“I wasn’t born here, but I got here as soon as I could” is a popular saying around here about Texas, and the same thing can be said about Dallas – Fort Worth! Most people love the vibrancy of the area, and get double the fun by living in the Metroplex where there is not one, but two dynamic and diverse cities. If you were raised here, you’ll always have special memories of the heart of Texas, even if you roam far from home. Here are 21 reasons to love Dallas – Fort Worth:
- Going to Six Flags Over Texas… often!
Bryan Kemp/Flickr
Michael Wallace/Flickr From school outings to Battle of the Bands to young-love date nights, this is the place to go when growing up in Dallas - Fort Worth. It doesn’t matter if you have to wait for the rides. Six Flags is the ultimate way to spend a day with friends and family.
- Discovering a love of chips and salsa.
Steve Snodgrass/Flickr It’s not Tex Mex if the restaurant doesn’t serve unlimited chips and salsa when you are seated. If you have to pay for it, well then just get up and leave because you just know the rest of the dinner will only be downhill from there.
- Waiting for that never-gonna-happen snow day.
greg westfall/Flickr We do, on rare occasion have an O.M.G. ice day. When it ices, the entire Metroplex shuts down. Nobody knows how to drive on this stuff and cities are ill-prepared to sand our massive highway systems, so we just wait it out. The temp will go back to the 60s in a few short days, anyway.
- Learning to waterski.
Trevor Hunter/Flickr With 13 lakes in the area, water sports are just a part of growing up. Someone is bound to have a boat, so suffering the indignity of spread-eagling on waterskis is just a rite of passage. We have all survived a high-speed faceplant or two (or twelve). Making a fool of yourself on a local lake is somewhat of a tradition.
- Experiencing high school homecoming.
Flickr / erin english You know it’s a big deal when mums are sold at every single grocery stores around here.
- Going to the State Fair of Texas every year.
Glenn Harper/Flickr All Texans must ride “Texas Star” at least once per year. It’s the law.
Todd Carr/Flickr So is eating a Fletcher’s corny dog while posing with Big Tex.
- Being a die-hard Dallas Cowboys football fan…
Scott Ellis/Flickr They are America’s team, after all! We’ll proudly wear our Cowboys blue and silver gear no matter where we are.
- A Texas Stars ice hockey fan…
Andy/Flickr Our wardrobes are filled with Victory green, black, and white.
- A Dallas Mavericks basketball fan…
Danny Bollinger/Flickr Royal blue looks lovely on us.
- A Texas Rangers baseball fan…
Dave Hensley/Flickr As does good ol’ red, white, and blue.
- And, of course, a NASCAR fan.
Flickr / rgbRandomizer Vroom! Vroom!
- Wearing shorts on Christmas Day.
ClaraDon/Flickr It doesn’t ALWAYS happen…. sometimes you need pants and closed-toe shoes. Jackets are seldom required, but most of us have one anyway. Just in case…
- Going to Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas.
Susan Smith/Flickr
Adam Simmons/Flickr To marvel at the view from the Observation Tower.
- Having your photo taken in the field of Texas bluebonnets sprinkled in with Indian Paintbrush in the springtime.
Jerry and Pat Donaho/Flickr Is there anything more carefree than skipping through a field of flowers?
- Watching a rodeo - preferably the nationally-ranked Texas Stock Show & Rodeo in Fort Worth.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr And marveling at the rodeo arena at Will Rogers Coliseum. Yeehaw!
- Participating in Friday Night Lights was a significant part of your Texas high school experience.
You Belong In Longmont/Flickr
Jason St Peter/Flickr Whether as a football player, drill team member, cheerleader, band member, spirit leader, athletic trainer, or simply a student supporter, you’ve got go to every home football game and pep rallies beforehand.
- Learning about Dealey Plaza and what the “X” on the road signifies.
Prince Roy/Flickr A trip to downtown Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum, and walking along the grassy knoll were all important history lessons about President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas in 1963.
- Camping under the starry skies of Texas.
Robert Hensley/Flickr Gazing upon the expansive night sky is just something that calls to you. Usually, these outings include grilling food and outdoor fires for s’mores.
