Fort Worth Attractions

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK

Occupation: Innkeeper

Ideal Day in Fort Worth:  85 degrees with light winds!

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Small enough to keep the “home town” and intimate feel, but large enough to have much to offer.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? Having the ability to bless a couple by providing them with the ultimate romantic experience.

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? That there is so much to do; it is the City of Cowboys and Culture! 

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? It is a self-contained city with diverse offerings, yet is just a short distance to many major attractions.

We showed you how to discover the Cultural District on a budget, and now it's time for some Sundance Square savings tips and how to visit downtown Fort Worth on a dime. When looking for free attractions in Downtown and Sundance Square, it is almost harder to find an attraction that does charge. This family-friendly Fort Worth area has plenty of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered by you and your family. Don’t forget to stop in our Downtown Visitor Center in Sundance Square for more savings: iFortWorth, located at 508 Main St.

Attractions:

• Bass Hall – Free tour on Saturdays at 10:30am
• Sid Richardson Museum – Free
• Fire Station #1 – Free
• Fort Worth Water Gardens – Free
• JFK Tribute – Free
• Heritage Trails – Free
• Sundance Square is always free to visit but check out their website and sign up for “Inside the Square” newsletter for additional discounts to be delivered straight to your email.

Most people eat something small for lunch and then consider dinner to be the larger meal of the day. Why not switch it up? Lunch menus often offer the same items but at a discounted price. Then check out a Happy Hour for dinner. Next time your in downtown Fort Worth, consider these dinner Happy Hours:

Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria

• Monday-Friday 3:00 - 8:00 p.m., which includes Half-price Appetizers & Pizza /Well Drinks, Draught Beer, Bellini, House Red & White Wine $3.00 (Available in the bar and lounge)
• Wednesday Night-Enjoy 1/2 price bottles of wine with items off our regular menu or specials board (4:00 - 10:00)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

• Happy Hour Sizzle, Swizzle, Swirl – The best of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse food and drinks for $7 Monday-Friday.

T and P Tavern

• Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4:00-7:00 and all day on Sunday.

Frankies Sports Bar & Grill

• Happy Hour 11:00AM-7:00PM week days
• Check out their website for daily specials!

Looking for a free way to get around? Molly the Trolley runs seven days a week from 10am-10pm. Check out Molly’s routes here! Don’t forget about Fort Worth’s brand new Bike Sharing too – there are several bike stations all over downtown for easy access! Check our out Deals & Discounts for more ways to save in Downtown!

Hometown: Shreveport, Louisiana / Fort Worth, Texas

Occupation: Guest Service Champion Holiday Inn Express Western Center

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: Whether it is with your spouse, family or friends, an ideal day in Fort Worth is to begin your journey at the Fort Worth Amon Carter Museum of American Art. There you can enjoy the different art works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell the two greatest artists of the American West and it is free of charge. You also can enjoy walking hand and hand through the Botanic Garden occasionally stopping to take pictures of the beautiful colorful plants that flourish in the garden. Very romantic. When you get hungry you must sit down and enjoy a juicy steak at the Internationally Renowned Cattlemen's Fort Worth Steak House. After enjoying your day in Fort Worth you can end your journey by checking in to the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Western Center and relax in one of our comfortable beds.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Fort Worth is a city that values its sometime wild and wooly Western heritage. It is a cultural heritage that revolves around world-class museums and art venues. There are many hot spots in Fort Worth; to name a few; Billy Bob's the world's largest honky tonk, Downtown /Sundance Square Plaza the most exciting downtown in Texas, Texas Christian University a private, coeducational university in Fort Worth and Joe T. Garcia's is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Fort Worth. Landmarks: Fort Worth Water Gardens is a unique free attraction located on the south end of downtown Fort Worth, Bass Performance Hall is the premier venue for performing arts and other attractions and St. Patrick's Cathedral was constructed from 1888-1892 is the oldest continuously used church building in Fort Worth.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? I like the ideal that I get the chance to meet and greet many people from different states and country’s. To tell them about all the great things they can do in Fort Worth and all the wonderful things we have to offer.

