July 25, 2017
Arlington is a great example of Texas being about big, lager than life things. In the city of Arlington the sports franchises are big, the theme parks are wild and the music is loud. If you are looking for a quaint getaway then Arlington is not the place but if you are looking for a city with a Texan sized attitude then Arlington can (almost) match Dallas and Fort Worth.
Here are the best things to do in Arlington:
Get your thrills at Six Flags Over Texas
This massive amusement park attracts visitors around the country during their time spent in Arlington and in the surrounding state of Texas. Thrill rides include two themed around Batman and a superman water ride which is guaranteed to leave you soaked. There are also plenty of rides to cater for the less adventurous visitor to the park. As with all Six Flags parks, there are plenty of places to eat throughout the park as well as live entertainment and shopping.
Visit the home of the Dallas Cowboys
Whether or not you like American Football, and whether or not you support the Dallas Cowboys, you should still have a look at the AT&T Stadium during your time in Arlington. The stadium is an incredible feat of architecture. It is the largest domed structure in the world and has a capacity of over 100,000 fans. Throughout the year the stadium hosts some of the most popular performers from around the world (at the time of writing Beyonce is about to perform live here). Available tours include exploring the various artwork that covers the walls of the stadium and VIP guided tours.
Tour Globe Life Park
Although not as much of an architectural masterpiece as the AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park is more iconic. The ballpark is home to the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball Franchise and has also been the venue for two World Series Championships as well as the all star game in 1995. Tours of the stadium include access to backstage areas such as batting cages and press box and take place everyday in the off season.
Learn about the history of bowling
The Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame was relocated to Arlington from Missouri in 2008. It may not sound like an attraction for those of us who don’t enjoy bowling but you may well be surprised by what is on offer here. For starters, the museum explores history from 5,000 years ago when, you may be surprised to know, the first evidence of the sport dates from. As well as this, the museum explores the founding fathers of the game as well as what the coming years may entail for the sport.
Visit the Arlington Convention Center
The number 1 event and convention center in Arlington and the state of Texas is the Arlington Convention Center. The center is a meeting and exhibit space that regularly hosts a wide range of events and has something to appeal to everybody. The center has over 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. Typical conventions include car shows, travel shows and home conventions as well as the more unusual trading card and comic book conventions.
Shop ’til you drop at The Parks at Arlington
The Parks at Arlington opened in 1988 and is situated in South Arlington. The mall was renovated in 1996 and now looks the part in the 21st Century. The mall contains lots of shops, some of which are one off boutiques others which are large chains. There are also plenty of places to eat and drink within the mall. Opening hours vary from shop to shop but the mall itself is open from 10 in the morning until 9 at night.
Go wood skating
It may not sound as romantic as ice skating but the Arlington Skatium is a great place to try roller skating on a hardwood floor. The Skatium can host parties and lessons for groups of people as well as pubic free skating sessions. Check the Skatium’s website for details on classes and cost of entrance.
Catch a performance at Theater Arlington
Opened in 1973, the Theater Arlington was the city’s first professional theater venue. As well as performances of both well known and lesser known shows, the theater conducts various acting classes for novices and seasoned veterans alike. Performances this season include Calender Girls and My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Throughout the season their are also several youth productions.
Become an Alley Cat
If the Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame has inspired you to go bowling, then you will not find a better place the Alley Cats. It is the only Arlington attraction that is open all year round, 365 days, and has a full service bar and its own catering company providing quality “bowling alley” food. Alley Cats is not just any bowling alley and aside from having a game, you can bowl in the dark, climb a climbing wall and watch informational videos on some of the huge state of the art screens in the facility.
Pop into Dave and Busters
Dave and Busters is a place to have fun. This bar stocks a vast collection of Midway games for all ages worth a combined total in excess of $1,000,000. The collection of games on offer tops 200 and you don’t need to worry about coins or cash as they use the Dave and Busters Power Card. The card allows you to save reward points whilst playing which can be redeemed against money saving offers.
