If you plan to visit Dallas Texas, you will be in for a few pleasant surprises. With a number of world-class attractions for the visitor, this is a city has something that will appeal to the entire family.

The Dallas Arboretum is a delightfully serene spot to spend the day. It is a family place, with beautiful gardens for picnic lunches, and the kids will enjoy the famous 'frog fountains' and tossing coins into wishing wells. Waterfalls, a peaceful ambience and fragrant blossoms make this a favorite stop for tourists.

No trip to Dallas would be complete without paying homage to former President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in Dallas' Deeley Plaza on November 22, 1963. Here, at the 9,000 square foot Sixth Floor Museum, you will find a range of interpretive displays and artifacts that tell the story of the life, death and legacy of JFK, including hundreds of photographs and six documentary films. Before leaving this area, be sure to stop and see the John F. Kennedy Memorial, a modern, open-roofed monument where visitors still leave notes and flowers.

Known for being a sports lovers' town, Dallas boasts a team in every major sports league, but they are best known for their football team, the Dallas Cowboys. Tickets to Cowboys game are always a treat for sports fans, or you could pay a visit to the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum in Arlington. This tribute to America's national pastime is open all year-round, and is a great find for any sports fan.

Other attractions include the Dallas Zoo and the Dallas World Aquarium. The Zoo is enormously entertaining; with over 95 acres and thousands of animals to explore. And don't miss the 22,000-gallon tunnel at the Dallas World Aquarium, with its panoramic view of aquatic reef life serving as its centerpiece.

The International Museum of Cultures (IMC) is a unique cultural anthropology museum, located in Southeast Dallas that features exhibits about contemporary cultures from around the world.

After a day of museum and zoo-hopping, satisfy your need for speed at Speedzone. This fun part, centered on the turbo-charged excitement of high speed dragster racing and go-carting, features three high speed tracks, a super-loop roller-coaster, a café, and lots of adventurous action games in Electric Alley

For slightly less daring entertainment, check out The Dallas Symphony, the eighth oldest orchestra in the country. This highly regarded 100-piece ensemble calls the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center home, and is often accompanied by the Dallas Symphony Chorus.

Dallas boasts some truly grand hotels, with a particular favorite being the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. The Rosewood Mansion retains the charming ambience of a private Southern home, but also provides the 5-Star services its clients have come to expect. A big draw for this hotel is its signature restaurant; the Mansion on Turtle Creek, featuring a warmly furnished dining area with an enclosed veranda. Fans of the Mansion return to this Dallas favorite for dishes like rack of lamb crusted with garlic, hazelnuts and herbs, or loin of venison with white polenta.

Another extraordinary hotel is the Hotel ZaZa, a luxury boutique hotel unlike any other; this uptown gem is decadent in style. The Warwick Melrose Hotel has been a historic Dallas Landmark since 1924, with luxury guestrooms offering dramatic views of the city.