It's National Plan for Vacation Day: Here's What Dallas is Looking Forward to in 2021

DALLAS, January 26, 2021 – Today, on National Plan for Vacation Day, Visit Dallas is looking forward to a new year and the anticipated safe return of travel. While the pandemic continues to force travel restrictions, National Plan for Vacation Day is a chance to do what is safe and productive: plan.

There is a wealth of information that says simply planning a vacation can increase happiness, with 97% of survey respondents saying that having a trip planned makes them happier. Further,

Survey data shows that 84% of Americans are excited to plan a vacation in the next six months, indicating an impending surge in travel demand once conditions improve.

"Visit Dallas is celebrating National Plan for Vacation Day to encourage Americans to plan ahead for future travel and take some much-needed time off," said Craig Davis, President and CEO of Visit Dallas. "By committing to planning on January 26, Americans can all enjoy the many benefits of taking a break while giving themselves something to look forward to – and there is much to look forward to in Dallas in 2021."

Celebrating 50 Frozen Years!
In 1971, after an incredibly overwhelmed bar and bit of inspiration from 7-Eleven's famous Slurpee machine, Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine – using an old ice cream machine – in Dallas 50 years ago, forever freezing in time the city's claim to America's favorite cocktail.

Guests can now enjoy decades of heritage on the Margarita Mile – a curated collection of Dallas' best and brightest margaritas, conveniently collected in a colorful app. In addition to earning fun prizes along the way, the Margarita Mile is one of the best ways to experience Dallas' diverse neighborhoods and cultures, one cocktail at a time.

New Hotels for All Types of Travelers

The end of 2020 brought us two beautiful properties: the Kimpton Pittman, in historic Deep Ellum, and Thompson Dallas, in the heart of Downtown. These two properties will be joined by more than 15 additional hotels in 2021, including the new Marriott Uptown. Set for a November opening, Marriott Uptown will be a 14-story, 255-room hotel incorporating Marriott's contemporary design scheme and will feature meeting spaces, a restaurant, and a rooftop pool deck. Located in the trendy Uptown neighborhood, the hotel will be within walking distance from Katy Trail and other vibrant attractions.

A Dining Destination

Dallas is a vibrant and diverse dining destination, and even in 2021, the dining scene is on the rise. One of the biggest things to look forward to enjoying in 2021 is Eataly at NorthPark Center. This location is the first in Texas and offers three restaurants, a market full of various oils, meats, olives, coffee, chocolates and more, plus an extensive wine collection. In 2021, the location will announce a full calendar of arts programming.

Summer visitors can look forward to a table at Nick Badovinus' new restaurant, National Anthem, which will be in the 100-year-old Magnolia building in Dallas' up-and-coming East Quarter district. The acclaimed chef will be serving a New American menu and "a big city dining experience."

Artful Experiences

Art lovers can get their fill at the Dallas Museum of Art, which will unveil several new exhibits in 2021. Not to be missed is Frida Kahlo: Five Works, which opens on February 28 and includes four of Kahlo's paintings and a drawing borrowed from a private collection, courtesy of Galería Arvil in Mexico City.

On March 2, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants will open at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The exhibit is a collection of 43 stories and oil paintings highlighting the inspiring journeys of America's immigrants and the contributions they make to the life and prosperity of our nation.

Finally, the Meadows Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of Spanish art outside of Spain, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the opening of its stately Collegiate Georgian building. The anniversary will be marked with two commemorative exhibitions: Building on the Boulevard: Celebrating 20 Years in the Meadows Museum's New Home and Fossils to Film: The Best of SMU's Collections, both on view March 14 through June 20.

Annual Experiences

Every spring in Dallas 500,000 tulips explode in an array of color. Since 1984, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden has offered one of the most spectacular floral displays in the world, Dallas Blooms. It's the largest tulip display in the nation.

After experiencing Dallas' flora, don't miss out on its fauna. Annually in January and February, the Dallas Zoo offers its Penguin Days, where tickets are discounted to $8.

Finally, don't miss out on the 26^th Deep Ellum Arts Festival, April 21-24. Seven blocks of the eclectic and historic Deep Ellum neighborhood will be transformed and feature 200 top-notch decorative and visual artists. In addition to food and entertainment, festival attendees can stroll through displays of cutting-edge decorative arts and admire, commission and purchase works.

Visit Dallas continues to urge Americans to adhere to healthy travel practices – whether planning a vacation in the short term or for later this year. U.S. Travel Association's Travel Confidently toolkit has a wealth of resources and guidance to encourage safe and healthy travel, which includes wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, maintaining physical distance and staying home if feeling sick.

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About Visit Dallas

Visit Dallas is the official destination marketing organization for Dallas, Texas, dedicated to promoting the city as the ideal visitor and convention destination. Dallas, the ninth-largest city in the United States and the leading business and financial center in the Southwest, offers travelers an unparalleled array of amenities, a central location, and easy accessibility with two major airports.

Dallas, the Official Home of the Frozen Margarita, is the home of the famed Margarita Mile, a self-guided trail of the city's best and brightest tequila cocktails. With 20 vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, including the nation's largest contiguous Arts District, and notable CityPASS attractions, there is a Dallas destination to suit every style.

Visitor safety remains a top priority. In 2020, Visit Dallas led the nation by seeking Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation, the gold standard for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention protocols. To date, the convention center, both airports and several dozen hotels and venues have achieved this stringent accreditation, certifying their facilities as sanitary and safe.

For more information, visit www.visitdallas.com.