Fort Worth Travel Forum

I'm planning on going to Texas next month and would like to know where I should stay. I want to visit the Dealey Plaza/6th Fl. Depository, West End Marketplace, Neiman Marcus, Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, Sundance Square and the Cowgirl Museum and the restaurant Angelo's.
I understand everything is spread out in TX and the transportation is not easily accessible in some areas. I don't plan on renting a car so I need to be near public transportation. I only plan on being in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for 2 days. From what I've read so far Ft. Worth is considered more 'real' than it's neighboring cousin Dallas. From what I've seen so far ,Dallas seems to be a mishmash of modern skyscrapers from end to end, with no real character.

So can anyone point out a good place to stay, that is reasonably priced, near public transportation and easy to get to the DFW airport? I need to make my reservations soon!

Address: 1015 ELM ST., TX 75202 WEST END/DOWNTOWN
Number of rooms: 311, Number of floors: 23
Check-in: 3:00 PM, Check-out: 12:00 PM
Description: The Hampton Inn West End is a first-class hotel located 19 miles from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, in the heart of downtown Dallas' “West End“ district. This hotel is just steps away from many dining and entertainment options. The Hampton Inn West End sits on a DART light rail line and it is connected to the downtown underground tunnel system, providing easy access throughout the downtown area. The convention center is easy walking distance from the Hampton Inn West End. Visitors attending entertainment or sporting events will find this hotel less than a mile from the new American Airlines Center and just blocks from Reunion Arena.
The guest rooms at the Hampton Inn West Inn are comfortable, clean and well appointed with modern amenities, such as a free movie channel. The Hampton Inn West End has an outdoor pool and a fitness facility. Guests are treated to a complimentary, continental, breakfast bar each morning. The Hampton Inn West End is just steps away from fine dining, shopping and entertainment venues.
Cancellation policy: 24 HOURS
Hotel Services: Parking, Airport shuttle, Indoor pool, Outdoor pool, Hotel restaurant, Lounge, Gym, Complimentary breakfast, Pets allowed, Air conditioning

Getting TO/AROUND:
Dallas has two major airports: DFW International Airport and Love Field.
DFW Airport is the 3rd busiest airport in the world. It can be found inbetween Dallas and Fort Worth. To travel from the airport to downtown or vice-versa, the Trinity Railway Express makes the run - ticket for single ride costs $1.
**Love Field isn't as big as DFW and is dominated by Southwest Airlines; it's actually in Dallas.
Info about transportation from the airport and between the two airports can be found on the website.

Website:
http://www.dfwairport.com/

Other Contact:
http://www.dallas-lovefield.com/

Spaghetti Warehouse restaurant chain originated in Dallas in the West End. It's a fun place to eat, and the food is pretty good too. It's in an old warehouse building and is decorated with memoriablia from the early 1900s. There's even a trolley car in the restraunt.

Downtown Dallas, The Sixth Floor Museum. It's the place from where Oswald shot Kennedy. You can see the view Oswald had when shooting.There's an X on Elm St. which marks the spot their automobile was when the shots rang out. You can run out into the road (when the cars are at the stop light) and look up to the Book Depository Building...and find the line that the bullets followed from the the 6th floor to the motorcade. Near the museum, you'll also see the grassy knoll where an alledged 2nd shooter was perched. There's also another memorial to JFK on the other side of the street.

Address:
411 Elm St

Phone:
(214)747-6660

Personal Tip...................skip the Zoo, Fair Park area and the 2 Aquariums. They are poorly run and not worth the time.

If you go to Renunion Tower (which is just an observatory) it is a much shorter wait if you choose to go into the restraunt instead of the looking platform. We went in and sat down for a nice salad and iced tea and got in much faster than those waiting in the long line to look out on the city. Since the restraunt is above where the lookout is, we had a great view and the restraunt rotates to get a fabulous view of the city from all angles. The windows of the restraunt seem to rotate and everyone had put small note cards on the ledge saying hello or greetings from where they are from. Its really nice. After this we did go on out onto the lookout which was free for restraunt patrons. It was very windy and crowded. We were much happier with our view from inside the restraunt.....
........ oh and if you have time please try to go see the Japanese Botanical Gardens... they are lovely.

Farmers market downtown in the morning is a nice place also. More of a flea market atmosphere.

Looks like Apotropaic has wrapped it up for you. Let me just add that we recently returned from the area, and choose to make Fort Worth our base, instead.
We wanted the low-key style of a smaller town, and ended up spending most of our 'downtime' at the Stockyards. Without our rental car, I'm not sure how we would have gotten around, because Fort Worth has 3 parts to it - and they don't always 'interconnect'. Didn't see much in the way of buses, either. So I don't know how you would get to the Cowgirl Museum, which is west of actual downtown. (Sundance Square isn't really something to SEE as much as it is to DO: there are restaurants and bars there. Groups of friends going out for dinner, that sort of thing.) SO for such a brief, autoless, stay - the previous poster is probably right on the money for you.

Katja --

Thank you so much for telling me more about Ft. Worth, I think I'll stay their instead. And I've decided to rent a car now after what you said about not seeing any buses.

Could you tell me about the accomodations available? Is it similar to Downtown Chicago? Where did you stay at? Was their anyplace you saw when you got their that looked appealing? I'm on a budget and will consider all options. Did you eat at any places that were memorable? I'm not interested in any chains, like the Spaghetti Factory? Finally, what is the Stockyards like?

