Fort Worth Tours

Earlier this month, the Fort Worth CVB hosted six qualified culture journalists for our Press Tour focusing on all the unmatched cultural aspects found in Fort Worth. We had journalists from California, Seattle, Washington D.C., New York and London-each returned from their trip with an understanding of what Fort Worth has to offer from the amazing culinary scene to the arts represented by live performances, diverse museums and talented artists speaking their story.

The tour kicked off with a lunch at the Kimbell Buffet followed by a private tour of the museum and update on the Renzo Piano Building with Kimbell Art Museum Director, Eric Lee. We were even given the rare opportunity to see the conservation room where they are in the process of restoring two masterpieces. The journalists also had private tours of the Modern Art Museum and Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Following the tour of the Modern, there was a collaborative dinner and discussion with Jon Bonnell of Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine and Dena Peterson of Cafe Modern. Following the tour at the Amon Carter Museum, Times Ten Cellars hosted an incredible wine tasting and reception in the Carter Member's Lounge.

One of the trip highlights was of course the Cliburn 50th Anniversary Gold Medalists Concert at Bass Performance Hall where Van Cliburn made a special surprise appearance. His kind words spoken to the crowd and the outdoor reception following the concert will certainly be memories never forgotten. With such renowned cultural masterworks in Fort Worth, we had to show, too the incredible local Fort Worth arts scene. We experienced a glass blowing demonstration at Sinaca Studios and even learned the artistry and science behind making whiskey at Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company. It was a jam-packed few days of culture and culinary delight, and we know that the journalists were impressed with the offerings provided in this magnificent city. For more information about the cultural scene in Fort Worth, click here.

The North Texas Area was fortunate enough to be chosen as the host of the 2012 Japan-America Grassroots Summit. 165 adults and students traveled from Japan to DFW International Airport on August 28^th. The Hilton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth served as a home away from home for this group. After settling in at the Hotel the group ventured to Rangers Stadium where for the Japan-America Friendship Night. The 16-member youth baseball team from the Japan city of Ishinomaki were in attendance. Many of the boys were still talking on Thursday morning about how they were able to meet Ranger’s player Yu Darvish and that he made a donation to the TOMODACHI Initiative. TOMODACHI initiative support's Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011.

The next day the group enjoyed site seeing all over the DFW Area before meeting back together in the Fort Worth Historic Stockyards for the Daily cattle drive by the Herd and an opening ceremony at Billy Bob’s Texas that will keep them talking for years to come. The following morning the group took a walking tour of downtown which included: Fire Station No.1, Sid Richardson Museum, Bass Hall and iFortWorth.

After leaving Fort Worth the group will be broken into 15 groups and will be participants in a homestay program involving 15 of the cities in the DFW area. Safe Travels to all of our new friends!

If you're experiencing a bit of the back-to-school blues, worry no further, for summer fun is still around. For the FortWorth.com monthly sweepstakes, the FWCVB put together the ultimate Fort Worth staycation. Throughout the month of August, don't miss your chance to sign up to win. Included in the package is a nice combination of culture, cuisine, and some special "ME" time. This might just be our biggest package we've given away, yet so hurry to enter today! Contest ends August 30th! 

1. Admission for (2) to the 50th Anniversary Cliburn Gold Medalists Concert with the Fort Worth Symphony at BassPerformance Hall on Thursday, 9/6/12.
2. $100 gift card to Ellerbe Fine Foods. 
3. Haircut & Style + Pedicure at Moda Salon in West 7th Fort worth
4. Admission for (4) to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 
5. Admission for (4) to the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit   
6. Gift Card for a Wine Tasting for up to (10) at Times Ten Cellars-Fort Worth - Must be 21 years or older to redeem
7. Firestone and Robertson Distillery Tour for (2) - Must be 21 years or older to redeem
8. $50 Visa Gift Card 

I am currently on a world trip for a fishing scholarship awarded to me by Nuffield Australia. This scholarship has allowed me to travel through Europe and the Americas to look into different fishing methods. It is through this that I made my way to Fort Worth as it was a stop I needed to make on the One World Alliance round the world ticket.  As an Australian, when I think of Texas, I think of cowboys, and that was the stimulus to stop for more than just a connecting flight into Dallas-Fort Worth, and I am glad that I made this stop as we thoroughly enjoyed our time in this place.

-Rhys Arangio 

Don’t forget Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 17th.  Need some good ideas for dear old dad this year? Whether he's visiting you or lives here, he'll be sure to appreciate these unique Fort Worth gifts! 

