Explore the burgeoning entertainment and retail opportunities available in the hip Dallas Design District. Once just a group of nondescript warehouses, the area began to change after the 1950s. First furniture stores and design studios took advantage of cheap locations for their showrooms. Later came today’s wide selection of cool bars, restaurants, fashion outlets and galleries.

Art enthusiasts can enjoy exhibitions ranging from contemporary to French impressionism. Regional, national and international artists present thought-provoking themes at Dallas Contemporary. Admire works by contemporary British artists, such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, at the Goss Michael Foundation. Delve into the evolution of motorcycles via more than 200 bikes at the Haas Moto Museum & Sculpture Gallery.

Homegrown designers and luxury fashion labels line up along the neighborhood’s streets. Head to Slocrum Street to search for antiques, collectibles and objets d’art. Howell Street is the setting for some of the best thrift stores and vintage clothing boutiques in Dallas. Enjoy window-shopping among housewares and furniture shops, artists’ studios, glassworks and jewelers.

From taco joints and tapas bars to a traditional American diner and the iconic Texas barbecue restaurant, the culinary scene here is varied and abundant. Sample craft ciders while playing classic arcade games, sip award-winning craft beers and join a brewery tour. Have fun at Bowlounge, a retro bowling alley, cocktail bar and taproom with a lively warehouse setting.

Find pockets of greenery on the Trinity Strand Trail, a meandering walking and biking pathway that follows the course of the Trinity River. The Trinity Levee Trail and Trinity Skyline Trail cut through nearby Trammell Crow Park. Relax on the park’s lush green lawns, spot cow sculptures and gaze toward the glistening towers of the Dallas skyline.

Dallas Design District is a lovely neighborhood northwest of Downtown Dallas. A public bus service stops at intervals on the district’s principal avenue, North Riverfront Boulevard. Use the free parking areas offered by many of the businesses.