(Photo: Daxis @ Flickr Commons)

Welcome to Dallas

Hey AJHAers! You’re Fixin’ To Have A Great Time in The Big D!

Who doesn’t know something about Dallas? The Big D is known for its food as well as an appreciation for its cultural diversity and its historical significance. Dallas is also known for its namesake television show, Dallas, football dynasty the Dallas Cowboys and the iconic Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Rather than take on a big city, our conference is located in the Park City area, a suburb not far from downtown Dallas.

The Park Cities Area

The Hilton Dallas/Park Cities hotel is surrounded by plenty of restaurants that will satisfy anyone’s taste buds. Cuisine options include Asian Fusion, Mexican, Italian and a unique nutritious-eating menu option found at True Food Kitchen. Are you craving a Texas steak or ribs? Dine at Hillstone. If you have a taste for traditional Southern cuisine, get a meat-and-three at Flying Fish, located one block away from the hotel. This wide variety of restaurants should satisfy any taste at any price point. For those choosing to stock their room with midnight snacks and water, Target is one block away.

Accommodations

The Hilton Dallas/Park Cities is one of the chain’s luxury boutique properties. The hotel provides an updated, intimate setting that is perfect for our conference. Along with the typical amenities, each room is equipped with a refrigerator and coffee maker. The neighborhood is great for morning walks and runs. For those that prefer an early workout indoors, the hotel has a fitness room and an outdoor heated pool.

Historic Tour

This year’s historic tour will include self-guided tours of two museums: The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and a smaller museum, the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture. Both museums are located in downtown Dallas. The Sixth Floor Museum recounts the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and celebrates his legacy. The building overlooks Dealey Plaza where the President was assassinated. This museum is a must-see for those that have never visited it before.

As we’ve done in the past, we’ll travel in two buses. After both tours are completed at approximately 4 p.m., one bus will return to the hotel. The other bus will remain downtown while members that want to stay can have cocktails or dinner in one of the many restaurants in the Historic West End area. The anticipated time of departure from downtown Dallas is 7 p.m.

For those who prefer an independent adventure, Dallas has plenty to offer, accessible by cab/Uber or DART. The George W. Bush Presidential Library is just four miles from the hotel, on the Southern Methodist University campus. Downtown Dallas is home to several world-class museums including the Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Dallas Holocaust Museum, and Dallas Museum of Art—which features the Keir Collection of Islamic Art through April 2020. At Fair Park—the Texas State Fairgrounds and site of the original Cotton Bowl—you will find the African American Museum, Dallas Historical Society’s Hall of State, the South Dallas Cultural Center, and the Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Closing Gala

This year, our closing event will be at Sevy’s Grill, an independent restaurant a short walk from the hotel. Dinner will include an appetizer, entrée and dessert. In addition, there will be a cash bar.

Local Hosts

One of Texas’s favorite sayings is, “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” Your Local Host Committee – Erika Pribanic-Smith, Melita Garza, and James Mueller – have been working diligently to make sure you have a big, Texas-style conference you won’t forget!

We welcome you to Dallas!

Caryl Cooper
Convention Coordinator