We're living through a moment in history when it can be difficult to find silver linings. Yet, one unexpected outcome — among many — of people locking down, sheltering in place and working from home has been the rare opportunity for a hard reset on both how they live and where. Many companies have decided to allow employees to indefinitely work remotely, making it an ideal time to pick up and move someplace new. 

Dallas, Texas, is the largest city in the nation's fourth-largest metropolitan area, when you factor in Fort Worth and the many surrounding cities and suburbs. This means nearly limitless options for finding the exact type of home, neighborhood and lifestyle that suits you best, whether you thrive in a bustling urban setting or prefer a quiet enclave with a more laid-back vibe. At Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, we have a love for Dallas that knows no bounds — having been founded there in 1960 — and we're pleased to share a few of the many reasons you'll enjoy living here, too.

The neighborhoods

When planning a move to a new town, one of the most important considerations is finding a neighborhood that checks off all the boxes on your wishlist. Do you want to live on or near a lake? On the top floor of a high-rise with the buzz of the city below? Or spread out on acres of land in every direction? Check, check, check. You'll find it all in Dallas, and oftentimes your investment will get you more bang for your buck than in other major cities.

Some of the city's most well-established and beloved neighborhoods and close-in suburbs include Forest Hills, Highland Park, Lakewood, Oak Cliff and University Park, all with unique homes of all sizes surrounded by natural beauty. If a condominium or high-rise residence surrounded by restaurants, shopping and nightlife suits your way of life better, Downtown Dallas, Uptown and Turtle Creek have exactly what you need. Or if suburbia beckons, you'll find some of the most livable neighborhoods in the United States within a short drive of Dallas.

The food

In 2019, Bon Appetit magazine named Dallas the restaurant city of the year, announcing to the world something we've known for decades: We have some amazing food and drink in North Texas. It should come as no surprise, then, that barbecue, burgers, steaks and every variety of Mexican food have a special place in the hearts and stomachs of locals. 

A person could debate for hours on the merits of each of those culinary genres as the Official Food of Dallas, but with one of the highest densities of restaurants per capita in the nation, there's no need to settle for just one type of sustenance. In fact, we recently created an entire list of the absolute must-try restaurants in Dallas to truly get a sense of the dining scene. It's a bucket-list-worthy assortment of iconic favorites, indeed. 

One of the wonderful things about Dallas is a constant hunger for anything new and exciting. Despite the challenges of the past year, dozens of noteworthy restaurants made their debuts, including the first-in-Texas outpost of Eataly, authentic and fiery Nashville chicken at Palmer's Hot Chicken, traditional Vietnamese dishes at LaVui (a spin-off from a long-time favorite sushi spot), five different kinds of lobster rolls at Yo! Lobster and impeccably crafted cocktails with food to match at Royal 38.

The outdoors

Dallas County alone has four lakes within its borders, but in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area you can escape to the scenic waterfronts of dozens of other lakes within a very short drive. White Rock Lake offers both serenity and recreation to residents of nearby neighborhoods including Forest Hills, Casa Linda, Lakewood and Lake Highlands, but it's also a destination for people living throughout North Texas, thanks to miles of walking, hiking and biking trails and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden on its shores. The Great Trinity Forest, the Trinity River Audubon Center and the Katy Trail represent some of the most popular places to connect with nature.

The arts and culture

An abundance of riches might be the most appropriate way to describe the diverse and thriving arts scene in Dallas, even as many of the most important venues slowly make their careful return to welcoming the public back into their hallowed halls. Downtown Dallas is home to the largest contiguous arts district in the United States with a variety of museums and performing arts venues serving every possible passion. The district's four major museums include the Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Museum of Asian Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

For performing arts, you can enjoy everything from symphonies and Broadway musicals to ballet and opera across a collection of nearly a dozen venues, many with spectacular architecture. Among them you'll find the Winspear Opera House, the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the Wyly Theatre. Several smaller community theaters, including Uptown Players and Stomping Ground Comedy Theater, round out the ovation-worthy entertainment options.

The sports

No matter which sports make you cheer, you'll find a local team — or several — to root for here. The Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Wings and FC Dallas represent some of the major-league options, but more than a dozen more minor-league teams also provide year-round competitions for enthusiasts.

Sports aren't just for spectators in Dallas, either. Recreation opportunities abound throughout the city for avid golfers, tennis players, swimmers and boaters, among numerous other options. You can also find several neighborhood athletic clubs for team sports ranging from flag football to dodgeball, all with a slightly higher emphasis on socializing and camaraderie than trophy-winning, but that's always an added perk.

And, yes, the shopping

To a good portion of the local population, shopping should be included above in the sports section because people here love giving their credit cards a workout while visiting some of the best shopping destinations in the world. Of course, Dallas is home to Neiman Marcus, one of the greatest shopping destinations ever conceived, with each store having its own unique personality. Beyond that, the best and brightest designers have everything from cozy boutiques to flagship stores in Highland Park Village, NorthPark Center, Galleria Dallas and West Village, as well as scattered throughout the city. And, for outfitting your home to suit your own impeccable taste, the Dallas Design District has everything imaginable to transform your house into the home you've always wanted.