7 Great Places to Visit in Fort Worth

Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company

When Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson set out to make whiskey, they had no idea they’d end up producing a uniquely Texas product. After years of experimentation with different yeast strains for their bourbon, a step many producers skip, they found perfection in a strain harvested from a pecan tree near Glen Rose. Their blended whiskey won Double Gold and Best American Craft Whiskey awards at the prestigious 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The distillery, with its gorgeous copper pot stills, stands in a reclaimed Prohibition-era warehouse just south of downtown. On select Saturdays, they offer tours, and they’re happy to pour you a taste of Texas. 

Panther Island Pavilion

The 40-acre Panther Island Pavilion is home to the only waterfront stage in Texas. During the summer, concertgoers float on inner tubes in the Trinity River. Renting a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard is easy. Backwoods Paddlesports offers everything you need to enjoy not just the show but the river. 

Coyote Drive-In

Grab the whole family and catch a double feature at this hip drive-in theater by the Trinity River. The Coyote Canteen serves pizza, burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and candy. Adults can choose from a long list of beers and wine. If the kids can’t stay still in the car, there’s a playground to keep them entertained. On most Friday and Saturday nights during the summer, a band plays in the eating area. A double feature here is only $8, and the sound is transmitted through your car’s radio. Check their website (coyotedrive-in.com) for specials and weather closures. 

Texas Motor Speedway

Did you know that the largest sporting event in Texas takes place in north Fort Worth? The NASCAR Sprint Cup series races held annually in April and November pull in more than 400,000 spectators over a weekend. The speedway also hosts two races each in the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series, and one Verizon IndyCar Series. There are 144 luxurious suites and the Speedway Club, which features fine dining and salon and spa services if you need a break from the vroom-vroom action on the 1.5-mile oval track. TMS also offers in-car experiences that range from a three-lap ride-along ($109) to actually getting behind the wheel for 50 laps ($2,599). 

Fairmount National Historic District

Fort Worth is home to the largest historic neighborhood in the Southwest. The Fairmount Historic District, located near Southside, has more than 1,000 structures and homes that were built between the late 1800s and early 1920s. Most of the homes are bungalows or boxy foursquares, but the area is diverse, with brick and stone mansions next to smaller homes. Each year, the Fairmount Neighborhood Association organizes indoor tours. Check the website (historicfairmount.com) for dates, yards of the month, and a handy driving guide.

Van Cliburn International Piano Competition

Every four years, Fort Worth hosts one of the world’s most important music events, three weeks of piano virtuosity. Van Cliburn, who passed away in 2013, made world headlines when, at the age of 23, he won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958. His sensational victory inspired a group of Fort Worth music teachers and eager citizens to organize the first competition, which took place in 1962. The 15th installment happens from May 25 to June 10, 2017, at Bass Performance Hall. 

Trinity Hiking Trails

The Trinity River winds through the city, and its shores are dotted with parks and green spaces. More than 40 miles of trails connect with 21 parks. You can start in the center of the city and be in the wilderness within a half-mile. There are also five boat launches for canoes and kayaks and a couple of good fishing holes. Some of the trails are crushed limestone while others are paved, and a bike-share station makes it easy to check out some of the city’s main attractions.

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