Born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I’m quite familiar with the unspoken rivalry between the two cities, which are separated only by a 35 miles stretch of highway. Dallasites turn their noses up at the prospect of venturing to the city known as Cowtown, and Fort Worth natives have probably been guilty at one time or another of calling their neighbors to the east snobs.

I was reminded of this rivalry when a friend of mine visited from San Francisco this past weekend, and I forced myself out of my routine and into the role of a tourist in my own town. I had forgotten just how different these two cities really are. Dallas bills itself as the more sophisticated of the two. Always dressed to the nine, the trendy crowd visits the hoity toity nightspots on McKinney Avenue; buys pricey couture at the swank shops in the West Village; and sips Chai in uptown cafes.

They say Fort Worth, on the other hand (and other side of the interstate), is where the west begins. Its western heritage lends a different experience than its neighboring city. Cowboy boots and ten gallon hats seem to be required attire for an evening at the Stockyards; the city’s downtown feels more like an intimate town square with its brick lined streets and stately courthouse; and Texas cuisine, such as burgers and barbecue, are local favorites.

With my friend in town, my search for things to do in each of these destinations not only reminded me of the rivalry between the differing cities, but it also reminded me of the bad rap the area gets from out-of-staters who visit. Admittedly, I’d take a last-minute package outta here in a heartbeat this weekend, but, if my weekend jaunt to a more exotic destination doesn’t pan out, I’m satisfied knowing that Dallas-Fort Worth (no matter what side you decide to take) really does offer entertaining weekend pursuits. Here are some of my favorite experiences:

Fort Worth: Grab dinner on Friday night at one of the restaurants in Downtown’s Sundance Square. My favorite spot is Reatta, where you can experience fine dining, Texas-style. Make a reservation and get there early to enjoy the view of downtown from their rooftop bar. Then head to one of the bars that features live music (8.0 and Pour House are local faves). Spend your Saturday at the Cultural District or Stockyards National Historic District (and eat at Joe T. Garcia’s while you’re there!).

Dallas: Eat tapas at Café Madrid or have a relaxing dinner at Steel before heading to one of the Lower Greenville or Uptown nightspots (Quarter Bar or Frankie’s on McKinney are my favorites.) Spend the weekend exploring the Bishop Arts District, the Galleria or one of the many shopping districts, and make time for Sunday brunch at Bread Winners.

My suggestion is to spend a day or two in each location for the best of both worlds!