New to Fort Worth | Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau

About Me

Hi! My name is Kayla Simpson and I work here at the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau as the Tourism Sales Coordinator. I get to work with groups that wish to visit Fort Worth for leisure rather than business.

I graduated from Texas Tech University in May of 2011 and moved to Fort Worth shortly after to join the FWCVB Team. Being new to Fort Worth is the inspiration for most of my blog posts. Moving to a new city is much like visiting for the first time – everything is new, exciting and a little foreign.

On a personal note, I grew up in the Heart of the Texas Hill Country in a little town called Johnson City, so I’m loving staying true to my Texas Heritage and while living, loving and experiencing life in Fort Worth!

Cattle Baron Mansions in Fort Worth

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Did you know that Fort Worth is home to not one, but two public Cattle Baron Mansions? The Ball-Eddleman-McFarland House and Thistle Hill have been beautifully preserved by Historic Fort Worth, Inc. and are available for tours or rental venues. Beautiful mansions like these were common for Fort Worthians who had made their fortunes from cattle and oil. The cattle business was a hard and rough life style so when the cattle barons made it to town they wanted to live in style. Don’t have time to see both in one day? No worries, your admission ticket is good for 1 year. You can visit one house this week and come back months later to see the second. Visit our Cattle Baron Mansions page to learn more or check out Historic Fort Worth Inc. for upcoming events and historic building updates.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Friday, May 11, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, this year you might consider giving your Mom something she will truly love! Need a little inspiration to prepare for the big day? We are here to help. Here are some truly Fort Worth ideas that will WOW your Mom! Don’t forget Mother’s Day is May 13th!

1. Mokara Spa Pedicure at Omni. Being a Mom is the hardest job I know, so what Mom wouldn’t enjoy a little pampering and relaxation time.

2. Gift card to Sundance Square. It’s timeless and classic just like her. Give Mom a gift card with options. She can shop at Barse Jewelry and Pappagallo Classiques or cater to her sweet tooth at The Cupcakery and Schakolad Chocolate Factor. Sundance gift cards have endless possibilities!

3. Brunch at The Gardens Restaurant at the Botanic Gardens or Cafe Modern. Don’t forget about Fort Worth’s Cultural District. Home to The Modern Art Museum, Nation Cowgirl Museum, the Kimbell Art Museum and much more this is the perfect place to enjoy all the beauty in life.

4. Flowers from Flowers on the Square. Take time to smell the roses or at least send some! Flowers on the Square has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor and many more! Send Mom some flowers as unique as she is.

5. Wine tasting at Times Ten Cellars. Head to West 7th to enjoy a wine tasting. At the end of the wine tasting treat Mom to a bottle of wine or two that way she will be able to enjoy Mother’s day more than just one day!

Pat Green CD Release Party at Billy Bob's Texas

Sunday, May 6, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Billy Bob's Texas isn’t just for weekends! Open seven days a week, this is always a place to go for a good time! Monday, May 7th Pat Green will be releasing his new CD “Songs we wish we’d written, II”. Guest at this party will be the FIRST in the NATION to receive his new CD! The Show Starts at 8pm. Tickets are only $15 and are available now online or at the door the day of. Each ticket also includes Pat Green’s new CD! Come out to the historic Stockyards early and have dinner at Billy Bob’s Texas Roadhouse Cafe and then stick around to see Pat Green up close and personal on the Main Stage! See y’all there!

Cowtown Chow Down

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Get ready to chow down at Fort Worth’s newest food truck park! Cowtown Chow Down will be opening May 17th! Come to the ribbon cutting at 10 am and stay tuned for more Grand Opening Weekend celebrations the weekend of May 19-20. Cowtown Chow Down is conveniently located between the Downtown Cultural District and the Fort Worth Stockyards at 1100 N. Main Street. This larger than life food truck park can accommodate up to 20 gourmet food trucks!

These trucks will have everything from sweets to pickles, pizza to Mexican and bacon to salad. You can even have your choice of seating options including covered outdoor seating and indoor climate-controlled seating! Make sure to save room for dessert because Sno-Ball Corral will be onsite serving op their famous gourmet snow cones. Cowtown Chow Down is keeping it local in the "City of Cowboys and Culture" with plans to include an area to display local artists' work as well as provide live entertainment by local bands.For more information on Dining in Fort Worth, Click Here.

Yucatan Taco Stand

Saturday, April 28, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Off the beaten path from Fort Worth’s three main Districts is Magnolia Street in the Near South Side where you will find an eclectic side of Funkytown. When my best friend came to Fort Worth for a visit from Houston we decided to have lunch at Yucatan Taco Stand. This restaurant lets you experience flavors from the Yucatan region of Mexico and is famous for having over 100 types of tequila and larger than life nachos.

