Most folks think of Dallas and Fort Worth as simply one giant metroplex with one giant personality; in reality, these cities have their own very strong and unique characters and are filled with family fun. Cattle drives and rodeos, interactive museums, big-as-Texas nature centers, home-spun and exotic cuisine all wait to be discovered. The true spirit of Texas is easily uncovered in just one visit to the cities. But make no mistake -- there' s plenty of fun to keep you coming back.

The DFW metroplex is abuzz with activity year-round, but the best times to visit, in terms of activities and weather, are the spring and fall. With pro sports teams on the field, temperate weather (save for the occasional hit of sever weather) and a myriad of festivals and events, March through May and late September through early November are the prime times to enjoy the area to its fullest.

When it comes to weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, it's anything goes. From scorching heat in the height of summer to winter blasts that bring ice and snowstorms, DFW gets it all, weather-wise. From November through January, highs average in the mid-50s with lows in the mid to upper 30s; February through April bring milder temperatures with highs in the mid 60s to mid 70s and lows in the high 40s. May is the official start of summer in DFW, which lasts through September; average highs start the season in the high 80s and top out in the high 90s in July and August. October may be the most perfect month, weather-wise, with highs in the high 70s and lows in the high 50s.

There are two major airports in the metroplex; Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) sits almost equidistant between the two cities, while Dallas Love Field (LUV) in centrally located in Dallas proper. For drivers, the area is easily reached by a number of major interstate highways, including I-20, I-35, I-30 and I-45. Amtrak train service is also available to both cities.

Public transportation in Dallas includes DART, featuring light rail and bus service throughout the city. In addition, Dallas and Fort Worth are connected via a light rail system called the Trinity Railway Express. In Dallas, the McKinney Avenue Trolley, known locally as the M-Line, connects the Uptown area with the Arts District in downtown, and run daily with modified weekend hours. Forth Worth offers bus service throughout the city, with special read, white and blue buses that offer free rides through downtown.

Fort Worth

• January - February: Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
• April: NASCAR Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway; Main Street Arts Festival
• June: Chisholm Trail Round-up
• November: Parade of Lights

Dallas

• January: Cotton Bowl
• March: Dallas Bloom at Dallas Arboretum
• April: North Texas Irish Festival; Deep Ellum Arts Festival
• May: Artfest
• September: State Fair of Texas
• November: Holiday at the Arboretum; Trains at North Park
• December: Neiman Marcus Christmas Parade

The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau website offers detailed information for travel planning, as does the Fort Worth's visitor website, which also lists suggested itineraries for a variety of themed experiences.

Look for the Dallas Deals link on the accommodations page of visitdallas.com for discounted hotel packages, where date-specific searches can show offers for a particular travel time. Fortworth.com has a link for discounts at a large number of attractions.

• Texas is larger than France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Luxembourg combined.
• Highland Park Village, built in 1931, was the first planned shopping center in the country.
• Fort Worth's Cowtown Coliseum hosted the first indoor rodeo ever in 1918.
• The integrated circuit computer chip was invented in 1958 in Dallas.
• Fort Worth is one of only two cities in the United States where currency is printed.
• The "Texas Star" Ferris wheel at the State Fair of Texas is the tallest in North America.