Fort Worth is a city full of fun, history, and food. My family and I love exploring Fort Worth! There is so much to do in this city and the people who live there are so friendly. Fort Worth feels more down to earth and less like a big city compared to its close neighbor, Dallas. Every time we visit we find something new that we didn’t know was there. Let’s dive into some of our favorite things that we have experienced so far.
Fort Worth Water Gardens
I have been going to the Fort Worth water gardens since I was a little girl. There is nothing quite like walking down the “active pool” with water flowing down all around you and hearing the rush of the water. As you descend the stairs of the active pool, which are big blocks of concrete with spaces in-between them, the noise increases as you become fully surrounded by water. It is truly an unique experience. Take caution as there are no handrails to hold on to as you are descending.
At the Fort Worth Water Gardens, there is also a quiet pool and an aerated pool. The quiet pool is what you would expect, a still pool allowing you a quiet place to reflect surrounded by high walls and trees. The Aerated Pool has 40 small sprinklers that our beautiful to look at and enjoy. There is also a concrete “mountain” that you can climb in the middle of the park. If you climb it to the top, it will take you 20 feet above the ground. The mountain also takes you to the one grassy area in the gardens, the stage and lawn. Although I have not seen it, they also have special lighting that comes on at night to highlight the pools.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens are located at 1502 Commerce St. Fort Worth. If you are staying at the Omni Fort Worth hotel, it is conveniently located across the street. Otherwise they have metered street parking that you can use when you visit the gardens. One rule you will need to follow while visiting is that you are not allowed to swim in any of the water. You will also want to carefully watch little ones that visit with you. It is easy to fit in a visit to The Fort Worth Water Gardens as they are open from 6am-10pm everyday making it a fun activity to add to your list.
Fort Worth Zoo
The Fort Worth zoo is a must visit, especially if you have children. There are so many different animals and habitats to explore. We have visited several times and have enjoyed our visit each time. Some of their exciting exhibits include Predators of Asia and Africa, Elephant Springs, African Savanna, Australian outback, and my favorite animals, the penguins. There is something for everyone here! It’s a great way to spend time outdoors!
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
We visited the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in January when there were not any flowers blooming, but we still had a great visit! When we visited, they had these fun flower sculptures throughout the gardens and also some animatronic dinosaurs. The botanic garden has a rainforest conservatory when you first enter the premises, off to the side. It was neat to walk through here and it is also indoors. It has an easy to follow path throughout the garden. They also have multiple gardens outside throughout the grounds. The Japanese garden (we loved seeing the Koi fish!), the rose garden with its beautiful landscaping and fountain, and the Adelaide Polk Fuller garden were all some of the highlights of our trip to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. I hope to be able to go back during the spring and see the gardens in bloom!
HG Sply
HG Sply is one of my husband and I’s favorite restaurants. The location in Fort Worth off of River Run Road is especially nice. They have a great patio that is located right on the trinity river. This location is also located right next to the Fort Worth zoo and would be a good choice to go to before or after a zoo visit.
One of the things I love about this restaurant is how conscientious they are about food allergies. They have always asked me whether or not I had any allergies and have guided me through what I could order.
My favorite appetizer to order at HG Sply is the HG Cashew Queso! This is on the Happy Hour menu, making it half off between 3pm-6pm, Monday – Friday.
We have also enjoyed the crispy campfire chicken sandwich and several different bowls where you can pick which meats and sides you would like added. My husband loves the salmon but they have all been delicious!
Rooftop Cinema Club
The Rooftop Cinema club is located on the terrace at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth. Parking is conveniently located in the attached parking garage and is $10 to park after validation. You can easily access the rooftop from the parking garage.
When we arrived, we checked in and received our headphones to listen to the movie as well as the hot chocolate that came with our package. They also offered other concession food items you could order. Rooftop Cinema Club has done a great job of setting up a cute area to be able to hang out and take pictures with your group. If it is a nice day out, its a great spot to come a few minutes early and spend time together enjoying the surrounding views.
