Head downtown!

As my final blog post, I wanted to talk about some fun things to do downtown Fort Worth. The Water Gardens are located at the south end of downtown Fort Worth. It's focal points are three pools of water and a terraced knoll. It is the perfect place to come for a picnic or just to relax. The quiet mediation pool offers a unique experience for visitors. The water cascades 38 feet down numerous terraces and into a small pool at the bottom.

Downtown offers numerous restaurants that have some of the best food. My all time favorite is Del Friscos. The food is amazing, and the employees are always friendly. However, the food is a little expensive. Another place I enjoy going is the Reata. This is also mainly a steak restaurant.

If you are more into the modern restaurants, I would recommend Piranha sushi. The inside is very modern, and they have some excellent sushi.

Four Day Weekend is the perfect place to go for some laughter. It is a stand up comedy club where they use the audience in their acts. They will pick random people from the audience and use them in their acts. Thankfully, I was not picked! I've been once, and I was laughing the entire time.

Get Artsy!

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has some of the most interesting pieces of art I've seen. This museum has nearly 3,000 objects in their collection, and all are a must see! Some of the artwork is a little strange, but it is definitely worth seeing. The building itself is a piece of art. The reflecting pond around the building provides a relaxing and tranquil vibe. Currently, Lucian Freud's portraits are on display in the Modern. He is often considered as the greatest portrait painter of the twentieth century. Freud made the living human presence his subject. His portraits are famous around the world. 

This museum is unique, in that it also has a cafe located in the museum. Cafe Modern offers artfully crafted cuisine made from local ingredients. The view from the cafe is incredible. It sits right by the reflection pond and is perfect for date nights. 

Public tours of the museum are held Tuesday - Sunday at 2pm. These public tours focus on the current special exhibits. Stop in during the week or weekend to enjoy the artwork! 

Rockin' the River

Tubing is back in Fort Worth! This year more bands and more dates have been added to the schedule. The bands will perform at the Panther Island Pavilion. Panther Island Pavilion is the only outdoor entertainment venue in Fort Worth! There is no better way to beat the heat than tube down the Trinity River and listen to live music. The admission is free, and tubes can be rented on site! Fred's truck wagon will be on site serving their famous burgers as well. Beer can be purchased on site, and floatable coolers are offered to keep your beer cold. Bring your friends or family out to enjoy summer on the river. This event will not be on for much longer, so be sure and make it out before it is too late! Ryan Turner will be playing August 2nd, and Johnny Cooper will be playing August 9th. Try and make it out to see these two perform! The Pavilion is located right behind the TCC/Radio Shack Corporation building. Parking is different for each event, so check in with their website to see updated parking information. 

Paddleboards can also be rented on site and you can sign up for lessons! Paddleboarding is apparently the "newest" thing to hit Fort Worth. 

Go for a run!

I will probably be the last one you would see running outside during the day. It is just too hot. But one thing that I like to do is wake up early and run the Trinity Trail. I have access to it through my apartment so it is easy to get to. Also, the mornings are perfect weather for running! Sometimes I like to ride my bike, but I find myself going to far and not wanting to bike back hah. I would recommend having some kind of gps on you, whether that's your phone or something else, because one time I actually got lost and had to call my roommate to find me! Sad story I know. But anyways, the trails are always kept clean and the river is very pleasant to look at. I usually bike or run down the trail to the new restaurant called Woodshed, which is close to Panera Bread on University.

The one thing I would recommend NOT doing is going for a run/bike around nighttime. Like any area, good things do not happen once the sun goes down. Just stay on the safe side and either go in the morning or brave the heat and go during the day. 

If you have a dog, it is the perfect place to him it. They have little doggie water faucets along the way for your pet. Sometimes you will see dogs swimming in the river or playing fetch with their owners. 

The city is in the process of building bridges over part of the Trinity River, so that part might be a little rough to run through. 

Take a look at some of their new and exciting projects they have planned for Fort Worth and the Trinity  River. I can't wait for it all to be completed! Projects for the river

Running the river is an excellent stress-reliever. So wake yourself up one morning and head over to the trails!

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Beer adventures

Have you ever wondered exactly how beer is made? I know I have. Brewing is a very interesting and complex system, and no other brewery does it better than Rahr & Sons. Rahr opens up their doors every Saturday from 1-3 pm to allow people to see first-hand how and where their beer is made. It is also a great opportunity to meet new people. There is a $10 dollar admission fee for anyone over 18. A tour of the brewery and a Rahr & Sons pint glasses are included, and the beer samples are free!

Rahr & Sons really started when Fritz Rahr graduated from Texas Christian University and fell in love with Fort Worth. His company has grown tremendously and hopes someday to pass on the family business to his sons. Rahr & Sons has always been a family owned business, and Fritz wants to keep it that way.

Tours are also available Wednesday are from 5 -7:30 pm. The biggest differences between the Wednesday and Saturday tours is the crowd size. Wednesday's are a little less crowded than the Saturday tours. Specialty beers are also offered on Wednesdays. These beers are always experimental so there is no way you can get there anywhere else. They also provide food on Wednesday tours.

The brewery is an open-air brewery so dress accordingly in the summer months.

Concert time!

For all the country music fans out there, this post is for you. This Friday, the 20th, Jack Ingram will be playing at Billy Bobs! Put on your cowboy boots and head on to the Stockyards to listen to some good music! For those of ya'll who don't know who Jack Ingram is, he is known for his songs "Barefoot and Crazy" and "Love You." The concert starts at 10:30 PM and tickets start at just $12. This concert will probably sell out, so I suggest buying tickets as soon as possible! Parking is fairly easy, so there is no need to get there early to park.

 Another fun summer concert to attend is Hudson Moore on July 27th, also at Billy Bobs. Moore isn't as big as Ingram, but I think Moore will be very popular soon. Tickets for Moore's concert start at just $10. 

