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Located in northeastern Texas, on the border of Texas and Oklahoma, is the Plano Destination. The region’s most notable cities are Dallas and Fort Worth, which are often referred to as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The city of Plano is considered a suburb of the metroplex, as well as cities such as Arlington, Southlake, and Garland. The population of Dallas is reported to be approximately 1,343,573, and the city of Plano is reported to be 287,677. The area is also known as the Silicon Prairie, as the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex has become a “hub” for industries such as banking, commerce, and insurance.[2] Plano has been one of Dallas’ largest suburbs since the year 2000. Originally established in the early 1840s by European settlers, the name of the city and region comes from the Spanish word "plano," meaning "flat." This is due to the geography of the destination which is generally reported to be flat and dry with sparse foliage, namely trees.[1]
The Plano Destination is located in northeastern Texas. The mostly rectangular-shaped region encompasses the cities of Plano, Dallas, and Fort Worth. It reaches northward to the border of Texas and Oklahoma, southward to the city of Mansfield, and east to Greenville. The most populous city within the destination is Dallas with a reported population of 1,343,573, followed by Fort Worth with 909,585, Arlington with 398,854, and Plano with 287,677. Most of the destination is known as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has been referred to as the economic and cultural hub of northern Texas. It is also known as the Silicon Prairie, due to the leading industries of banking, commerce, and insurance that are characteristic of the area.[2] The city of Plano, which is the namesake of the destination, is 71.6 square miles and draws mostly business travelers because many companies are headquartered in Plano or surrounding cities.[1]
The name, Plano, comes from the Spanish word for "flat," due to the terrain in the area being described as such. The region is generally dry and contains a relatively sparse amount of trees. Settlers came to the area in the early 1840s and established a sawmill, a gristmill, and some general stores. Since 2000, it has been categorized as one of Dallas’ largest suburbs.[1] Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas, after Houston and San Antonio. Although the original reason for the name of Dallas is “uncertain,” it was most likely named after an early settler in the area, Joseph Dallas, or George Mifflin Dallas, a former vice president of the United States.[3]
The city of Plano has multiple activities for tourists that come to the area. One is The Crayola Experience, located at the Shops at Willow Bend. There are 22 attractions within the building for guests. The business allows visitors to wrap their unique crayons, learn how the crayons are made, and “star” in coloring books. It was rated by Parents Magazine as one of the “top 10 trips to take before your kid turns 10.” Additionally located in Plano is the Texas Pool, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. A national landmark, the Texas Pool, is a 168,000-gallon pool shaped like the state of Texas. It has a diving board, two water slides, and a shallow “south Texas” wading area.[4]
The city of Dallas contains the “largest urban arts district in the United States,” which sits 20 blocks southeast of Uptown. In the arts district, there are multiple attractions such as the Winspear Opera House, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and Klyde Warren Park. There are walking tours of the district that can be taken by those who are visiting the city. Also in the city of Dallas is the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Located on the southeast side of White Rock Lake, there are 66 acres of gardens that patrons can enjoy. There are 19 different gardens within the establishment featuring different flowers such as azaleas, tulips, and daffodils.[6]
As of the 2020 census, the population of Plano is 285,494, with 46.3% of those reporting as caucasian, 24.08% being Asian, and 16.04% being Hispanic.[1] Within the area is the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which contains 11 counties. The population of the surrounding area was reported in 2020 to be 7,637,387. This encompasses the city of Plano’s population, as the city can be found within the boundaries of the metroplex. Approximately 45% of all people living in the area surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth are reported to be White, 29% Hispanic, and 16% African American. Over the past 10 years, the population of Hispanic residents increased by approximately 38.9%. The predominant religion in the region is reportedly Christian, with the metroplex being “the largest metro area that identifies with the religion in the United States” with over 70% of people residing in the 11 counties that make up the metroplex identifying as Christian. The four most common sects of the religion in the destination are Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Catholic.[2]
The city of Dallas was home to the infamous criminal couple Bonnie and Clyde. Although the couple performed criminal acts in more cities than just Dallas, the two were from the Dallas area originally. Additionally, Dallas is the only major city in the country to not be located near a body of water. The area is also known for having the first 7-Eleven store. The company is still headquartered in the metroplex today.[7]
The reported best time to visit the Plano Destination for outdoor activities is from mid-April through June or mid-September through October. Throughout the year, the temperature in the area varies from around 39 degrees to 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The summers can feel generally hot and muggy, while the winters are reported to be cold and windy. The hottest month is August with an average temperature between 76 and 96 degrees each day. January has been reported to be the coldest month in the region, with temperatures normally in the 40s throughout the day. For tourists looking to visit when the weather is generally less cloudy and is warmer, the best times are the end of April or the middle of October.[5]
The geographical boundaries of the region include mostly the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The boundaries of the metroplex encapsulate approximately 9,286 square miles in northeastern Texas. The region also includes smaller towns on the border of Texas and Oklahoma, with the destination borders being the same as the state line. The size of the metroplex area is reported to be larger than the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined, or larger than the size of New Jersey. Many of the smaller towns in the northern part of the region are situated on rocky soil, and oil corporations are found in the area.[2]
