Downtown Dallas has a lot to offer these days--living, working, shopping, and dining. This short walking tour of downtown Dallas will take about forty-five minutes if walked straight through, but stopping to check out the shops and restaurants is more fun. Most of downtown is wheelchair-accessible, but with facelifts for buildings and minor street construction, moving around is sometimes a little tricky.
Built in 1916 to consolidate all the train traffic in Dallas, Union Station is once again the major hub for passenger train traffic. Arrive here on DART's red or blue lines from Plano, Garland, or stations inside Dallas or on the Trinity Railway Express from Fort Worth and cities in between.
After getting off the train, you are facing the back of Union Station. Behind you and up above is Reunion Tower, with a viewing platform and a revolving restaurant and cocktail lounge. The Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel is the large stair-stepped glass building next to it.
Walk through Union Station. Everyone else will be doing this, so just follow the crowd. The large lobby contains an Amtrak counter and numerous benches for departing passengers. Look up to see intricate chandeliers. Restrooms are to the right, near the vending machines.
Exit the front doors and turn left to cross the street at the intersection of Houston Street and Young Street. Houston Street runs in front of Union Station.
Across the street from Union Station is Ferris Plaza. It takes up the entire city block and was originally designed by George Dahl and built in 1925.