If you haven't been to Billy Bobs yet you are missing out! Billy Bobs is known as the world's largest honky tonk. Billy Bobs may not seem that big from the outside, but once you enter it is massive. Each time I go I discover a new place I hadn't been yet. Also, be sure to visit their gift shop to get a souvenir! 

Nightlife

Now that summer is FINALLY here, college students can go out every night without worrying about class the next morning (excluding me because I've been in school all summer). Recently, many bars and nightclubs have opened around the W 7th area. My focus in this post will be this area because personally, it is my favorite hangout spot in Fort Worth. I really think this area has been the best thing to happen to Fort Worth in recent years. The W 7th area not only has a great nightlife, but also has perfect things to do during the day, including The Movie Tavern and numerous outdoor patios to have lunch.

Capitol Bar, Bar Louie, and Brownstone are a few of my favorite places to go at night. Although there are many other places to go, these are my favorites. The one downside to Capitol Bar is they have a cover of $5, which isn't bad, but sometimes the line is ridiculously long. Wednesday nights Capitol Bar does not have a cover, and usually has a good live band playing. So if you are ever bored on a Wednesday night, head on over to Capitol and listen to some good tunes. I was there a few weeks ago for my 22nd birthday and they were more than welcoming.

Bar Louie is another fun spot to visit; however, recently I have been going there with a few friends and do not know a single person there. I think college students have started going to Capitol, but this bar is always crowded and has a good vibe. Also, I hear they have a good lunch/dinner menu.

The Brownstone has a little different feel than the previous bars. If you are looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, Brownstone is the place to be. Friday nights they have a fun photo-booth and a dj. Drinks are fairly cheap also. The outdoor area is a nice place to hang out and have some drinks.

Also, I want to mention another fun spot to visit. I know some people might think they are too old for bowling, but I like to think of Lucky Strike as "grown up bowling." I have been to numerous birthday parties here and it is always a great time. Everyone's bowling skills seem to improve after a few drinks! 

Dallas World Aquarium

One thing that Fort Worth lacks is a good aquarium. Since I grew up in Corpus Christi, TX, I have always been around some kind of water or ocean life. Whether that be from fishing, being on the beach, or jet skiing. One of the biggest things I miss about living in Corpus Christi is being able to drive 10 minutes and be on the beach. The Dallas World Aquarium is the closest thing to being ocean side. My favorite part of this aquarium is the 20,000 gallon walk-through tunnel exhibit. Walking through this exhibit is unreal. Massive sharks swim inches away from your face, only separated by a piece of fiberglass. These prehistoric creatures almost seem fake. I remember thinking, "How could I possibly be standing inches away from this shark that could easily end my life." It just didn't seem imaginable.


This aquarium is unique, in that it does not only have fish. There are several exhibits on display now that feature species from different parts of the globe. The Orinoco Exhibit is a seven-story exhibit that highlights the unique bio-diversity of this important South American rainforest ecosystem. This exhibit has many interesting species, such as...






the Golden Lion Tamarin

An actual Vampire Bat





















and my least favorite of all... The Green Anaconda (I hate snakes)













Those are just three of the thousands of animals that are on exhibit in the Dallas World Aquarium. I spend almost all day there and barely made it through the entire place. I was truly impressed with this aquarium and recommend it to whoever is in the DFW area looking for something new to do. 

An interesting aspect to their site is the Animal Cams. Visitors to the site can view LIVE cams of a variety of animals on display.

Fort Worth Food Park

I always face the problem of finding new and different places to eat for lunch or dinner. I find myself going to the same places over and over and never trying anything new. I remember hearing someone talking about a food truck park in Fort Worth. A few weeks ago my friend and I decided to go try it out. The Fort Worth Food Park is a fairly new park and offers a variety of cuisines, from Salsa Limon to Lee's Grilled Cheese truck. There is always something for everyone to try, and you will probably love everything there.

I will say that the Food Park is in an unusual place in Fort Worth, and I was not expecting the park to be so nice and clean. There is always a crowd at the park, but never usually any lines. The place is very family-oriented and is a good place to bring little kids or even your grandparents! Another plus to this place is it is BYOB(Bring Your Own Beer). They allow you to bring a cold beverage with you to enjoy with your meal.


It is pretty hot outside, so I would suggest going later in the evening when it has cooled down a little bit. However, the area is pretty shaded and they have fans to help keep the area cool.

The park is located just west of Downtown Fort Worth, immediately behind the Super Target shopping center near Montgomery Plaza. Their hours vary depending on the day, so I would suggest looking up times on their website - Fort Worth Food Park - before you head over there.

NRH2O

Now that summer has finally arrived, temperatures are starting to skyrocket. Are you tired from staying indoors all day trying to avoid the heat?! Well here is the solution! NRH20 is a waterpark located just minutes outside of Fort Worth. It is the perfect place to bring family and friends! Escape the scorching heat and come cool off in one of their numerous pools and rides, or even go down the Viper, the worlds first MegaTube slide, if you are brave enough! 


NRH20 also has a huge wave pool that simulates waves. The perfect place to relax and imagine yourself sitting on the beach with a cold beverage. What better way to spend the summer? NRH20 offers admission for just $24! Definitely worth escaping the heat! 


Bring all your friends and rent one of their popular cabanas for the day! Perfect for birthday parties or just celebrating summer! There is a wait staff throughout the day and souvenir bottles with free refills that are given to all guests. Now thats a good deal! 


Season passes are also offered for just $84.99! This pass is valid all day, everyday, throughout the 2012 season. Come as many times as you would like! 


Visit their website for further information! NRH2O Homepage

NRH20 is located in Richland Hills on Boulevard 26.