Fort Worth Favorites

Fort Worth and I have spent three long months together - we have been through snow and ice, a Superbowl, thunderstorms with hail, eighty degree days and numerous visitors. Its been my home away from home and I've loved every minute of it. As I prepare to say goodbye to my new friend, I've decided to list, in no particular order, my Fort Worth (and vicinity) favorites. Here goes...

1. Southwestern Expedition Stock Show and Rodeo - 23 days of fun! It may only come to town once a year but with events like Bull's Night Out and family friendly exhibits it is a do not miss. Go ahead and mark your calendars for 2012 (January 13 - February 4.) If you haven't already seen it make sure you watch the Cowboy Poker video for the craziest part of the whole show.

2. Grace, Fort Worth - The amazing Happy Hour deals (1/2 price sparkling wines Mon-Friday) and Women and Wine Wednesdays ($15 for 3 wines paired with 3 light bites) are just two of the reasons that I will miss this early evening hangout.

3. The Fort Worth Zoo - Sure, every city has one, but there really is something special about the Fort Worth Zoo. The mild-temperatures the day we visited had all the animals out and about. The parks layout makes it easy to get around, and if your feet get tired just take a train ride one way. We had the Lions roar as they gazed into the zebra exhibit. I was closer to most of the animals then I have ever been at another zoo. As usual though, it was the great apes that captured most of our attention, (My only complaint is the parking fee - there is free parking all over the city and just down the street in the park - why are you charging at the zoo and paying people to collect the fee. I'd rather you raise the admission fee.)

4. Central Market - I'm going to miss the worlds greatest grocery store! The cooking classes were fantastic - we met amazing people and made enough food to feed a small army. The "meals for two" and ready to eat casseroles were always a crowd pleaser for a quick dinner. I don't even know how to say goodbye to my fresh supply of sushi, gelato and fresh baked breads.

5. Trinity Park - With all the amazing food options here I needed a place for afternoon jogs and evening strolls with the hubbs and this park fit the bill. Ample people watching and benches for a casual afternoon and miles of trails for my more serious running days. The miniature trains that run on the weekend, the duck pond and numerous playgrounds are sure to be kid pleasures too.

6. The Railhead - This is where I learned that 'Life's Too Short to Live in Dallas.' I was not a big BBQ fan until Jeff took me to the Railhead. With a generous military discount and amazing meat selections its no wonder this is one of the guys favorite places to eat. Its never empty but you can always seem to find a seat. I prefer my sandwich chopped with extra sauce!

7. Dinosaur Valley State Park - A short hike takes you to see some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. (Call before you come though since these tracks are underwater. Any sediment in the water will prohibit you from seeing them at all.) Park your car at the first parking lot and follow the trail to the three separate track sites. The trail does involve a short river crossing, but there is a stones evenly spaced to help you across. (Appropriate footwear is required as the rocks do become slippery.)

8. PUBlic Knowledge - Once a month the Fort Worth museum of Science and History sponsors an adult lecture series at a local pub. Don't be scared off by the idea of a "lecture" - when we attended in March we were harrowed with stories from a particularly interesting forensic scientist. All the events start at 8pm and run about an hour.

9. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History - While many of its exhibits are geared toward children there is plenty for adult visitors to learn as well. The exhibit on Natural Gas in the area is fascinating and a must for anyone who has wondered about all the large drills they see around town. Venture upstairs to see the museums impressive Astronomy collection and visit the Planetarium. You can also learn more about the dinosaurs they have found in the area (and sit in a dinosaur footprint!)

10. The Fort Worth Money Factory - The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing's only printing facility out side of Washington, DC. They offer daily tours and a fascinating museum. Learn about the amazing journey that turns paper into money and how they prevent others from turning paper into money. (Note that you cannot bring your cell phone, camera or any type of bag into the factory - so pack accordingly.)

11. Taverna - They may have three locations, but this Texas chain's Sundance Square location is still our favorite date night place. Monday - Friday they have half-price Pizza and $3 Bellini's, Draught Beer and Red & White Wine, Saturday and Sunday they offer $1 Bellini's and Mimosas with brunch - so you really can't go wrong here no matter what day of the week it is.

12. Four Day Weekend - Fantastic Improv Comedy on Friday and Saturday nights right in Sundance Square. They tend to sell out so make sure you make reservations online in advance. A real find though is the Thursday night amateur night - for $8 you get to see students from Four Day Weekend's workshops perform. Its sometimes a bit slow - but it is more unpredictable than the Friday or Saturday shows (which follow a similar format every night) and you'll get to meet some great people.

13. Fire Station No. 1 - 150 years of Fort Worth history in a great little exhibit tucked away in Fire Station No. 1 right in Sundance Square. The whole museum will only take thirty-minutes or so but there is a great photo opportunity! (Thanks to Joe for being our photo opportunity model!)

14. Potbelly Sandwich Shop - I know its a chain, but when we were in DC Potbelly's was our go to afternoon picnic location and after finding it in Fort Worth not much has changed. Potbelly's remains our go to sandwich shop, whether your running to the airport or looking for something to take with you to the botanical gardens - we even ventured out in the snow and ice for some potbelly deli goodness.