The Plano Destination features mostly a prairie landscape with some hills, streams, and manmade lakes. Situated in the Texas Blacklands Prairie, named for the noted black soil found in the surrounding counties, many of the cities that make up the region are known for farming, with cities such as Dallas and Fort Worth being known mostly for their industries of banking and tech. With the geographical makeup of the Blackland prairie, there is a variety of plants to be found in the region. The Texas bluebonnet, upright prairie coneflower, and Texas vervain are all flowering plants characteristic of the region and are found mostly in Texas. Leather flowers, coral berries, and black-eyed Susans are also native to the area.[8] Tourists can also see different animals in the region such as the nine-banded armadillo. Those visiting the area can also see two different, similar-looking snakes: diamondback rattlesnakes and rat snakes. While they look similar in color and both shake their tails when frightened, only the diamondback rattlesnake is venomous.[9]
The land that is now inhabited by citizens of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was originally home to native people from the tribes of Caddo, Wichita, and Comanche. In the 1840s, European settlers came to the area and started building facilities such as a sawmill, a gristmill, and a general store. The Houston and Central Texas Railway was completed in 1872, and as a result, the population of the city began to grow. Across the 1900s the population of the city grew, due in part to public works projects, a “boom” after World War II, and a change in taxes.[1]
The city of Dallas was first established by European Settlers in 1841 when John Neely Bryan, who was from Tenessee, built the first log cabin on the banks of the river. When the railroad was finished in the 1870s, the commercial sector of the city developed, especially when the nearby cities of East Dallas and Oak Cliff were annexed. The main exports from the area during this time were leather, grain, and cotton. During World War II, multiple aircraft manufacturing plants were established in the region, which increased the population as workers came to the area, as well as the affluence of the community.[3]
Today, the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the region as a whole are home to 24 Fortune 500 company headquarters. Only New York and Chicago have more similar business headquarters in their respective cities. The population has also increased in the area, with the reported fourth-highest migration rate into the city across the country. Since oil production increased in the early 20th century the city has seen increased growth and more companies making Dallas-Fort Worth their headquarters. Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Texas Instruments, and Toyota North America all have their headquarters within the city limits.[10]
The River of Love Cabins is currently owned by John and Kelly Lidell. Joining the hospitality industry in 2005, the establishment's only unit at the time was the Red Bud Cabin. Spread out over sixty acres of land, the property has six cabins with plans to build more of them. Each home is different from the others and features a distinct style. Each cabin features at least one queen-sized bed and a fully furnished bathroom. Included with the homes is either a jacuzzi or a hot tub. Each cabin comes with a fridge, freezer, and stove oven, except for the Love Train Caboose which does not have the stove oven. Guests can add more to their stay with a purchase of a package at the time of booking. The property is located in Thackerville, Oklahoma, which is home to a variety of activities.
...Read MoreThe Old Irish Bed and Breakfast is located in north Texas and offers seven cabins that have been available to visitors since 2012. Every morning, breakfast is cooked and served to patrons by the owner, with meals consisting of various fruits and a few hot food options. The grounds of the property include water features, wildlife, and an abundance of trees. One of the most unique aspects of the establishment is the on-site alpacas and mini donkeys that are introduced to visitors upon arrival. Some of the nearby attractions that guests can visit are Six Flags, waterparks, college sports, hiking trails, and nature preserves. A fair amount of people tend to come to the area to fish or to be out on the lake.
...Read MoreThe Sanford House Inn is located on two acres of land in Arlington, Texas. It has twelve units, various patios, an event center, some fountains, a restaurant—named Restaurant506—and a salon. There is parking for the guests and a place people can rent out for things such as weddings and corporate events. Breakfast is provided for those staying at the inn, and lunch and dinner are available to buy at the restaurant during the day. The owners of the establishment strive for an environment where people can feel at home without actually being at home. They and their staff try to keep the building clean, comfortable, and enjoyable.
...Read MoreRay Roberts Lodging at Slye Ranch
The Slye Ranch, located in Pilot Point Texas, sits on seven acres of land and has two different units that guests can stay in. The Copper Can has an occupancy of two adults, and the cabin has many beds for visitors to stay in. The property is located near Ray Roberts Lake State Park and is a two-minute drive from Lake Ray Roberts. Also staying on the property is a retired racehorse and two miniature donkeys. The owners hope to provide patrons of the establishment with a peaceful and quiet getaway. The property hosts weddings as well as other parties on the premises, and it is a pet friendly business.
...Read MoreSavannah's Meadow Treehouse Bed and Breakfast, located in Celeste, Texas, has three units available from April 1 to November 1. There are two treehouses and one trailer that guests can stay in. The treehouses are accessible by ramps and sit approximately 25 feet in the air. The Majestic Oaks Treehouse can sleep up to seven people, the Bare Creek Hollow Treehouse can accommodate four people, and the Gypsy's Grotto Trailer can sleep up to three. There are breakfast items in the fridge upon arrival that guests can use for breakfast. The units sit on 18.75 acres of land, and there is a catch and release pond on the property, as well as an herb garden. The property has an area that can host events such as weddings.
...Read MoreThe Carleton House Bed and Breakfast
The Carleton House Bed and Breakfast is a Victorian-style home that rests on a large, half-acre property in the town of Bonham, Texas. The main house contains four bedrooms available for rent, and they have two cottages nearby that are also available for customers to choose to stay in. The home was initially constructed in 1888 and has had only three previous owners throughout the years. The house is now on the National Register of Historic Places due to its age and historical significance. Steve and Karen Halbrook, the current property owners, work to create an experience in which customers feel "pampered" and as if they have "stepped back in time" during their stay. The property has received various reviews throughout its time of operation, with the breakfast and the overall experience of their visit being the most highly praised items commented on in those reviews.
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