Now being that it was lunch time on a Sunday, we didn’t try any tequila but our lunch was amazing! Not only was the food great the atmosphere was the perfect combination of sophistication with relaxation. With our wonderful Spring weather upon us, you can enjoy the sunshine from Yucatan’s patio or enjoy the view from an indoor booth. Open 7 days a week Yucatan Taco Stand should be on everyone’s “to try” list.

Prairie Festx3

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Prairie Fest is back and 3 Times better than before! This year’s Prairie Fest isn't one, but three festivals throughout the Spring. Prairie Festx3 will be on the last Saturday of May, April and May: March 31st, April 28th and May 26th from 4pm-dusk. Grab the family and head out to Tandy Hills Natural Area located at 3400 View Street for a great time! You're probably thinking, What is Tandy Hills Natural Area? Well, Tandy Hills is a 160-acre indigenous remnant of Fort Worth prairie located in the heart of Fort Worth. The land was obtained by the City of Fort Worth Parks Department in the 1960s and designed to be a “natural area” in 1987. In 1990, the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge has taken over the management of Tandy Hills.

Prairie Festx3 is the annual fundraiser for Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area where you can enjoy live music starting at 4-8pm, all on a 100% Solar-Powered stage! The Tandy Hills area is known as one of the best places to see wildflowers in North Texas, so bring your camera, and check out one of the naturalist-guided Prairie-Wildflower Hikes from 4-6pm. There's plenty of space to enjoy the great outdoors whether you're kite-flying, Frisbee throwing, dancing, picnicking and much more!

Don’t forget about the local grub that Prairie Fest will be serving up! Chadra Mezza & Grill will be offering samplings of Mediterranean style food and The Good Karma Kitchen will be serving you vegetarian and vegan options from Lucy, their famous food truck! Rahr & Son Brewing will also be serving up Fort Worth beers and ales from the Chadra tent.

Frontier Forts Day in the Fort

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Get ready for Frontier Forts Days which will be held May 11th-12th in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. The Stockyards will be transformed into a truly

authentic representation of frontier life in Texas.

Exchange Avenue will be filled with encampments of historic fort sites from the Texas Forts Trail. There will be authentic wagons, flags, music, colorful uniforms and military gear from Texas landmarks to represent frontier-era life. You won’t want to miss the Infantry, artillery and cavalry demonstrations or the military parades that will take place that weekend.

So grab your friends and family, and come to the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District May 11th-12th to experience the true Texas Frontier Life.

Brewfest on Crockett

Friday, March 30, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Fort Worth was recently recognized for the TOP 10 Best Music Scenes by Livability (outside of LA, NY and Nashville), and for good reason! Not only are we home to the Annual Fort Worth Music Festival and great venues like Billy Bob's Texas, Bass Performance Hall, Scat Jazz Lounge and Lola's Saloon, but we have some amazing local talent! Take this Saturday for example: Brewfest on Crockett is a celebration of brewing and live music to take place March 31st from 5pm to 10pm in the West 7th District. Special performances by The Gourds, Calhoun, Luke Wade, Maren Morris, Derek Larson & the Leavers, and Michael Donner will be taking place on not one, but two live stages! This is a FREE event! It will be held on Crockett Street between Norwood and Currie at West 7th. $4 craft beers will be for sale at cash booths located along the streets not to mention many West 7th Establishment Specials! The weather looks perfect this Saturday, so hope to see you there for a fun evening at West 7th!

For more info, Click Here.

Kid's Audio Tours Available at the Kimbell Art Museum

Monday, March 19, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Have you been to the Kimbell Art Museum Lately? Known as "America's best small museum," the Kimbell offers a world-class collection of art, with masterpieces from antiquity to the 20th century, including works by El Greco, Cezanne, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Matisee.

Did you know that the Permanent Collection is always free to view? Next time you decide to visit you, should try out one of the audio tours. They even have one for kids now! This fun new audio tour can make art fun for kids of all ages. The paintings come to life and tell you their story.

The Museum also regularly hosts major traveling exhibitions. The newest one being “The Age of Impressionism”, which opened on March 11th. Come and see six Claude Monet originals up close! Make this part of your must see list before the exhibit leaves on June 17th.

Pardon the construction as the Museum is making room for more amazing art to visit Fort Worth. The Kimbell building was designed by the great American architect, Louis Kahn and is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding public art facilities in the world. The expansion is expected to open in the fall of 2013.

