Dallas is not somewhere that comes to mind when you think of a gay holiday, however Peter Walton says it's well worth taking up the southern hospitality.

Where did you go and when?
I recently went to the US to visit one of my good friends and we decided to go Dallas, Texas, as we hadn’t been there and had heard that everything is bigger in Texas.

Where did you stay?
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. It may sound on the expensive side, however it was one of the cheapest hotels we stayed in while in the US. The Hyatt offered five-star service and was in a great location, handy to both downtown Dallas and a short taxi ride to Cedar Springs Road, home of the local Dallas gay community. The Local gay boys have nicknamed the Hyatt ‘emerald city’ because as you approach Dallas on the freeway the totally glass hotel, which is green, just appears from no where. The only difference is that it’s a 16-lane yellow brick road.

What did you eat and drink?
We went to the Black Eyed Pea on Cedar Springs Road, a Texan treat, even down to the Fried Chicken Steak – yes, steak, deep fried in the 11 secret herbs and spices, called the ‘cardiologist’. It’s a heart attack waiting to happen. If you aren’t looking for a heart attack, they have a full menu with other healthier options.

What did you do?
One of the best things we did was go to the 6th Floor museum, a museum dedicated to the assassination of JFK. There is a video booth where you can watch footage of the fatal shot hitting the then President – this is not for that faint-hearted. In case anyone was wondering just where on the ‘grassy knoll’ JFK died, an X is painted on the road to mark the spot (pictured).

Where did you party?
Like most cities Dallas has a ‘strip’, called Cedar Springs Road, and once you have arrived there it’s a short walk from venue to venue. One thing for sure is the gay venues in Dallas are definitely bigger – bigger than anywhere else I’ve been and, better still, they are full of people, even down to authentic gay cowboys (a little bit hot). We went to JR’s, Woody’s, Station 4 (S4) and even the Dallas Eagle (a leather bar, full details below).

What was the best part of your trip?
Going to a new city and being viewed as new trade in town – it’s got to be good.

What was the worst part of your trip?
Unfortunately you can’t fly directly to Dallas from Australia, so you will have to use a local US domestic airline. As it happens, two US airlines went broke, while North West and Delta merged, while I was in the US. However this didn’t seem to make the staff of my chosen airline, South West, any more efficient or polite. South West was one of worst airlines I have travelled on – you have been warned.

What advice would you give your fellow traveller?
Put it on your list of cities to visit and make sure you hire a car – it’s a must. It was a great few days.

Sum up your trip in a nutshell?
Dallas is not somewhere that comes to mind when you think of a gay holiday, however it was a pleasant surprise and well worth the extra couple of days to get some southern hospitality and taste what the locals refer to as some ‘local colour’.
 
Peter Walton is the publisher of Evolution Publishing.
 
Station 4 (S4)
3911 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas
 
Dallas Eagle (leather)
2515 Inwood Road, Dallas
 
Woody’s Sports and Video Bar
4011 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas

JR’s
2923 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas  

Black Eyed Pee
3857 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas.
 
Hyatt Regency Dallas
300 Reunion Boulevard, Dallas

Qantas flies daily to LA with direct connections to
Dallas with American Airlines from $3331 plus taxes ex Sydney.