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Fort Worth Travel Guide

Kim Croisant

Fort Worth Travel Guide

An in-depth guide to making your Fort Worth trip memorable & fun!

Here is a Fort Worth travel guide to help you journey through the city and find fun things to do in downtown Fort Worth.

Fort Worth, located in North Texas, is the 5th largest city in Texas, just short of 1 million in population, and one of the fastest-growing cities in the Lone Star State. Fort Worth is also known for its history, art, culture …and cowboys (the real ones)!

Today, the city has become known for its eclectic mix of restaurants and live music venues but has never veered from its cowboy culture, rich history, and good vibes – a great mix in my book!

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is full and wide with towns in between and shares some of the same glory – DFW Airport and the Dallas Cowboys! Here is Texas Travel Talk’s Fort Worth Travel Guide.

John Wayne Museum at the Fort Worth Stockyards

1. City of Fort Worth

The Ultimate Fort Worth Travel Guide

The city of Fort Worth is home to Texas Christian  University (TCU), Pacific Railway, Fort Worth Convention Center, American Airlines, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas Wesleyan University (TWU), many tourist attractions, entertainment venues, and the oldest zoo in Texas.

2. Must-sees in Fort Worth

15 Things you can’t leave Fort Worth without seeing.

  1. A longhorn – they are beautiful creatures.
  2. Longhorn cattle drive (every day at 11:30 am and 4 pm.)
  3. Billy Bob’s Texas – kids can go in during the day.
  4. A gunfight (it’s fake)
  5. A real cowboy – (see a cattle drive – cowboys lead the herd)
  6. Trinity River (Paradise Island is a good place)
  7. The beautiful Fort Worth Courthouse
  8. John Wayne Museum in the Stockyards
  9. A rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum
  10. Stockyard Station
  11. Buc-ee’s (I-35 & Hwy 114)
  12. Sundance Square during the holidays
  13. The General Store (Stockyards): A Texas souvenir store.
  14. Fort Worth Water Gardens – free and beautiful
  15. Joe T. Garcia’s (a Fort Worth restaurant icon) – cash only – no credit cards

Barbara Case from Pixabay

 

3. Fort Worth’s Neighborhoods

Explore Fort Worth’s Best Neighborhoods

Top Attractions in Fort Worth

  1. Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
  2. Fort Worth Zoo.
  3. Kimbell Art Museum
  4. Fort Worth Botanic Garden
  5. Fort Worth Water Gardens
  6. Amon Carter Museum of American Art
  7. Sundance Square
  8. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

1. Downtown Fort Worth

There are many great things to do in downtown Fort Worth. Panther Island on the Trinity River can be accessed downtown. Rent a kayak or another water sport, and listen to live music on the weekends. Eat good food and have fun. Downtown is entirely walkable, with many restaurants, hotels, bars, and shops.

• Sundance Square

Sundance Square is a 35-block commercial, residential, entertainment, and retail district in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. It is a walkable part of downtown and a hip place for the whole family to spend the day and night. It sets itself apart from the downtown area. Parking is plentiful; some sites are free to park if you get there early. Otherwise, there are parking garages that may or may not be free to park. They used to be free.

This area also includes many restaurants with patio seating overlooking Sundance Square Plaza (an excellent place for people-watching), many on the square, and all walkable.

• Sid Richardson Museum

A museum located in historic Sundance Square that features paintings by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell and other late 19th and early 20th-century artists who worked in the American West.

• Bass Performance Hall

Catch a play or see The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

• Fort Worth Water Gardens

Next to the Fort Worth Convention Center, you’ll find beautiful water gardens that are free to walk around.

More places worth noting downtown:

The Bookstore Bar and Cafe
T&P Tavern
The Attic Bar & Bistro – Fort Worth
Wild Salsa
The Bearded Lady
Texas Jamm Band BBQ

2. Stockyards National Historic District

The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic Fort Worth district established in 1849. It’s home to the Fort Worth Cattle Herd – a cattle drive that takes place twice daily, except Sunday, right on E. Exchange St. The drive begins at 11 am and 4:30 p.m. each day and lasts about 30 minutes. The street is blocked off from cars, and visitors can watch from the sidewalk alongside the herd as it passes through the street.

The Stockyards National Historic District is a significant part of Fort Worth and my favorite area to take friends to when they visit. The Stockyards is home to rodeos, museums, the twice-daily cattle drive, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and Billy Bob’s, among others.

You’ll also find plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars all up and down Exchange St. and Main Street.

3. Fort Worth Cultural District

The Cultural District is a collection of museums and theaters in Fort Worth. It is home to the Will Rogers Memorial Center *.

* All four places are within walking distance from one another.

** The three gardens are right next to each other, and you can pay one price to see all three.

4. Near Southside Fort Worth

A historic, mixed-use district located just south of downtown Fort Worth.

Restaurants on Magnolia Avenue include many cuisines on our continent:

This restaurant list came from Visit Fort Worth’s online newsletter for May 2023.

5. Historic Camp Bowie District

Red brick roads, businesses, restaurants, shops, and more.

6. West 7th

Dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s is a must. Cash only – no credit cards or checks. Yes, this is true. It’s been that way since day one of opening.

7. North Fort Worth

Tanger Outlet Mall – various outlet shops, boutiques, name-brand stores, and more. There is a farmers market every Saturday morning, many events, awards programs, and more.

Texas Motor Speedway – A busy place for race fans and many events throughout the year. Lots of restaurants near TMS.