The Kimbell is not only home to world class art but world class cuisine as well. Next time you’re visiting plan on stopping for lunch at the Buffet Restaurant at the Kimbell Art Museum. Perfect for a casual get together with friends or a relaxing afternoon!

The Fort Worth Zoo Run

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

A few weeks ago I went to support my friends, who were running in the Cowtown Marathon. I had never been to a marathon, so I had no idea what to expect. What I found was one of the most uplifting events I have ever been to. People cheering on people they have never met before and friends encouraging each other to “finish strong”. This was quite the inspirational experience!

The Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau forms a team each year for The Zoo Run. Needless to say, I was excited to be involved. The Zoo Run is Saturday, April 21st and benefits the Fort Worth Zoo’s local and international conservation and education efforts. Participants can run, walk or jog in the 10K, 5K, or 1K race. Now, I will be the first one to admit that I am not a runner, but I am a proud power-walker! So, whether you run, walk or just want to cheer on some friends, come out and support the Fort Worth Zoo Run!

Click Here to Register!

Visit the C.R. Smith Museum this Spring Break!

Monday, March 12, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Don’t have time to fly somewhere this spring break? Well, then check out the next best thing: the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum. This interactive museum takes visitors on a trip through American Airlines History. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the museum’s hundreds of historical artifacts, photographs, full-scale aircraft engines and a rare Douglas DC-3 airliner. Make sure you catch their current exhibit, From Here to There, running till May 12th which breaks down physics so that it’s easy and interesting to understand. Gravity, friction and laws of motion have never been this exciting! Ride a hovercraft, float a boat or launch a hot air balloon with hands-on exhibits that explore how things move by land, sea and air.

Don’t forget about Saturdays at the Smith. Each Saturda,y several movies are featured in the C.R. Smith Museum Theater on the giant screen.

Spring Break Idea #10: FW Nature Center & Refuge

Thursday, March 8, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Get out of the house, be active and enjoy the great outdoors! This spring break check out the best kept secret in Fort Worth – the Fort Worth Nature

and Refuge Center. Check out the canoe & kayak tours or take a hike and learn about wildflowers or nature at nightfall. Want to learn a little more about the world around you? Enjoy many of the fun, hands-on classes like “Aromatherapy, The Power of Plants” or learn about birds in “Bird Song”. Just in need of some fresh air? Enjoy over 20 miles of trails or even go to Prairie Dog Town.

I spent half of Saturday enjoying the fresh air during one of the canoeing tours. Don’t worry, beginners and pro canoe-ers alike will enjoy this tour. Don’t have a canoeing buddy? Come anyway, and you will be paired up with one of the expert volunteers! This is a great way to learn about the critters that call Fort Worth home. Speakig of, did you know Fort Worth is the Northern and Western Most point in the United States that Alligators naturally live in? You'll learn many fun facts like this to take home with you.

The Fort Worth Nature and Refuge Center is a great place for the entire family to enjoy the great outdoors this spring break! Find more spring break ideas here.

Spring Break Idea #1: Grossology

Monday, February 27, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

It’s stinky, slimy and crusty and so much fun! The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History's new exhibit, “Grossology, The impolite Science of the Human Body” opens February 25th and runs through September 3rd. This interactive exhibit is fun for the whole family! It has everything from a life-size Operation Game to a jungle gym that takes you through the whole digestive process. You’re sure to learn something new and have a blast! Meet characters such as Nigel Nose-It-All and Burp Man to learn about why our body acts the way it does. Kids will have so much fun, they'll hardly realize they're learning!

This exhibit should be on every one’s To-Do list for Spring Break 2012 in the "City of Cowboys and Culture"!

The Races are Coming!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

It’s getting closer to that time of year again, when there is a rumbling of engines in the air and North Fort Worth gains a city within a city at Texas Motor Speedway. I have been out to the Speedway for a tour since moving to Fort Worth and I have to say, I’m very excited to experience my first race day in person! The race season will kick off on April 12-15th for the Samsung Mobile Weekend, which will have the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 & Samsung Mobile 500 races.

O’Reilly Autos Parts 300 is part of the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Samsung Mobile 500 is part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Fort Worth is only one of many stops these two series will make, but don’t let that stop you from coming each race is sure to be a unique and exciting event!

