Some of my friends from out of town ask me which of the DFW malls are the best to visit when they come to shop on the weekend. That’s like asking, “Which of your children do you love the most?”

I like them all.

It’s hard for me to choose, as each one has its own particular atmosphere, unique combinations of merchants, and even architecture.

However, my friends hoped that I would answer their question and help them. As his friend, he would do his best. So I’m going to do the best I can for you.

We looked at things like the architecture, the variety of merchants, the number of perimeter stores, but I also considered the “WOW” factor. It’s about a experience, not just shopping. So here’s our take on all 6 You should see shopping malls DFW shopping malls; 3 in the Dallas area and 3 in the Fort Worth area, in no particular order:

Dallas Gallery (Dallas Area – Dallas): For its sheer “Wow” factor, Galleria Dallas is impressive. Modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy, its four levels exude momentum and luxury. There are high-end upscale shops, but also a good range of mainstream merchants.

Stonebriar Center (Dallas – Frisco area): Stonebriar may have the most interesting exterior architecture of any mall in DFW. This bright and open mall has it all and has the most children’s clothing merchants of any mall.

east city mall (Dallas – Mesquite area): Town East is instantly recognizable by its large central structure that covers the center portion of this massive shopping center. The redevelopment in 2005 added many stores and updated the interior. Town East resembles a large wheel, with the Food Court as its central hub.

vine mills (Fort Worth – Grapevine area): Grapevine Mills has more merchants than any other mall in DFW – 237 of them! If you can’t find it here, it’s probably not done. Wear comfortable shoes, as the rectangular esplanade is almost a mile in all directions.

Southlake Town Square (Fort Worth – Southlake area) – Although not a gated mall, its uniqueness makes it a unique experience on this list. Southlake Town Square is designed to resemble a small town square, with the shops branching off into small side streets. The best way to enjoy Southlake Town Square is to park your car and take your time to walk around, soaking in it all.

The parks in Arlington (Fort Worth – Arlington area): In 2002, The Parks added 400,000 square feet of space, making it one of the largest shopping centers in DFW. More than a place to shop, The Parks is a place to have fun, with an ice skating rink, theaters and a carousel. The traffic around The Parks can be heavy at times, but the trip is worth it.

Here are our top 6 recommendations – now is the time for you to hit the mall and have some fun!