I would most definitely recommend downloading a traffic application on your phone and checking out the traffic before you go anywhere. Dallas traffic is not consistent and is constantly changing with the time of day or the status of accidents. Even if you are going somewhere you go all the time and you think you know the way to get there and how long it will take, I would urge you to look that up before making the decision because special events or accidents can rearrange everything you thought you knew! Sometimes I save myself 30 minutes or more simply by taking the time to glance at the map. I would also encourage developing an alternative route that you can take in the event that your regular route is compromised. It also pays to be nice to others and to be nice to those that are nice to you. If someone lets you over, wave to them. If someone needs over and they don't seem to be trying to take advantage of a situation, let them over! Reward people for using their turn signal and asking nicely, or you end up with people that cut over when there isn't room, simply because otherwise they cannot get over.

There are many areas to buy a car that are flooded with dealerships. In almost every suburb on a highway you can find a mile of car dealerships with every staple you would ever want. In addition, there are more specific areas for the luxury dealerships. Specifically I live near the area off of Lemmon near the Love Field airport, but if you want some more option and space, I would recommend the stretch off of Highway 35 between Lewisville and Denton. There is more room and space to test drive cars and many options. Dallas is so large that Craigslist is also a very viable option because there are so many cars listed. I have also browsed on many websites like Autotrader. The large population here really gives you many car shopping options and a little bit more competition, and if you don't like what you see here you can also check out surround cities like Austin or Houston or even up to Oklahoma City, as they are only 3-4 hours away. Sometimes dealerships will help you find cars that are located in those cities in the event that you cannot find the one you are looking for, my parents drove themselves to San Antonio to pick up their exact truck they wanted! Fort Worth seems like a world away, and I never go there myself, but I am sure there are many options there as well.

I love that I can drive in my city and experience so many different kinds of neighborhoods in such a short amount of time. Just on my drive to work I leave my home and drive along a very residential area with beautiful houses next door to very old and small houses, and then I drive along a trendy area for restaurants and patios, next I drive along a very busy highway (while avoiding the traffic and staying off of it!). I then enter an area that is not known for it's safety and when I pass through that, I pass by some of the most beautiful and expensive areas of Dallas. All of this happens in the span of a few miles, but takes 20 minutes. Dallas is just one big beautiful contradiction and it is hard to become bored of my specific commute! It can be a bit different if you are stuck on a highway before an accident, but in general I enjoy the difference in the city, and avoid the monotony of the suburbs. I make new memories all the time, especially when I get lost and take a road I haven't seen before!

Greenville Ave. There is so much going on this road, it is great to drive on from Deep Ellum until you reach 635 and beyond. There are many cool areas with restaurants and nice houses and then more developed areas with chain restaurants or shops. It is a nice road to avoid the traffic on 75, and I just personally like it because of everything that I go to that is off of it. Some sections of it are not the best quality of pavement, but in general, it stays clear and smooth enough for an enjoyable road even with the amount of establishments that line it. It is also the road that the St. Patrick Day parade travels down making it an exciting place to be in March! Lower Greenville has experienced a resurgence in popular establishments, so it can become congested as it is one lane in each direction and there are many pedestrians, but if you are not in a hurry it is fun to be in the middle of all the action. I am sure what I think is a great road may not work for everyone but I like the reminder of why I live in my area and what is going on around me.

When driving in Dallas, it's important to keep your eye on the cars around you. The drivers in Dallas aren't the best drivers, so you need to watch out for others trying to merge into your lane or turning when they shouldn't turn.

There are many dealerships in the city and it's worth it to go out of your way to find a good car dealer. It really depends on the model of car you want. I would recommend a car with good gas mileage in Dallas. Also, it's important to not buy the *biggest* car on the lot. Many times, parking in Dallas is limited, so having a smaller car is better.

My favorite memory driving in Dallas is when I'm driving into the city. Coming from the northwest along highway 183, I begin to see glimpses of the city. I see the tips of the buildings downtown and then they disappear. As I am beginning to merge onto 35E, I come around the corner and see the city again, getting bigger and bigger. This road usually has a lot of traffic, but with the city getting nearer and nearer I keep going. Soon enough, I'm driving along the city. Then comes my favorite part. I take the exit for I45 and begin to ascend up the ramp. As I ascend I see the huge reunion ball spinning around. I go around the curve and I am within the city. As I drive through, there are tall, unique buildings on each side of me. My absolute favorite time to drive through is at night, when all the buildings are lit up. Each one is a different color, some changing color. Even though I drive this route a couple times a month, I could drive through it everyday and not get bored. Every time I drive this route, I notice things I haven't noticed before. Dallas has a beautiful downtown.

Highway 75. My favorite road to drive on is Highway 75. I love this road because it's a straight stretch, so it's an easy drive. Also there are many lanes, so it's easy to merge in and out of lanes. The last reason it's my favorite road is because the speed limit is 70 mph. Everyone is always going fast on Highway 75, so I am able to get where I need to go and get there easily.