Among the things to do in Fort Worth Texas are a few fun things that truly bring the “Texas experience”.

For this reason my family and I especially like to take our out-of-state visitors on a trip to Fort Worth.

Our favorite Fort Worth attractions are the Fort Worth Stockyards, Billy Bob’s (a honky tonk bar), the Fort Worth Zoo, and Sundance Square.

Here’s more about them… 

Things To Do In Fort Worth Texas

Fort Worth Stockyards

The Fort Worth Stockyards was the first place we ever visited in Fort Worth. I like to go back there from time to time.

We saw our first rodeo ever in the Cowtown Coliseum in the Stockyards! We also saw a Wild West show and a mock gunfight! My kids enjoyed the CowKid Roundup a lot. The Stockyards Station has many shops and restaurants where we hang out if it gets real hot outside.

If I had to pick only one of the things to do in Fort Worth Texas, the Fort Worth Stockyards would be my pick!

Billy Bob’s

Billy Bob’s must be the most famous bar in Texas. It is known as the world’s largest honky tonk bar, and is quite an experience.

There is live bull riding every Friday and Saturday. There are also regular music concerts where famous Country stars, like Willie Nelson, The Bellamy Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Lee Ann Womack, and many others have played before.

They also have a great dance floor, and if you don’t know how to dance, there are free dance lessons on Thursday evenings.

Don’t miss out on Billy Bob’s, but as my experience has taught me, try to go without the kids!

Fort Worth Zoo

The Fort Worth Zoo is another of the fun things to do in Fort Worth Texas that my whole family enjoys.

They have several great animal exhibitions, like the World of Primates, Cheetos Cheetahs, Meerkat Mounds (think “Timone” in The Lion King), and several more. You can even do overnights and hold kids’ birthday parties there!

Zoos always seem to be a hit, especially with the kids. The Fort Worth Zoo is no exception. My family and I love to go!

Sundance Square

Sundance Square is downtown Fort Worth’s shopping and entertainment area.

I find the shopping to be quite casual, and there are many different types of stores in Sundance Square in Fort Worth. There is also great entertainment. I like the street acts. The kids like them too. You can also catch a movie, go dancing, listen to live music, and so on.

We all enjoy Sundance Square and like to go there!

Be sure to take a camera or camcorder along on your visit to Fort Worth!

My family and I love going to the Fort Worth Stockyards!

Our first visit to the Stock Yards was in 2001 when we took my parents there who were visiting from out of state. They still speak of that great day!

Since then, we have been back to the Fort Worth Stockyards several times.

Most recently, we took visitors from England to experience a bit of the “old West”. 

What Is The Fort Worth Stockyards?

In the days of the old West, cattle ranchers used to take their cattle to the Fort Worth Stock Yards to sell them. It was an important cattle market place! This brought a lot of people to Fort Worth, like cowboys, horse traders, cattlemen, bankers, etc. It sure was a bustling place!

In 1976 the Fort Worth Stockyards was designated a historical district. Today it is set up to show the old way of life to the thousands of visitors that go there every year, including us!

What Do We Do In The Stock Yards?

We usually go for a day, which means we’ve driven for 3 hours when we get there. Everyone then needs to go to the restroom. So we first head to Stockyards Station where there are restrooms, restaurants, and stores.

After the restroom break, I like to go to the Visitor’s Center to find out about the events of that day. Luckily, most of the events or shows are free!

Here are some of our favorite events from our last trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards…

Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive

The Stockyards keeps a small herd of cattle that is used for events. One such event is the Cattle Drive that takes place twice a day.

The Cattle Drive starts at Stockyards Station and goes down Exchange Ave. This is quite a thrill for anyone who has never seen a Longhorn before!

Legends of Texas Gunfight Show

The Legends of Texas Gunfight show, held in the Stockyards Station, is a fun depiction of a cowboy gunfight, kinda like you’d see in a cowboy movie. My kids loved it!

The cowboys fire their guns during the show (not real bullets, of course), which could scare small kids if they haven’t been warned. I didn’t hear any kids crying during the show though.