Texas Boys Choir

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

I had the pleasure of going to the 2012 TMEA – Texas Music Educators Association Annual Conference in San Antonio last week. Exhibiting with me with were Texas Boys Choir and Roadrunner Charters. I don’t know that I fully understood what the Texas Boys Choir was until this Conference. The Texas Boys Choir is at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts which is a public Charter School in Fort Worth for students grades 3-12. Students must audition to be accepted into the small class sizes. Every student at the school studies a fine art such as choir, theatre, instrumental, a variety of art classes, and dance.

These students are given a tremendous opportunity by being accepted to the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. The Texas Boys Choir performs locally, nationally and internationally. These students are about to have the opportunity to travel to Argentina in May 2012! Click on the link to learn more about the performing arts in the "City of Cowboys and Culture".

The Science Behind Beer

Friday, February 17, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History never ceases to amazing me! With amazing exhibits and stellar programs, there's always something fun going on at the museum for everyone to enjoy! On the first Tuesday of every month, they put on “PUBlic Knowledge”. It I a chance to learn about current science topics, local and national history and other brainy subjects, all while enjoying a local bar or restaurant. I personally can’t wait until the March discussion about “Fort Worth: The Hottest Music Scene in Texas” at Magnolia Motor Lounge, and what better venue than one of the best live music hot spots in town! The FWMSH has gone to great lengths to make sure that these discussions are nothing like the one-sided lectures that (may have) put you to sleep in school. These are informal discussions lead by local Fort Worth experts who welcome feedback and participation. Come thirsty, Come Excited – Happy Hour Starts at 7pm! Hope to see you all there!

Learn more about the museums in the "City of Cowboys and Culture"!

Fire Stations Aren't Just for Firefighters

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Fire Station No. 1, located in Downtown Sundance Square is not your run-of-the-mill fire station. This historic fire station is now home to a museum which preserves over 150 years of Fort Worth History.

The photo on the left is of one of the original Rodeo Queen outfits you can view on display at the station. As a past rodeo queen, (from another county) I thought this was particularly interesting considering my outfit back in 2004 looked nothing like this. It’s truly amazing to see treasures like this that have been preserved for us to appreciate today and see how our Western heritage has evolved!

For those that don't know, Fire Station No. 1 is part of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History which is another of my favorites. Previously known as the Children's Museum, this museum is a whole lot of fun for more than just children! In fact, I cannot wait until the FWMSH opens their new exhibit, Grossology. “Grossology: The (impolite) Science of the Human Body” opens February 25th, so mark your calendar! It will be the perfect place to take the kids during Spring Break, and I know the parents will have just as much fun as the kids.

Stock show is more than just Entertainment

Monday, February 13, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has been a part of Cowtown's history for 116 years. People from all over the world come to see this unique event which lasts for almost an entire month. This year, attendance was over 1 million visitors from around the globe. What many visitors fail to realize though, is that the Stock Show portion is actually a tremendous scholarship opportunity for Texas teens. Participants work with their animals year-round to get them ready to show.

I was especially excited for this year’s Stock Show because I was finally given the opportunity to see my cousin, Laurel ride in a competitive setting. Pictured left is Victoria Alexander, Laurel Gigliotti, Bling and Blue Jeans (Horse), Bailey Anderson & Landri Wienecke – all Fort Worth area teens. Laurel, Victoria & Bailey all competed in the Youth Quarter Horse Competition, and Landri showed a steer and a pig. Bailey won the Reserve All Around in the 14-18 age Youth Quarter Horse competition on her horse, Oh What Potential. Laurel won All Around in the 14-18 age Youth Quarter Horse competition & the Novice High Point on her horse, Bling and Blue Jeans for a winning total of $4,000 in scholarships!

Cuatro Schauer brought in the big win with his Grand Champion Steer which sold for $230,000. Now that’s a lot of scholarship money! Participating in the Stock Show isn’t for everyone – participants put in a great deal of time, energy and resources. The Fort Worth Stock Show not only benefits participants now, but helps them prepare for the future! Congratulations to these Texas teens and to the FWSSR for another successful year!

Old Home Supply House for you New House

Thursday, February 9, 2012 by Kayla Simpson

Whether you are moving into a new home in Fort Worth or renovating your home of twenty years, you are sure to find the perfect touches at the Old Home Supply House. Located in the Historic Fairmont District, just south of downtown Fort Worth, this shop is home to many architectural antiques like claw-foot tubs, pedestal sinks, and so much more! They have a fabulous selection of antique light fixtures, doors, mantels and hardware. If yo're looking for the perfect touch to make your home unique, the Old Home Supply House is definitely worth a visit!

Don’t forget to check out the Garden area across the street for some one of a kind pieces that are will have all your neighbors jealous of your yard! For more information on shopping in Fort Worth, Click Here.