If you're are sports nuts, DFW is the ultimate asylum. It's home to America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, and their staggering $1.2 billion stadium. We just hosted our first World Series and, in February, Super Bowl XLV takes center stage. We also happen to be the center of the bowling universe (more on that later). Throw in the NHL's Dallas Stars and the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and your visitors will think they've died and gone to Jock Heaven.
Stay: The Gaylord Texann (1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine; 817-778-1000) a huge resort overlooking Lake Grapevine, is the official hotel of the Cowboys (it's also where they crash the night before home games). Only a few minutes from D/FW Airport, more importantly, the Gaylord Texan provides round-trip shuttles to the stadium -- just in case you scored tickets to the Super Bowl.
Play: The Gaylord is also right next to Cowboys Golf Club (1600 Fairway Drive, Grapevine; 817-481-7277), probably the nicest public course in DFW. It'll cost ya (almost $200 for a play-all-day package), but if your visitors are serious golfers, you won't want to miss it. You might even bump into Emmitt Smith; let the NFL's all-time leading rusher play through. For more moderately priced but still great golf, try WaterChase Golf Club in Fort Worth (8951 Creek Run Road; 817-861-4653) or Texas Star in Euless (1400 Texas Star Parkway; 817-685-7888).
Nosh and drink: The only thing that DFW has more of than big-time sports, is big-time sports bars. We rounded up our 32 favorite earlier this year on DFW.com, but plenty more have come along since. If you want luxury, try the Texan Station Sports Bar & Grill at the Gaylord. It's got a 30-foot tall, 52-foot-wide crystal-clear screen and overstuffed leather recliners. But if wings and pretty things are more your speed, check out Grapevine's "Breastaurant Row," which includes Bone Daddy's (1720 William D. Tate Ave., Grapevine; 817-251-0835), Hooters, Tilted Kilt and BBQ and Sports Grill. If you want a more ">Big Racks BBQ and Sports Grill. If you want a more old-school sports bar vibe, try Bobby V's (4301 S. Bowen Road, Arlington; 817-467-9922), named for the former Rangers manager. It has a boxing ring in the center of the restaurant, and the wings are a knockout.
Shop: Rally House Texas (4000 Five Points Blvd, Suite 141, Arlington Highlands; 817-468-3883) is one-stop shopping for souvenirs from all the Texas teams, college and pro. Get your discounted Texas Rangers ALCS T-shirts here. Or a TCU jersey or Longhorns jersey or a Mavs jersey. You get the idea. The Cowboys and Rangers have shops in downtown Fort Worth, right on Main Street.
Dine: If you want to dig into one of the best steaks in DFW, Pappas Steakhouse (10477 Lombardy Lane, Dallas; 214-366-2000) will deliver. Just ask Cowboys rookie Dez Bryant, who famously picked up the $54,896 tab for his teammates there. (Ah, rookies.) Hockey fans will want to try Hully & Mo's ( 2800 Routh St, Dallas; 214-954-0203), the upscale sports bar owned by Dallas Stars legends Brett Hull and Mike Modano. Lots of memorabilia and great food you can eat with or without your front teeth. In Fort Worth, try Dutch's (3009 S. University Drive, Fort Worth; 817-927-5522), named for legendary TCU football coach Dutch Meyer. It also happens to serve one of the best bacon bleu cheese burgers we've ever tasted.
Nightlife: Dance, drink and bowl at Splitsville, the upscale bowling lounge (401 Curtis Mathes Way, Arlington; 817-465-2695). This place has bottle service, great VIP booths and the world's only permanent outdoor bowling lane. Right across the parking lot in the Arlington Highlands shopping center is the adult game stop Dave & Busters. If you want to hang where the athletes do, try the PM Nightlife Lounge at the tony Joule Hotel (1530 Main St., Dallas; 214-261-4501).
Attractions: Cowboys Stadium is a bigger draw than the team itself, so don't miss the popular VIP guided stadium tour ($27.50), which takes you inside the locker rooms and the fanciest suites. You can even stand on the star. The Ballpark, home of the American League champion Texas Rangers, is right next door and also offers tours for much less ($10). So does Texas Motor Speedway ($8). But for a one-of-a-kind experience, check out the International Bowling Hall of Fame (621 Six Flags Drive, Arlington; 817-385-8215).