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? The biggest surprise I have heard visitors speak about is when they visited the Stockyards. They would always say, “I have never seen cowboys drive a herd of longhorn cattle down a street.” A city with a country feel.

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? I think the welcoming hospitality and the friendliness of the people is what makes Fort Worth different from any other destination. Fort Worth has a climate of opportunity for business, education and creativity. This is one of the reasons why my family and I decided to live here.

It's hard to think of a more felicitous marriage of Fort Worth tourist-attractions than the marvelous music making of a Cliburn Concert, set against the incomparable backdrop of the Tadao Ando-designed Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

And, sure enough, both will come together this Sunday, May 5th for an event designed to celebrate all the cultural richness that has become Fort Worth's calling card. As hosted by the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, the concert is also part of a multi-event celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, running from May 4-12.

With a welcome from no less a potentate than Fort Worth's mayor, Betsy Price, the concert will also establish quite a cultural precedent as it will be the first musical event of its kind ever to be held on the verdant front lawn of the Modern. The free, outdoor concert will feature a familiar Cliburn performer, Spencer Myer, whose concert will also act as a prelude to the Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition -- kicking off on May 24, and running till June 9.

Besides the concert, the public can gain free admission to the spectacular Modern Art Museum and a free Spanish language tour at 2pm. 

In addition to the Cliburn Concert, the host Convention and Visitors Bureau will also be giving away everything from bandanas, and sunglasses to Molly Pins (get 'em while they last) to the concert attendees. 

Some of the other upcoming activities to celebrate Texas Travel and Tourism Week include Reata restaurant offering drink specials ($5 Frogaritas all day on May 6 just by mentioning "Fort Worth CVB Travel and Tourism week"); free docent-led tours at the Sid Richardson Museum in downtown, Fort Worth; and a "Public Knowledge" event (with Elvis as the principal topic of the occasion) at the Magnolia Motor Lounge --  organized by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Details: Free Cliburn Concert at Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth this Sunday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m.

We all know that travelling can get expensive sometime. That is why doing your homework and finding the best deal is so important. Well we have done the homework for you. Take a look at these great deals in the Cultural District, West 7^th Street District and University Area.

Museums & Attractions:

-Amon Carter Museum is always FREE to visit.

-Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth - FREE to visit the first Sunday of every month.

-Kimbell Art Museum’s permanent collection is always FREE to see. Kimbell offers Half Price admission to their traveling exhibitions Tuesday from 10am-5pm and Friday from 5pm-8pm.

-You can received Half Price admission to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History with paid admission to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (visits must be on the same day).

-The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is FREE to visit.

-The BRIT (Botanic Research Institute of Texas) offers FREE Self-guided tours during regular working hours, Mondays-Fridays, 10am- 5pm and Saturdays, 10am-2pm and FREE Guided Tours Thursday at 1:30pm and Saturday at 10:30am).

-Both Log Cabin Village and the Japanese Gardens are only $5 for adults to visit.

-Monnig Meteorite Gallery - located on the Texas Christian University campus is FREE to visit. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 1pm-4pm and Saturday 9am-4pm.

-Discount Tickets for the Fort Worth Zoo are available at iFortWorth and Wednesdays are Half Priced ticket days.

Don't forget to check out Fort Worth's new Bike Share program for a easy and affordable way to get around town.This is only the beginning on great deals to be found in Fort Worth. Feel free to let us know about other deals you've found by commenting below!

“It almost feels like we’re in Austin.”

That was an observation made by my partner a couple of Friday evenings ago, as we stepped onto the outdoor patio of Rodeo Goat Icehouse, a gourmet burger-and-beer joint located near the Fort Worth Cultural District. On this warm evening, the wooden picnic tables were virtually all filled with a mix of college kids, young professionals winding down from the work week, and older grownups out for a date night. (Right now, there are chimeneas and a wood-burning stove on the patio for colder nights; and presumably come summer, the misters will be going full blast.)

