Our trip to the historic city of Fort Worth began with a stop at the TX Whiskey Ranch. Spanning over a hundred acres, this rolling landscape provides a whiskey distillery, tastings, tours, a gift shop, and a golf course. The atmosphere is open and relaxed, with many picturesque spots for visitors to sit and relax. Food trucks sit near the tasting room, and even a whiskey-themed mini-golf is available nearby. This is an excellent spot for enjoying the views with a drink to unwind.

Our next stop was parking downtown and locating our historic hotel. We walked through an unexpected street festival setting up and the colorful booths lining the streets. Our hotel was charming, and the staff were welcoming as we settled into our room. The clawfoot soaking tub was my absolute favorite thing about it.

Once settled, we headed out to dinner at the Wicked Butcher—a steakhouse of well-earned reputation and a must-see for fans of fine dining. The meals were large portions of carefully prepared art, and the drinks were no less impressive. Too full to even consider dessert, we departed, wandering down the streets and stumbling onto a music concert. After enjoying the music and atmosphere for a while, we set off again, exploring everything the city had to offer while reading the many posted signs of business entrepreneurs, inventors, and settlers from dozens of countries who shaped the storied history of this large city. Returning to our room with some late-night snacks, we called it a day.

The next morning, we opted for breakfast at the Yolk restaurant. The food was perfect after a long night exploring the town, and the seasonal lattes were even better. Fed and packed up, we drove to the botanical gardens. Greeted with a large, beautifully landscaped entrance, we knew we had come to the right place. Finding a spot to park, we went inside and began our walking tour of the gardens. With one hundred and twenty acres, you could easily spend a couple of days walking the grounds. Heading in the direction of the Japanese gardens, we enjoyed the peaceful area and saw many curled up in various spots with a book. It was a calm reprieve from the crowded downtown streets, and we took our time walking the trails and seeing the sights. After making our loop around, we walked to the rose gardens and found a large gnome hidden in a field of flowers. My favorite attraction was the musical swings that would change with each one that moved at a different pace.

Our final stop was by far the most exciting as we explored the stockyards. With so much to do, one could spend days and still not see everything. Shopping, dining, bars, dancehalls, and arenas were just a few of the many attractions available to visitors. The most memorable being the twice-a-day cattle drive through the main street. Long horns make their way through town, sometimes deciding to climb onto the sidewalks and plod right into shops instead. It seems even they enjoy everything that this bustling area has to offer. After walking nearly five miles, we decided to head out for the weekend, promising to return and explore more of the city’s attractions.