The summer is long, but probably not long enough by your kids’ calculations. In between summer reading and day camps, school shopping and swimming, there is, fortunately, plenty of time to do what summer was made for — relaxing and having fun.
We may not have the beach or the mountains, but Cowtown has a lot to offer and plenty of corners to explore, if you know where to look. Fort Worth is brimming with culture and activities, and we just can’t get enough. We love Fort Worth, especially in the summer, and here’s why:
Because we have time to savor our heritage:
If you want to reconnect with our cattle beginnings, a good place to start is with the Fort Worth Herd. We have the only longhorn drive in the country, and your youngin’s can catch it daily on Exchange Avenue at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame is also a vivid reminder of the individuals who helped shape our Western identity. Art, photos and memorabilia make up the collections commemorating prominent cattlemen and women. Kids can enjoy storytelling every Saturday morning. And, all that cattle business isn’t just for the boys. Fort Worth’s cultural district boasts the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame —the only museum in the world dedicated to female cowpokes and their accomplishments. Closed on Mondays. After the girls show you how it’s done, head over to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, because your Cowgirl Museum ticket grants you half price admission.
Ranching is still big business here (hence the name “Cowtown”). Many ranches across the area can be booked for parties, and they’ll even let you try your hand at the roping and riding. Richards Ranch in Jacksboro and Rocky Top Ranch in Keller can show you how it’s done. And, if you don’t want to leave the city to experience cowboy culture, the Will Rogers Coliseum hosts several world-class equestrian events and expositions every year, including the top-notch Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Don’t forget the Stockyards Championship Rodeo, which takes place every Friday and Saturday night at the Cowtown Coliseum. Kids can compete in a calf scramble, if they don’t mind getting down and dirty in the ring.
Step back in time and visit the Hood County Old Jail and Museum on Crockett Street in Granbury, where kids can roam preserved old cells. There’s plenty of Texas’ outlaw history (the bad and the ugly, that is) on display here, and it’s open for exploration Saturdays and Sundays.
Also, Top O’Hill Terrace on the campus of Arlington Baptist College offers a glimpse of the roaring 20s, North Texas style. Top O’Hill Terrace housed a secret casino during prohibition and enjoyed a colorful history of raids by the Texas Rangers. A series of secret rooms and escape tunnels make up the underground lair — the tunnels, in particular, appeal to young visitors.
Because we have a lot of pretty things to look at (indoors):
One way to stay truly cool during a Fort Worth heat wave is to duck inside. Lucky for us, the arts are alive and well in Fort Worth, offering a plethora of air-conditioned options for having fun and exploring priceless permanent collections and world class exhibits and architecture.
Texas Christian University houses the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Gallery, an impressive collection of extraterrestrial rocks. But these aren’t just any fossils — they’re geological gems from space that are billions of years old. The gallery boasts that you can hold a piece of Mars in your hand. And why not? It might be as close as you get.
Designed by celebrated architect Louis I. Kahn, the Kimbell Art Museum features hordes of reinforced concrete — a very important feature in maintaining the icebox effect of a desirable summer venue. The vaulted ceilings and infused glass provide some of the best natural light of any museum in the world, and there are also plenty of grassy spaces and outdoor corridors for getting the wiggles out. The Kimbell throws family events on various Saturdays, and easy-to-follow gallery guides for kids make soaking up the Cezanne and Mondrian all the more enjoyable. Closed on Mondays.
Across the street from the Kimbell, don’t forget the translucent Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. It’s the perfect place to savor abstract expressionist works by Willem de Kooning and pop art from Roy Lichtenstein.
It’s not considered fine art (although collectors might disagree), but U.S. currency is always a hot commodity — just ask any kid with an allowance. Fort Worth boasts one of only two federal Bureaus of Engraving and Printing in the country, and the public has an open invitation to stop by and see how the green stuff is made. If you don’t think Fort Worth is a center of finance, just consider that nearly all the cash in the Western United States was born here — a number that’s probably in the trillions. Kids will learn how to spot the secret security features hidden in our money, what happens to notes when they are taken out of circulation and other “Treasury Trivia.”
