Your Guide to Exploring Fort Worth During a Conference Trip

Fort Worth is so much more than cowboy hats and honky-tonks (although, to be fair, we have plenty of both). If you're here for a conference, don't just shuffle between the event venue and your hotel. Use your downtime to discover what makes this city uniquely Texan!

Here’s your guide to experiencing the best of Fort Worth, covering dining, entertainment, activities, and those things you truly can’t do anywhere else. Saddle up—we’re going exploring.

Food Worth Writing Home About

Because no great story starts with, “After eating that boring sandwich…”

• Reata Restaurant: For upscale Texas dining, Reata is a must. Go for the smoked tenderloin and stay for the rooftop views. This is Fort Worth on a plate (and in a glass if you order their signature margarita).
• Cattlemen’s Steakhouse: Did you even come to Texas if you didn’t have a steak? Cattlemen’s in the Stockyards has been serving perfectly grilled slabs of beef since before your grandma was born. You’ll get all the cowboy vibes here. Boots optional.
  
  

• Velvet Taco: Need a quick bite in between sessions? Velvet Taco’s creative (and slightly wild) taco combinations will leave you buzzing with flavor. Try the spicy tikka chicken and thank me later.

Explore Entertainment, Texas-Style

Your nights are for unwinding, and Fort Worth’s entertainment scene delivers big-time.

• Billy Bob’s Texas: The world’s largest honky-tonk is right here. Catch a live country band, two-step under neon lights, or just marvel at mechanical bull riders who probably don’t have health insurance.

• Bass Performance Hall: If your tastes are more classical music than cowboy boots, this stunning performance hall is the cultural heart of Fort Worth. From symphonies to Broadway shows, it’s all here.
• Magnolia Avenue: For a trendier vibe, head to this boho street. Coffee shops, art galleries, and cozy bars make it perfect for low-key exploration.

Drinks and Networking

Networking is more fun when cocktails are involved (scientific fact).

• The Usual: Craft cocktail enthusiasts, rejoice. The Usual serves up mind-blowing concoctions. It’s the ideal spot to charm your business contacts and low-key impress them with your “refined” palate.

• Flying Saucer Draught Emporium: Overwhelmed by beer choices? You will be here, too. With hundreds of options, it’s a beer-lover’s paradise. Pro tip: Order a flight and sample the local brews.
• White Elephant Saloon: If you want your post-conference drinks to come with a side of history (and possibly a ghost story), this joint has been around since the late 1800s.

Unique Activities Exclusive to Fort Worth

Skip the tourist clichés and try these uniquely Fort Worth experiences.

• Fort Worth Stockyards: Take a step back in time with a visit to this historic district. Watch longhorn cattle drives (yes, actual cows parading down a street), explore Western-themed shops, and get that perfect Insta pic.
  

• Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth: Even if you’re not an art aficionado, this museum is worth a visit. The sleek architecture alone is a masterpiece, and the exhibits? Always top-tier.
• Fort Worth Botanic Garden: If you need to unwind and reset, this 110-acre garden is your sanctuary. Walk the Japanese Garden for ultimate zen vibes.

Golf and Relaxation

Yes, business is important, but so is your golf game.

• Colonial Country Club: A legendary PGA Tour stop, this private club occasionally allows guest play. Brush up on your swing and soak in the pristine greens where pros make history.
• Rockwood Golf Course: Affordable and welcoming, this public course is a gem. Perfect for squeezing in a round before or after conference commitments.

Not into golf? That’s cool. Try Mokara Spa for a massage that'll melt the stress away or consider a lazy stroll along the Trinity Trails for some scenic exercise.

Your Time in Fort Worth Awaits

The secret to enjoying Fort Worth between business sessions? Follow your curiosity (and your appetite). This city is brimming with personality, from its Western heritage to its cosmopolitan flair.

Now, the question is, where will your Fort Worth adventure start?