Does Fort Worth ever cross your mind?

If you recognized George Strait as inspiration for my title of this post, well...you are even more special to me.  Thank you. 

Admittedly, I fall into the category of "you can take the girl outta Texas, but not Texas outta the girl".  I love Texas.  I love that Texas has its own cultures and identity.  Recently, a customer of mine, here in Australia, was planning a road trip across the southeast of the U.S.  She asked if I could give her some input about where to go and what to see in Texas.  I had to share some recommendations from one of my favorite Texas cities...Fort Worth.

The metropolitan area of Dallas/Fort Worth is somewhat massive.  "DFW" is the international airport that is quite efficient, clean, and easy to navigate.  I fly a direct flight Sydney to Dallas almost once a year for the last 7 years.  I've gotten to know this airport.  Internationally, Dallas seems to be the more "well known" city, but personally, I think Fort Worth is the city with all the charm. 

Fort Worth Stock Yards - You want to visit Texas, and you want to see working cowboys, well...look no further.  In the heart of the city is working stock yards, a cowboy AND cowgirl museum, and every Saturday night, you can attend a rodeo.  This district is full of shops, restaurants, and bars as well.

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I highly recommend the Stockyard Hotel in Fort Worth.  It's located in a heritage listed building, western-themed, kitsch (but not overly silly), great location, reasonable rates, and just lovely.  The hotel's location is in walking distance of the Fort Worth Stockyards, plus restaurants, shopping, and more. 

Speaking of shopping... If you ever thought you'd want to buy good cowboy boots, Fort Worth is your place.  You can find handmade pairs in almost any leather imaginable.  On one particular trip, I bought my young Aussie niece a pair.  I wished I'd bought myself the same pair in adult sizes.

My personal photos

When asked what I miss most about Texas, high on that list is the food!  So, let's talk food...

My #1 recommendation: The Reata.  The food is amazing with an authentic Texas cuisine flair.  Every time I'm visiting home, I stay with my girlfriend that lives in Fort Worth, and we always have dinner here.  Indoor dining or patio dining overlooking downtown Fort Worth, both are superb experiences.  I could eat here just for the jalapeño & cilantro soup plus wedge salad alone.  But, who am I kidding?  It's Texas.  We eat big in Texas. 
You also want to try tenderloin tamales to start plus Reata's chicken fried steak with black pepper gravy.  Or the rib eye.  Or bacon wrapped lamb.  You can't go wrong with any of these sides: jalapeño and cheese grits, bacon wrapped asparagus, bourbon creamed corn, jalapeño and bacon macaroni and cheese.  Oh...and save room for dessert.  They have Texas specialties homemade banana pudding, Texas pecan pie, a chocolate bread pudding tamale, and dessert tacos.

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Tex Mex (the best food on the planet) can not be missed.  For fantastic fajitas and margaritas, visit Joe T. Garcia's, a Fort Worth institution.  There isn't much choice of the menu, but you don't need it.  What's there is excellent.

My personal photo

Other Tex Mex recommendations:  Mi Cocina at Sundance Square - if you've never had brisket tacos, introduce yourself to them here; and Cantina Laredo which is a little clean and upmarket compared to some Tex Mex dives that I enjoy, but it's still yummy goodness. 

Insider scoop:  Truly unique to Texas cuisine, if chile con queso is on the menu, then I order it.  The first thing that I want to do when I visit home is faceplant into a bowl of it. 

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Other food & drink recommendations:  Texas BBQ: Shady Oak Barbecue and Grill, Cousin's BBQ, or Riscky's; Fred's Texas Café (a burger & beer dive that also has live music at night) there's also a good restaurant in the Stockyards area called H3 for a relatively inexpensive (and good) steak and attached to the restaurant is Booger Red's Saloon.  Yes...that is the name.  There's another bar that I recommend as well: Filthy McNasty's.  Fort Worth is not shy of drinking establishments with fun names.

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Also, for another true Texas experience - Billy Bob's (the world's largest honky tonk).  Superb people watching!  If you like beer, try Shiner Bock or Lone Star...they are two Texas brewed beers.  You'll fit right in.  Billy Bob's has country dancing every night and hold special events like concerts and bull-riding.

Have a group?  Then you must book a night with the Cowtown Cycle Party.  A unique way to ride around Fort Worth and get a little exercise too.  Oh, and you can drink. 

personal photo - a birthday celebration for me!

Fort Worth also has a fantastic zoo, a beautiful performance hall, water gardens, a comedy club, Japanese botanic gardens and more.  All of these listed above, I've personally visited, eaten the food, and drank the drink.

Bass Performance Hall - my personal photo

If I haven't shared enough Fort Worth ideas, take a look at the city's website.  Or, you can venture over to Arlington (about a 20 minute drive) and visit Six Flags over Texas, catch a Texas Rangers baseball game at The Ballpark or a Dallas Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium...or venture a little further to Dallas for even more sites, food, and fun.

If there aren't enough recommendations here for you, Texans are typically extremely hospitable people.  Most often, they will be happy to recommend (and show off) what their city and state has to offer.  Do not hesitate to ask.

Have you ever visited Fort Worth?  Have I piqued your interest?

Linking up with the NEW Wanderful Wednesday ladies.  I'd just gotten my act together and started organizing some travel posts.  If you are a regular reader, you know that my blog features a little bit of everything! The Wanderlust Wednesday group is coming to an end, so when Isabel of The Sunny Side of This announced this new link-up, I thought "perfect timing!"  Plus, the hosts are ladies living all over the world.  I predict some super travel sites coming at us.