Playing Tourist in my Own City with Tea Around Town

To satisfy my wanderlust in between trips, I’ve been making more of an effort to go to local events and attractions and be a tourist in my own city. Last week, my daughter and I splurged on a city tour and afternoon tea with Tea Around Town in Dallas. This company operates double-decker bus tours with tea service in six US cities: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Booking and Arrival

I booked our tickets online a few months ago. We purchased the “Petite” package for $69 per person.

The bus departed near the old red courthouse in Downtown Dallas. My daughter and I rode the DART rail from the suburbs and got off at West End Station. The bus was just a short walk from the station and easy to find.

We arrived 15 minutes early as our tickets instructed. Passengers who purchased the $99 “Luxe” package boarded first, but since all the seats were reserved, it made no difference to us.

Most passengers dressed up for this occasion. It was fun to see some fancy hats, boas and dresses. There were no men in our tour group, and my daughter (age 14) was the youngest passenger.

After scanning our tickets, we climbed up a steep staircase to the top deck of the bus. This might be difficult for people with mobility issues, but the website says you can call to inquire about a wheelchair ramp.

Tea Around Town Experience

If Barbie owned a double-decker bus, it would look like this. The seats are pink and white, and flowers adorn the ceiling and windows. The left side has tables for two while the right side has tables for four people.

Tip: If you are going with a larger group, buy your tickets in one transaction. Tables are pre-assigned, and our tour bus had two larger groups who purchased tickets separately and needed to ask people to switch tables in order to sit together.

Everything on the table was designed to reduce spillage and slippage from the motion of the bus. Placemats kept the plates attached to the tables. Each seat had a bottle of water.

Each place also had a Tea Around Town tumbler for tea with a designated holder on the table. We got to keep these tumblers as a souvenir.

The food menu is listed on the website and varies by location.

Scones:

Savory sandwiches and deviled eggs:

Sweets:

Everything was delicious! The table next to us had the “Luxe” package which included mocktails and additional food:

We tasted six different flavors of tea throughout the tour. They all tasted very different.

During the 75-minute bus ride, our tour guide explained the history and significance of many downtown sites. I don’t go to Downtown Dallas often, and I admit I think it’s a bit boring compared to other cities. But I did learn quite a few things and saw attractions I hadn’t seen before.

In addition to the narration, the tour guide sings. Yes, they hire good singers! So we were entertained the entire time.

Toward the end of the ride, the servers offered us to-go boxes to take home anything we didn’t finish.

Overall Thoughts

I’ve enjoyed afternoon tea experiences on cruise ships and in Hong Kong, and I’m a fan. This tea experience was no exception. The atmosphere was fun and fancy, the food was delicious and the service was top notch.

Before the experience, I thought the price tag was a little high. However, after the tour, I felt like the price was justified. We basically got a lovely lunch, souvenir and a city tour plus a singing performance in a unique setting. Tea Around Town is perfect for a birthday celebration or just a day out with friends.

Is Tea Around Town appropriate for kids? Well, in my opinion, younger kids might be bored for 75 minutes on the bus. Plus the food is a bit fancy for some kids’ palates. But, the company does offer apple juice in place of tea on request. So while the tea is not geared for kids specifically, they can definitely still enjoy the experience.

I wouldn’t hesitate to book Tea Around Town in another city or even in Dallas again for a special occasion.