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OUT & ABOUT
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Fort Worth, Texas
BY EMILY DREZ
THE Wild West with a modern twist is just one state over in Fort Worth, Texas. Located about 32 miles away from Dallas, Fort Worth is the twelfth largest city in the country, and it has so much to offer. Here, you will discover endless culture and entertainment with tasty dining, cool museums, lush gardens, a wacky odditorium, and one incredible zoo. With so much to do in Fort Worth, everyone in the family is guaranteed to have a great time, even when you are lost in the mirror maze.
WHERE TO STAY
You’ll find the best comfort and value within walking distance of so many places you’ll want to see in Fort Worth. At Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Worth Downtown, you will get free breakfast, free WiFi, an indoor pool, a fitness center, a business center, and meeting rooms, along with your own luxurious room to rest in after your busy days touring the city. Each suite features a king-sized bed, a sofa bed, a mini fridge, a microwave, and a TV, so you will always feel at-home.
WHERE TO EAT rise
The highest-rated restaurant in Fort Worth is a relaxed salon de souffle and wine bar with French influence. Enjoy a savory souffle, Marshmallow Soup, or Chariots de Fromage European-style, as you read one of the classic novels, play Scrabble, or watch the kiddos find Pierre or Michelle the frog. For dessert, try one of their delicious, sweet souffles with some French press coffee before taking home a “Thought for the Day” to remember your experience at rise.
H3 Ranch Live Hickory Wood Grill
H3 Ranch Live Hickory Wood Grill serves mouth-watering, wood-fired sirloins, mignons, ribeyes, and tenderloins along with their famous ribs that will require a visit to the Rib Eater’s Sink when you’re done. If you have room for dessert, try the homemade mud turtle ice cream cake, peach cobbler, or pecan pie.
Oliva Italian Eatery
A taste of Italy won’t be hard to find with Oliva Italian Eatery. Your garlic bread appetizer will pair excellently with their extensive list of delicious pasta dishes, from baked ziti, to eggplant parmesan, to manicotti. They also have a wide variety of veal along with chicken and seafood dishes, so everyone in your family will be able to choose something, even the picky eater who prefers to take the classic route: plain butter noodles.
WHAT TO DO
Grab your swimsuits, snacks, and sunscreen, and get ready to beat the Texas heat. More than just a lake, Burger’s Lake is located in a 30-acre park with water slides, diving boards, and sandy beaches. With a state-of-the-art purification system, the turquoise waters are chlorinated and filtered, and there are lifeguards on duty, so you and your family will be clean, safe, and cool.
Behind a stunning glass facade overlooking a two-acre reflection pool is the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. It’s home to almost 3,000 works of modern and contemporary international art, one of the first collections of postwar art in the central United States. Children get in the museum for free, so be sure to grab a complimentary sketchbook when you walk into the museum, and let your child’s creative mind wander as you peruse the exhibits.
Did you know the number-one zoo in the country is located in Fort Worth? Almost 600 species of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish reside in Fort Worth Zoo. Majestic elephants, howling monkeys, waddling penguins, slithering snakes, and squawking birds are waiting for you at the Fort Worth Zoo.
See the impossible, mysterious, and bizarre at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium, featuring the Ripley’s 7D Moving Theater, Louis Tussaud’s Palace of Wax, Ripley’s Enchanted Mirror Maze, and Ripley’s Impossible Laser Race. Ripley’s is the place to be for loads of fun, mystery, and adventure. ■
Coordinates: 32.7555° N, 97.3308° W Distance from Baton Rouge: 469 miles Flying Time: 7 hours Driving Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
