I have always appreciated our leadership team’s desire to invest in our development and continuing education. As part of this, we travel to Dallas, Texas a few times a year for specialized training, focused on building an enduring firm to service the needs of multi-generational families. Last month, the calendar Gods worked their magic to allow for my wife, Khrista to meet me in Dallas after our training for the weekend. With little-to-no familiarity with the city nor family and friends to visit, we had a blank slate to wander, explore and eat without any time restrictions or plans. What a refreshing takes on travel this was. Allow me to share a few highlights.

For our first day, we got dropped off in the middle of the Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas. We walked aimlessly while sipping our morning coffee – ooh and aah-ing at some of the most beautiful and impressive homes we had ever seen. We eventually stumbled on the campus of Southern Methodist University. We fully intended to continue our aimless wandering, but found much, much more than just some pretty sites. On the southwestern corner of the campus lies the Meadows Museum. This is no small-time attraction, in fact, it is the second largest museum of Spanish art only behind the Prado in Madrid. We strolled through the museum, continuing our ooh and aah’s at the sight of the various works by Dalí, Picasso and other famed artists.

As we weaved through the campus, feeling much older than our fellow pedestrians, we came across another magnificently large and beautiful structure. With nothing but time on our hands, we made our way to the front and through the grand entrance of what we learned to be the Presidential Library of George W. Bush. I am still shocked with how much we enjoyed this visit – I could write an entire article just on this but will refrain and simply share a picture from the Oval Office replica and Khrista attempting her best JFK impersonation.

At this point, we had worked up a mighty hunger. What does one eat in Dallas, TX? Barbecue, of course! We traveled to the world-famous Terry Black’s to see what all the rage was about. It certainly did not disappoint. Short ribs, brisket, hot sausage, cornbread, mac n cheese – the food was out of this world. The only thing to do after eating your weight in BBQ…. a hibernation-like nap. *Chef’s kiss*

Times were had, memories were made and we checked off a new city. Should you find the opportunity to explore and wander with limited planning or structure, I recommend you seize it. There is something so relaxing and free about a trip like this.