I have had the awesome joy of living in the Dallas area for 20 years, and I am absolutely one of those annoying losers with excessive Texas pride. I am what I am, but for good reason. If you're like me, you know it's pretty easy to make coming home from school for the summer and going into the city feel like you're visiting a whole new place. There's so much to do and new things happening all the time, if you just know how to look. And for my friends who have never had the opportunity to really visit this part of Texas, take a trip and check it the heck out! There are so many amazing things about this city.

1. The Concerts

While Austin might be known as the live music capital of the world, Dallas has a music scene that is so uniquely its own. Almost every major artist on tour is sure to make a stop here, but you'll also find a dozen unsigned bands performing in Deep Ellum any night of the week.

2. The Museums

Art, science, sculpture—all the things! Dallas has so much culture, so many things to learn and explore all the time.

3. The Shopping

Oh, shopping. Even for someone like myself, who dreads a full day at the mall, on my feet, bored and discouraged when my luck is minimal, Dallas shopping is its own thing. It's an experience. A thing of beauty. *sigh*

4. The Shopping

Yeah, I know.

5. The Food

Two words. Chips and salsa.

6. The Parks

Even though Dallas and the surrounding areas have been growing like crazy over the past few years, the city (for now, at least) has managed to hold on to some of Texas's sacred green. There's always a festival, race, farmers market—something happening outdoors.

7. The People

The diversity and culture found in Dallas is one thing I will always be thankful to have been raised around. There are so many opportunities to learn and thrive here as individuals, to meet people who are like you and a lot more who are not.