1. A Texas bottle of whiskey from Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co.
2. Tickets to a Texas Rangers Game or Fort Worth Cat’s Game
3. A round of golf from Jim McLean Golf School.
4. A gift certificate from Cabela’s, for the outdoorsy Dad!
5. Dinner at Reata Restaurant. Check out their newly renovated rooftop and treat Dad to one of their world class tenderloin tamales.
6. A tour and tasting of Rahr & Son Brewery Co. Can’t make it out for a tour? Pick up Dad an assortment of Rahr Beers at Central Market: mix and match a 6 pack or pick all of his favorites!

Only in Fort Worth, can you watch seventeen Texas longhorns parade down a main street in the Historic Stockyards, and get to know the Fort Worth Herd drovers who make it happen everyday, twice a day.

Only in Fort Worth, can you and your family pick out a horse at Stockyards Stables and go for a horseback ride along the Trinity River Trails.

Only in Fort Worth, can you get a complete tour and tasting at Rahr & Sons Brewery, and afterward, enjoy some authentic Mexican appetizers on the patio of Hacienda San Miguel.

Only in Fort Worth, can you experience an intimate viewing of current productions at the Noble Planetarium in the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Now the list goes on and on in the "City of Cowboys and Culture", but you could win one of these four amazing Fort Worth experiences by entering our May "Only in Fort Worth" Sweepstakes! All you need to do is fill out basic information and answer the Fort Worth trivia question correctly to enter. You will find monthly sweepstakes on FortWorth.com, so make sure to check back often for updates and new prizes.  So, what are you waiting for? Enter today! Good luck! 

Hometown: Chattanooga, TN

Occupation: Emergency Manager, TX Air National Guard

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: I host international travelers and backpackers throughout the year. My sample tour guide starts in downtown, walking through Sundance Square, then hopping in the car or bike and heading north to the Stockyards to see the cattle drive. Then we'd head down to the Cultural District and visit the Amon Carter or Science and Natural History museum. Then we'd head down Camp Bowie and make our way to Sansom Park's overlook of the Naval Air Station to give a glimpse into our history as a military community. Then we'd head towards TCU, and then head back to downtown for dinner and drinks.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry?
I don't work in the tourism industry, but since I host international travelers, I am automatically an ambassador of the city. There's nothing greater than showing people the city I love, and dispelling the rumors about Americans by showing our true hospitality.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor?
It's a big city with a small town feel. I've lived here for 20 years, and even though our population is swelling to match Dallas', we retain our small town atmosphere.

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination?
It has literally everything you need. If you like the outdoors, you can canoe, rock climb, hike, bike, trail run. If you're an urbanite, you can can hang out a coffee shop on the Near Southside, or go shopping at a boutique in West 7th. If you're a foodie or craft beer fanatic, amazing food and a refreshing beverage is always a stone's throw away. It has a truly communal feel to it because we believe in not only our city, but ourselves and each other.

A few weeks ago, the Fort Worth CVB invited some of the nation's hottest food writers to follow us on a food tour through Fort Worth! We couldn't have done it on our own. We had the help of local foodie writer, June Naylor who knows the Fort Worth food scene like no one else. We managed a great balance of small shops and larger restaurants, some new places and those that have been around forever. Now, we don't suggest you follow this exact itinerary--we might still be recovering from all the food, but we will promise you that a visit to any of the below restaurants and venues will be worth going! Enjoy and Bon Appetite!

Day 1: The tour started at one of Fort Worth's newest hot spots, The Woodshed Smokehouse with a meet and greet with Chef Tim Love. Needless to say, the journalists were impressed with the atmosphere and amazing food. Next, we headed to Fred's Texas Cafe where we sat down with owner and outlaw Chef Terry Chandler where we had some laughs and enjoyed burgers of all flavors. Afterwards, we moseyed over to Hacienda San Miguel in West 7th where we had a lovely shaded spot on the patio and were treated to authentic Mexican dishes by Chef Hugo L. Galvan. Our next stop was Fort Worth's coziest winebar, Times Ten Cellar where we received a tasting and tour by Owner, Dustin Walker. After two hours of siestas, we were back at it again for our first night out in Fort Worth. We visited The Usual and chatted with Owner Brad Hines over delicious drinks and some plates from their food truck, Holy Frijoles! Just across the street, we enjoyed an amazing spread of tastings from Ellerbe Fine Foods; We were so happy to introduce our new friends to this innovative, fresh and fabulous restaurant! Following Ellerbe, we headed to the Fort Worth Cultural District for dinner on the patio at the Modern Art Museum. We were treated to a beautiful six-course meal prepared by Chef Dena Peterson from Cafe Modern and Jon Bonnell of Bonnell's Restaurant. This collaborative dinner and discussion was certainly one of the highlights of the tour and left everyone feeling full, happy and amazed at the culture and cuisine Fort Worth has to offer! The journalists stayed at the Hilton Fort Worth Hotel (perfect location for Main Street Arts Festival), so we had to walk across the street for a nightcap cocktail at Del Frisco's. You're probably full just from reading this, but we're just on Day 1!