Inside – which is divided between a bar at the front; casual, first-come-first-served seating with long, cocktail-height tables; and a more traditional dining area that’s open for private parties or when the place gets busy – things were just as hectic.

I could see my partner’s point: Austin has long been known for its funky, unpretentious establishments that seem to attract all stripes. Rodeo Goat, which opened last December, is one of a handful of places new to the Fort Worth dining scene that strive to capture a similar spirit.

We were big fans of the “Nanny Goat” burger, perfectly cooked to a juicy medium, and topped with herb goat cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and garlic mayo. And though it seems almost criminal to do such a thing in Cowtown, we also tried the “Neil Young” – a veggie burger with creamy avocado and a pleasantly spicy sauce. Wash it all down with a brew from one of Rodeo Goat’s expansive beer menu – it includes more than 100 options – and you have yourself a low-key, affordable night out.

And if you’re looking to sustain the hipster vibe, you can head a few miles southeast to Magnolia Avenue: Avoca Coffee, which opened in 2011, offers a sprawl of comfortable couches and leather chairs; locally roasted coffee; and handmade treats from Dude, Sweet Chocolate. Further down Magnolia is Brewed, a coffehouse / bar / restaurant  that also where at one table you'll see a group of friends knocking back beers, and at another a tortured writer quietly tapping away on his novel. 

Pehaps the best news of all: Unlike our compatriots in Austin, here in Fort Worth we don’t have to deal with chock-a-block traffic, and all those annoying people trying way too hard to be weird.

Rodeo Goat: 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday to Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Thursday to Saturday

Avoca: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday; 7 am to 5 p.m., Sunday

Brewed: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday to Wednesday; 8 a.m. to midnight, Thursday to Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday; closed Mondays

Try the spicy Caca Oaxaca Burger.

Imagine a place built around color, creativity and extreme fun! LEGO® fans - young and old - are sure to love the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center located next to Fort Worth in Grapevine Mills Mall. This is the perfect spring break destination designed to thrill the minds of children ages 3-10, where they can reach out and touch the stars in the 4D cinema, learn top LEGO® building secrets from the Master Model Builder, and discover iconic landmarks in MINILAND®.

Comment below by Friday, March 15 at noon to be entered to win a family four-pack of tickets!

(Up to two adults and two children; valid through Oct. 2013). Winner will be emailed on Monday, 3/18. 

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is a 23-day extravaganza, offering a unique atmosphere rich in tradition and history. Also known as Tarrant County's largest annual event, the Show attracts more than one million visitors each year. This year's event will last from January 18th - February 9th, 2013.

The 117-year old event is the nation's oldest livestock show, featuring over 22,000 head of world-class livestock on exhibit. The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is home of the World's Original Indoor Rodeo®.

In addition to the various livestock shows and professional rodeo thrills, Stock Show patrons can also enjoy interactive educational exhibits, nearly 200,000 square feet of unique shopping, live music, an exciting carnival, great food and much more! Experience this legendary event full of western heritage, family entertainment and lasting education each January through February at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Rodeo tickets range from $19 to $25 and will be available for:

• "Best of the West" Ranch Rodeo @ 7:30 p.m. January 18-19th
• Best of Mexico Celebracion @ 7:30 p.m. on January 20th
• Cowboys of Color Rodeo @ 2 p.m. on January 21st
• "Bulls' Night Out" @ 7:30 p.m. January 22-23rd
• World's Original Indoor Rodeo January 24th-February 9th.

Check www.fwssr.com for a complete list of times and events for the 2013 Stock Show and Rodeo. Check back on our Facebook page for a FWSSR photo contest January 2-January 14! 

The ticket office at 3401 W. Lancaster Ave. will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Fans also can purchase tickets by calling 817-877-2420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. 

