Places To See In Fort Worth: A Hidden Gem Of Texas
Explore Fort Worth’s unique attractions with our recommendations of must-see places! From cowboy culture at the Stockyards to art museums in the Cultural District discover this hidden gem in Texas.
For the past several years we’ve had the opportunity to visit Fort Worth on several occasions.
Despite being a growing metropolis of just under 1 million people, this city is deeply rooted in the Wild West.
Known by the phrase “Where the West begins”, you can see Fort Worth’s cowboy roots almost everywhere you look.
Although today you can find many industries in this city, Fort Worth began as a frontier settlement.
Once a major stop for cattle drives between Texas and the Midwest, Fort Worth’s cowboy roots run deep.
But there is so much more to see in this hidden gem of Texas.
The city has a vibrant art and music scene, many great restaurants and bars, and plenty of museums to choose from.
Whether you’re seeking the cowboy life or looking to enjoy great art, Fort Worth has you covered.
If you’re planning a visit to Texas, these are the places to see in Fort Worth.
Stockyards
The place to go for the full cowboy experience is Fort Worth Stockyards.
The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District captures everything you imagine when you think of the Wild West.
Rodeos, cattle drives, a good steak and BBQ, western music, and dance.
You can find it all at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
See a traditional Cattle Drive
Watch from the sidewalk as cowboys drive Texas Longhorn cattle down Exchange Avenue just like in the old days.
The daily drives occur at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM.
Although replaced by the railroad the original cattle drives used to go from Fort Worth all the way to Abilene, Kansas
These cattle drives played a major role in the growth of the Fort Worth area.
Cowboys, Cattle, and Rodeos
Whenever we visit the Stockyards it feels like we’ve stepped back into the Old West.
At any moment you can encounter cowboys riding down the street.
If you can’t catch the cattle drive you can still see the famous Texas longhorns.
The place to see the Fort Worth Herd is at their permanent pen on Exchange Avenue.
The pen is the residence for 17 heads of the famous cattle.
You can check out the Longhorn’s Viewing Deck behind the Cowboy Channel Studio.
Another place to see in the Stockyards is a Rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum.
If you visit on a Friday or Saturday, you can enjoy the experience of an indoor Rodeo at 7:30 PM.
The rodeo features timed events such as tie-down roping, breakaway roping, team roping, and barrel racing.
If you’re not into watching a Rodeo you can take your photo seated on a bull in front of the Stock Exchange building.
For times, events, and current information visit Fort Worth Stockyards website.
Stockyard History Museum
If you want to learn about the history of the stockyards and the north of Fort Worth visit this quaint museum.
It has a growing collection of artifacts, photos, and exhibits that document the history of Fort Worth’s connections to Native Americans, the livestock market/stockyards, and the Swift and Armour Packing plants.
Housed in the building used for livestock exchange the museum is Closed on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Ride the Steam Train
The Stockyard train station is part of the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.
This train departs from Grapevine, Texas, and travels to the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The route includes scenic rides and special events like the annual North Pole Express and other themed excursions, offering a charming experience for visitors throughout the year.
Shop at Stockyards Station Shopping and Dining
This outdoor space is adjacent to the station platform.
You’ll discover plenty of shops offering leather goods, Western-style clothing, and iconic cowboy boots.
For something sweet try one of the many unusual fudge flavors at Texas Hot Stuff.
You’ll find this General Store inside the Fort Worth Stockyard shopping mall.
They have many local items that will make for a good souvenir.
If you’re craving ice cream try MELT Ice Creams at Mule Alley outside the Stockyards shopping mall.
More Shopping and Eating
As you can imagine there is no shortage of good steakhouses in this area.
If you are a beef lover you must try some of the restaurants, the steaks are so good.
A few of the traditional steakhouses closed after COVID but there are still plenty of great places to eat.
There are also many Tex-Mex restaurants if you’re looking to try a different taste and lighter fare.
In addition, you won’t lack places to enjoy the spirit of old-style saloons with live music and dance.
Sundance Square & Surroundings
Sundance Square
This area is the Historic Center of Fort Worth.
With a rotating calendar of activities throughout the year this square is a great place to have some fun.
We’ve seen everything from dance lessons to live music taking place in the square.
The activities change every season.
The square is always beautifully decorated according to the season.
To check the current events at Sundance Square check their website.
Around Sundance Square
We love to go for a walk along the streets surrounding the Sundance Square.
There is a variety of architecture in such a small area.
A must-see place is The Palace, an art deco building turned movie theatre in bold pink. You won’t miss it.
A block behind The Palace you’ll find the stunning Bass Hall.
Bass Hall is home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, and the Fort Worth Opera.
They hold regular concerts and events in Bass Hall. You can check out their next events on the Bass Hall website.
If you like smaller venues there are at least three more small theaters in the vicinity of Sundance Square where you can enjoy live theater.
Of course, you will find good restaurants around Sundance Square.
From restaurants specializing in beef, BBQ, and burgers to international fare like Turkish, Korean, and Latin cusine.
Cultural District
Like many, we assumed Fort Worth was all about cowboys and the Old West.
But we recently discovered that it is so much more.
An 8-minute drive south of Sundance Square you’ll find Fort Worth’s Cultural District.
Several museums and sports venues are located between Camp Bowie Boulevard, 7th Street, and the Botanic Gardens.
Kimbell art museum
The gem of the cultural district is the Kimbell Art Museum.
The building was designed by Renzo Piano, the Italian architect famous for the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (with Richard Rogers, 1977), The Shard in London (2012), and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City (2015).
Mr. Piano was commissioned to design the Kimbell specifically to showcase the artwork acquired by Mr and Mrs Kimbell.
When you enter the first floor of the main building, you can read about the history and process behind its design and development.
The museum consists of two buildings divided by a spacious green area.
The main building has post-modern and contemporary pieces with two indoor patios.
There’s a cafe and a nice gift shop to browse in.
The second building has a small but eclectic exhibition of Asian and African Art.
The permanent Kimbell exhibition is free. The special exhibitions have a fee.
Other museums in the Cultural District
Across the street from the Kimbell Art Museum, you’ll find the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
The Modern Art Museum is dedicated to rotating installations of contemporary artists.
While not too far away, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art is dedicated to pieces by American artists.
If you like science and dinosaurs you’ll probably enjoy the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History with an adjacent Children’s Museum.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is also next to the science museum. (Who knew!)
In addition to the museums, you’ll find several sports arenas including the Will Rogers Auditorium and the Dickies Arena.
If it’s a beautiful day and you want to spend some time outside just south of the Cultural District you’ll find the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Fort Worth: A Gem in Texas
There are so many fun and diverse places to see in Fort Worth.
Despite visiting the city multiple times we keep finding new places to see and things to do.
Whether it’s spending a day reminiscing on the Old West, exploring a new museum, or discovering what’s new at Sundance Square there is never a shortage of new places to see.
Check out the Fort Worth Visitors Guide for more information and ideas on visiting Fort Worth.
So when you’re planning your next trip to Texas don’t miss out on this hidden gem.
