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Six Family-friendly Spots In Fort Worth

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 04:30:00 +0000

Since Fort Worth’s start, way back in 1849, this city has been known as a cowboy town. These days the city still embraces its rowdy past but with a different approach. We journeyed to where the west begins to scope out six family-friendly spots in Fort Worth. This One Day Stay would test our skills at packing loads of fun into 24 hours. With no time to waste, let’s get to exploring.

Hitting the Ground Running

Our morning began in Dallas, so the trip to the Fort Worth Zoo was fairly quick. We paid our admission, which was $19 for adults. It appeared that feeding time was about the same as opening time, so the day began with lots of animal sightings. We planned to push through in less than two hours, but on a regular visit, we would plan 3-4 hours. Since 1992, the zoo has been on a mission to upgrade all of its exhibits. We found the layout to be designed for meandering. There are lots of interesting vantage points to observe the animals.

Finding the Summer Heat

The summer heat built quickly, and it was obvious that the animals also felt it. Choosing to see the Fort Worth Zoo first ended up being a wise decision. Throughout the zoo, we discovered indoor exhibits that allowed us to escape the summer sun. We found that most of the other guests had the same idea. By the time we made it through the zoo, we were ready for some more indoor activities.

Tracing Their Western Roots

No visit to Fort Worth would be complete without embracing the Western lifestyle. While cowboys get most of the press, cowgirls were just as vital to life on the frontier. The next stop, on our list of six family-friendly spots in Fort Worth, was the National Cowgirl Museum. This is the only museum that we know of, which honors the women of the West. Our admission was $12 per adult. Multiple galleries cover different aspects of Western life. We found the displays in the Wild West Show gallery to be fascinating. They even have a 3-D rendering of Annie Oakley that shares her own stories.

Time for Tex-Mex

The day was gliding by and our appetites had moved front and center. With more sites to visit in the museum district, we looked for sustenance nearby. We wanted to make this a family-friendly stop and Velvet Taco looked like the perfect fit. This restaurant serves up a twist on the standard Tex-Mex menu. They had about 20 different taco choices, so we each picked a couple to sample. We snacked on some chips and guacamole while waiting for our order. What landed on our table were four fat tacos filled with delectable flavors.

Texas Tea History

With our bellies full, it was time to jump back into our museum visits. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History sits next door to the Cowgirl Museum, which makes these visits convenient. The museum covers a broad spectrum of subjects within its galleries. Since Texas has a long history with oil and gas, I couldn’t wait to see if they mentioned it. Sure enough, there is a nice display that walks guests through the various forms of energy produced in the Lone Star State.

Bonus Museum

When we were paying our $16 per person admission, we were informed that there are two museums under one roof. That certainly made the admission charge a deal. After exploring the science side, we headed to the Cattle Raisers Museum. Here we could trace the history of cowboys from the Wild West to modern days. Be sure to check out the Hall of Great Cattle, which has a nice surprise for visitors. (Hint: Some of the pictures come to life.)

Don't Miss the Stockyards

Our visit wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Since the middle of the 1800s, cattle have flowed through this city on their way up the Chisolm Trail to Abilene, Kansas. These days the area is filled with shops, eateries, and a few attractions. Feeling a little peckish, we popped in one for an appetizer and drinks. After refueling, we hit the shops to look for some souvenirs. While western wear was certainly all the rage, we also found plenty of other items to pique our interest.

Heading Up the Chisolm Trail

The day was flying by and the next thing we knew, it was approaching 4:00. That was a key time, as it is one of their Fort Worth Herd Drives. We hurried to get curbside before it was filled up. Before long we spotted the familiar longhorns ambling up the brick street. We have seen this type of event in other cities, but it never ceases to thrill us. We even had a close encounter, as one of the cattle seemed determined to cozy up to Crystal.

Our Six Family-friendly Stops in Fort Worth

Looking back, we did a pretty good job of identifying a variety of family-friendly stops. Fort Worth has so much more to offer and we hope to make it back for more exploring. The city is conveniently located along the I-35 interchange, which runs directly to our hometown. Being part of a large metropolis, visitors can also choose to investigate Dallas, Grapevine, or one of the other cities in the area. (I added links to our articles from the first two.) For an awesome Western adventure, be sure to slap on your cowboy duds and make your way to Where The West Begins.

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Fort Worth Zoo – Deep In The Heat Of Texas

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 03:30:00 +0000

They say everything is bigger in Texas and evidently that includes the heat index. During the summer of 2023, the Lone Star state experienced an impressive heat wave. We happened to schedule a visit during the start of this event but being sun lovers, we made the most of it. A stop at the Fort Worth Zoo had already been planned and we weren’t about to let a little heat stop us. With cool thoughts in our minds, we made our way to this world-class park to see how the animals manage being deep in the heat of Texas.