The Forest Park Miniature Railroad is one of Fort Worth's many kid-friendly gems. Located next to the Fort Worth Zoo off Colonial Parkway in Forest Park, the main train depot (there are two) provides a great attraction for kids and always a great add-on activity from a day at Trinity Park, Fort Worth Zoo, Log Cabin Village or the Cultural District Museums. 

The five-mile route (35-45 minutes round trip) takes you from Forest Park to the Duck Pond in Trinity Park and back with one stop at the Trinity Park Depot where passengers may board the train if seats are available. Whether your child expresses interest in trains or not, this is a wonderful way to see Fort Worth as the train crosses six bridges over the Trinity River.

This winter, the train runs Saturdays, Sundays and select holidays: 11am - 4:30pm; weather permitting. Plan ahead by calling before your visit to ensure they are open: 817-336-3328. The Miniature Railroad accepts cash only, but is an inexpensive attraction that offers a whole lot of fun! For adults (13+), tickets are $4.00. Tickets for children (1-12; any child under one can ride on their parents ticket) and Seniors (65+) are $3.50. For more family fun attractions and things to do in Fort Worth, click here.

Bringing a group to Fort Worth? Let us help! The Fort Worth Tourism team is here to help all leisure travel groups traveling to Fort Worth. Some of the many services we offer free of charge to all groups coming to Fort Worth are:

• Happy Trails Greetings, we personally welcome your group to our city and offer a free souvenir gift to each person in the tour.
• We can assist you with itinerary planning: destination, region or stop over.
• We offer “one-stop” hotel rate quote assistance from our group and Motor coach-friendly hotels.
• With our promotional video, images, attraction brochures, maps, calendar of events, discount coupons and more, we can give you any marketing assistance needed.
• We provide group reservation assistance for attractions, performing arts and special venues.

For details on any of this please reach out to our Tourism Team.

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is ranked 4th in terms of operations and 8th in terms of passengers in the world! DFW International Aiport makes it easy for visitors to come to North Texas from more than 190 destinations! This busy airport covers more than 26.9 square miles - It's a city on its own.

Each day more than 150,000 passengers pass through DFW International Airport on their way to and from the North Texas Region. This is one of the busiest airports in the nation, with an average of 2,000 flights daily. This airport is not only beneficial to visitors but to residents of North Texas who travel for business and pleasure. With 20 airlines and just 17.5 miles from Fort Worth, DFW Airport makes it convenient to visit the City of Cowboys and Culture. 

Once your in Fort Worth, getting around is even easier. The close proximity of Fort Worth's three districts makes the city's convention center, hotels, attractions, and restaurants extremely accessible for visitors. The fact that they are located within a three-mile radius of one another, coupled with beautiful scenery, a friendly atmosphere and safety, makes Fort Worth the ideal destination. Click here to learn more about Transportation in and around Fort Worth.

Texas Christian University's entrance to the Big 12 brings about all things big: A brand-new big stadium, sold-out stands and big matchups. The TCU Horned Frogs kicked off the season in the newly renovated Amon G. Carter stadium, with a sold-out game against Grambling State. Highlights from the game included the opening which featured "Rocket Man" landing on the field, and the halftime show where the TCU band and showgirls performed along with the famed Grambling State marching band. Attracting students, season ticket holders and visitors alike, the game finished a TCU victory, 56-0.

In addition to moving from the Mountain West to the Big 12,TCU Football has a new home at the stadium after a $164-million dollar renovation. It now features additional seats, club lounge and suites, along with new escalators and elevators.

As a graduating senior, I have gotten to watch as TCU transforms and grows each year. From the Fiesta Bowl, to the impressive Rose Bowl victory, and now the entrance to the Big 12, TCU Football is always exciting. Check out WelcomeBig12.com for the home game schedule and all the big 12 weekends information for things to do and events in Fort Worth. Go Frogs!

