A growing number of bronze, larger-than-life steers and their cowboy escorts move along Pioneer Plaza, adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center. This bronze cattle drive is located on the actual Shawnee Trail Drive of the 1850s and is the largest bronze monument of its kind in the world.

Where: Downtown, Young and Griffin Streets

Discover more than 30 distinctive sculptures on the sidewalks of downtown. Along with pieces from the 19th century, there are contemporary works, including a painter capturing magnificent Dallas on canvas.

Enjoy the Sculpture Garden at the base of the statuesque Trammell Crow Center in downtown. More than 20 statues from the French masters, including Rodin, reside in this peaceful setting with cascading waters and beautiful gardens.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Downtown, 2010 Flora St., 214-979-6430

Dallas' popular Uptown District is exploding with new residential and retail centers, with a variety of elements coming together for a shopping, dining, and entertainment experience that will appeal to all types of tastes.

Where: Uptown, McKinney Avenue and Routh Street, 214-922-9622

Nine bronze, beautiful and larger-than-life mustangs splash their way across a stream cut through the stone and granite plaza of Williams Square. Stroll across the plaza and visit the Mustangs of Las Colinas Sculpture & Exhibit, which includes an informative 20-minute film about mustangs and the making of this breathtaking sculpture.

When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays
Where: O'Connor Road, north of Texas 114, 972-869-9047

http://www.mustangsoflascolinas.com/

The acoustically renowned Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, designed by I.M. Pei, is yours to tour on select Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. (Please call in advance for monthly tour schedule, as tours are subject to change with rehearsals and performances.) Discover the 4,535 pipes on the Herman W. Lay Family Organ–the $1.36 million organ crafted by C.B. Fisk Inc., which is truly an acoustical wonder!

Enthusiastic and experienced volunteer docents are available to welcome visitors, school groups, conventions and families for one-hour tours detailing points of interest throughout the Meyerson. Once a month, schedule permitting, a 30-minute organ demonstration of the Lay Family Concert Organ is presented, followed by a tour of the Center.

Where: Downtown, 2301 Flora St., 214-670-3600

Read all about it at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. This public library includes one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed in 1776. William Shakespeare's First Folio of Comedies, Histories & Tragedies is also on permanent display. The library's Children Center is one of the largest in the country.

When: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays
Where: Downtown, 1515 Young St., 214-670-1700

The Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University has the most comprehensive collection from the Spanish masters outside of Spain. There are also special exhibitions, a sculpture garden and the tree-lined SMU campus is an eye-catcher itself. Call about special exhibits.

When: After 5 p.m. Thursdays
Where: 5900 Bishop Blvd., 214-768-2516

Take a walk through history and experience a dream that began more than three decades ago when Mary Kay set out to build a company that would give women unlimited opportunities to achieve success in every aspect of their lives. During your visit, you'll relive the rich heritage of the company and see how it progressed from a tiny storefront to the amazing success that it is today. Celebrate each step in the fulfillment of one woman's dream and the marvelous achievements of women who believe in it.

When: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays, reservations required
Where: 16251 N. Dallas Parkway, 972-687-5720

Dallas is home to some scenic and captivating, beautiful and breathtaking neighborhood communities. Walk, ride or drive around Turtle Creek and adjoining Highland Park, and don't miss the historic homes of Swiss Avenue (including the Wilson Block Historic District), Munger Place and other lovely locales. Featured: gorgeous parks, lakes and landscapes.

Call for public tours: (214) 821-3290

Dallas features more than 20,000 park acres including 18 lakes with 4,400 surface acres of water at 17 park sites and 17,196 acres of greenbelt/park land. To learn more about the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department, call 214-670-4100. And be sure to ask about The Ultimate Adventure5, a free booklet highlighting the details of all the leisure and recreational services Dallas offers.

Thanks-Giving Square – private, interfaith and educational – welcomes people of all nations, cultures and religious traditions. A unique chapel and exhibition promoting a spirit of Thanksgiving featuring a meditation garden, bells and fountains make this the "Home of American Thanksgiving."

When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
Where: Downtown, Pacific, Bryan and Ervay Streets, 214-969-1977

The eight museums of Fair Park offer an exceptional variety all in one location near downtown. Admission is charged at some but quite a few are free. Donations are accepted. Those that offer free admission include:

(exception - special exhibitions), noon-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. 214-565-9026.

(exception-special exhibitions), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. 214-421-4500

Dallas' City Hall is a site to see. Famed architect I.M. Pei designed the inverted-wedge shaped building, which is one of the most distinctive structures in all of Dallas. The plaza is home to one of Henry Moore's largest bronze sculptures.

