Things to do in Cowtown

FT WORTH HAS EXCELLENT ZOO LOCATED NEAR THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE IS ALSO HISTORICAL STOCKYARDS AREA WITH WESTERN SHOPS, HISTORICAL MARKERS, SOUVERNIRS AND EXCELLENT DINING. JOE T GARCIA'S OFFERS EXCELLENT MEXICAN FOOD AND IS LOCATED NEAR STOCKYARDS AREA ON NORTH SIDE OF TOWN. IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH NEAR THE COURTHOUSE IS TANDY CENTER MALL. THERE IS LARGE ICE SKATING RINK THERE WHERE YOU CAN EITHER WATCH OR PARTICIPATE AND MANY DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS.

Quick Tips:

FROM DFW AIRPORT YOU CAN TAKE AIRPORTER BUS WHICH WILL TAKE YOU TO DOWNTOWN HOTELS. BUSES RUN EVERY 30 MINUTES. COST IS BUT LESS FOR SENIORS.

SIX FLAGS AMUSEMENT PARK IS SIMILIAR TO DISNEYLAND. COST IS EXPENSIVE BUT IF YOU TAKE COCA-COLA CANS YOU RECEIVE HUGE DISCOUNT. PARK IS OPEN IN LATE SPRING THROUGH LATE SUMMER AND IS ABOUT 30 MINUTE DRIVE FROM DOWNTONW AREA ON I-30 WEST. SOUTH OF FT WORTH IS DINOSAUR STATE PARK LOCATED NEAR TOWN OF GLENROSE. YOU CAN SEE ACTUAL FOOT PRINTS OF DINAOSUARS IN PALUXY RIVER. ALSO NEARBY IS FOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE PRESERVE WHERE YOU CAN SEE AFRICAN WILDLIFE AS YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR THROUGH 9 MILES OF SCENIC LANDSCAPE. IF YOU GO TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS YOU CAN VISIT DEALEY PLAZA WHERE JFK ASSISINATION TOOK PLACE.

Best Way To Get Around:

FT WORTH IS A CITY OF 500,000 PEOPLE BUT GETTING AROUND IS NOT DIFFICULT. STOCKYARDS AND ZOO AREA IS EASILY ACCESIBLE BY CAR AND BUS. TAXIS FROM THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH COST ABOUT SO IT IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO STAY AT ONE OF THE DOWNTOWN HOTELS AND TAKE THEIR VAN AT DESIGNATED PICK UP AREA OF AIRPORT.

This is small fast food restaurant with excellent food located on west side of town. It is across next door to Grandy's and just west of the Weatherford traffic circle.

The best meal on the menu is the deluxe hamburger for just $2.89. I also tried the chicken strip basket with three pieces of chicken and curly fries for $3.99 including a drink -- and the chicken strips are huge! They also serve chili, hot dogs, chili pie, spicy chicken bites, and a giant turkey sandwich either hot or cold. The only dessert offered is apple pie.

All credit cards are accepted and service is fast and friendly. The store is extremely clean inside and out, and there is a small area to dine inside. They also offer a senior citizen discount.

This is an all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurant serving American food. It is clean and well lit, and service is excellent. As you walk in the door, you immediately pick up your tray and silverware and pay before you go to buffet line.

There is wide variety of food available. There are freshly broiled sirloins steaks, fried chicken, roast beef, and fish. There is a well-stocked salad bar with fresh lettuce and vegetables and a wide variety of condiments and salad dressings.

As you sit at your table, you are almost immediately served rolls. The staff is courteous and friendly, and my waiter came by more times than necessary to ask to refill my glass of tea. Although the restaurant is often crowded, there is no problem finding a seat. This is great place for family dining!

From Fort Worth, take I-35 South to Hwy 67 and go west through Burleson until you get to Cleburne. At the square, go west on Henderson for approximatley 2 miles, and on your right you will see a parking lot with lots of cars and the Cotton Patch Restaurant. We were greeted by friendly staff and immediatley seated, although it was crowded.

For appetizers, you can choose among chicken quesadillas, bacon cheese fries, cheese sticks, crispy mushrooms, and buffalo tenders. The price of these items ranges from $5.49 to $6.99. However, if you go to cottonpatch.com on their website, you can print coupons for free appetizer with purchase of two entrees. I had an ample supply of chicken quesadillas, and they were delicious!

From the entrees, you can choose from sirloin steak, chicken fried steak, fried shrimp, grilled chicken breast, grilled catfish, and meat loaf. Side dishes cost $1.49 each, and you may choose from 16 items.

Hot rolls were immediately served, and our order was ready within 20 minutes after ordering. I enjoyed the black eyed peas and garlic mashed potatoes.

There was not much to choose from for dessert, but after trying to eat all the food placed before me, I did not really need dessert. The Cotton Patch specializes in fresh products. Although prices seem a little high, you are given large portions, and we took doggy bag home since we both could not finish everything we ordered.

