No longer a mere “Cowtown,” this Texas city has strong cultural and culinary scenes.
Long nicknamed Cowtown, Fort Worth, Texas, has a whole lot more to offer than rodeos, roping and riding. The nation’s 12th-largest city is as much a cultural center as it is a reflection of its cattle-ranching past. It’s home to the Fort Worth Stockyards, as well as world-class cultural institutions like the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Bass Performance Hall. And when it’s time to eat and drink, you’ll have your choice of far more Tex-Mex, barbecue, biscuits and craft beers than you can handle. But hey, if you overindulge, at least there’s a Western shop (or two) where you can buy a bigger belt.
Explore Fort Worth
- Cultural District
- Fort Worth Stockyards
- Near Southside
- Sundance Square
Cultural District
Overview
This is where you’ll find the city’s best museums, including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, among other attractions.
Known For
Parks, Gardens, Museums, Theater
Fort Worth Stockyards
Overview
The Cowtown nickname was born — and stuck — thanks to this neighborhood’s twice-daily cattle drives (among other Old West attractions). It also houses a chic hotel and a slew of compelling shops — many locally owned.
Known For
History, Dining, Restaurants, Live Music, Nightlife , Rodeo Attractions
Near Southside
Overview
One of the city’s coolest neighborhoods, Near Southside has indie boutiques, hip cafés and a happening nightlife scene. It’s also got a lineup of top-notch restaurants along vibrant Magnolia Avenue.
Known For
Restaurants, Nightlife , Dining, Live Music
Sundance Square
Overview
This 35-square-block area of downtown is where you’ll find the Bass Performance Hall and the Sid Richardson Museum. It’s also home to top restaurants like high-end Reata and the swanky eateries in the Sinclair Hotel.
Known For
Culture, Shopping, Dining, Entertainment
Stay in The Center of it All
Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.
Plan Your 72-Hour Trip to Fort Worth
Learn How Cowtown Earned Its Nickname
Learn how Cowtown earned its nickname with a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District, which still hosts cattle drives twice a day. Ride a mechanical bull at Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky-tonk, or skip the bull and just have lunch. Take a tour of the Near Southside neighborhood, staying for dinner, dessert and maybe even a little live music.
Get Your Fill of Art, Rodeo and Tex-Mex
Spend the day museum-hopping around Fort Worth’s cultural district, home to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Kimbell Arts Museum and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, each of which has been recognized for its architecture as well its art. Dinner is at a restaurant that’s been going strong since 1935, beloved for its Tex-Mex cuisine.
Tour a Stadium and a Square
Tour a famous football stadium in nearby Arlington, then return to Fort Worth’s Sundance Square for an afternoon of cultural attractions and shopping. Your last look of the city will be from the 17th-floor rooftop bar at the Sinclair Hotel, where dinner is served at Wicked Butcher, a decidedly modern steakhouse.