Buc-ee’s on I-35 & Hwy 114 – Everyone’s Beaver is now in Fort Worth.

Alliance Shopping Center (both sides of I-35) – Lots of shops, Target, Costco, restaurants, Kroger, etc.

All attractions are located off I-35.

4. Seasonal Events in Fort Worth

There Is Always Something Happening In FTW

  1. Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (early February) – A legendary event since 1896.
  2. National Day of the American Cowboy – July
  3. Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival
  4. Fort Worth Opera Festival
  5. Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering & Western Swing Fest
  6. Lone Star International Film Festival
  7. Mayfest – first weekend in May at Trinity Park

Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

 

5. Planning Toolkit for Fort Worth

Everything you need to know about visiting Fort Worth

• Getting to and from Fort Worth

There is no shortage of ways to take you to the city – by plane, train, automobile, and bus. Public transportation is available in the city. Fly into DFW Airport. It’s an easy drive from Dallas.

• Things to do Near Fort Worth Train Station

Taking the train to Fort Worth is an option, too. TEXRail goes to the city from the DFW Airport. Amtrac transports people to the train station in Fort Worth at 1001 Jones St. Look for the soaring clock tower the train station is known for.

Sundance Square and the Botanical and Water Gardens are near the train station.

• Fort Worth Bus Station

Greyhound Bus enters the town at the Fort Worth Central Station at 1001 Jones St.

• Find the perfect stay in Fort Worth.

From cozy, traditional BnBs in historical neighborhoods to mega-hotels featuring the latest modern amenities, Fort Worth has many accommodations to choose from.

 

6. Once you’re in Fort Worth

Getting Around Fort Worth

This trendy city has public transportation options to whisk you around – from taxis to Ubers.

Renting a car and driving around Fort Worth

Wheeling your way around in a rental allows you to explore the city on your own terms. You control your schedule from the comfort of a family van or a red-hot convertible—your choice—with many rental companies to choose from.

Driving in the city is excellent—no fast-paced drivers like in New York.

Diverse flavors from every corner of the city

Fort Worth tantalizes taste buds with mouth-watering street food, local treats, and sweets, and it’s a destination renowned for its world-class culinary connoisseurs who consistently dish up five-star fare. You’ll find American food, Mexican flare, and all international cuisine everywhere you go.

Fort Worth is very diversified.

7. Things to do

Fort Worth Travel – The Ultimate Family Destination

Fort Worth has plenty of child-centered activities, from live plays to animal encounters at the zoo, dedicated children’s museums, childminding services, and full-of-fun kids’ clubs. Here are some of the favorite places to visit among locals and tourists.

Casa Manana

Casa Manana is a great venue for the family to enjoy live entertainment.

Omni Theater

A 3-D or 4-D theater that makes you feel like you’re actually in the movie. It features many films about science, art, history, and adventure.

Fort Worth Zoo

It is an amazing place to see hundreds of species worldwide and participate in lots of fun learning activities. The Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked as the #1 and #2 zoo in the nation by USA Today.

Dicky’s Arena Concert Hall

Dicky’s Arena concert hall is a great venue for seeing live music and other performances.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

It offers over 2,500 species of native and tropical plants in its 21 specialty gardens.

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame

Preserves and promotes the heritage of Texas—many stories of the old cowboys who used to roam the area.

Bass Performance Hall

Bass Performance Hall provides a variety of entertainment, including Broadway musicals, stars from the classical music world, popular music concerts, comedy shows, family events, and more.

Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge

It is dedicated to conservation through education, research, and advocacy and provides opportunities for recreation, environmental education programs, nature-based volunteer projects, and wildlife rehabilitation for injured or orphaned animals.

Fort Worth Museum of Science & History

This museum features hands-on experiments and activities that will teach you about science. Kids love it here. I would take my toddler here at least every other month when we had a museum pass. It’s worth the $75 or $100 bucks for a pass.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is the largest in Fort Worth. It features over 20,000 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and photographs. The museum has several different exhibits that change throughout the year.

Texas Motor Speedway

Texas Motor Speedway is a popular speedway. It boasts a reputation as one of the fastest circuits in the country and hosts two NASCAR races and a popular round of the IndyCar Series.

Trinity River

The Trinity River area is an excellent place to visit, no matter what time of year you’re in the city. It’s located just south of downtown and has plenty of green space for walking and biking, with lots of wildlife to spot along the way.

To get there from downtown, head south on Main Street (US 183) until it ends at Houston Avenue; turn right onto Houston Avenue, then left onto Berry Street, which leads straight into the park grounds.

Fun Things to Do in Downtown Fort Worth

So much love in the downtown area. From the Fort Worth Water Gardens to walking around Sundance Square to seeing a show at Bass Performance Hall and perusing Sid Richardson Museum, you’ll never tire of things to do. Also, there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance.

 

There are 12 TX Travel Information Centers Locations in Texas, with three closest to Fort Worth – Gainesville, Denison, or Wichita Falls coming from Oklahoma on I-35 North. There is also one in Amarillo coming from Colorado/New Mexico. If you’re coming from the south or Texas Hill Country area, stop at the one in Austin.

I hope you found this Fort Worth Travel Guide worth your while. Please let us know if you need to know anything to have a wonderful trip in Fort Worth.

If you’re in the area during the fall months – check out fall family activities in Fort Worth – most are in October & November when autumn hits us here in Texas! If you’re in Fort Worth for an extended period of time and looking for a getaway from the city, there are multiple things to do away from Fort Worth – you have to research, and you’ll find plenty.

Happy Fort Worth Travel!

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