How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Fort Worth, Texas

Belying its Cowtown nickname, Fort Worth is a large and lively city with plenty to see and do. Located in the Lone Star State’s northeastern realms not far from Dallas, the metropolis is one of the safest big cities in the nation. Fort Worth showcases a wealth of cultural attractions and boasts an inviting downtown that is central to shopping and entertainment.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Check out the amazing menagerie at the Fort Worth Zoo on Colonial Parkway, one of the best in the country. The lush landscapes and thoughtfully designed areas, including Asian Falls, African Savannah and the Great Barrier Reef, will take you around the world without ever leaving Fort Worth.

2. Savor an overlooked aspect of American heritage by visiting the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum on Gendy Street. Paying tribute to such great pioneer and Western women as Sacagawea, Willa Cather, Patsy Cline and Annie Oakley, among many others, the Hall is a unique treasure.

3. Enjoy a splendid sanctuary of natural delights at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens on Botanic Drive, with over 100 acres of roses, exotic plants and Japanese gardens. The site is attractive all year long and includes a large conservatory of flowers that serves as an ideal shelter from a winter storm.

4. Enjoy a meal of typical Texan fare. Visit Angelo’s on White Settlement Road in the Cultural District, a throwback barbecue joint from the late fifties. Cattlemen’s Steakhouse on North Main Street in the Stockyards District and the popular Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House on Main Street, downtown are also favorite options.

5. Appreciate Fort Worth’s unofficial designation as Gateway to the West by visiting the Stockyards Historic District. This neighborhood showcases old livestock buildings, rodeo arenas and numerous western saloons. The district is a few miles north of downtown and also boasts the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame.

6. Don’t miss Sundance Square in the downtown area, with brick-paved streets and countless diversions ranging from lively nightclubs to tasteful boutiques to art galleries. Architecture from the 19th century, old movie theaters and the renowned Bass Performance Hall add to the allure.

7. Drop by the Kimbell Art Museum in the Cultural District, which focuses on quality, not quantity, when collecting artwork. From El Greco to van Gogh to Picasso, you’ll find a wealth of wonders. The building, designed by the great Louis Kahn, is a modern delight in itself.

Tips & Warnings

• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is about 20 miles outside of downtown Fort Worth and served by several major airlines, including American, Continental and Delta.