Where: Downtown, 1500 Marilla St., 214-670-3687

The looking is free, but the buying may be hard to resist! Visit many of the city's fine centers and stores such as the renowned Galleria Dallas – modeled after Milan's fashion forward masterpiece, NorthPark Center – where you can enjoy more than 235 world-class specialty stores and restaurants – and Highland Park Village – the first planned shopping center in the United States.

Relive the city's past with a visit to the Old Red Courthouse, site of the Dallas Tourist Information Center in the Downtown Historic District. The Center features touch-screen information stations, Internet access stations, a viewing room to see Dallas videos and a full staff available every day of the week. Around the corner, you will find John Neely Bryan's Cabin, the reconstructed home of Dallas' founder. Just a stroll away is the popular West End, Dealey Plaza and the DART Light Rail.

Where: The Downtown Historic District is in the block enclosed by Market, Elm, Commerce and Houston Streets, 214-571-1301

Dallas pays homage to one of its darkest times, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated during his 1963 visit. Designed by Kennedy family friend Philip Johnson, the John F. Kennedy Memorial is an open-roofed, concrete-walled monument symbolic of an open tomb. It is not unusual to find flowers and notes placed here. Nearby, the infamous School Book Depository and "grassy knoll" have not changed at all - part of the historic nature of the museum and area - since that devastating day in our nation's history.

Where: Downtown, Main and Houston Streets

Take to the water and leave your worries in your wake. Dallas offers many area lakes – 63 within 100 miles of Dallas. Dallas' largest and most popular lakes offer endless recreational opportunities including fishing, sailing and canoeing; trails for hiking and biking; and playgrounds and facilities for picnicking. (Some parks charge a small entrance fee.)

214-670-4100

Take a one-hour, guided walking tour of the Dallas Arts District, where trained docents lead you through the largest contiguous urban arts area in the country. Reservations requested.

When: 10:30 a.m. first Saturday each month
Where: Arts District Friends, 2010 Flora Street, 214-744-6642

The Farmers Branch Historical Park is home to several historic structures from the 1840s to the 1940s. Structures include log cabins, the oldest stone structure on its original foundation in North Texas and a 1930s gas station. Tours are free; interactive programs are available.

When: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and noon-6 p.m. weekends
972-406-0184

What was once a warehouse and an old candy and cracker factory has been reborn into a tourist's delight. Downtown's West End Historic District, great for browsers, features a plethora of specialty shops, plus a variety of restaurants and clubs. Summertime nights in the district are often filled with the sound of free concerts.

Where: Downtown/Market and Munger Streets
Event hotline: 214-741-7185 or 214-748-4801

From the observation area known as Founders Plaza at DFW International Airport, you'll see some of the 2,300 daily takeoffs and landings from one of the world's busiest airports. Witness winged wonders in this area that features long-distance binoculars, graph board to help you identify the aircraft, speaker system featuring audio straight from the control cower and four picnic areas.

When: 6 a.m.-midnight daily
Where: 2829 30th St. (Carbon Road) at D/FW International Airport, 972-574-6000

The country's largest permanent model train display is in Dallas; and happily, it's in the lobby of Children's Medical Center of Dallas. Eight trains run simultaneously at this free exhibit. Children's Medical Center has a small fee for parking.

Where: 1935 Motor St., between Stemmons Freeway and Harry Hines Boulevard, 214-640-2000

Fantasy Landing, Dallas' first public playground for well and disabled children, is a unique and special highlight of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. The playground features customized ramps, tennis courts and pull tunnels with bars for children in wheelchairs. Brightly colored brick paths help visually impaired children find their way through the play area.

Where: Kiest Park in Oak Cliff, 214-939-2746

From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week (except special holidays), local farmers display and sell a mouth watering and eye-pleasing selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and floral plants at the Dallas Farmers Market. A perfect open-air market to leisurely stroll, take in the colorful, glorious sights.

When: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Where: 1010 S. Pearl St., 214-939-2808

With teams in every major sports league, you can cheer for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL, Texas Rangers in the MLB, Dallas Mavericks in the NBA, Dallas Stars in the NHL, and FC Dallas in the MLS live or on television at your hotel or one of the city's many sports bars.

Game Information:
Dallas Cowboys 972-785-5000
Dallas Stars 214-467-8277
Dallas Mavericks 214-747-6287
Texas Rangers 817-273-5100
FC Dallas 214-979-0303
Dallas Desperados 972-785-4900

Numerous festivals and parades are held each year in the great Dallas outdoors. Many are free and most feature food, music, art and/or live entertainment. Use entertainment publications as your guide. (See "Want More")

Call the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau's 24-Hour Special Events Hotline at 214-571-1301, or visit Dallas on the Web.

Hiking, biking, walking or running Dallas offers happy trails for you. The Dallas Parks & Recreation Department maintains a number of bike/hike trails such as the 9.33-mile trail at White Rock Lake, 8300 Garland Road, which connects with the 7.3-mile trail at White Rock Creek Park.

