Twenty-Four Hours in Arlington, Texas

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. That saying is still true and holds up today. For those that aren't familiar of who I am, I grew up in Arlington, which is west of Dallas. I've always spoke very fondly of where I came from and the things I loved the most about it. In the town of nearly 400,000 residents, growing up in a large city meant that places were easy to find. Arlington is the home of two professional sports teams: Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers and the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys. Their respective stadiums are basically located close to each other. I've been a fan of both teams for decades and continue to support them, win or lose. Back in February, I took a vacation to my hometown for the first time in nearly 15 years. It was an overdue homecoming for me and spent two days down there. On the second and last day of my trip, I took part in a premium stadium tour of Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers, with a group of people. It was my first time visiting this enormous ballpark. The tour lasted for an hour and a half and for the final half hour, we were led by a tour guide to the field. Kids had an opportunity to play catch, while I admired the field. Stepping foot on an MLB field was a first for me and knocked that item off my bucket list, and yes, I took pictures of the field. Since then, I've gone back home for the second time for Memorial Day weekend, spending three days there. The following is a list of things I would do in Arlington for 24 hours.

11:00am: Whataburger

Whenever I'm on vacation, I like sleeping in late at a motel I'm staying in. I have a craving for something hearty It's one hour away from being noon. As a Texan, the only fast-food place that always comes to mind is Whataburger. With over 900 locations across the Southern United States, I head to one that's less than five miles from my motel room. It's almost noon and I enter inside a Whataburger. My order is as follows:

• The No. 1 Whataburger (the five-inch burger has a single patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, diced onions, and mustard)

• Fries (medium or large)

• Medium or large Dr. Pepper

• Cinnamon roll (sometimes)

I'm wearing a Texas Rangers hat, Texas Rangers t-shirt or jersey, shorts, and sneakers while I'm enjoying this delicious meal. No matter what you order, you must have your meal with a Dr. Pepper of any size and dipping your fries in their Classic Spicy Ketchup, which is infused with a red jalapeño pepper puree, is also a must.

1:00pm: Shopping at The Parks Mall at Arlington

It's been 20-some-odd years since I've stepped foot inside of this shopping mall. After having breakfast/lunch at Whataburger, I head to The Parks Mall to do some browsing and shopping at different stores. I rarely go to the mall, but on a good day like this, I get to splurge on myself a bit.

7:00pm: Attend a Texas Rangers Game

After resting for a few hours in my motel room, I get ready to go to a Texas Rangers game. I like being at a ballpark a bit early to avoid the long lines. Since Globe Life Field is within walking distance and I'm a fast walker, I get there in time for the first pitch. My outfit includes a 2023 royal blue World Series Champions Rangers hat with the Texas 'T' in gold, a gold-trimmed Corey Seager World Series Champions jersey, shorts, and wearing a pair of Rangers socks with sneakers. I buy different food items from different concession stands before I find my seat and enjoy the game. The Rangers opponent is against their bitter division rivals, the Houston Astros. The evening is going well, and the crowd is enjoying the game. It's the bottom of the ninth, the game tied at three, two on, two outs, and Brandon Nimmo is up at bat. Down to his last strike, he hits a walk-off RBI double, and the Rangers win the game. His fellow teammates are waiting for him to get mobbed at home plate in celebration. The crowd goes wild and everyone goes home happy. I recorded the winning RBI double by Nimmo and I can sleep well tonight.

10:30pm: Return to Motel Room

After a Rangers win, I head to my motel room and order something via the UberEATS app. I order something from Taco Bell and once my order arrived, I enjoyed my meal and watched some TV for the remainder of the evening. After a while, I go to sleep.

11:00am (the next day): Check Out

After a fun-filled 24 hours in Arlington, I head to the motel office and check out. I take an Uber to the Greyhound bus station in Dallas and hours later, I head back to Arkansas. Spending 24 hours in Arlington was time well spent and essential for my mental well-being. I'll return home again soon for some fun. I'm always a Texan first and nothing more.

Where and how would you spend your 24 hours?