A Fort Worthy Destination

As much as Dallasites hate to admit it, their neighbor to the west has much to tout. The boot scootin' "Cowtown" of Fort Worth is much more than just cows and, well, town. It's a cultural center, artistic arena, and convenient for sports aficionados.

Anyone with an eye for the aesthetic knows that Fort Worth rules. With the Kimball Art Museum leading the pack, Fort Worth's art scene boasts extensive collections of American, Old West, European, and modern art. El Greco, Cezanne, Rembrandt, along with Georgia O'Keeffe, Frederic Remington, and Charles M. Russell, Fort Worth's permanent collection is one to be envied. And with reputation preceding itself, the stalwarts often make room for visitors like Andy Warhol or Paul Gauguin.

It's not only for art that Fort Worth does it big. Just take a walk into Billy Bob's and you'll see what I mean. Holding the title for world's biggest honky tonk, this bar and concert venue can accommodate more than 6,000 people and has hosted big-name performers like Willie Nelson, Pat Green, and Randy Travis. Complete with indoor bull ring where pro and semi-pro riders vie in competition, "big" is Fort Worth's biggest understatement when it comes to Billy Bob's.

For those who shy away from art and music, the proximity of athletic entertainment makes Fort Worth all the more appealing. Texas Motor Speedway lies on the north side of town hosting NASCAR, IndyCar series, and dirt track events. Just minutes from Forth Worth, the Ball Park in Arlington is home to baseball's Texas Rangers. And if NASCAR and baseball are not enough reason to make the trek west of Dallas, wildcatter Jerry Jones recently unveiled the Dallas Cowboys' new home less than 2 miles away from the ballpark. Endearingly called Jerry World, the state-of-the-art facility houses not only one of the biggest names in football, but the biggest LED display in the world. Yep, the west side of town definitely holds its own to its more cosmopolitan eastern counterpart.

But despite Fort Worth's appeal to music junkies, art enthusiasts, and sports fans, it still maintains a rich cowtown reputation. Mom and pop shops are plentiful, small-town hospitality abounds, and cattle drives through downtown twice daily hint at the heart and soul that earned it the name Cowtown.

Though I by no means submit to the mantra "Life's Too Short To Live in Dallas" (and yes, my former Fort Worthian roommate proudly wore this on his back from time to time), Fort Worth is a worthwhile destination for visitors and a must for metroplex locals.