By Jordan Bickham
Staff Writer

Have you ever wanted to walk into a rainforest under a waterfall?  Have you ever wanted to dance to your favorite band while they perform live?  While these exciting opportunities may seem across far-fetched and hours away, they are actually closer than you think.

Although Coppell is a small residential community, the prominent, cultural city of Dallas is only a 30-minute drive away.  And with numerous activities occurring throughout the year, it is not difficult to find something to do downtown.

1.  Concert Venues

One of the most prominent aspects of Dallas for Coppell High School students is the multitude of concert venues throughout the Dallas area.  Ranging from the House of Blues to the Palladium Ballroom, there are always wide variety of concert tours and bands coming through Dallas. Whether it is at Gilley’s for country music or the Gexa Energy Pavilion for just about anything, there is a good chance that your favorite artist will come to Dallas.

 2.  American Airlines Center

Whether you want to go to a great concert or a sporting event, the American Airlines Center holds it all.  The center is very diverse and with a spacious area, so it can be used for a wide variety of events.The American Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, holds events year round and for a variety of prices depending on what the event is and where you sit.  You can stay updated by becoming a member of their site, allowing you to see what events are coming soon.

3.  Dancing

Like concerts in Dallas, there are numerous locations that offer dancing and even dancing lessons.   From the two-step to salsa, there is a wide variety of dances and taught in Dallas. Coppell students have even traveled down to Dallas for some lessons in swing dancing at Son of Hermann Hall, which also has live music, and country dancing at Gilley’s, which triples as a bar and concert venue.

4.  Museums

Dallas has added yet another building to its skyline with the construction of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.  The Perot Museum takes you back in time with hands on activities and unique displays that teach you aspects of nature and science through our history.  Not only can you go back learn about history in downtown Dallas, but you can also learn about art at the Dallas Museum of Art which has hundreds of pieces of art on display year round.

5.  Theater

For those fine arts lovers, there are plenty of performing arts centers and museums to keep you interested.  In the category of theater, the AT&T Performing Arts Center is incredibly popular for a variety of musicals and plays ranging from “Les Miserables” to “Chicago.”  There are a number of smaller venues that also put on shows, but to see major hits, the AT&T center is the place to go.

6.  Dallas World Aquarium

One activity available in Dallas that I enjoy greatly is the Dallas World Aquarium and the Dallas Zoo.  Throughout the year, both the Dallas Zoo and Dallas World Aquarium are open for enjoyment.  Both hold a variety of unique and common animals.  The Dallas Zoo generally holds more common animals such as elephants, lions and tigers.  The Dallas World Aquarium holds a wide variety ranging from monkeys to spiders and bats to sharks.

7.  Performing Arts Centers

Although there are numerous concert venues, there are also numerous venues for classical music lovers.  Some of these venues include the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center; which is the center that the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performs in frequently.  There are numerous other centers, also including the Winspear Opera House, which puts on popular musicals throughout the year.

Before you find yourself going to Bahama Bucks yet again or going to a movie you do not care to see, check out all the activities going on downtown.  Plan ahead for a fun night swing dancing at the Hermann Hall or see what musicals are being performed at the AT&T Center.  While you may run out of ideas within Coppell, Dallas has activities that can keep you entertained year round.