How to best experience Dallas for the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff game

Yesterday at 10:30 AM

We break down everything you need to know if you are traveling to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl.

As we rapidly approach Thanksgiving, the college football regular season is starting to wind down, although the battle for postseason positioning is just ramping up. While much of the focus is on the first year with an expanded College Football Playoff, there's a handful of bowl games that can take fans and football junkies into the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.

Whether it's the First Responders Bowl in Dallas, the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, the Frisco Bowl in (spoiler alert) Frisco, or the famed Cotton Bowl, which now is actually played in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the area has plenty to offer the people who travel there outside of the destination football games.

Food

The food scene in Dallas is properly hyped up by those who live there. With the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex being the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in the entire country, and the city of Dallas specifically undergoing a massive uptick in diversity over the last five years, there's a long list of dining options in the area.

First things first, barbecue is king in Dallas. People in Memphis, Kansas City, or the Tidewater region may disagree, but you'll find the best barbecue in Dallas. It's hard to go wrong with any barbecue place in Dallas, but some of the best places I've been to include Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum, Hurtado in both Arlington and and Fort Worth, and food truck Dean's Smokin' BBQ.

Another popular cuisine is Tex-Mex, a staple all throughout Texas but essential in Dallas. Mariano's Hacienda, located in Arlington and Dallas, and La Hacienda Ranch in Frisco are both owned by the same parent company and stand out as the top shelf of delicious Tex-Mex. Odelay Tex Mex is a newer spot in Dallas that's quickly cemented itself as a great spot with good food and a robust happy hour menu.

If you're looking for more traditional, borderline fancy spots to dine at, there are lots of options. Momo Italian Kitchen and Campisi's offer up delectable Italian food with flare. The Saint in Deep Ellum, Stillwell's within the swanky Hotel Swexan, and Perry's all have some of the best steak you'll ever sink your teeth into, as you'd expect from Texas.

Dallas also has a wide array of cuisines from around the world. Ari Korean BBQ offers both high quality food and experience; Desta Ethiopian Restaurant has received rave reviews from everyone I know; Sanjh Restaurant & Bar, just outside of Dallas proper, has been at the forefront of a growing Indian food market in the metroplex; and Dragon House in SouthLake features authentic, handmade dumplings and noodles.

Drink

As you would expect from such a big area, the night life in Dallas is littered with options. As someone who struggles to stay up past 11pm when I'm not watching football, I can't claim to be the ultimate expert in this area but I know enough to be dangerous when giving recommendations.

The Deep Ellum district is especially good for bar-hopping, as the options are all top notch and in walking distance of one another. A few favorites in Deep Ellum include Adair's, Dot's Hop House & Cocktail Courtyard, Ruins, and Whiskeys.

Those who want some music with their beverage can check out RL Blue's Palace No. 2, Revelers Hall, and Ladylove Lounge & Sound. That said, it's not too hard to find a good bar with some cowboy belting out some good ol' country tunes, even if it's not somewhere that advertises as a music bar.

While the night life is fun, some of us need a different kind of liquid courage in the mornings too: coffee. There's no shortage of good coffee in the metroplex, either. La La Land Kind Cafe has a good variety of options, especially for those who may not use traditional milks. Full City Rooster is perfect for the coffee snobs out there (such as yours truly). Daily Grinds in Frisco has a great selection of pastries, made fresh daily, to pair with your delicious coffee. And for those who need caffeine on the go, Summer Moon is a rapidly growing Texas-based chain that will have you hooked instantly.

Attractions

Depending on how long you're staying in the area for whichever bowl game brings you to town, there are some attractions that absolutely have to be checked out while you're here. The Stockyards in Fort Worth are a popular tourist attraction, as is The Star in Frisco, where you can tour the training facility of the Dallas Cowboys and possibly even run into players.

Outdoorsy people will love the massive Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. History buffs will appreciate the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. The Dallas Zoo is one of the largest zoo's in the country (everything is bigger in Texas, of course), while the Dallas Museum of Art has an ever-changing selection of exhibits to peruse through.

If you really want to get your adrenaline pumping, Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington will get the job done and lays claim to being the first Six Flags amusement park ever. You may also check to see if the Dallas Mavericks or Dallas Stars are playing while you're in town.