Free Fall Fun in Fort Worth
At last, the weather is cooler. Getting outside in the fresh air can be beneficial for the whole family.
It is not only good for the body but great for the mind. Being together in outdoor activities is also a wonderful way to bond and create good memories.
There are many fun, free things to do in Fort Worth. Most are open year-round, except on major holidays. Here are just a few…
Go to the Stockyards. At 11:30 am and 4:00 pm there is a re-enactment of the old cattle drives that once put the Fort Worth area on the map. You can watch cowboys herd longhorns down East Exchange Ave for their twice-daily exercise. Before each drive, you can have your picture taken with these majestic animals in their pens at the Livestock Exchange Building. You may have to pay for parking, though and there are unique shops, street vendors, and wonderful eateries waiting to take your money as well. Of course, the Stockyards are more crowded on weekends. For more information, check out their website https://www.fortworthstockyards.org/events/fort-worth-herd-twice-daily-cattle-drive-0.
Airfield and Conservatory Park. A few miles north of I-30 in west Fort Worth is a wonderful park that is kid and pet-friendly. Pack a picnic lunch and wander the beautiful scenery, the area’s largest trickling waterfall, and walk or bike along the well-maintained trails. There is even an aircraft from the nearby base you can see up close. It is located at 200 Pumphrey Drive in Westworth Village and closes at 10:00 p.m. It is part of the Trinity Trails network that includes 100-plus miles of trails and 21 parks meandering through 31 neighborhoods in and around the city. Visit https://trinitytrailsfw.com/airfieldfalls/ for more details.
Fort Worth Water Gardens. Fun any time of the year is the architectural wonder called the Water Gardens. A maze of concrete walks carries you through a watery wonder that ranges from calm, almost still trickles to cascading and roaring falls. Located just a few steps from the Convention Center in Downtown Fort Worth, it is free to visit. Mostly crowded in the summer as a way to keep cool in the heat, it is still a pleasant time in cooler months, though you might wish to bring a waterproof windbreaker. Learn more at https://www.fortworth.com/things-to-do/attractions/fort-worth-water-gardens/
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is located at 9601 Fossil Ridge Road. It offers a variety of terrain from forest to wetlands to prairie along the twenty-mile walking trails. Be sure to bring your camera or phone to capture shots of wildlife. It closes daily at 5:00 pm. For more information, check out their website: https://www.fwnaturecenter.org/
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a pleasant drive away in Glen Rose, TX. While they do charge $8.00 for admission, children under the age of twelve enter free. There is plenty to do there. Look for dinosaur tracks, visit the realistic statues of various ancient creatures, picnic, walk or bike the trails, even bring your horse! Campsites are also available with reservations. You can learn all about this fun place at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/dinosaur-valley
So, why not get outdoors and enjoy the natural world beyond the steel and concrete? There is plenty of it around Fort Worth.