The manager was present the entire time, as she went from table to table, greeting customers. An enjoyable dining experience!

Shrimpers is located in the cultural district of Fort Worth. It is less than 2 miles from the zoo and a short distance from Casa Manana, Will Rogers Coliseum, and the Fort Worth Art and Science Museum.

Dress is casual, and in the evening, when I was there, the waitresses wore shorts. You can have the choice of a booth or table.

While there is nothing fancy about the restaurant inside or out, the food is good and service is excellent. I tried the Mississippi catfish basket with fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw. Also on the menu for about the same price are a shrimp basket and oyster basket. Shrimpers seems to be primarily a seafood restaurant, but also on the menu are some Mexican dishes, such as faijtas and salads. Prices vary from as low as $4.95 for hamburger to $20 for large oyster and shrimp plates.

The booths are comfortable, and there is boat and some fish placed at intervals on the walls to give atmosphere. However, if you are looking for romantic and gourmet-type dining, then this is not the place. Management has the radio playing a little too loud for my liking, but, overall, you will leave here with good dining experience. I recommend this restaurant because I like the service and the food.

Freebirds is located on the south side of Fort Worth near Hulen Mall. The shop is similiar to Subway in that you place your order and go through the line while the servers add the toppings you select to your burrito. I was told that at times, there is long line stretching out the door, but when I arrived at 7:15pm, there was were just two customers ahead of me.

There is sign as you enter telling you how many minutes you will have to wait. You have choice of several types of tortillas for your burrito: corn, flour, wheat, cayenne, and spinach. I ordered a 1/2 Bird Steak Burrito and added toppings of onions, tomatoes, peppers, and cheese. Sour cream, guacamole, and queso are extra for 75 cents each.

Non-burrito items available are quesadillas, tacos, and nachos. All of these are available in steak, chicken, or veggie, and prices range from $5.25 to 6.25. I ordered the 1/2 Bird Burrito with Diet Pepsi, and the total cost was $6.75. You can also order online and check the menu at www.freebirds.com.

Also offered is a 1 1/2-pound Monster Burrito, which I did not try. There is also small area with table for outdoor dining, and take-out is available. Severs are friendly and hard-working and willing to please customers.

Ocean Rock is located in the TCU area not far from the zoo and the cultural district.
A friend told me that he had heard that the food was not too good there, but I wanted to try a new seafood restaurant and decided to take a chance.

The restaurant has metal tables and no booths. There is bar and a patio outside in an area where you can enjoy your meal.

What sets this apart from other local seafood restaurants is the wide variety of seafood items available on the menu: stuffed flounder; grilled, baked, or fried tilapia; oysters; scallops; crawfish tails; shrimp; and fried catfish are listed on the menu. Also available are tuna steak and Pacific rockfish, and if you want something other than seafood, you can order a 12-ounce rib-eye steak for $16.79 or a cheeseburger for $7.75. They are open 7 days a week, and from 11am until 4pm, you can order their fried seafood baskets, which range in price from $6.25 to $10.95.

I ordered the fried tilapia with onion rings, fries, and two hush puppies. I did not care for the hush puppies, but the onion tings were large and delicious. The French fries were tasty, with a touch of spice, and the two tilapia were excellent, as was the red and tartar sauces served with them.

The servers are friendly and my waiter filled my tea twice without me asking.

I ordered the house salad for $2.99, and the tartar and red sauces were served with it. I asked the waiter if they had Thousand Island, and he replied that the closest thing to it is the Remoulade dressing. Remoulade is like a souped-up Thousand Island with more spice and flavor. I actually liked it better than Thousand Island. Other salads on the menu included salmon Caesar, Carmen's crab/avocado, and Cancun shrimp, with prices ranging from $2.99 to $8.79.

From I-30, take University Drive south. You will pass Berry Street, and shortly after, you will see the large Ocean Rock Sign on Bluebonnet Circle.

They have 19 beers on tap, plus bottled beer and a variety of red and white wines. There is KID’S MENU for those 10 and under, ranging from $3.99 for a grilled cheese sandwich to $5.49 for a shrimp basket. Side orders of baked potato, fried okra, onion rings, white rice, coleslaw, black beans, and cottage cheese range form $1.50 to $3. Other interesting items on the menu are the San Juan crab burger, fish tacos, and "shrimpchilidas."

I ordered a steak sandwich and dinner salad with 1000 Island. The steak was large but not very tasty. It was not especially tender either. It was served on bun, and you could add condiments as you liked. The salad was okay, but what they called 1000 Island dressing did not taste like 1000 Island. It was more like Italian, and not very good at that.

