Mesquite, TX

You may have heard about the legendary Mesquite Rodeo and everything you've heard is true - after more than 50 years of continuous existence, the rodeo still attracts throngs of real cowboys and would-be ropers to its season. There is even a brand new rodeo building, so fans don't have to endure the sun, heat and dust of the Texas outdoors. But the thrills are just as large, the broncs buck just as hard, and the fun goes on and on.

It's not all kicked back and casual in Mesquite, either. Art abounds -- and the city doesn't hide it away in dusty museums. A local project has been responsible for placing Art Around Town that is loaned by local artists for a two-year period. Other projects include tile murals and special artistic installations in parks and near public buildings. The "Real. Texas. Festival" takes place at the Rodeo Center in the spring featuring live performances by a variety of performers as well as a barbecue contest -- food for the body and the spirit!

Traditional mesquite-fired barbecue can be found in this town, but so can a lot of delectable food choices, from Texas brisket to southern fried chicken, perfectly-done steak to "chicken-fried" with lots of gravy, fried catfish and hush puppies to hotter than hades chile sauces and salsa. You can also find Cajun soul food, sushi and seafood and breakfast food ranging from hearty biscuits and grits to healthy yogurt and fruit.

You will need a car to enjoy Mesquite, because there is no public transportation. Even though you will find you can walk about many neighborhoods, that is a limiting way to live. To get around the Dallas Metroplex, however, you can drive your car to neighboring Garland or to a relatively close-by Dallas DART (the local rapid transit) station. From there, you will have access via modern, high-speed, efficient rail to all the delights of the greater Dallas area.

There's no doubt about it. Texas in the summer is hot, and local residents love getting away to the lake or to the relative cool of green parkland. In Mesquite, there are more than 60 parks for residents to enjoy, including historical parks and homesteads that show what life was like in the early days. There are also stocked catfish ponds where entire families can drop a line and hope for the "big one," as well as numerous programs for both kids and seniors, swimming pools and recreation centers, summer camps and winter special interest groups.

Fishin' and eating that fresh catch is the third great reason to live in Mesquite. If you enjoy the outdoors, fishing and boating in nearby lakes is one of the best ways to spend after-work hours and weekends. If you don't fish yet, you may just want to learn. You'll be hooked!

Mesquite has been a Texas-sized shopping destination since 1959, when the largest, under-roof fully air-conditioned shopping mall in the Southwest opened. Now demolished, it has been supplanted by Town East Mall with more than 200 retail outlets, the Rows of Texas, a 4-mile stretch of retail along I-635, and dozens of boutiques and specialty businesses that cater to every desire.

There's a Bass Pro Shop for all outdoor and sporting needs, an antiques mall, a Shepler's Western Wear where you can get Texas work clothes or fancy rodeo duds, and Cavender's Boot City for those Texas staples.