Thanks again!

Don't mean to make you change all your previous plans, but since you asked: 2 weekends ago virtually all hotels in town seemed to have an $89.00 a night special. We stayed at the Radisson ( write up is on my Fort Worth page), an English couple we met were at the Hilton Gardens and Inn, down the block was a Best Western hirise - all at $89.00. If you checked the internet, there might be lower prices available. There certainly were many motels along University Dr. in the direction of TCU, but that is away from downtown approx. 2 miles. (This would be fine, if you want to spend most of your time at the museums at University and Bowie Blvd. It's all the same area)
We felt downtown was perfect for walking around, going to the movies, checking out the courthouse and convention center, etc. and the roads were VERY easy to navigate (esp. compared to Chicago!) We wanted no hustle and no hassle. For that Ft. Worth ws perfect.

Katya,

Thanks for helping me decide, I think I'll be staying near downtown. It'll be easier to go to downtown Dallas from their and also it'll be closer to the destinations I want to go to.

Thanks for all your help!

Downtown Dallas is just a train ride away. Check the Fort WOrth Travel Guide pages - I think someone indicated the ticket costs about $1.50 or $2.50 - so quite a bargain! And the train station is 2 short blocks east of the convention centrer. (The marvelous Water Garden is just behind the CC) I hope you enjoy Fort Worth as much as we did - I hear it stopped raining and that it's warm now - so GET SOME SUN!

Happy Travels!
K.

PS : I haven't finished the restaurant tips yet so let me add this: steakhouses are everywhere! We especially enjoyed the '3H' at the corner of Exchange and Main St. (actually an interior extension of the Stockyards Hotel) - you have to check out the decor and if you like Tex-Mex, the salsa is good. It's different from what we get around here, but really very good. Next door on Main street is the Cattlemen's Restaurant. Just about the only thing on the menu is STEAK - in about 10 or 12 different sizes, comes w/ basic salad and fries and was PACKED with locals: big and little cowpokes, all in their hats & boots - we really got a kick out of the basic hominess of it all.

K ,

Both '3 H' and Cattleman's Restaurant sound like excellent choices! As you know, in Chicago we have a preponderance of Mexican restaurants, however I don't know if they'd be considered Tex Mex. And for that matter the same goes for steak houses. But from what I've been told, their Tex Mex, BBQ and even their steaks are completely different then ours. One of the reasons I like to travel so much is I like to try 'dishes' that are unique to an area, so that means no chains or places that can be found in Chicago.

So these two places definitely fit the bill, plus I'm looking forward to seeing these cowboys. I'm really looking forward to going now, I can't wait!!

Hello gain:

If you go to Cattlemen's check out the 'steaks on ice' display. In the front dining room, just past the hostess desk and the wrought iron grill (right in front of the brick oven) the steaks sizes are laid out for you to see - like a supermarket fish display. That was a bit different. Then you'll also note that when the cooked meat come to table it is quite a bit smaller.

At 3H the desserts are indescribable. I ordered the death-by-chocolate brownie with whiskey-hot fudge sauce. I don't know what my facial expression was when I first tasted it, but immediately the couple at the next table said they 'just HAD to order it too', as they watched me enjoy it. The fruit cobbler a la mode in mini cast-iron cooking pot looked awfully tempting, too!

Have a fab time!
K.

I hope I'm not replying too late to help you plan your trip.

Transportation in Fort Worth: The local public transportation is the "T." Their website is www.the-t.com. Their phone number is 817-215-8600 and can
help you get from place to place. The most likely routes you would use would be Route 1 which connects downtown with the Stockyards. and Route 7 which connects downtown with the Cultural District (includes several excellent art museums--The Kimbell, Amon Carter and Modern Art Museum and includes the Science/Technology, Cowgirl Museum and the Amon Carter complex where there are often special events and exhibitions).

As far as places to stay, I don't have direct experience with the hotels but would suggest the following for charm and location. If you want to stay in the Stockyards, there is the Stockyards Hotel (Toll-Free 800-423-8471). Downtown there is Etta's Place, a bed and breakfast right near Sundance Square. (Toll-Free 866-355-5760; www.ettas-place.com.

As far as Fort Worth restaurants/bars: Downtown I would recommend Reata or Chisholm Club for a modernized take on Texas/Southwestern cuisine (Reata: www.reata.net; Chisholm Club: www.thechisholmclub.com). Both are pricey. Reata is a good place to go for lunch as it is much less expensive then.

Other spots to hit: The Flying Saucer downtown has about 75 beers on draft and another 100 in the bottle; In the Stockyards don't miss the White Elephant Saloon. Lots of atmosphere and live music.

If you have any other questions about Fort Worth or Dallas, I will try to answer them. Enjoy your visit.

K,

Once again, you've described exactly what I'm looking for, an 'authentic' Texas meal that serves excellent desserts! hmmm... chocolate brownie w/ whiskey fudge sauce, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Also, it doesn't sound too expensive either, more middle-of-the-road.

Glad you added your extra 2 cents worth of advice, it always helps before going someplace to know what to expect. I'm very cost concious about this trip because I'm also going to 4 other states. So, I'm not interested in staying anywhere or eating at anyplaces that are too expensive, it just doesn't fit in this budget. Besides, expensive doesn't always mean good either, as you know so well from living in Chicago, especially Evanston!

Thanks again!