- Playing in the water at the Fort Worth Water Gardens … even though you weren’t supposed to.
Terry Robinson/Flickr It’s just too enticing to resist…
- Posing in shorts and cowboy boots…
Floris Oosterveld/Flickr … and the obligatory cowboy hat. If you were raised in the Dallas - Fort Worth area, you have at least one photo of yourself wearing the Wild West or Southern chic garb. Admit it. We all do.
- Taking sides on which is better… Dallas or Fort Worth.
Maciej Kraus/Flickr While the area as a whole is a unified “Metroplex,” everyone has their own opinions about which city they best associate with. There’s no wrong answer… but it makes for great debates.
How many of these totally Dallas – Fort Worth things can you admit to? No judgments here – we’ve done them all! What other reasons make the Metroplex home, no matter how far you roam? Let us know in the comments!
Bryan Kemp/Flickr
Michael Wallace/Flickr
From school outings to Battle of the Bands to young-love date nights, this is the place to go when growing up in Dallas - Fort Worth. It doesn’t matter if you have to wait for the rides. Six Flags is the ultimate way to spend a day with friends and family.
Steve Snodgrass/Flickr
It’s not Tex Mex if the restaurant doesn’t serve unlimited chips and salsa when you are seated. If you have to pay for it, well then just get up and leave because you just know the rest of the dinner will only be downhill from there.
greg westfall/Flickr
We do, on rare occasion have an O.M.G. ice day. When it ices, the entire Metroplex shuts down. Nobody knows how to drive on this stuff and cities are ill-prepared to sand our massive highway systems, so we just wait it out. The temp will go back to the 60s in a few short days, anyway.
Trevor Hunter/Flickr
With 13 lakes in the area, water sports are just a part of growing up. Someone is bound to have a boat, so suffering the indignity of spread-eagling on waterskis is just a rite of passage. We have all survived a high-speed faceplant or two (or twelve). Making a fool of yourself on a local lake is somewhat of a tradition.
Flickr / erin english
You know it’s a big deal when mums are sold at every single grocery stores around here.
Glenn Harper/Flickr
All Texans must ride “Texas Star” at least once per year. It’s the law.
Todd Carr/Flickr
So is eating a Fletcher’s corny dog while posing with Big Tex.
Scott Ellis/Flickr
They are America’s team, after all! We’ll proudly wear our Cowboys blue and silver gear no matter where we are.
Andy/Flickr
Our wardrobes are filled with Victory green, black, and white.
Danny Bollinger/Flickr
Royal blue looks lovely on us.
Dave Hensley/Flickr
As does good ol’ red, white, and blue.
Flickr / rgbRandomizer
Vroom! Vroom!
ClaraDon/Flickr
It doesn’t ALWAYS happen…. sometimes you need pants and closed-toe shoes. Jackets are seldom required, but most of us have one anyway. Just in case…
Susan Smith/Flickr
Adam Simmons/Flickr
To marvel at the view from the Observation Tower.
Jerry and Pat Donaho/Flickr
Is there anything more carefree than skipping through a field of flowers?
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
And marveling at the rodeo arena at Will Rogers Coliseum. Yeehaw!
You Belong In Longmont/Flickr
Jason St Peter/Flickr
Whether as a football player, drill team member, cheerleader, band member, spirit leader, athletic trainer, or simply a student supporter, you’ve got go to every home football game and pep rallies beforehand.
Prince Roy/Flickr
A trip to downtown Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum, and walking along the grassy knoll were all important history lessons about President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas in 1963.
Robert Hensley/Flickr
Gazing upon the expansive night sky is just something that calls to you. Usually, these outings include grilling food and outdoor fires for s’mores.
Terry Robinson/Flickr
It’s just too enticing to resist…
Floris Oosterveld/Flickr
… and the obligatory cowboy hat. If you were raised in the Dallas - Fort Worth area, you have at least one photo of yourself wearing the Wild West or Southern chic garb. Admit it. We all do.
Maciej Kraus/Flickr
While the area as a whole is a unified “Metroplex,” everyone has their own opinions about which city they best associate with. There’s no wrong answer… but it makes for great debates.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
