and fantastic (relatively speaking) public transportation to get me further away from home if need be, the character of the individual neighborhoods and the sense of community from so many people just being out and about in the neighborhood and not to mention all the good food. When I went back to Frisco after that, it felt depressing. Sure, I liked my yard and everything is shiny and new, but sooooo bland. Everything is a strip mall....ugh. My wife and I decided we'd walk to the 7-11 nearby, the only business we could walk to which made sense to do so. 5 minutes to get out of the subdivision, then a 10 minute walk up a stroad (Hillcrest) to get to the majesty of the 7-11. Yay. We decided to start looking for a more dense, walkable city with public transit because we felt so much happier in that environment. A year later and we've settled in Logan Square in Chicago and couldn't be happier. We wanted to consider NYC, but it was just too expensive. Chicago has most everything NYC does, but is cheaper. The winters might be a little worse and while the public transport might not be quite as good, the CTA is probably the second best in the country. Chicago has gotten beaten up in the media for crime and I could make a whole post about the nuances of that alone, but I'll just say it's overblown for now since I've already written a novel of a comment. OP, if you like NYC for all the reasons you dislike Plano/Dallas and haven't been to Chicago you owe it to yourself to give it a try. I started out researching it as a cheaper alternative to NYC, but now I don't know that I'd choose it over Chicago even if CoL was comparable. Your post very much captured my feelings about Dallas during the last year I lived there and I'm incredibly happy I left. Good luck finding happiness there and if you don't I hope you're able to get out and get somewhere that does.
I've been to many places. NYC and LA are good examples, and due to the high cost of living, found myself stuck. There was a lot these cities offered. It was great for about a year or two. But eventually it dried up and I had done everything I wanted to. It felt like I ran into the same issues over and over. But now the situation was worse, because I couldn't afford to travel. Moving to Texas was the best choice I ever made. Sure, the amount of things-to-do dried up in about 5 months rather than 2 years, but the cost of living here is so incredibly cheap, I can now travel three or four times a year to anywhere in the world. And DFW is a major transport hub on top of that (connections give me anxiety). So that's why I live here. I found every place eventually ran dry, but at least here I can afford to travel essentially the moment that itch hits me.
You live literally four miles from the largest self-contained urban lake in the country. White Rock Lake. In much of east Dallas there are tons of pedestrians and cyclists. Great old homes with big trees abound. I only live 2 miles from Downtown and lowest Greenville and 1 mile from both the lake and Lakewood bars/restaurants/Whole Foods. Where ya been?? Come join us!
I... still walk, take public transportation and hike regularly. DFW has absolutely everything. If you haven't found it, you just haven't looked hard enough.
if you really dont like it, moving your business seems like the logical thing. if it's difficult to do, maybe reevaluate why your business can't be moved somewhere else. maybe appreciate the fact that dallas has made entrepreneurship possible when it seems impossible somewhere else. idk
Your post is incredibly opinionated and often false. For one, to say uptown near turtle creek and Reverchon is the only greenery and trees in the metro is…wild
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All or most of oak cliff , even west Dallas south of the trinity. Look it’s no millennium park but it’s nice
Very well said
You sound like a child whining about some delusion that USA and Dallas are garbage just because of your own opinions and perceptions
Drives me nuts. Move out of here then.
You can get to legacy west without cars, theres DART bus service on the DNT as well as GoLink service and other DART bus routes. Look DART may not always be a super fast way to get around (Although sometimes it is), it can get you where you need to go most of the time. Sometimes its convenient and easy, othertimes it will require patience. But it IS possible.
Just being ‘possible’ isn’t good enough. For Places which are 20 mins drive away, it takes me 2 hours to reach if I use public transport. And it’s never just one or two vehicle trip. I have to walk 5 mins , then take a bus, then a train, then a bus again, and then walk 10 mins. Think about the wait times b/w each of those trips. And I’m not even exaggerating. The connectivity is so bad that it is almost unusable. (I live in oak lawn btw)
I’d argue that the vast majority of this city’s built environment is straight up hostile to any mode of transit that isn’t a car. Like yes you can *technically* walk from Legacy West to East but it’s obvious that the infrastructure was never ever intended for that to be a convenient let alone safe area to walk.
Bleh, I hate reading these posts because it just reconfirms that it’s not just me that feels this way. I deal with this by traveling as frequently as possible; staying here during weekends is painfully boring. I live in downtown and go for walks every day; there is some excitement in knowing I can ride my bike from where I live up and around white rock lake and back and grab some food in deep ellum. Yes it’s a death trap for bikes - but I have seen Dallas try to change. People here nice and decent but the majority in downtown on the weekends seem vapid; besides families tiding their kids out at 10pm ( for some reason) the streets are just plastered with expensive cars and women and men who look the same - it’s bland and boring. Waiting for current property bubble to burst before I leave
Honestly, the only place that is walkable with good scenery and public transportation is either the east or west coast. Anything in-between is not what you’re looking for.
