Dallas is the most mythical city in Texas, with a past and present rich in all the stuff American legends are made of. The 'Big D' is famous for its contributions to popular culture - from the Dallas Cowboys football team and its cheerleaders to the long-running Dallas television series. Dallas is endlessly occupied with growth and status; it's a city known for its business acumen (especially in banking), its restaurants and its shopping. In the materially minded USA, Dallas stands tall as a paragon of conspicuous consumption.

But the city has its surprises, and they're not hard to find: a tiny sliver of downtown set aside to promote the ideal of gratitude, not greed; a stirring museum devoted to one of the greatest tragedies in US history, JFK's assassination; and acres of parks providing oases of relaxation and recreation.