15. Cowgirl Hall of Fame - Lots of interactive exhibits for kids and adults alike and lots of fun cowgirl clothing to look at.

16. American Airlines Museum - The museum is a bit outdated but there are some real gems hidden here. The IMax theater full of business class seats was the highlight of our visit - the movie is straight out of the early 90's but still filled with impressive views of airliners flying over some of the most beautiful places in the world. There is rotating exhibit space which had a fascinating exhibit on baggage handling a few months ago. The museum will bring you back to the heyday of airline travel and remind you that it was once a luxury.

17. Cattle Drive - Its touristy. Its cheesy. But where else are you going to see Long-Horn cattle being driven down the street by cowboys?

18. Worlds 2nd Longest Continuously Burning Light-bulb - I've blogged about it before but it still makes my list. While your at the Cattle Drive stop into the museum and check it out (before it burns out.)

19. Water Gardens - The perfect place to enjoy a beautiful spring afternoon. Three water structures create totally different environments for you to enjoy.

20. Rahr Brewery - Local brewery with tours every Wednesday and Saturday. You can read our earlier blog entry about this must-do activity here.

21. Botanical Gardens - The oldest botanical gardens in Texas are they are free. ($1 fee for indoor exhibit and $4 for the Japanese Tea Garden) Every season is different here and there is plenty to see. Park in the front and stroll around the park for a while - make sure to bring your camera. The Texas Tree Boardwalk has a wonderful exhibit on native and invasive plants in the area. When its a bit warmer this would be the perfect place to bring your picnic lunch (see # 14) and spend the afternoon reading on the lawn.

Austin Fireworks Display

We were treated to a great fireworks show in Austin on the last Saturday of SXSW!

Austin Bat Colony

Austin, TX

When my sister said she was coming down to Austin for Spring Break all I could think was SXSW! Even without tickets SXSW is a great time to be in Austin, if you don’t mind the crowds. In addition to all sorts of festivities, our agenda included hitting up a few of Austin’s tamer attractions. The highlight of our trip though was getting to visit a high school friend, who I haven’t seen in 10 years, who has opened a food truck in Austin – and it’s amazing! (Keep reading for more details)

Saturday, we drove down to Austin and headed straight for the Univ of Texas campus. The LBJ library is on the campus and has free parking. We parked our car and walked across campus to the Harry Ransom Center. The museum houses both a Gutenberg Bible and the world’s first photograph (which I think looks more like a piece of banged out metal, but the first photograph is the first photograph.) Both items are right in the lobby – so it’s a quick stop. There are numerous restaurants in the area – we hopped across the street to Crave Thai & Sushi Bar for some sushi and Thai food. After lunch we headed back across the campus to the LBJ Library & museum where we were greeted by some very enthusiastic volunteers. The LBJ museum is not as large as some of the other Presidential Libraries – but they have a moon rock and a lot of other interesting exhibits. On the creepy side – if you head upstairs you’ll find an animatronic LBJ who tells jokes (tripped by a motion sensor). Upstairs also houses my favorite exhibit – the gifts from the American People. LBJ was the lucky recipient of not one, but six painted rocks. Awesome America. Haha.

Next up – night time bat viewing! We were in Austin in June last year, but the bats were breeding and so they weren’t flying. This time we booked a “river cruise” abord Lonestar's little boat - although I use that word lightly because it is actually a barge with white plastic lawn chairs- also it’s BYOB. Capital Cruises runs a double-decker boat that looks more legitimate but we loved the low key nature of the little star. Despite its seeming sketchiness, it’s totally worth it. The guide was knowledgeable about the city and the bats. The tour starts just before sunset with a wonderful view and tour of the city, then, at sunset, you park the boat by the Congress Street bridge for a viewing of the bats! It was not the ‘darkening of the sky’ with bats that I expected – it was cooler – for 30 min there was an endless stream of bats flowing from the concrete expansion gaps built into the bridge. The bats fly along the tree line in groups so that birds don’t eat them. While ‘out on the town,’ the million or so Mexican Free Tail bats in the Austin colony feast on moths and other insects, before returning to the bridge at sunrise. You can see the bats just fine by standing along the bridge at sunset, but the cruise was a fun rest from an already busy day. (I will post a short video in another post shortly - so check back soon.)

After our bat watching, we walked into downtown to eat at the Peached Tortilla. Eric Silverstein, the owner, is a great fellow and the food is outstanding. On this night, the food truck was parked at 5^th & Colorado, in the midst of the SXSW concert events. We tried several varieties of the sliders and tacos – all were excellent! There is something for everyone, with fish, meat, vegetarian options. Eric lists the location of the Peached Tortilla truck on his web page and on twitter each week and they have also opened up a 'permanent' trailer location near UT. We left the food truck with full and just in time to catch an amazing fireworks show on the river. (I will post a video of the show in another post shortly.)