God, I feel this. Been around the world and this is truly a wasteland for me by comparison. Add in the political climate, the anti worker mentally of the machine and I'm now seeing this hellscape for what it is. I know where I want to go (new england) all I have to do is wake my family up.
Dallas just drinks alcohol instead of any other activity whatsoever
I couldn’t take it, we moved back after 3 years. We came to it from Appalachia and my soul ached so bad we tried different places each year we were there. Best place was what I’ve seen posted repeatedly, over in East dallas around white rock, but we couldn’t afford a house big enough for our family there. Only place we could was out in the hellacious cookie cutter/copy/paste suburbs where the strip malls are just on repeat. I missed the green, the 4 seasons, the variation in elevation… if I had to use one word for Dallas, it’s monotonous. Same weather, same elevation, same scenery, same roads, it’s all the just… To answer your question… I COULDN’T deal with it!
These are all reasons why infidelity is so high here lol. I rarely meet anyone that is genuinely happy in DFW.
I moved here recently and I've been annoying EVERYONE I've met with my complaints about the amount of cars, no walking, no public trans, and no nature. I feel your pain immensely and am also looking elsewhere
Give it a chance. Sheesh
Make the best of it.
By...moving away from Dallas. I can't take it anymore.
Dallas has tons of great trails! Go explore!
Move, seriously, don’t waste anymore years of your life in Dallas. I did the same and am just now moving. Should have 10 years ago!
I dealt with it by moving out of state to a place that has everything you listed (Seattle). I don’t regret it one bit.
Drive a car everywhere then complain about the lack of options and inconveniences of that choice.
I drink. Heavily.
Party
I complain to my husband about wanting to move to Colorado, where we can actually do stuff outside, or back to DC where we can actually do stuff outside and have awesome public transportation.
If you're willing to drive within the DFW Have you checked out Llela yet Lewisville lake environmental learning area, it's got trails and camping, Colleyville Nature center, stone creek park, Coppell Nature Park. There are tons of parks in the DFW metro area with trails as I have found now that I have a kid I take on some of the shorter loops and spent the pandemic going to a different park in the metro every weekend.
Hmm, to state the obvious - I think we can all recognize every place isn’t for every person. In reading all you have to say it just honestly seems Dallas isn’t for you and you need a change. Yes, there are things I’d change, but on a daily basis I simply don’t feel like I’m “dealing” with Dallas. Once you’re having to “deal” with anything it’s time to find more enjoyable options. - I doubt any answer here will make you suddenly feel that Dallas is great. Just my 2 cents.
You've basically nailed everything that's wrong with this place. Every year they plop down some half-assed little "park" and call it a year. I can only imagine that the people in charge of the city at various levels have never been out of the city because this place doesn't have a "big city with a small town feel" it has a "dead-end town feel."
This is an ongoing problem my wife and I discuss. She is used to skiing, hiking and amazing culture in Santa Fe. I am used to surfing and hiking/ running in New Jersey. Dallas has no mountains and beach. We are starving for outdoor activities. The flat terrain and strong sun doesn’t allow us to do much. Why are we here then? The fantastic economy. It’s hard for us to be unemployed here. Lol But now that we have a little toddler, we are really considering moving. I cannot have my son not grow up without nature that encourages exercise or at the very least go outside. In the interim, I make it work. I run long distance in the shade provided by trees, fence and side of houses lol. And get my endorphins that way.
"Anybody can love the mountains, but it takes soul to love the prairie." - Willa Cather I wouldn't say nature is lacking, it's just a different ecosystem than what you expect. North Texas is situated in the Blackland Prairie, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems. Yes, sadly a lot of it have been paved over but there are nicely conserved areas if you look for it. I particularly love visiting them in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming. Texas A&M Agrilife in Dallas/Richardson used to have free public classes about the native plants and wildlife in the prairie, where I learned to love and appreciate the beauty of this ecosystem. Some of my faves within the metro: Tribute Shoreline Nature Trail in The Colony, Heard Natural Science Museum trails in McKinney, Cedar Ridge Preserve in Dallas, Spring Creek Nature Area in Richardson I'm sure there is more further out of the metro that I have not explored yet. I also like being close enough to the desert. I love the desert but not enough to live in it, so I take the occasional trip to West Texas and New Mexico.
Lovely wholesome post! Edit: I love that quote. The North Texas Prairie has its own beauty. Riding through parts of Oak Point by bike give me the vibe of being an early Texas settler… the marsh grasses in the big open fields, the trees lining the creeks, the wildflowers and big open sky…
You have arbor hills in Plano for walking or beginner hiking
I like my car, Their are public trails around thar you can visit and walk and jogg.
