Fort Worth is part of a thriving metropolitan area in North Texas, and is a great vacation destination with some awesome activities to explore. Cowtown, as the locals call it, also boasts an incredible food scene that is expanding constantly, so this is a great city to explore for anyone passionate about good eats.
The Fort Worth community also has an excellent assortment of vacation rentals. As you plan a Fort Worth excursion, you might want to add a few unusual activities to your itinerary, and this list will help!
1. Visit a Money Printing Facility
Learn about United States currency with a visit to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Western Currency facility in Fort Worth. From your vantage point above the production floor, you can watch as fresh US currency is being printed. The tours are self-guided, and they surprisingly don’t cost any money. You can also take the time to watch an educational film and explore the interactive exhibits and displays within the facility. Stop off in the gift shop to pick up an uncut currency sheet or other money-related souvenirs.
After watching millions of dollars being printed on the line, you can grab some great lunch just a few blocks away. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill offers some rockin’ high quality steaks that will teach you what Texas is all about. The 16 oz Cajun ribeye is our personal favorite. If you’re feeling rich after seeing all that money, you can even get a lobster tail added to your meal.
2. The Palace Light Bulb
Take a few moments to stop by the Stockyards Museum in Fort Worth to see the second-longest burning light bulb in the world. The historic light bulb, made by the Shelby Electric Company, has been burning for more than 100 years. The light bulb, first installed in 1908, doesn’t give off an extreme amount of light, and the museum has set it on a dimmer function to help preserve the bulb, and keep it burning as long as possible.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Admission is only $2 per person over 12, so it makes a great activity for those trying to stretch their buck.
3. Fort Worth Water Gardens
The Fort Worth Water Gardens is a beautiful attraction right near the city’s convention center. Covering more than four acres of land, this urban park was built to be a place where people could come for relief from the unrelenting heat of Texas. The park features three separate pools: a meditation pool, active pool and aerating pool. Water moves freely from the pools down terraces to collect in lower receptacles. Relaxing in the park and listening to the sounds of trickling water can help instill calm and peace. Spray fountains are also in place in the park. You’ll also find more than 500 different species of trees and plants throughout the gardens.
After relaxing in the Water Gardens you might not be ready to dive right back into the hustle and bustle of the city. So why not walk over to Harmon Field Park for a little nature time. You can stroll the Trinity trail system that follows the West fork of the Trinity River. The park also makes a great place for that midday picnic lunch you packed in your vacation rental.
4. National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis offers quite a few museums and other cultural attractions, and this is one of the best. The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is all about showcasing and celebrating women who have demonstrated courage and independence throughout the American West. The museum features both permanent and traveling exhibits, a research library, and two theaters where you can watch educational films. As you wander through the rooms you’ll see more than 4,000 artifacts connected with the lives of more than 750 different historic females. Some of the women featured in exhibits include Georgia O’Keeffe, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Annie Oakley, and Dale Evans. Recent renovations to the museum have enhanced the exhibition areas, so hesitate to stop in, even if you’ve been here before.
If you’re more science-oriented, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is right next door. They offer a planetarium and Imax theater that shows education and entertainment films. Exhibits cover everything from a DinoDig to the Cattle Raisers Museum, which they’ve dubbed “a museum within a museum.”
5. Lee Harvey Oswald’s Grave
Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of United States President John F. Kennedy, is buried in Rose Hill Park just outside of Fort Worth. Oswald’s burial site has a plain, flat red granite slab currently serving as his gravestone, which replaced the original tombstone that was stolen four years after his burial. You can visit the grave to see the simple engraving of “Oswald” on the marker. Some claim that Oswald isn’t actually buried here, and that a look-a-like Russian agent was buried in his stead, but official dental records have confirmed that this is, in fact, Lee Harvey Oswald’s final resting place.
6. Fire Station Number 1
Any firefighter fans in your bunch will love to tour Fire Station Number 1. This old fire station originated in 1907 as one of the first of its kind in Fort Worth. The building still stands, and is a wonderful exhibition of Victorian era brick architecture. You can take yourself on an independent tour of the fire station to see the exhibits and displays. You’ll learn all about Fort Worth local history as you look at old photos and other memorabilia. There’s even a scale model of old-time Fort Worth on display. The museum is open daily, and admission is free.
If you’re looking for some grub after your visit to the station, you’re in luck! Fire Station Number 1 is right downtown, and close to many great restaurant options. Our go-to spot in downtown Fort Worth is Tributary Cafe, where you can get authentic cajun food served up 5 days a week. Their crawfish etouffee will have you feeling like you’re eating on Bourbon St. in NOLA.
7. Molly the Trolley
The downtown Fort Worth area is easily accessible to you aboard Molly the Trolley. This vintage-style trolley has a route between the convention center and Sundance Square with several stops in between. Another route takes riders to the Stockyards with trolleys running every 15 minutes. Molly runs seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., completing the route every 10 to 15 minutes. Anyone who has never ridden a vintage trolley owes it to themselves to take a ride on Molly.
This Exciting City is Ready for You
If you’re staying in a vacation rental home, make sure to select accommodations that are conveniently located near the attractions you’d like to see. No matter what you choose to see during your stay here, we’re sure you’re going to love this Texas town. Start planning your trip today!