If you'll be visiting the Texas area, consider taking a detour to Plano, Texas, which is located about 20 minutes north of Dallas (about 30 minutes from the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport). There's convenient light rail train service between Dallas and Plano, called the DART Rail, which offers a nice alternative to driving between these cities.

If you're going to be visiting Dallas anytime soon, instead of staying in the city, consider staying in Plano, where you'll find many upscale shopping opportunities, a handful of tourist attractions (including Southfork Ranch, as seen in the TV series Dallas), and many extremely good restaurants. This is an upscale and extremely beautiful suburban community that welcomes its visitors with open arms and friendly hospitality.

A handful of large corporations have their headquarters in Plano, so you'll find a wide range of hotel options suitable for either business or leisure travelers throughout the area. For example, the Marriott Dallas/Plano at Legacy Town Center is a full-service, upscale Marriott hotel which nicely combines all of the business amenities you could want, with all of the comforts of a leisure hotel. This Marriott is located on the outskirts of Legacy Town Center, which offers unique shopping and dining opportunities - all within walking distance.

If you'll be visiting Dallas or the Plano area for business, seriously consider bringing along your spouse and kids, and staying at the Marriott Dallas/Plano at Legacy Town Center for the weekend. The 404 rooms and 40 suites are large, extremely comfortable and offer plenty of amenities.

If you're looking for affordable, but more trendy accommodations than a traditional (albeit very nice) Marriott, be sure to check out the aloft Hotel or the NYLO Hotel, both located in Plano. The aloft Hotels (operated by W Hotels) are similar to Courtyard Marriott properties in terms of price, but this new chain offers a trendy atmosphere with ultra-modern decor. The NYLO also offers a trendy atmosphere. Both hotels are ideal for business travelers (they offer free Internet, long distance calling, a free business center, and other amenities), but are also child (family) and dog-friendly.

Okay, so now you're probably asking, what's there to do in Plano, Texas? Well, the dining options are extremely impressive. Forget those chain restaurants you'll find everywhere else. In addition to the chains, Plano has a large selection of independent restaurants that are truly top-notch. No matter what type of food you're looking for, including traditional Texas BBQ or an upscale steak house, you'll find it here.

For casual, Texas-style dining, I recommend Love and War in Texas. For much more upscale dining (with a strong Texas influence) make a reservation at Jasper's. One fine-dining restaurant, bar and nightclub which I was extremely impressed with was Loft 610. Here, you'll find award-winning, gourmet dining and a full-service and very popular bar. At around 10pm, there's a DJ, and the restaurant transforms into a sophisticated but upbeat club/lounge.

As for shopping, Plano has several unique shopping areas, like The Shops at Legacy, which are mainly independent boutiques (as opposed to traditional chain stores). There are also several other upscale malls that offer major department stores, designer boutiques, plus traditional mall stores.

Aside from shopping, Plano offers a wide range of activities and attractions, such as upscale day spas, golf, a wide range of other sports-related options, plus museums, galleries, theaters and other cultural activities. The Amphitheater At Oak Point Park, for example, hosts a wide range of concerts in a beautiful, 1,000 seat, outdoor venue.

The Plano area is also home to Southfork Ranch, made famous by the TV series Dallas. The daily tours take you through the ranch and allow you to see props, photos, video clips and memorabilia from the TV series.

One of the events which Plano is most famous for is the annual Plano Balloon Festival, which takes place every September. The city has become known as the "Hot Air Balloon Capitol of Texas," because the event attracts more than 75,000 people and more than 100 hot air balloons every year.

So, if you happen to be in the Dallas area, be sure to visit Plano, Texas. You'll have fun, have plenty to do, and have a chance to enjoy the incredibly friendly hospitality that Texas is known for.