Another summertime refuge, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (and the first children’s museum in Texas), offers thousands of opportunities for your children to learn and explore. The DinoLabs are a kid favorite, but also check out the Noble Planetarium and the Omni theater.
Because we’ve got wide open spaces for exploring:
What better way to see your city in a new light than by fleeing the cramped confines of a car and freeing up the whole family to relax and enjoy the ride? How to get on board, you ask? With the T, of course. The T’s Route 15 offers trolley service to the Stockyards and Cowtown Coliseum on Saturdays.
In the mood to get out of town? Try the Trinity Railway Express, which connects Fort Worth with Dallas for some day-trip fun. A day pass costs $10, and the journey takes about an hour. The South Irving station is the halfway point, where you can hop off and discover the Irving Heritage District. Continue on to Dallas, where the West End and Dallas Arts District await. Explore the surrounding Victory Park area with its cutting edge Digital Art Gallery, shops and restaurants in the shadow of the American Airlines Center and the W hotel.
If you feel like exploring our terrain by foot, there are parks aplenty for such pursuits. The city of Fort Worth boasts an impressive 228 parks, but Trinity Park is a family favorite. On the banks of the Trinity River, this idyllic setting is the go-to spot for annual community events like Shakespeare in the Park. It’s also home to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and the oft-overlooked Japanese Gardens. Flying kites, Frisbee, biking and strolling rank high here — and the shade trees can’t be beat. And, when the sun goes down, the park is filled with music every weekend through July.
Dinosaur Valley State Park, a short trip south to Glen Rose, puts you on track to walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs. Let your kids take a gander at the preserved footprints of the tyrannosaurus and other extinct beasts — a history lesson to boot.
Because we’re crazy about our sports:
We’re a city of sports fans, that’s for sure. When we’re not cheering our Rangers and our Cowboys, there are other local teams and lesser-known sports that are good for summer fun, as well. The Fort Worth Cats occupy LaGrave Field, where legends such as Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio took to the diamond, and you can catch games all summer long.
Why not check out the other local boys of summer, the Colleyville LoneStars. Led by Texas Rangers’ legend Rusty Greer, this Texas Collegiate League baseball team plays its home games at Colleyville Heritage High School.
More interested in getting in on the action? There’s no shortage of indoor fun and games to be had around town. Fort Worth and Grapevine love Main Event Entertainment for bowling, laser tag and games. And nothing’s cooler than ice skating in the summer. The Dr Pepper StarCenter in Euless lets kids free skate or get lessons in hockey and figure skating in a professional setting. Working up a sweat is fun too: Go for a hole-in-one on the greens or practice your swing in the batting cages in Fort Worth, Arlington and Hurst locations of Putt-Putt Entertainment.
Because we know how to throw a great (often impromptu) backyard BBQ:
Don’t mess with Texas … barbecue, that is. Whether it’s a weeknight grill-fest, a perfectly planned backyard feast or a block party (National Night Out is Aug. 7), there are some undeniable staples of every great barbecue. Fort Worth does it best.
The do-it-yourself affair. It starts with quality ingredients. What better place to select meats than the capital of cattle? Don’t miss Central Market’s rare selections of Premium Angus Gold, and squeeze in time for fresh produce at the Ridgmar Farmers Market. A secret grilling tip from TCU-area Kindcaid’s? Grill your meats (and veggies) slowly over a low heat. “It makes the outside crisp, but still tender and juicy,” shares the burger house’s Morris Gardner.
The leave-it-to-the experts affair. Bartley’s Bar-B-Que in Grapevine has been the go-to purveyor of fine barbecue since 1968. And of course, the North Texas original Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is an able standby. Order your fried okra, but whatever you do, don’t forget the watermelon.
Because we treasure our time-tested favorites:
We love our parks, and the big attractions like Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor and the Fort Worth Zoo keep us coming back for more. Fort Worth’s performing arts scene is defined not only by grownups, but also by the up-and-coming young talent at the Casa Mañana's Children’s Playhouse. And, classic family favorites like the Log Cabin Village, with its stories and crafts, remind us of our history, while stargazing at the Noble Planetarium reminds us to look to the future.