Early Dining

The Fort Worth Zoo started in 1909. Back then visitors would only find a handful of animals. The attraction was owned and operated by the city of Fort Worth until 1991. Over the decades more and more exhibits were added. In 1992 the Fort Worth Zoological Association assumed control of the park. This passing of the torch was hailed with two new exhibits: Asian Falls and World of Primates. With its close proximity to the entrance, we decided the World of Primates was a great place to begin.

Selecting Shade

Even with an early start, the summer temperatures were on the rise. Of course, being deep in the heat of Texas means it doesn’t cool off much at night. We expected feeding times to be early and knew this would be the most active time for the animals. Sure enough, we spotted most of them leisurely enjoying their breakfasts.

Mid-day Rest

After a short walk through the African Savanna, we made our way toward the Australian Outback. By now the sun was burning brightly and most animals had chosen to seek out shade. We took our cue from them and hung close to areas that provided some protection from the sun. The heat gave us a reason to slow our pace and really examine the exhibits.

Fort Worth Zoo Inhabitants

During the balance of the 1990s, Fort Worth Zoo has added a variety of exhibits. Raptor Canyon, Asian Rhino Ridge, and Flamingo Bay were some of the first. Meerkat Mounds would bring the comical stars of the savannah in 1997. On this day, we found all of the animals choosing to conserve energy. Many were seeking shelter from the sun in shady corners. A few didn’t seem to mind the hot Texas day. This wasn’t the case for us, as we found ourselves slowing down our pace due to the increased temps.

Baking in the Sun

By early afternoon, most all of the animals had retired to the shade. Many had moved indoors, which limited our viewing opportunities. There were some exceptions, like the Komodo Dragon. This scaly beast seemed unfazed by the heat. We enjoyed watching his deliberate movements as much as he seemed to enjoy watching us. Before long, even this activity had become nearly unbearable. Time to do like the animals and seek some indoor shelter.

Heading Indoors

By now we had reached the far end of the Fort Worth Zoo. Here we discovered the area named Texas Wild! This 8-acre exhibit captures the spirit of the Lone Star state. It’s set up as an old western town and is home to more than 100 native species. Here we found an indoor theater that offered shelter from the midday sun. The show we enjoyed focused on weather and nature in the heart of Texas. We enjoyed the show and the break that it offered.

Deep in the Heat of Texas

It’s safe to say that every summer will bring some excessive temperatures to Fort Worth. That comes with the territory, when you visit the Sunshine Belt. We actually savored much of our time in the area and just had to remember to slow down a little during midday. As the afternoon wore on, we noticed the lack of activity by the animals and decided it was time to move on down the road. Time for us to go searching for a late lunch and some cold drinks.

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Cattle Raisers At Fort Worth Science Museum

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 03:30:00 +0000

During our time in Fort Worth, Texas, we were quickly discovering some hidden gems. With an interesting dinosaur exhibit in our future, we made a stop at the Fort Worth Science Museum. We expected to find a variety of scientific displays but the idea of a “museum in a museum” had never crossed our minds. With scenes from the movie Inception playing through my mind, we wondered what we would uncover later, during our visit to the Cattle Raisers Museum.

Hiding in Plain Sight

The Fort Worth Science Museum is a great way to add an educational spin to the day. After parking in a nearby garage, we made our way toward the entrance. When we happened upon a series of Dr. Seuss character statues, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity for a few selfies. With the afternoon heat building, it wasn’t long before we felt the need to move indoors.

Imagination Laboratory

With our day passing faster than desired, I warned Crystal that we were on a time crunch, so we would have to pick a couple of exhibits to focus on. For those looking at potentially adding this stop, it’s worth noting the other galleries. Innovative Studios lets kids of all ages explore their creative side. Noble Space Gallery takes visitors on a trip across the universe. The Children’s Museum is designed for visitors 8 and under. All of these exhibits have multiple hands-on displays, where we saw many families engaged in constructive fun.

Spotting Some Favorites

If you’ve seen many of our science museum articles, you can count on seeing dinosaurs. Even after spending a good chunk of time in the Perot Museum’s dino exhibit, there was no way we would pass up Dinolabs. Texas, like our home state of Kansas, is filled with fossils. The exhibits at Fort Worth Science Museum are designed to be easy to understand for a wide range of ages. Visitors even have an opportunity to head outdoors for a dino dig, which looked to be in a shaded area (Important during a Texas summer!)

Life on the Plains

The next gallery we stopped in was Plains Culture. The Great Plains were occupied long before immigrants began landing on the eastern shores. Most tribes depended on the bison and migrated to follow these massive beasts. The exhibit shows the numerous tribes that called the Texas region home (at least part of the year). We paused for a minute to examine their collection of old photographs.

Energy Blast

I’m almost convinced that Texas is so electric because of its vast energy reserves. Energy Blast dives into how oil and gas reserves are discovered and captured. A series of displays detail the availability of each type of fuel. A miniature city showcases the variety of energy sources to help make it easier to understand how power is delivered. They do a good job of showing the science behind an industry that we depend on every day.

