When Stephanie Lynch and her family moved to Texas, they wanted to live in Fort Worth’s TCU-area Tanglewood neighborhood so much that they were willing to wait. “We rented for a year because there were no houses on the market,” Lynch shares. “We actually got the house we bought by putting letters in lots of mailboxes!” Lynch and husband Kevin have five children—Brooks, 12, Ashton, 11, Case, 8, Banks, 6, and Berkley, 5. Lynch just launched a shaved ice business—“We love snow cones,” she explains—called Rodeo Sno. Check it out on Instagram @rodeosno.
Favorite Family Restaurant: Oh my goodness! There are so many it is hard to choose. I would say our favorite family breakfast place is Yogi’s Deli & Grill. They have the best pancakes, French toast, omelets and bagels. My kids love eating there. I’m not going to lie—I usually order two full items off the menu for “just a taste” of everything! Their portions are huge, and the staff is so sweet to my kids. Yogi’s is family owned, so it just feels like home.
We also frequent Charley’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers. Charley’s is mostly outside. The kids love this little green space they have that has yard games and things to climb on. Being at Charley’s is like being on a date; the kids play and the parents can chat. Everyone is happy. It is also super helpful that their burgers are delicious. Yogi’s Deli & Grill, 2710 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth; 817/921-4500; Charley’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, 4616 Granbury Road, Fort Worth; 817/924-8611
Best Park: Dream Park, hands down! It is a hop, skip and a jump from my Tanglewood neighborhood and has so many things to do for all ages. My kids frequent the zip line, the roll slides, playing hide and seek in this big castle-like structure, and of course the swings. There is a fence around the playground and only one way in and out, so I don’t find myself fearful of losing my kids or them running into the street. Also, the ice cream truck can be spotted there from time to time, which is always a plus for my little people.
Overton Park is the heart of the Tanglewood neighborhood. This is the park that we go to all the time. The kids can ride their bikes around the running trail, play on the playground, run around on the green space, play basketball or just explore. I personally love that it is right across from Tanglewood Elementary and a great place for neighbors to see each other and get to know one another. Dream Park, 2001 University Drive, Fort Worth; 817/392-5700; Overton Park, 3500 Overton Park Drive E., Fort Worth; 817/392-5700
Favorite Family Outing: Last summer one of my good friends introduced my family to Airfield Falls. It is right by the entrance to the Naval Air Station. You walk down this unassuming path and then out opens this amazing water hole. The littles can splash around super shallow water while the big kids climbed up the falls, explored all the cool rocks, or just floated around. The hike back is pretty fun as well. We had the best time! 200 Pumphrey Drive, Westworth Village
Go-To for Going Out: 97 West is a new restaurant in the new Drover Hotel that has now been added to the date-night list. My husband Kevin and I just went with some friends. Amazing would be an understatement. There is western chic decor, drinks, food, patio, atmosphere—it has it all! Reservations are about a month out, so you have to plan ahead. 200 Mule Alley Drive, Fort Worth; 682/255-6497
Self-Care Spot: Self-care is so important for moms but so hard to do. When I can, I go play tennis with friends on the Overton tennis courts or at Colonial Country Club. There is just something about hitting a ball as hard as you can that makes everything better. And having Sort The Fort come over and organize your closet and your life is very recharging. Overton tennis courts, 3500 Overton Park Drive, Fort Worth; 817/795-4015; Sort the Fort; 817/896-9677
Where They Get Active: Half the family runs, and the trails around Tanglewood are great. I just started, but my kids do an after-school activity through Tanglewood Elementary called Running Club. They run the park with friends, teachers and parents. My husband Kevin does an F3 bootcamp workout almost every morning at Overton Park or TCU. We all like to play tennis and walk the neighborhood. Tanglewood area trails; F3 workout, multiple locations, 205/568-0282 (Kevin Lynch for Fort Worth workouts)
For Cooling Off: I mean, Texas is hot! You for sure have to have a game plan to cool off. My family likes to frequent the Colonial pool, the Fort Worth Zoo splash pad, Airfield Falls and Curly’s Frozen Custard. And we love snow cones! Colonial Country Club, 3735 Country Club Circle, Fort Worth, 817/927-4200; Fort Worth Zoo Safari Splash, 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, 817/759-7555; Airfield Falls Trailhead & Conservation Park, 200 Pumphrey Drive, Westworth Village; Curly’s Frozen Custard, 4017 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 817/763-8700
How They Give Back: My husband Kevin helped start a men’s workout group called F3. It’s free and starts at 5:30 in the morning. They meet at the Overton tennis courts and at TCU in the Tanglewood area. We also stay involved with PTA and Academy 4, a mentoring program for 4th graders. F3 workout, multiple locations, 205/568-0282 (Kevin Lynch for Fort Worth workouts); Tanglewood Elementary PTA, 3060 Overton Park Drive W., Fort Worth, 817/814-5900; Academy 4, multiple locations, 817/744-8707
Why Tanglewood is Great for Families: Tanglewood is a very much a front-yard community, where families congregate together, take care of one another and choose to live here because of the community feel. Rebekah Byrne, who took our family photo, and her family live behind us. We have a gate in the fence between our houses, and the kids love that they can run back and forth. It’s just one little example of what makes Tanglewood so great.
We have a local elementary within walking distance of many homes, a great park that cuts through the neighborhood and the Trinity Trails. Tanglewood is close to TCU sporting events, Colonial Country Club, the Fort Worth Zoo and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. And every store you need is within a mile or two. Texas Christian University Athletics, 2900 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth; 817/257-7967; Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth; 817/759-7555; Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth; 817/463-4160
How She Met Her Mom Friends Being relatively new to Fort Worth, it was a tough transition at first. The biggest thing was putting myself out there in uncomfortable situations and finding the right people to do life with who are going through similar things and love you for you. If I am honest, I truly feel prayer played a huge role in finding a great group of friends here in Tanglewood, and we have been very blessed.
Featured photo courtesy of Rebekah Byrne.