There is a conveniently located restroom inside the Worthington hotel that is a short walk away. It is well maintained and beautiful inside. I was unsure what restrooms would be available so I was grateful to have such nice ones available.
The seating is first come first serve so you will want to get there a few minutes early to be able to select your seats. Depending on the weather, you may have a heater next to you like we did if it is a cooler evening. We loved being able to enjoy the sun setting as the movie was starting, have the warmth of the heater next to us while drinking our hot chocolate, and enjoy the movie together. The only drawback was the lack of a foot stool for your feet. That is the one feature I would like to see added in the future. All in all we had a great experience and look forward to going back one day.
Explore the Historic Stockyards
A visit to Fort Worth is not complete with out a visit to the Stockyards. There is fun shopping, restaurants, history to see and explore, Billy Bob’s, and of course the Rodeo! There is also a cattle drive that happens at 11:30am and 4pm everyday that you can’t miss. You will want to get out and explore this piece of Texas history.
Go to a rodeo
If you can fit it in your schedule, a visit to the rodeo is one of the most Fort Worth things you can do. They are held most weekends at the Cowtown Coliseum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. They also are held at the Dickies arena during select times throughout the year. If you have never seen a rodeo, you will want to add this to your itinerary. If you have seen one, you will still want to add it as it is such an iconic piece of the culture of Fort Worth.
Joe T. Garcia’s
Joe T. Garcia’s is one of the famous restaurants to visit in Fort Worth. They have a simple menu but it is delicious, They also have an extensive and beautiful patio. Joe T. Garcia’s can get very busy but thanks to their patio, they can host a lot of people. We have been several times and let me tell you, the portions are huge! My husband and I both ordered our own fajitas last time but we will be sure to split them next time!
Whether you go at lunch or dinner, their menu will be slightly different. You can check out your options here: https://www.joetgarcias.com/menu . When considering when to go, first evaluate the time of year you will be visiting Fort Worth. If it is in the summer, you will either want to wait until the sun has gone down or choose inside seating due to the heat. I highly recommend the patio though! If it is in the winter, they do have heaters that help keep you warm if you decide to sit outside
Fort Worth Museums
There are many museums to visit in Fort Worth including the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. We have not been to all of these museums but we have been to several. My favorite so far is the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. What’s great is that it is FREE to visit on Friday! The Kimbell Art museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and the Sid Richardson museum at Sundance Square are all free to visit for the permanent collections! These museums may have special exhibits that you can pay to visit. You can truly spend a whole day enjoying all the museums that Fort Worth has to offer!
Morgan’s Ice Cream
Morgan’s Ice Cream – We love Morgan’s! They are gluten and dairy free friendly plus they have regular ice cream so everyone in your party will have something to eat! We went our first night on our weekend trip and then we made sure to go back! To learn more about them, check out my article here on Morgan’s https://suitcasesandsalt.com/my-favorite-ice-cream-shop-in-fort-worth-texas/
Airfield Falls Trailhead to waterfall
The largest natural waterfall in Tarrant county is located very close to downtown Fort Worth. The trailhead starts with a unique park that contains portions of a McDonnel Douglas C-9 aircraft.
The trail is well paved and the waterfall is a short distance away from the trailhead. When we visited there were several photographers there getting pictures. It was a serene and beautiful environment. They have carefully placed benches for those who wish to sit and enjoy the view.
The paved path continues on for quite a ways but once you pass the waterfall, there is not much else to see. We continued on the trail for a bit but then decided to return as the waterfall and the entrance to the trail are the highlights of this attraction.
If you are looking for a short walk among nature, this is it!
Fort Worth has such a diverse list of places to visit and things to do. We have loved every visit and we look forward to hearing about the place you enjoy when you go!all
Visiting North Texas and looking for other places to go? If your here during the summer, check out Ham Orchards! https://pepperandpassports.com/top-5-things-to-do-at-ham-orchards/
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