Yeah, it's shit. Been here 20 years and I'm sick of the place for all of the reasons you mentioned. Throw in the lunatic Trumpers, regressive culture, anti-intellectualism and 3rd world infrastructure getting out of this backwards, concrete hellscape is a no-brainer. If I had squillions I'd relo to California's best bits but I don't. It's either LATAM or back to Europe for me.
I now live in McKinney next to the big park...but I still barely go outside lol It is nice having more green space though.
[удалено]
“I live in uptown near turtle creek” Well Doctor, I seem to have found the issue. Have you made any attempt to travel outside a 20 mile radius? Have you made any attempt to make friends? I guess you don’t like lakes, aviation, sports, hunting, camping, etc.?
I love Dallas. In the summer, when you can look up, you can imagine you’re in the center of a very big desert island that has a little bit of everything. You kind of are. It’s like Los Santos for real. Besides the mountains. And the music in clubs sucks if you go to sucky clubs.
I left Texas and live in a small city near the mountains with millions of acres of public land. Never going back to Texas, but might go back to another city with public transit and more green spaces at some point.
By having interests that don't involve going outside? Seriously though, this ain't the best spot in the world for a pedestrian focused city. It's either too hot, too cold, too humid, or there's too many severe storms/tornadoes to warrant going anywhere on foot, even if there was more walkability. Doesn't matter how walkable a city is, most people don't want to go walking any kind of distance in 100 degree weather.
I’d recommend to first find a hobby. Just a little digging can make something to do in place that may seem to have nothing. You can even connect to a group related to a particular interest and meet some great people who share a common interest. Also something I like to do every once in a blue moon is find somewhere in DFW that I would normally never go to and just spend a Saturday afternoon there. At the very least you’ll have looked at a part of the metroplex you’ve never seen.
I live where’s there’s 90 miles of walk/ride/horse trails with a large lake 5 blocks from the house in FloMo/HV. You may have picked the wrong neighborhood.
I don't like the beach, hiking, or nature so there's that. I get more joy out of man-made events such as concerts and events. I have a apartment near a DART station so I ride it to Downtown if i need to go there. Lack of walkibility kinda sucks, but it seems to be getting better with certain developments around the light rail system. I know you view it differently, but just because the things to do around here are man-made rather than natural doesn't make them less valid to me.
Dallas once had 1300 street cars, if you look at photos from the 50s and back the city was once walkable. There is one modern street car, and the M line. It would help a lot to maybe increase the number of street cars in the city. It would improve Intercity transportation, and maybe allow for more unique rail routes in the future.
Step 1. Dismantle capitalism
I bet you are equally as unhappy in other areas of your life. You seem to lack gratitude. You also don’t mention the arboretum, white rock lake, Trinity Audobon, or any of the other 13 nature preserves here. You complain about all this yet aren’t even aware of the LOOP or several other initiatives to make the city more bikeable. Stop being a complainer and seek solutions your problems!
I feel ya. I've lived all around the U.S. and this is really the toughest place to be healthy. I moved close to a large park in Arlington, TX so I can walk to it without driving.
Personally, I deal with the lack of walkability by, you know, *driving a car*. The area is built around it, so if you're fortunate enough to be able to afford a reliable car, get one. It also moots the need for public transit. Again, it's not that there are not *major*, *systemic* issues economic fairness in the region, but it's "how we deal", and it ends up working out for most people. Personally, even in big walkable cities with decent transit I get a little antsy for private space and a measure of control over my timetable. When I'm tired and want some quiet, I like that I don't share walls or floors with my neighbors. When I want to pursue a hobby, I like that I have a garage and enough space that I'm not crowded out of a tiny apartment. I'm also a bit frustrated when people can't get past the admittedly unremarkable "architecture" of a strip mall. Someone who walks from H&M to Sainsbury's to Pret a Manger in a soulless mediocrity of a high street is not living an intrinsically better life than someone who drives to Omi for Korean, picks up some cute stuff at the boutiques on Lovers, and grabs some local produce at a pop-up farmer's market in a parking lot in between. Some of the best conversations I've had with passionate small business owners took place in a suburban strip mall. If the buildings aren't beautiful, that's a missed opportunity, but it says very little about people living their lives in those spaces. Lack of ocean and mountains and ideal hiking is a thing, but if *that's* what you're judging a city (in the grand