Trolley In My Backyard

Last year we enjoyed taking the trolley to see some charming areas of New Orleans. So, when I was reminded that Dallas also has trolleys in its uptown district, my wife and I decided to check it out. We also decided it was a great way to celebrate my birthday as we started our little getaway at the trolley station Monday morning. It was a 30-minute drive from our house but having lived in suburbs of DFW most of my life, I consider anything in DFW as being in my “backyard”.

After parking near the trolley station, it was just about a minute walk to where we would wait a few minutes for the next ride. Not all cities have free trolley service, but Dallas does. After boarding, we must have looked like tourists from out of town as we snapped photos from different angles. This inspired a gentleman to start asking questions about where we are from and he took pleasure in sharing info about the trolley system. We learned that those trolleys were from the 1920s and had been restored and updated for smoother rides. Our first and our favorite trolley car on this route was named Betty. The interior was full of beautiful wood work and wood seating. The weather was perfect, and we had the option to open our window. However, each car also had air conditioning in case that Texas heat started climbing.

If you take the Trolley without ever getting off, it’s about an hour ride. We had a map of the attractions on the route which included restaurants, museums, parks, shopping areas, etc.. I was surprised how often the trolley stopped so you never had to walk far to your destination once you hopped off. I think simply riding and sight seeing was almost as enjoyable as the actual sights we explored by foot. And public transportation, like a trolley or metro, has its perks like not having to worry about driving, traffic conditions, or parking. Being relieved of those responsibilities and stresses really take the fun up a notch!

Upon completing our getaway on the trolley route, I was reflecting how we accomplished a number of things. Besides experiencing a relaxing and enjoyable ride, I got to revisit a district in Dallas which had developed nicely over the last few decades since I’d been there. We also discovered a restaurant called The School House which had incredible food.  We found a shop with men’s clothes I really liked and we strolled through the beautiful new Klyde Warren Park.  All these new experiences and riding the trolley made us feel like we had travelled somewhere much farther than 30 minutes from our house.  FYI, the trolley in Dallas is part of what’s known as the Heritage Streetcar System. And a trolley is also known as a streetcar or tram. The word “trolley” refers to the trolley pole which is used to draw power from an overhead wire.  If you’re looking to experience a city you’ve never been to or perhaps rediscover a city you have been to, check to see if they have a trolley route and consider adding the trolley to your travel plans.