Some of my friends who live out of town ask me which of DFW’s malls are the best to visit when they come for a weekend of shopping. It’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 a particular atmosphere, unique combinations of merchants, and even architecture.

However, my friends would be waiting for me to answer their question and help them. As a friend of hers, I would do my best. So I will do my best for you.

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

Dallas Galleria (Dallas – Dallas area): By sheer “Wow” factor, Galleria Dallas is awesome. Modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy, its four levels exude momentum and luxury. There are one-of-a-kind high-end stores, 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 open and bright mall has it all and has the most children’s clothing merchants of any other mall.

Town East Mall (Dallas – Mesquite area): Town East is instantly recognizable for its large central structure that covers the central portion of this huge mall. The remodel in 2005 added many stores and updated the interior. Town East resembles a large wheel, with the Food Court as the 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 nearly a mile around.

Southlake Town Square (Fort Worth – Southlake Area): Although not a closed mall, its uniqueness makes it an experience unlike any other on this list. Southlake Town Square is designed to resemble a small town square, with the shops branching out into small side streets. The best way to enjoy Southlake Town Square is to park your car and take your time walking around, soaking up it all.

Arlington Parks (Fort Worth – Arlington area): In 2002, The Parks added 400,000 square feet of space, making it one of DFW’s largest shopping centers. More than a place to shop, The Parks is a place to have fun, with an ice skating rink, theaters, and a carousel. 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 to hit the mall road and have fun!