Grapevine, Texas
Near Dallas and Fort Worth, this is your home base for history, breweries, and family fun.
Are you going to the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas? The city of Grapevine is the perfect place to call home. Grapevine is convenient and full of things to do. It’s only a few minutes from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and there are outdoor adventures at Lake Grapevine, a busy and historic center, and huge resorts that are vacations in themselves. As you might expect, Grapevine is also famous for its wineries and sample rooms. The name of the city comes from the wild grapes that grow in the area, so you can also expect great food and wine.
History-rich places in the area
Downtown Grapevine did very well when the Cotton Belt Railroad came through in 1888. Today, shops, artist workshops, restaurants, and bars owned by locals are housed in original and copy buildings. Take the Grapevine Vintage Railroad from downtown. This real train from the 1920s takes you to the Fort Worth Stockyards, where you can see a real cattle drive and learn about the past of Texas livestock. Every two hours, seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Would-Be Train Robbers act at the Grapevine Glockenspiel clock tower.
The Would-Be Train Robbers are two animatronic figures that come out of the tower and do a show. Nash Farm is the oldest farmstead in Tarrant County that has been continuously working. You can experience real 19th century farm life by getting involved.
Fun for the whole family
Going on a trip with kids? There are things to do for all ages in the crew, from little kids to teens. If you want to be in the middle of things, go to Grapevine Mills mall. It has over 30 restaurants, a movie theater, and more than 165,000 square meters of shops. The LEGOLAND® Discovery Center is inside this shopping center. It’s a great place for younger kids to play in a splash park, learn about how LEGO® bricks are made, meet all their favorite characters, and see a LEGO brick model of the city of Grapevine.
SEA LIFE There are also thousands of marine animals at the Grapevine Aquarium, which is also in the mall. It has a sea turtle rescue center and an underground walk-through tunnel. The newest thing to Grapevine Mills is Meow Wolf Grapevine, an art experience that pulls visitors into the strange world of The Real Unreal. Go to Lake Grapevine to enjoy the outdoors. You can do water sports, go fishing, camp, and even ride a water park on the water.
Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink
Texas makes the fifth most wine in the United States. Taken aback? On Grapevine’s Urban Wine Trail, you can try some of the best wines in the state. There are many winery sample rooms in the state that serve the best red and white wines and have themed events all year long. If you’re hungry, eat some Texas barbecue and Southern comfort food. For breakfast and lunch, people love the Old West Cafe and the Main Street Bakery.
For steaks, Perry’s and Bob’s are two of the best places to go. There are many places to stay, from boutique inns and high-end resorts to chosen service hotels. The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, which is huge and has 1,814 rooms and is on Lake Grapevine, and the Great Wolf Lodge, which is a destination resort with a water park, restaurants, and a spa, are two that stand out.