All aboard! Explore Uptown on the McKinney Avenue Trolley

By Lauren Adams / ladams@smu.edu

If you’re looking for a great way to traverse Uptown, take the McKinney Avenue Trolley for a ride. Cruise along on of these beautifully restored antique trolley cars for a free tour of historic Uptown, or hop on and off as you explore the city.

The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority is a nonprofit organization which partners with the DART to bring free public transportation to the uptown neighborhood.

The route, called the M-Line, connects three vibrant areas; you’ll have plenty to do and see along the M-Line, which connects the Arts District, the McKinney Avenue Corridor, and West Village.

New attractions, such as Klyde Warren Park, have boosted the trolley’s ridership, and the M-Line will continue to expand in 2013, making the trolley more attractive to commuters.

Here are three reasons you should take a ride on the trolley:

Eat, shop, and play -- Uptown has many exciting restaurants, shops, and sites. What better way to explore? Ride and dine on an Uptown Dallas Food Tour, or graze on your own schedule. Ride the trolley on your next retail adventure so you can do all the shopping you want without the drop. Take an out-of-towner along for the ride -- visitors will love seeing Uptown and learning its rich history. You can also stop off at museums, theaters, and parks. Make a day of it!

Bar Hopping -- The McKinney Avenue Trolley is a great way to get to and from your favorite spots on nights out. A fun and free alternative to paying for parking or a cab, the trolley is ideal for bar hopping in Uptown. Trolleys run every 15 minutes Monday through Thursday and 25 minutes Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Try it out next weekend -- just be sure to make other travel plans for after midnight.

Throw a Party -- Charter the McKinney Avenue Trolley for a unique special event that you won’t soon forget. For $150 per hour (for adults), you can throw a birthday party, a sit-down dinner, or a host a casual and fun business meeting. You can even BYOB!