Only in Fort Worth can you find a music festival that is named for the Norse god of wisdom and attracts artists from some of the world’s best music schools and orchestras. The Mimir Chamber Music Event is hosted by the Texas Christian University Music School. The concerts will take place in the Walsh Center for Performing Arts in the PepsiCo Recital Hall.

Founded in 1997 the Mimir Chamber Music Festival will be celebrating its 15^th anniversary this year. The festival will last two weeks and will hold master classes for aspiring pre-professional musicians. If you are not a musician but would like to enjoy the festival in the evenings guest artists will be performing. There will be five different opportunities to see exciting and unique performances by guest artists.

This year’s festival is expecting to have performances by the Chicago Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra, Winners of the Van Cliburn and Leeds International Piano Competitions, outstanding TCU faculty and other internationally acclaimed musicians. So make sure to mark your calendar and make it out to TCU to see at least one of these performances.

Hometown: Potomac, Maryland

Occupation: Distiller and Proprietor, Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co

Top Fort Worth kid-friendly activity/attraction: My girls really enjoy the National Cowgirl Museum and and Hall of Fame. They absolutely love it. Of course, after visiting the Cowgirl Museum, we inevitably make  our way over to the Museum of Science and History right next door. Grossology was a big hit a few weeks ago! They attended museum school the last couple years and have learned a ton of very cool things.

Favorite Fort Worth family memory:  There are a number, but one that immediately comes to mind is this year's Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. The day started at the Midway and then we caught the afternoon session of the rodeo. It was really fun to seem them interested in all the Western fun and appreciate this special Fort Worth tradition.

Describe your ideal summer day in Fort Worth with the kids: A great summer day for us includes waking up late, having breakfast at Yogi's, and then "craft-time" at home, followed by an afternoon at the pool, naps, and a movie night. 

Hometown: Originally from Brentwood, Tenn., but have lived in Fort Worth for 14 years.

Occupation: Full-time Mom, Part-time Public Relations Consultant

Top Fort Worth kid-friendly activity/attraction: Hands down the Fort Worth Zoo. Every time we go we see something new and different. We also love the benefit of having a family membership. It’s nice to be able to go stroll around for an hour if that’s all the time we have, or stay and explore all afternoon. I will have to say we love the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History too. You can’t beat an air-conditioned family attraction during the Texas summers.

Favorite Fort Worth family memory: One of my favorite Fort Worth family summer memories was two summers ago when we were in town for the Fourth of July. We swam all day, grilled hamburgers, made homemade vanilla ice cream and then climbed up on our second-story deck and saw fireworks displays in all directions around the city (without the loud noise).

Describe your ideal summer day in Fort Worth with the kids:  My ideal day would start early before the heat sets in. We would head to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens to feed the fish in the Koi pond. Next we might go across the street and ride the Forest Park train. It’s always fun the see the ducks and turtles sunning on the rocks in the Trinity River. After the train ride, we would meet up with some friends at Central Market to grab lunch on the patio and let the kids play on the playground. If my kids could hang, I would take them to the Kimbell Museum to see the French Impressionist exhibit (with a stroller of course). To wrap up the day it would be fun to pack a picnic with the family and head out to Concerts in the Garden to listen to music, let them dance and watch the fireworks. This is an “ideal” day of course. Realistically, we might be able to accomplish one or two of these things in a day. It’s great to live in a city with all of these options. If we couldn’t do it all in one day, we could save something for the next.

Hometown: Dickinson TX, in Galveston County. Lived in Fort Worth almost 18 years.

