It would be hard not to shop in Dallas any time of year, but that’s especially true at this time of year. Galleria Dallas features stores found no where else in North Texas, including Façonnable and Saks Fifth Avenue. When you’ve shopped to exhaustion, enjoy a meal at one of the many fine eateries in Galleria Dallas or people watch at its Ice Skating Center, where several world renowned skaters will perform in the coming month.

No shopping in Dallas would be complete with out at least walk through the Neiman Marcus Flagship Store, in the heart of downtown. Holiday windows and lighting will be revealed on Saturday evening, November 20, 2010. You’ll also enjoy a trip to the West Village, where fashionable restaurants, eclectic shops and independent film and arts rule the day.

Spend an afternoon at The Meadows.

Art-loving guests of bed and breakfasts Dallas will have trouble deciding which museums and galleries to visit first. The best place to start is a trip to the Dallas Arts District, a 19-block neighborhood that is the heart of the city’s – indeed, the region’s – cultural life. Amid spectacular and innovative architecture visitors will find the Trammel Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and both the Symphony Center and Opera House.

The Dallas Museum of Art stands at the west end of the Arts District. Throughout the month of December it will feature a fascinating exhibit on African Masks; additional exhibits include lovely medieval tomb sculptures from the Court of Burgundy and a study of early Mexican modernist artists. The museum is open late every third Friday and on Thursday nights – a great place to find live jazz music, cocktails and dinner. Also worth a look is the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, which houses the most impressive selection of Spanish art outside of the Iberian Peninsula.

Dallas is simply extraordinary during the holidays. Experience it for yourselves.

Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting in the Hill Country

The Hill Country is lovely, and filled with many charming historic towns, making this a terrific area to inn-hop (stay at several b&bs over the course of several days). You’ll be hard pressed to find a better selection of antique shops or eclectic boutiques. Shopping really can be fun.

Bring back a bottle of Hill Country wine to share with friends and family. With over twenty wineries, the Hill Country is an enticing place to wine-taste. You are sure to find at least one bottle you adore, and you are even more certain to enjoy the process of finding that bottle!

There are many special packages out there to entice you to step outside your routine and try something new this year. Perhaps what you need is a girls getaway, filled with plenty of time to celebrate your friends while shopping for gifts for your families. Perhaps a weekend of scrapbooking is in order, so that you can create a special gift for someone you love.

Folks who enjoy spending the holidays away from home will find many excellent Hill Country inns ready to welcome you. The company is sure to be excellent, the decorations top-notch, and the whole experience memorable.

Whether you are looking for an interesting place to prepare for the holidays, or a wonderful place to spend them, consider the Texas Hill Country.