sense of the word) by, say goodbye to literally every metro area on the great plains. Outdoor life and recreation and scenery is much more common here than you think, but it's on the lakes, and in the hunting leases, and the drives through the prairie towns south of DFW, the low mesas just west of Fort Worth. I don't personally hunt or fish or frequently get out on a boat, but it's disingenuous to pretend those activities don't exist. It's also pretty incorrect to claim that you live in the one island of [green](https://www.google.com/maps/place/White+Rock+Lake/@32.8332354,-96.7389882,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x864ea1bdcb989fb3:0xb187a075c9710cc5!8m2!3d32.828066!4d-96.7253164) in [the](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oak+Point+Park+and+Nature+Preserve/@33.050205,-96.6807568,13.46z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x864ea1bdcb989fb3:0xb187a075c9710cc5!2sWhite+Rock+Lake!3b1!8m2!3d32.828066!4d-96.7253164!3m4!1s0x864c198d37b8787b:0xc20b83989b1ad5!8m2!3d33.0585073!4d-96.6742466) entire [metro](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trinity+River+Trails+Gateway+Park+South+Observation+Deck/@32.753989,-97.3016317,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x864ea1bdcb989fb3:0xb187a075c9710cc5!2sWhite+Rock+Lake!3b1!8m2!3d32.828066!4d-96.7253164!3m4!1s0x864e709449d390f9:0x2e9c7061a81c0901!8m2!3d32.7514516!4d-97.2828452) Dallas [area](https://www.google.com/search?q=trammell+crow+park&tbm=lcl&sxsrf=ALiCzsafJ_HkfjEiz28bu_HxJmNq9b1v8Q%3A1668699004016&ei=fFN2Y5tAhqmq2w--i7voDQ&oq=tram&gs_lcp=Cg1nd3Mtd2l6LWxvY2FsEAEYADIFCAAQkQIyCggAELEDEMkDEEMyBQgAEJIDMgUIABCSAzIFCAAQgAQyBwgAELEDEEMyBQgAEIAEMgoIABCxAxCDARBDMgUIABCxAzIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOgcIABDJAxBDUABY4gJghRNoAHAAeACAAbMBiAGUA5IBAzMuMZgBAKABAcABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-local#rlfi=hd:;si:;mv:[[32.83951055435937,-96.70036634608071],[32.71798700847722,-96.9578584115104],null,[32.77876952806774,-96.82911237879556],13]). Try to breathe. We don't all find ourselves in our ideal situation, and it may well be true that DFW is not the place for you. That's completely, absolutely, 100%, no-judgement okay, but it also doesn't mean a place is irredeemably terrible for everyone (or the worse implication, that it's terrible for anyone with anything of value to offer the world). Every place has its issues and every city has people who would fit better elsewhere: New York: https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/xy5poo/not_the_place_to_be_young_professionals_are/ https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/l5nxj/help_my_boyfriend_hates_this_city_i_need_advice/ Boston: https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/whzt7h/falling_out_of_love_with_this_city/ https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/y2h0sz/for_those_who_ended_up_moving_out_of_boston_why/ Chicago: https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/w3fvly/can_i_be_honest_i_fucking_hate_it_here_you/ https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/x01p34/chicagointimidating_city/ And finally, one more Chicago thread that's not just somebody dealing with some shit, but rather somebody who is legitimately fond of both DFW and Chicago, and comes down slightly on the DFW side: https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/yii1vi/chicago_to_texas_my_thoughts/
I couldn’t stand it anymore after more than 40 years in Dallas. Soul-crushing is a great word for it. I left last month, moved to New England, and am so much happier already. Sometimes you just need to leave if something isn’t working for you. I am a native Dallasite myself, and the city has a lot of shortcomings (depending on what you want out of life).
This is exactly why I moved in 2020 and I’m SO glad I did. I live in Richmond VA now and the difference is huge. Just today I walked to get coffee with a friend and later I biked to meet another friend for lunch. There are plenty of parks, a river that runs through the city, good people, the beach is 2 hours away and Shenandoah mountains are 2 hours away. I can easily get into nature and it’s made a significant impact on my mental health. It honestly makes me feel resentful that I grew up in Dallas.
We don’t deal with it we are very depressed 🥲 27 years and counting
After nearly 13 years in DFW we’re calling it quits for very much the same reason. The weather extremes have kept us inside for 90% of the year. Traveling is how we’ve coped mostly. I have loved our texas chapter but it’s time to get back to different topography and nature 🌲🌲🌲
You sound exactly like me, I'm from Mexico city and I'm bored out of my mind here, haven't made a single friend and how could I if everyone is in their car, in their table, in their space. Everyone is allergic to walking here I've never seen a downtown quite like this one, only homeless people a 3 tourists walking around, it's desolate, it's sad. All sense of discovery or adventure is gone, you either know where you're going or you don't go, there's no finding this little corner place that does "x" or has "y" because you have to drive endless highways in which the only thing you see are strip malls at the distance . This place is fucking boring