Frolicking in Fort Worth

Load up the bikes, pack the bags, and get ready for a fun weekend exploring west Fort Worth. We are going to park the car or RV and explore by bike. The bike path is appropriate for all ages - it's wide, flat, and paved for just about everywhere we are going. So pack appropriately and let's go.

If you have an RV, call Midtown RV Park and make a reservation or reserve a room at the Marriott Residence Inn or Fairfield Inn. Everything that we plan on doing is close to each of these locations and will be a pretty easy bike ride of less than 5 miles.

We like to plan this trip around some other event that is happening near by, for example: May Fest on the Trinity River, a rodeo or some other event at Will Rogers Coliseum, good music at Sundance Square, or a good play at Casa Manana. Check the City of Ft Worth's website to find some events of interest.

About two blocks from Midtown RV Park or a block from either of the hotels is the Trinity Trail. Perfect for biking, walking, or rollerblading Trinity Trails offers 30 miles of paved mostly flat trails. You can catch Trinity Trails (817-871-PARK) practically anywhere from Northside Drive and Samuels to Foster Park, just north of I-20. Depending on where you are staying, you can catch the trail on the north or south side of Trinity Park. Along the way, the Trinity Trails winds through Heritage Park, Trinity Park and Overton Park. Here is the link to a map of the trails.

Here are our favorite things to see and do by bike on Saturday:

• Option One:

  • start the morning by heading to the Fort Worth Cultural Center - if you are staying at the hotel, follow the Trinity Trail to 7th Street and if you are staying at Midtown RV Park, bike to 7th and go west a few blocks - you can spend a day or multiple hours here and some of the sights include:

    • Will Rogers Memorial Center - there is always something going on here like: rodeos, horse or stock shows, gun or knife shows, fairs, or dance exhibitions - a lot of the events we have seen have been free
    • Omni Theater, Noble Planetarium, and the Museum of Science and History - there is something here for everyone ages 2 to 92
    • National Cowgirl Museum - well done, but you need to be somewhat interested in cowgirls like this museum, they do a kids discovery room for 2 to 7 year olds
    • Amon Carter Museum, Kimbell Art Museum, or the Modern Art Museum - if you are an art lover, you will be in heaven here, you can park the bike at Kimbell and walk next door to the the other two museums
    • Casa Manana - the nation's first permanent theatre designed for the production of musicals-in-the-round has excellent musicals and plays
  • restaurants - there are a few restaurants (Mexican, Italian, chinese, fast food, and seafood) around 7th and University near Midtown RV park or some more of the bigger chains (Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Hofbrau Steaks, and more) near the hotels if you get hungry

• Option Two For Saturday:
• take the Trinity Trails along the river to downtown and spend some time at Sundance Square - take in a special event, check out the shops, sample some great food, and enjoy the nightlife around the square - some of our favorites include: diner or appetizers on the roof of Reata, a play at the Bass Performance Hall, sample the beers at Flying Saucer, or dance the night away at City Streets
• bike over to and spend the day at some special event that is happening downtown like the Main Street Arts Festival or whatever is going on at the convention center

Of course after all this exercise or just because you like to party, you'll need to enjoy some of the nightlife and the local haunts which are within 3 blocks of 7th and Currie. So check out and hang out at: Fred's, 7th Heaven, 6th Street, The Shamrock Pub, Chimys, or the Bronx Zoo Sports Cafe. Keep in mind that these are laid local joints. When we stay at Midtown RV Park, we ride bikes or it's an easy walk to any of them.

Get up - it's Sunday and time for some more fun. Some of the biking options for an easy Sunday include:

• take an easy bike ride to the Ft Worth Zoo - a fun way to spend a few hours - kids will love it
• bike another part of the Trinity Trail that you haven't explored - you can ride for miles along the Trinity River
• visit the Botanical Gardens - be sure to check out some of their special events

Have fun exploring Fort Worth.