Nestled in Fort Worth’s Cultural District is the neighborhood of Monticello. “Just north of the museums and west of the West 7th area,” explains Erin Lynds, who lives here with husband Ross (a retina surgeon) and their children, Robin, 9, Jay, 7, and Callum, 2. Lynds, an editor in educational publishing, says their community offers a never-ending list of places to go and things to do.
Favorite Family Restaurant: For breakfast, we love to walk to Pearl Snap Kolaches. It’s just down the street, dog-friendly, and there’s a huge chalkboard wall for the kids to draw on. For lunch or dinner, we love Rodeo Goat, Austin City Taco, Heim BBQ and Maestro Tacos; all have great patio seating and are casual enough to bring three kids but also offer amazing food.
Best Park: Monticello Park! There’s a wonderful playground, tennis courts and a large open space to run and play. It’s well-shaded, and we can walk there. We always see someone we know. 3505 Dorothy Lane N., Fort Worth; 817/392-5700
Favorite Family Outing: Visiting the Fort Worth Botanic Garden is our go-to family outing, especially in the last year when it was a safe place to go. Visiting the museums is also a family favorite; we love living close enough that we can pop in for an hour or two. While not as much of an option right now, but coming back soon, we also love going to shows at Casa Mañana. We are also able to walk to Monkey and Dog Books, an amazing little bookstore at the corner of our neighborhood. Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth; 817/463-4160; Cultural District museums; Casa Mañana Theatre, 3101 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth; 817/332-2272; Monkey and Dog Books, 3608 W. 7th St., Fort Worth; 817/489-5747
Go-To for Going Out: Gemelle! Gorgeous setting, delicious food and great drinks. We also like to walk to Winslow’s or Righteous Foods for a brunch date, Hatsuyuki for a lunch date and Clay Pidgeon for dinner. Maple Branch and Blackland are our favorite spots to grab a drink with friends.
Self-Care Spot: I love to get my nails done at Skyline Nails, go for a long walk with a friend on the Trinity Trails, and browse all of the gorgeous plants at Grow. Skyline Nails & Spa, 501 Carroll St., Suite 624, Fort Worth; 817/885-7333, search Skyline Nails & Spa Downtown Fort Worth on facebook.com; Trinity Trails, multiple locations; Grow Plant Shop, 4800 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth; hello@growplantshop.com
Where They Get Active: We love to bike, walk and scooter in our neighborhood and on the Trinity Trails. Multiple locations
For Cooling Off: We love cold treats from Curly’s Frozen Custard and Funky Munky Shaved Ice. Curly’s Frozen Custard, 4017 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth; 817/763-8700; Funky Munky Shaved Ice, 4449 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth; 817/382-8226
How They Give Back: We love our neighborhood elementary school—North Hi Mount Elementary, where my oldest two children attend—so we spend a lot of time volunteering at our school, particularly through the PTA. I also serve as the secretary of the Monticello Neighborhood Association. North Hi Mount Elementary PTA; Monticello Neighborhood Association
Why Monticello is Great for Families: Monticello is a beautiful, friendly community surrounded by hundreds of wonderful local restaurants, businesses and museums. We have a wonderful community of neighbors, a fantastic school community, and we will never run out of places to go.
How She Met Her Mom Friends: We moved right before my oldest daughter started kindergarten, so I met most of my mom friends through PTA.
This article was originally published in July 2021.
Photo courtesy of Glow Photo Studios
