Stranded at DFW? A user's guide....
Written: Mar 07 '01 (Updated Mar 07 '01)
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Pros: If you have to be stranded at an airport, DFW offers some diversions...
Cons: Stranded at any airport is still stranded...and not a preferred place to be...
The Bottom Line: If you're stuck at DFW....here's some tips on making the time pass more quickly.
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| Bonies7's Full Review: Fort Worth |
Unfortunately, if you travel for a living, the dreaded words "weather delay" will invade your life more frequently than you would prefer... especially in the spring thunderstorm season.
And my bet would be that sooner or later you'll find yourself stranded at DFW Airport - perhaps only for a few hours if Lady Luck happens to be on your side.
Having spent way too many hours roaming the four huge terminals at DFW over the last twenty years, I've learned the best places to eat, to drink, to browse and to people watch. Here are a few of my favorites:
Best bet for a reasonably authentic Texas meal. Dickey's Barbeque directly opposite gate A18 in the main American Terminal. Dickey's is a Texas tradition since the mid-1940's, and Ross Perot has often been quoted as saying it is his favorite barbeque haunt. This particular airport counter Dickeys offers a limited menu, but the food is still slow cooked and lathered generously with Dickeys famous barbeque sauce. You are served by a short cafeteria line where you can point to the various items you'd like to sample, and I'd highly recommend the rib dinner with Dickeys potato salad and their own ice tea. Tender ribs with a side order of buttered Texas toast - enough to soothe even the most frustrated traveler.
Best bet for killing an hour. Two gates down from Dickeys, across from gate A16, you'll find the Benjamin Bookstore. They also have a satellite site in Terminal C across from gate 24. This is a real bookstore that actually carries thousands of hardbound and paperback titles, and offers a reader a chance to find something other than the top ten bestsellers that you'll normally find an at airport.
Best bet for a tasty snack. Okay - admit it. If you're like the rest of America's travelers, one of the things you'll do when stranded is to "graze". And the best grazing at DFW appears to be Auntie Anne's Pretzels - at least if you judge popularity by counting the number of people willing to stand in line to purchase a handmade pretzel that just came out of the oven. If you aren't a particular fan of pretzels, this one still is worth sampling. It is the same Auntie Anne's that started in the Pennsylvania Amish country - and the cinnamon sugar pretzels are the absolutely best I've ever encountered anywhere. You can actually find an Auntie Anne's stand across from gates A25, B5 and C22 and yes...it is worth the walk if you're not really near any of those gates.
Best bet for shopping. The PGA Shop across from Gate A29. Continuous videos being shown on multiple television screens that dispense advice on everything from putting to getting out of a sand trap... while you peruse top notch attire with all the major PGA event logos displayed for the world to see. And, be sure to check out the bargain bin - I've scored some classy golf shirts for under $25 there.
Best bet for a haircut. Jet Cuts across from Gate B24. Male and female hairstylists that will give you everything from a trim to a color treatment, and great picture windows to allow you to watch the masses pass by as you sit in a relatively comfortable stylist's chair. No appointment necessary, although the lines can get long if the airport is experiencing massive flight delays.
Best bet to connect to the Internet. GTE Internet Kiosks dot several locations within DFW. You can access your email or roam aimlessly on the web for hours - provided you have a major credit card. The locations are across from gates A9, B12, C10 and E14. The Admiral's Clubs at gates A35, B6 and C20 all offer internet access as well, but you have to be a member to enter these locations.
Best bet for people "watching". Sit yourself down at Gate A39 and you'll see the intersection where the moving sidewalks from Terminal B and Terminal C intersect. Literally thousands of people pass this spot an hour, and you'll find yourself amazed at the vast array of outfits, hairstyles and attitudes that will be on display continuously.
I could go on and on - and that's unfortunate - because it means I've spent WAY too much time at DFW. But, if you'll print this user's guide out and tuck it in your purse or briefcase before your next DFW connection, perhaps you'll find yourself better prepared for the inevitable delay.
Oh, by the way, you'll probably find me in line at Dickeys if flights are being delayed. Be sure and stop me and we can compare notes on those wonderful ribs...
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Singles
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
Bonies7
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Member: Jeff Clow
Location: The Lone Star State
Reviews written: 132
Trusted by: 1018 members
About Me:
Father, Husband, Consultant, Photographer, Writer, Conservative, Inquisitive, Texan
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