True to the Texas spirit, Fort Worth is a big, ambitious town with many attractions. In addition to its historical interest, this easily accessible town has entertainment ranging from daily cattle drives to one of the largest art and cultural centers in the US. The huge state of Texas has many delights, best explored via car rental.
Getting there
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is located 17 miles east of Fort Worth. This is one of the busiest airports in the nation, with daily flights all over the US. Alternatively, Fort Worth Meacham Airport is good for in-state travel from Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Amtrak rail service is well connected to Fort Worth. The Heartland Flyer route coming from Oklahoma City connects Fort Worth to lines running west to Los Angeles and north-south between Chicago and San Antonio. If self-drive is your plan, get the best rate on your rental car by checking national travel deals online.
Interstate highways conveniently link the Dallas-Fort Worth area to the rest of the state and beyond. Interstate I-35 runs north to Oklahoma City and south to Waco, Austin, and San Antonio. I-20 heads west to El Paso while I-30 takes you east to Dallas then I-45 turns southeast (from Dallas) leading to Houston. Greyhound coach service connects Fort Worth to the other major cities in Texas and the US. Driving your rental car in the city is fine, and the wide-open rural roads are fun.
Key attractions
Sundance Square, a 14-block area of red-brick streets and turn-of-the-century buildings is the city’s centerpiece and heart of the downtown. In addition to its wide variety of shops and stores, the Square is home to a pair of art-deco movie theaters, several museums, historic homes, and horse-drawn carriages adding a nice touch. Downtown you’ll find the lakes and waterfalls of the four-block Fort Worth Water Gardens park. Lit like a festival at night, the Squareеs bar and restaurant scene is best in the town centre, with offerings for every taste including some of the most popular Tex-Mex in town.
No trip to Fort Worth would be complete without a day at the Historic Stockyards. One of the state’s most popular tourist spots, this historic district is a living museum of the Old West. Abundant shopping, amusement park rides, mock Western shootouts, live music and a twice-daily long-horn cattle-drive to and from the stockyards to grazing areas near the Trinity River. The Stockyards Collection Museum and the Stockyards Hotel offer more views of the past and there is also a weekly rodeos.
Out and about
Car rental here is economic due to national travel deals, and gives easy access to plenty of entertainment available just outside of Fort Worth. To the east on Interstate 30, Arlington offers great family fun. You can absorb some beautiful Texas sun at the famous Six Flags Over Texas amusement park then cool off at the huge Hurricane Harbor water park. Sports fans hankering for a fly ball can catch a game at the Ballpark at Arlington–home of the Texas Rangers baseball team. Other Arlington attractions include the University of Texas campus, or for bargaining and people-watching, the Traders Village б a giant, year-round flea market with 1,600 vendors pitching everything from rare collectables to plants and pets.
Leisure options
For a more natural setting, the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, located 10 miles northwest of downtown is great for wandering or taking the guided walking tours available for a small fee. Within Fort Worth itself, but easier to visit with your own transportation, are the 114-acre Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, encompassed by Trinity Parkеs eight miles of trails perfect for cycling, in-line skating, and jogging. South of I-30, Forest Park is the site of the popular Fort Worth Zoo.
Safety
Overall, Fort Worth, is a friendly, safe city offering an Old West welcome to its many thousands of annual visitors. If youеre driving in rural or remote areas, watch out for wildlife on the roads, and walkers and hikers should beware of snakes. All non US visitors to Texas are advised to take out travel insurance with medical cover, as even minor emergency treatment can be expensive.