Call 214-670-4100 to locate a trail or 214-670-4039 for bike route maps.

Dallas' outdoors beckons lovers of nature and music. During the spring and early summer months, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra performs in area parks. You can also hear "Jazz Under the Stars" at the Dallas Museum of Art on Thursday evenings.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra: 214-692-0203
Dallas Museum of Art: 214-922-1200

Less than one mile north of downtown Dallas, is Freedmen's Cemetery, a pre-Civil War burial ground in what was once the Freedmen's Town Area–a small Dallas community formed by African-Americans freed from slavery in the mid-1860s. This historic and state landmark memorial features figures cast in bronze by artist David Newton.

Where: North Central Expressway between Lemmon Avenue and Hall Street, 214-670-3284

Waters dance and leap skyward at downtown's Fountain Place. At the base of this dramatically sculpted 1.2-million-square-foot office tower of green reflective glass lies an oasis of colorful flowers, waterfalls, 172 bubbler fountains and a central fountain. The latter is one of the world's most complex fountains and consists of 360 computer-driven water jets. Designed by the acclaimed architectural firm of I.M. Pei & Partners, Fountain Place has received international recognition.

Where: Downtown, 1445 Ross Ave. at Field Street, 214-855-7766

Named after one of the foremost hand surgeons in the world, The Adrian E. Flatt, M.D. Hand Exhibit is an extraordinary private collection of more than 100 cast, bronze-coated hands. The contrast of sizes and sense of personal capability when viewing life-size hands is intriguing. Personalities include Katherine Hepburn, Walt Disney, Louis Armstrong and Winston Churchill.

When: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays
Where: Baylor University Medical Center, Truett Building, 3500 Gaston Ave., 214-820-6684

Discover how Dallas' outstanding shopping reputation began with the opening of Neiman Marcus in the early 1900s. More than 100 years later, the Flagship Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas remains a ready-to-wear couture legend. The downtown Dallas store features a museum on the fifth floor, which tells the Neiman Marcus story in the highest of style.

When: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays
Where: 2628 Main St., 214-741-6911

Greenville Avenue is one of the oldest entertainment areas in Dallas and is home to many boutique and eclectic shops as well as live-entertainment clubs, great bars and restaurants. Greenville Avenue has one of the oldest bars in Dallas, the Greenville Avenue Bar & Grill, and hosts the ever-popular Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Where: Greenville Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Ross Avenue
Greenville Avenue Business Association 214-368-6722

The Crow Collection of Asian Art contains more than 600 paintings, objects of metal and stone, and large architectural pieces from China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia. More than 300 works are on display in the galleries, including precious jade ornaments from China, delicate Japanese scrolls and a rarely seen 28-by-12-foot-tall sandstone facade of an 18th-century Indian residence.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays
Where: 2010 Flora St., 214-979-6430

Just a short drive from downtown is the Dallas Nature Center, featuring 633 acres of preserved wilderness and mesquite prairie, with 10 miles of hiking trails, native-plant nurseries, a picnic area, nature programs and a visitors' center. A small donation is recommended.

Where: 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway, 972-296-1955

NorthPark Center is Dallas' premier shopping and dining location and a not-to-be-missed destination for art enthusiasts. Ad Astra, 2005, by Mark di Suvero; Corridor Pin, Blue, 1999, by Claes Oldenburg; and Coosje van Bruggen, and 20 elements, 2005, by Joel Shapiro are the newest additions to the NorthPark Center Art Collection and carry on NorthPark's tradition of showcasing major works by world-renowned artists including Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Jim Dine, Jonathan Borofsky and James Rosenquist.

NorthPark's 1.4-acre landscaped garden, CenterPark, doubles as a serene, urban retreat and an exciting venue for free community events. Relax and dine amid world-class sculptures, canopies of trees and green expanses of lawn. For a schedule of events, visit northparkcenter.com.

When: 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays (department store, restaurant, theater, spa and holiday hours vary)
Where: North Central Expressway at Northwest Highway; complimentary shuttle to/from Park Lane DART Light Rail Station. 214-363-7441

It is no wonder that the "Guide" section of The Dallas Morning News votes the Galleria as "Best Place to People Watch," or shall we say "star watch." Well-known faces such as Janet Jackson, Oliver Stone, Kevin Costner and Tom Cruise have been seen touring the Galleria. Ice skaters are also fun to watch on the indoor rink where Olympians Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano and Scott Hamilton once performed.

Where: LBJ at Dallas Parkway North, 972-702-7164

The Sports Legacy - The Gallery of Sports Art at The Ballpark in Arlington is the nation's largest art gallery devoted to sports and features original art, limited-edition lithographs and bronze statues representing a variety of sports. Children supervised by parents are welcome.

When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily and during games
Where: 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, 817-461-1994