The restaurant offers hot and cold subs, ranging from turkey and cheese to meatball parmigiana and chicken parmigiana. Various burgers, sandwiches and soups are also on the menu. Stuffed jalapenos, hot wings, and chili cheese french fries are also listed. For desserts, they have three kinds of cheesecake, plus cookies and brownies. There is also a choice of Italian foods. Pizza, calzone, garlic bread, spinach roll, and lasagna are also some of the menu items found here. I was disappointed in the food I ordered, so maybe the Italian selections are better.

This restaurant is not located in the best part of town. There are homeless people who frequent this area, and it is near Hemphill Street, which has reputation for being dangerous area. If you must try this place, go in the daytime. There is parking in the street where you can walk right in.

Olive Garden is a modern, clean, and pleasant place to dine with delicious Italian-style food. The atmosphere is Italian, with soft music and a variety of tasty dishes, drinks, and desserts. I have eaten at this restaurant many times and always have enjoyed a delicious meal with excellent service.

I usually order the spaghetti with meat sauce for $6.95, and that includes their house salad with their own Italian dressing and breadsticks. They also have antipasta, pizzas, classic Italian cuisine, chicken and seafood dishes. The shrimp primavera is delicous and costs $8.95. The chicken alfredo consists of grilled chicken tossed with fettuccini and alfredo sauce for $8.95. They have large selection of beverages, from expensive wines to herbal and flavored teas, Italian sodas, Sicillian Splash, raspberry lemonade, and cappuccino is also on the menu.

They also have some tasty desserts ranging in price from $4.25 to $5.50. My favorite is the rasberry cheesecake with white chocolate--cheesecake topped with slivers of white chocolate.

The employees are friendly and courteous, and the service is fast.

With the wide choice of menu items and delicious foods, the Olive Garden is one of my favorite places to eat. You can also call ahead for orders to go, and they are usually ready for pick-up within 15 minutes.

Souper Salad is inexpensive, but the food is delicious. There is a wide variety of salad and condiments. The employees are friendly and service is fast. Baked potato and spaghetti is also included with the delicious rolls. All is served buffet style for just $5.69. Seniors 60 or older receive 10 % discount.

You go through the buffet lines and pick out the salad you want. They have romaine and iceberg lettuce. You can choose as many items as you want to go with your salad as you proceed through the line. Radishes, carrots, jalapeño peppers, bell peppers, onions, and sprouts are some of the choices.

They also have baked potato as an extra, and there are several kinds of rolls to choose from. This particular location is within easy access of Loop 820, next to Olive Garden and several other restaurants.

If you are a salad lover and like all the things that go with salads, you cannot find any other place like this in town for the value!

FOSSIL RIM HAS MANY OF THE ENDANGERED AFRICAN HOOFED ANIMALS.

YOU DRIVE THROUGH 9 MILES OF GRASSLAND OCCUPIED BY GIRAFFES, ZEBRAS, ANTELOPE, WILDEBEASTS, EMUS AND OSTRICHES. MANY OF THEM WILL COME TO YOUR CAR AND TAKE FOOD FROM YOUR HAND.

YOU CAN PURCHASE FOOD PACKS AT THE GIFT SHOP FOR THE ANIMALS.

YOU WILL RECEIVE BROCHURE AT THE GATE WITH INFORMATION ON EACH TYPE OF ANIMAL AND THEIR HABITS.

LOOK OUT POINT GIVES BEAUTIFUL VIEW FROM HIGH UP AND ALSO HAS INEXPENSUVE SNACK BAR AND GIFT SHOP.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO SEE ONE PLACE ON YOUR VISIT TO FT WORTH I WOULD RECOMMEND TAKING THE HOUR DRIVE SOUTH TO GLENROSE.

Ft. Worth has an excellent zoo. All kinds of African wildlife.

Lions are housed in large area with terrain much like Africa - even a waterfall. Gorilla exhibit is extremely interesting with many varieties of gorillas and monkeys. Many endangered. There is excellent aquarium and reptile exhibit.

Fort Worth was once one of the leading stockyards in the United States along with St. Louis and Chicago.

You can visit this area on the north side. It has been remodeled with many historical sights and buildings which are of Western design. There are ice cream shops, Western stores, souvenir shops and restaurants. Almost like a trip back to frontier times...a touch of the old West! The Stockyards Hotel is available for lodging and is a reminder of frontier times with a Western theme.

Also, the White Elephant Saloon provides a Western-style atmosphere for dancing and live entertainment and was used often for the filming of Walker, Texas Ranger TV series.

On the ceiling and walls there are Western hats from many celebrities such as Chuck Norris, George Strait and Willie Nelson. According to the bartender, anyone can have their hat placed there also.

There is train station just a short walk east with more restaurants and shops.

All this is located just a short drive from the downtown courthouse.

Dinosaur State Park is located near Glenrose, TX, which is 50 miles south of Fort Worth.

There's a historical museum about dinosaurs and a gift shop. Children can pose next to giant authentic replicas of dinosaurs.

You can also see real footprints of dinosaurs in the Paluxy River.