Richardson is a self-contained city, but in reality is a suburb that is part of the greater Dallas area. With a population of over 100,000 people, Richardson is a significantly sized city, and is home to some of the more well-to-do citizens of the greater Dallas area. With its primary industries including education and telecommunications, Richardson is considered an excellent place to both work and live. The most important school in the city is the University of Texas at Dallas. This large school enrolls more than 23,000 people typically. It is a research-focused institute that includes more than 50 separate research centers as part of the larger University
When to Search
If you want to expand your search to the entire Dallas area, you can look for an apartment anytime. To find one right in Richardson though, the best time to shop is between March and May. This is when you'll see notices springing up in greater quantities, allowing you to find an apartment that checks all the boxes on your wish list.
Staying in the Know
When you're applying for an apartment in Richardson, make your case for why you want to be in the area. Others will be opting for the heart of Dallas, so let the landlord know why Richardson is important to you. That will help put you ahead of other applicants who are just looking to save money by living a little further out.
Life in Richardson
Transportation
If you need to go into Dallas, the DART transit system will get you where you need to go. However, for getting around Richardson, you really need a car. The locals almost all drive. If you don't have a car, you will likely find commuting inconvenient, unless you find an apartment right beside the primary locations you need to travel to.
Where to play
East Campbell Road or North Greenville Avenue are your best bets for finding a cold drink or a great meal. Richardson is home to great Mexican food, so be sure to check out Taqueria Candelaria for some of the best. Many people head into Dallas on the weekends, especially to take in a game during NFL season, where the Cowboys reign as one of the most popular teams in the entire country.
Attractions
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is one of the most popular attractions in Richardson. There are several Alamo Drafthouses throughout Texas, but the combination of restaurant, bar and movie theatre is something that many people find incredibly fun for a night out. The Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts is certainly one of the local facilities that Richardson is the most proud of. People from throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area come to take in events at the center, and even just to admire it's world-class design and architecture. Of course, all of the attractions in the greater DFW area are just a short car ride away from Richardson as well.
Dining
Texas is filled with great Mexican restaurants, and one of Richardson’s best is Frankie’s Mexican Cuisine. The queso is legendary, and the prices are as reasonable as they get. For a high-end spicy adventure, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen brings Cajun cooking to Texas. Burger Island is a local hole in the wall burger joint that is known for great tasting burgers. There are actually a handful of well-reputed burger places in the city on top of Burger Island, including Haystack Burgers & Barley and Twisted Root Burger Co. Sushi fans tend to flock to the Sushi-Sake Japanese Restaurants for a high-end sushi experience.
Bars
As Richardson is a college town, there is certainly no shortage of bars in the immediate area. The Tavern on Main Street is a great place to go if you like a more casual feel to your bars. The patio is a great place to relax in the summer, the food is delicious, and there is live music on a semi-regular basis. If you prefer to frequent a sports bar, you can play pool, darts, and get a great pint and a meal at the Austin Avenue Grill & Sports Bar. Chase Place is the very definition of a dive bar, full of great character and a vibe that will never be replicated in a chain environment.
Culture
Car culture is a huge part of life in Texas, the North Texas Automotive Museum celebrates the car with a 70,000 foot museum devoted to classic and high-end cars. However, most of the local culture is found at the University of Texas at Dallas, which is tucked away in Richardson. The University of Texas at Dallas Visual Art displays work created by students and alumni at various points in their careers. There are also performance spaces in the huge complex that are used for other purposes, such as theatre, live music performances, and poetry readings. Again, these are typically performed by students or graduates of the University.
Events
The city of Richardson holds the Cottonwood Arts Festival twice each year in May and October. A jury curates a collection of well over 200 artists to present their work in Cottonwood Park. Each Christmas season, the entire town turns out for the annual Christmas parade, which has a history going back over 40 years. The parade typically takes place the first week in December. The Wildflower Arts and Music Festival has been going on for more than 20 years now, and is held in May. It features huge bands from around the country as well as arts and crafts display booths, great food, and activities for the whole family.
Shopping
Richardson is situated in a great location to provide access to all the kinds of shopping a person might be interested in. If you like browsing small, local shops, then staying right in Richardson, especially in the downtown area, is a great way to shop. If you like antique stores, there is a great collection of them in Richardson as well. However, if you prefer the big mall experience, you can venture further into the DFW region to hit some of the country’s biggest mega-malls, or go to an outlet center and get the kinds of discounts that can't be found anywhere else. In Richardson, if you go to Richardson Square on South Plano Road, you can find some excellent deals at the collection of stores that includes a Ross Dress for Less and Lowe’s.
Sports
As part of the greater Dallas area, there are two kinds of sports that are important to Richardson residents. Many of the locals venture further into the city to see the city’s major league teams play. The Dallas Cowboys are of course America’s football team, and most people in the area are extremely passionate about them. If you enjoy major league sports, there are also the Dallas Stars of the NHL, the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA and the Texas Rangers MLB teams to support. However, fans also get enthused about college sports. NCAA sports fans support the University of Texas at Dallas, which is located in Richardson. The program competes in Division III of the NCAA.
Outdoors
One of the best ways to spend some time outdoors when you're in Richardson is to visit the beautiful Sherrill Park Golf Course. The facility is comprised of two challenging but accessible 18 hole courses. The Richardson Trail System is comprised of more than 40 miles of trails that traverse the city. The trails are strategically laid out so that they provide good access to other parks and recreation facilities throughout the city. If you want to feel like you can leave the city behind, you need to visit Breckinridge Park, the largest in the city. At more than 400 acres, it provides a great escape from the concrete and noise of typical city life.