Fort Worth Herd CowKid Roundup

My kids really enjoyed the CowKid Roundup!

Using bales of hay with plastic cow heads mounted on one end, cowboys taught them how to “rope”, i.e. catch a cow with a rope. I’m not sure than any of the kids would’ve been hired as cowboys afterwards (it’s harder than it looks), but they all had a lot of fun.

Afterwards, the cowboys and a cowgirl told us all about Longhorns and the daily life of cowboys from that era. I thought it was very interesting.

Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show

Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show takes place in the Cowtown Coliseum. It is a re-enactment of the original show that toured the country almost 100 years ago.

Among other things, the show includes trick horse riding, trick shooting, some excellent trick roping, and an act where Pawnee Bill cuts through straws and paper, held by a partner, using a bull whip.

On the way into the show, I bought a show program for $2, which automatically entered me in a draw to win a pair of cowboy boots. As luck would have it, my number was drawn!

Fort Worth Stockyards Rodeo

When we took my parents to the Fort Worth Stockyards, we also saw the Rodeo. These take place on Friday & Saturday evenings.

Among all the usual rodeo events, they also had events specifically for kids from the audience. My oldest son, who was 5 at the time, had great fun trying to catch the sheep!

This was the first rodeo that I had ever been to, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Other Things To Do In The Stockyards

I mentioned the Stockyards Station earlier, where there are several restaurants. We haven’t eaten at all of them, but we’ve had some great meals at some of them.

There are also several stores in the Stockyards Station and along Exchange Ave. Here you can buy cowboy hats, boots, and all kind of other touristy items.

Across the road from Stockyards Station is a mechanical bull that kids can ride for a few dollars.

Next to the mechanical bull is the Cattlepen Maze that also costs a few dollars.

Another interesting place to visit in the Fort Worth Stockyards is the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum, which pays tribute to many of the top Texas cowgirls and cowboys.

The Fort Worth Stockyards is a great place to visit. I’m sure that we’ll be going there again!

The Battle of the Alamo is the event where many men fought bravely against overwhelming odds and died for their freedom!

The Alamo is where Texas liberty was born!

Because of this distinction, I can’t help but feel a sense of respect when my family and I visit the Alamo.

This is one historical site that we love to visit! 

The Battle of The Alamo

To help me better appreciate historical sites, I like to have at least some basic knowledge of its history.

If you don’t know much about the Alamo and the battle of the Alamo, here’s a brief overview…

Also in those days, Anglo-Americans in Texas were called “Texians” and Hispanic-Americans were called “Tejanos”. I’m going to call both “Texans” to keep it simple.

Can you imagine being in such a situation?

When I first heard this story, I wondered why the battle of the Alamo was so important if all the Texan defenders were killed and Mexico won.

Then it dawned on me… These people made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom that they believed in so strongly.

The brave men of the Alamo had not died in vain. From their sacrifice emerged Sam Houston’s battle-cry, “Remember The Alamo!” that led to Texas liberty.

What To Do There

The first time I took my family to the Alamo, we started off by just strolling around the grounds.

We visited the old church where there are exhibits of items from the battle of the Alamo, like a Bowie knife and a rifle.

The Gift Shop has many items for sale, and there are some exhibits too. My experience is that the gift shop can get quite full and it’s easy to lose sight of the kids. Our youngest is the busy one, and so I tend to keep a close watch on him.

Outside the Gift Shop is the Cavalry Courtyard where Alamo staff give talks on Alamo history. This also leads to the Long Barrack Museum where there are more exhibits.

If a potty-emergency arises with one of the kids, there are decent restrooms across the lawns behind the Gift Shop.

How To Get There

My family and I like to visit the Alamo when we also plan a trip to the San Antonio Riverwalk, i.e. the Alamo is right by the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio.

Nearby Attractions

Other than the Riverwalk, we also like the Guiness Book of World Records and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not stores that are right across the road as you exit the Shrine of the Alamo.

The Rivercenter Mall is also close by. There are regular movies and the IMAX theater that is always a hit with my kids.

Enjoy the Alamo! It is a special place!