Bonus Museum

Ever since the staff told us about the Cattle Raisers Museum, I had been wondering what we would find. Being a “freebie”, we weren’t expecting too much. When we went looking for it, we discovered that it occupied nearly the entire second floor. Located next door to the National Cowgirl Museum, it continued the story of the people who tamed the Wild West. The cowboy image that I have in my head is a direct descendant of the Mexican Vaqueros. After Spain introduced cattle in the late 1600s, it didn’t take long for an industry to flourish. To manage it would require plenty of cowboys. The images in this exhibit reminded us of the loneliness of the Great Plains.

Cattle Raisers Introduction

The plains are filled with a wide range of environments. Parts of the land are not suited for farming, though they serve well for grazing. Making our way through the galleries, we learned details about the invention of barbed wire. This enclosed the rangelands and signaled an end to cattle drives. The railroad would become king and serve as a link between the plains and the cattle markets. As we were making our way out of the Cattle Raisers Museum, we entered the Hall of Great Cattle. 10 breeds are on display and they periodically move and talk. It certainly caught us off guard and made us chuckle.

Making Seuss of It All

Our time was expiring, so we made a dash for the door. The next time we land in Fort Worth we will have to make another stop. They have a rotating gallery space, which we didn’t have time to enjoy. It looked to be about Jimmy Stewart, so we were a little saddened to miss it. Perhaps you will have more time to explore this twin museum site. We felt it was good for all ages and offers plenty of interactive activities. Back in our car, we were punching in directions to our next stop at the Fort Worth Stockyards.

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National Cowgirl Museum – Leaving Their Mark On History

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 03:30:00 +0000

When you hear the word “Cowgirl”, what do you picture? For many generations this term was undefined. Women were excluded from this traditionally masculine field of work. Instead, females were defined as the “moral guardians of American culture”. As westward expansion increased, new opportunities opened up for women. The world would discover that women could also ride and shoot. To learn more about these unheralded heroes of the west, we dropped by the National Cowgirl Museum, in Fort Worth, Texas. This one-of-a-kind attraction honors the trailblazing spirit of the women who left their mark on history.

We want to thank the National Cowgirl Museum for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Breaking Barriers

In the 1800s, women were still expected to wear skirts and ride sidesaddle. Out on the frontier things were changing. The inclusion of women into the cattle industry didn’t happen overnight. Cowgirls started as helpers working alongside their male counterparts. Daughters of ranchers grew up learning to ride and rope just like their brothers. It was not uncommon for women to run the ranch while the men left on lengthy cattle drives. There are few records about this transition but by the 1890s, the term “cowgirl” began appearing in print.

Leaving Their Mark on History

This was likely a result of the growing popularity of Wild West shows, which began popping up in the 1880s. One of the biggest was Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The traveling vaudeville performances brought the audiences an exaggerated version of the Wild West. Much of the action was designed to recreate historic reenactments, like train robberies or Custer’s Last Stand. Riding and shooting demonstrations were popular with the audiences and this is where many women excelled. Female performers, like Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane, impressed the crowds with their proficiency with guns and horses alike.

Trusted Companion

As we explored the National Cowgirl Museum, we found ourselves in the “It’s Never Just A Horse” exhibit. Here we discovered interesting facts about the connection between rider and steed. I’m not sure how I lived this long but was still unaware of the use of hobbles. These “handcuffs” for horses prevent a long walk home, but still allow the animal to graze. In a nearby alcove, we found a bucking bronc that visitors can use to test their riding skills. I enjoyed this “safe” version and imagined myself in the midst of a rodeo.

Star Power

With the days of Wild West shows over, cowgirls have learned to adapt to the changing landscape. Almost every rodeo will include female participants. We are fans of country music, so seeing some of the familiar names on display was an added bonus. With over 5000 artifacts in their collection, the National Cowgirl Museum has lots to offer visitors. One thing that was a repeating theme is that cowgirls aren’t afraid to show off a little. We were seeing quite a bit of bling in their outfit and accessories. Even their horses would be decked out.

Dare To Wear

The National Cowgirl Museum has a designated space for revolving exhibits. During our visit, they were hosting “Dare To Wear”. On display were a variety of unique outfits designed for various occasions. To say that some were flamboyant may be an understatement. We’re sure that the wearers received plenty of looks when they appeared in these flashy outfits. I think this may be why we liked it so much. It shows that the wearers were not afraid of drawing attention to themselves.

National Cowgirl Museum

It’s strange to think that cowgirls haven’t been recognized more than a few generations. We grew up seeing them in many roles, so we assumed that had always been the case. The National Cowgirl Museum helped us see just how much has changed since the 1800s. These days we cheer on barrel racers or dance to the beat of our favorite female country performers. Cowgirls have become as commonplace as cowboys and we believe that’s how it should be.

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