Hometown: Atchison, Kansas

Occupation: Hostess at Del Frisco’s Golden Eagle Steakhouse

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: My ideal day in Fort Worth would be begin with an early jog along the Trinity Trails followed by breakfast at one of my favorite local cafes, Yogis. My friends and I would spend mid-morning in the Fort Worth Stockyards where we would have a glimpse into the past by watching the cattle drive, shopping at the Stockyards Station shops, and ending with lunch at Tim Love’s Love Shack.  If its football season in Fort Worth, there is no doubt I would be enjoying a late afternoon tailgate and cheering on my alma mater, the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs!  Afterwards, my friends and I would enjoy the amazing signature cocktails at Del Frisco’s in beautiful downtown.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? It is an industry that allows you to grow professionally and personally.  I like the opportunities that it has provided me to use my talents and skills. Meeting people from different cultures and making friends and business associates is exciting.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Fort Worth is the true definition of a community.  The members of the community are well natured and show the ideal southern hospitality. The city is constantly growing yet members of the community are excellent at preserving its history. I love living in Fort Worth!

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination?  Fort Worth is different from any other destination because the city is constantly growing.  The variety of attractions provides the opportunity for a visitor to experience a one of a kind museum, a family day at the zoo, or late night dancing under the Texas stars. No matter where you are in the city there is always great weather and excitement awaiting!

We love Fort Worth. 

Fort Worth is the kind of town where men look you in the eye and open doors for women.  Fort Worth is the kind of town where you can take your kids on a bike ride to grab a burger, run a maze, and watch a cattle drive.  Fort Worth is the kind of town where jeans are accepted, if not preferred at the highest rated restaurants and museums in the city.  And Fort Worth is the kind of town where you mention you are writing a book, and people bend over backwards to help you succeed.    

Did we mention we love Fort Worth?  

Goodnight Cowtown is the kind of book that wrote itself.  We found ourselves surrounded with one of the most interesting, culturally significant, and historic towns in this country and the sweet, bedtime classic Goodnight Moon as our inspiration.  The marriage of the two was natural, and we truly enjoyed the creative process. In fact, Fort Worth has so much to offer that our only struggle was our not being able to include everything that makes us proud to call it home.  It is our hope that Goodnight Cowtown will serve as a tour guide for those new to the city, a memento for those that have to leave, and a timeless tribute for us all. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Authors of Goodnight Cowtown: Jennifer Drez (left) and Robin Bumstead (right)

Hometown: Fort Worth (Jennifer) and Midland, Texas (Robin)

Occupation: Moms, Publicists, Publishers, Distributors, oh, and Authors!

Describe Fort Worth in three words: Unique, Treasure, Incredible

Fort Worth Hidden Gem: Sapristi’s on Forest Park.  It’s like stepping into Paris.

Favorite Fort Worth Attraction: Concerts in the Garden series at the Botanic Garden.

Describe your ideal day in Fort Worth:  Our ideal day would be filled with all of Fort Worth’s family activities: from a ride on the Trinity and lunch at Joe T’s, to a day at the zoo followed by the Main Street Arts Festival.  There is always so much to do, it’s hard to pick.

Learn more about Goodnight Cowtown.

Thousands of runners are preparing for one of the largest multi-event road races in the country, The Cowtown Marathon, to take place this Sunday, February 25. Last year, Cowtown attracted 22,089 entrants including runners from 46 states and eight foreign countries.  half, full and ultra marathons are on Sunday, Feb. 26. The 5K and 10K are on Saturday, Feb. 25.

All races will begin and finish in the heart of Fort Worth's Cultural District at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, which is surrounded by five world-class museums. Visitors can enjoy nearby amenities such as West 7th, So7, Trinity Park and Camp Bowie District. Runners can choose from a 50K Ultra Marathon, full Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon on Sunday or the 5K and 10K which will take place on Saturday. Whichever route you choose, you will be alongside the historic beauty of the "City of Cowboys and Culture". 

This year, not only was the Cowtown Kids 5K awarded Youth Event of the Year at Running USA 2012, but the Cowtown just announced that Cook Children's Health Care System has joined the race as the title sponsor of the Kids 5K, which will now be known as "The Cook Children's 5K".  Whether you're a runner, jogger or just prefer to watch, The Cowtown is an event that is fun for all in Fort Worth!