Day 2: Starting the day at Avoca Coffee for a micro roast tasting was the perfect way for the group to jump back from our food comas. Red Jett Sweets Food Truck was parked not too far for us to grab try one of their famous cupcakes. We then walked over to Paris Coffee Shop, one of the oldest establishments in Fort Worth for some serious home cooking. Afterwards, we visited the oldest family owned establishment in Texas at Penderey's Spices where we were lucky enough to meet some of the family! No tour of Fort Worth would be complete without a trip to Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. where we enjoyed a tour, a beer that we watched be bottled before our eyes and some delicious tacos from Yes!Taco. We had to show off the Kimbell to our new friends and afterwards, took a stroll to Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana where we tried tamales and tequila! (Did I mention there was also drinking involved in this food tour?) After some time enjoying Main Street Arts Festival in downtown Fort Worth, the crew headed to Firestone & Robertson Distillery for a tour and whiskey tasting followed by a delectable dinner at Grace and a dessert with a fabulous view on the Reata rooftop.

Day 3: Our last day, we enjoyed breakfast at Esparanza's where we sat down with much of the Lancarte family. We even got a private tour of the wonderful Joe T. Garcia's. Afterwards, we visited with the Fort Worth Herd, shopped around in the Stockyards and filled up one last time at Lonesome Dove with Chef Tim Love. We ended on a spectacular note with a cooking demo featuring Chef Lou Lambert at Fort Worth's Central Market.

Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson are bringing something brand new to Fort Worth this May: a whiskey distillery with the mission to produce small-batch, premium spirits. Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. differs from large distilleries in many ways. For one, the whiskey they produce will be distinctly Texan. With no other major Texas-branded whiskey out there, this was an opportunity Firestone and Robertson couldn't pass up. They use Texas agricultural products such as pecan nuts from a ranch in Glen Rose, TX to gather yeast and the water used from Texas aquifers mixed with the smoky taste from the barrels aged in the North Texas climate will produce a luscious whiskey. Lastly and my personal favorite, the production of the whiskey in small batches allows them to separate and remove the "bad" alcohols that create terrible headaches and hangovers.

We recently took a tour of the Near Southside distillery, located in a refurbished 1930s warehouse at 901 W. Vickery Blvd. and it really is an amazing venue.  With state-of-the-art distillation equipment (pictured left), approx. 400 whiskey barrels (right), exposed brick and repurposed wood along the walls, large open space for events and a inviting walk-up bar, Firestone and Robertson have created the perfect modern space with an alluring ambiance.

Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. will be open for public tours and tastings as well as available for private events and wedding receptions. Follow them on Facebook for opening updates.

Whether you're an avid golfer or just starting out, there's no better time to get out on the Fort Worth courses than right now. Fort Worth offers a variety of golfing amenities and gorgeous public courses. The City of Fort Worth owns and operates five municipal golf courses, Pecan Valley, the Meadowbrooks Golf Course, Rockwood, Sycamore Creek, and Z Boaz, each with different amenities, scenery, unique layouts and desigened to challenge every skill level. Visit Fort Worth Golf Club for more ifno on courses, layouts, book a tee time or sign up for a lesson.

Pristine rolling fairways and 18 testing holes designed by America's foremost golf legend, Arnold Palmer, is found right here in Fort Worth. The Golf Course at Fossil Creek is intertwined throughout streams created by Fossil Creek, winding its way through 1,150 acres of natural Texas terrain. For another option, check out  Waterchase Golf Club, crafted out of the hills of East Fort Worth, where the combination of challenge and beauty has helped Waterchase achieve such high acclaim. A cascading waterfall between the ninth and eighteenth greens highlights the course's beauty. 

Of course, unless you are a pro and prefer spectating the sport, there's always the Colonial Golf Tournament, coming up this May 21-27, 2012. The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club is one of professional golf's classic tournaments, featuring the nation's top golfers on the PGA tour at Fort Worth's prestigious Colonial Country Club.

So, whether you choose to get out on any one of Fort Worth's fine courses or you prefer spectating at golf events, get outside and enjoy this spring weather! For more info and ideas for golfing in Fort Worth, Click Here. 

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. 

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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.