On Sunday, we left bustling Austin (quickly becoming one of the largest US cities) for a leisurely return trip to our temporary home base in Fort Worth. Our major stop for the day was at the Fall Creek Vineyard in rural Tow Texas. The vineyard hosts Saturday picnics on its winery property. So when I called to see if they could possibly accommodate our party on a Sunday for a picnic, I expected to be turned down. Instead, the staff was happy to offer a picnic to us on Sunday. We arrived at noon and joined a tour of the vineyard that ended with a tasting ($5 for 6 pours, you keep the glass). Then, we picked a bottle of Chardonnay to enjoy with our boxed lunches in the courtyard. Fall Creek Vineyard has a great location and a superbly friendly staff. You can find out about Fall Creek Vineyard activities on facebook.

We also made a quick detour into the town of Burnet (pronounced like Durn'it), Texas which is home to the worlds smallest public park and the return of the first annual dog house race... oh and a large rock they don't want removed. The main square looks lovely, although on Sunday everything was closed. During the week this would be an ideal place to find a bite to eat or venture into the stores on he square. Regardless, it made a nice stop to get out of the car and walk around before resuming our ride home.

The trip ended with a final stop at what is fast becoming our favorite eatery in Fort Worth, Freebirds. (Jeff recommends getting the BBQ sauce on your burrito -" it sounds strange but it tastes delicious.") It was the perfect end to a spring break weekend.

San Antonio, TX

With our weekends in Texas winding down, we spent a beautiful March weekend in San Antonio, TX. On Friday evening, we made the uneventful drive down to San Antonio. The plan was to stop in Austin for dinner but with SXSW going on traffic was terrible and Austin was packed so we grabbed some food on the go and pushed all the way to San Antonio. We booked the trip to San Antonio a bit late and ended up finding a hotel room in the downtown area - we were walking distance from the San Antonio River Walk. If I had it to do again I would book a hotel right on the river walk, which would have made it more convenient for most of the activities. The walk back and forth between the hotel and the riverwalk area got old quickly. Friday night we decided to go down to the riverwalk area just to check it out. We should have hopped on a boat tour right then because there was hardly anyone there. (Later in the weekend it was so packed that we ended up forgoing the boat tour for other activities.) Instead we found a table at The Landing for some jazz, a cocktail and great people watching. (I had a drink called The Interlude that was fabulous.) Jeff had a Napa pinot noir. The big plan for the weekend was to bike between the San Antonio missions. San Antonio has the most missions in one central area - they are each only about 3 miles apart from each other. They are all part of the National Park system but also have operating Catholic Churches. Saturday morning we headed over to James bicycle shop to rent bikes for the day. The bike shop looks a little sketchy but they are super nice, have great rates and will pick you up if you get a flat - it doesn't get better than that! We called ahead to make reservations but that wasn't necessary. You can join the path near the bike shop but we decided to throw the bikes in the back of the car and drive to Mission Concepcion. Make sure you stop into the visitor's center so the ranger can explain the bike path - parts of it are under construction and you're going to need some directions. (We strayed from the path a few times by accident.) You cannot ride your bikes on the Mission property so lock them up at the bike racks and explore the mission by foot. (Jame's bike rental gives you a lock and helmets with your rental. About $30 per bike for a full day.) When you're ready, hop on your bike and start down the road toward Mission San Jose. There is a bike path on the left away from the road until the golf course and then you'll need to ride in the bike lane on the road. The road dead ends into Mission San Jose - so cross the road and follow the bike path to the right until you reach the visitor's center. Mission San Jose has the most to offer - there is a video in the visitors center and a 45 min ranger led tour that are both worth your time. Check with the ranger before you head out because the construction on the bike path is happening and the route changes. We followed the new path down by the river until we literally ran into the construction... then unfortunately we had to backtrack down a very busy road. Once we got on Mission Road it was back to light traffic all the way to Mission San Juan. Mission San Juan is pretty sparse compared to what you have already seen, but there are also much fewer people making it quiet and relaxing. We found a nice shady tree and enjoyed a picnic lunch. The bike trail to Mission Espada is now open so its an easy ride down the river. There is a nice visitor's center here as well, so stop in and see what is going on. We took a different path back to our car so that we could go by the oldest aqueduct in the US - which is also part of the reasons the missions are where they are. The only downside to this path is we ended back up on that busy road for about a mile this time - we rode on the sidewalks to keep out of the way of traffic but it was a bit harrowing. With the bikes returned and the car back at the hotel we walked into downtown to see the Alamo. Instead of waiting in the long line to get into the main building we went around back and just went into the museum building (also the gift shop) and the gardens. There is an audio tour you can purchase. The Alamo was a bit anticlimactic but it's a must do. There are a million restaurants on the river walk to grab drinks, dinner or desert. We took advantage of the specials we found on twitter and foursquare - including a buy one get one deal for ice cream at Ben & Jerrys! Sunday, we booked a walking tour with San Antonio Walks - we were the only ones on the tour but I can't figure out why! The tour was phenomenal and will give you the full historical significance of San Antonio not only in Texas history but in US history. The tour covers 10-15 blocks in the riverwalk area at a leisurely pace and starts just in front of The Alamo and ends at one of the riverwalk entrances so that you can grab lunch when it ends at noon. All in all it was a perfect weekend in San Antonio - I'm glad it was part of our Texas Adventure!