Prior to our family moving to Texas we only visited this wonderful state one time.  We came to visit our good friend in Dallas and she mentioned right away that we should check out the Stockyards in Fort Worth.  Our oldest son was only four at the time and this seemed like a place he would really enjoy.  They have activities like mazes, carriage rides, pictures with Longhorns, and so much more.  They also have plenty of restaurants and shops when you are ready for some indoor time.

The first thing we knew we had to see was the Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive.  The Cattle Drives occur at two different times each day and are fun for the entire family.  It is quite a sight to see all of the Longhorns walking down the street with the Drovers on their horses leading them.  You definitely feel at this moment that you are away from the city and really in Texas.  The Cattle Drives are held every day at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  The only times they do not run are certain holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas) or if there is inclement weather.  You can find more details here: https://www.fortworthstockyards.org/events/fort-worth-herd-twice-daily-cattle-drive-0

After the Cattle Drive we usually go and have a closer look at the Longhorns.  There are a few spots where you can see them grazing in the field and this is something my kids really enjoy.  The Drovers there are also super friendly and will answer any questions that you may have.  Seems like everyone working there really wants to make sure you enjoy your time.  They even have opportunities to sit on a Longhorn for a fee.  I did this with our son (who was 4 at the time) during our first visit and he loved sitting up there until the animal sneezed and then he wanted to get right down!

Once we are done looking at the animals and doing some of the kids activities we walk around and check out the shops.  They have a lot of shops with different souvenirs you can buy or funny shirts.  During our last visit our two year old just had to get a toy pig that made a loud snorting noise when you squeezed it!  They also have shops with interesting art work and some different food items to try.  After we finish our shopping it is time to get some food!  As we all know the key to a successful day out is to make sure the kids are never too hungry (or “hangry” at times).  There are so many different restaurants to choose from so it really just depends on what looks the best to you.  Last time we went we ended up eating inside of Billy Bob’s which I will talk about more in a minute!  There are a lot of BBQ restaurants which you would expect, but they also have Tex Mex, Steakhouses, Ice Cream Shops, and Coffee shops.  Since we always are with our kids here we usually pick a quick service place because we never stop and eat for too long.

A great place to visit at the Stockyards (especially on those hot summer days) is Billy Bob’s.  This place is huge and a fun air conditioned place for the kids to explore during the day. They have multiple dance floors, arcade games, a place for rodeos, and a gift shop.  There is a fee to get into Billy Bob’s and the price varies depending on when you go.  You can find those details here: https://billybobstexas.com/about.  When we visited we ended up getting lunch here which was quick service and worked perfect for us.  They had BBQ and plenty of options for both the kids and adults.  Then after lunch I am pretty sure our 2 year old spent about 30 minutes just running around the dance floor while our 8 year old played arcade games with dad.  Since we were there earlier in the day it was not too busy which was nice because there was some space to spread out.

There are a couple of other activities we have done during different visits to the Stockyards.  One was a horse drawn carriage ride.  This was something our son enjoyed, but if you only have one day for your visit this is not something I would say you have to do.  While it is always neat riding in a carriage (and we all enjoyed it), it was not a super long ride and you do not really see anything you cannot see when you are walking around.  Another activity we have tried is riding on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad which leaves right from the Fort Worth Stockyard station.  This was something our entire family enjoyed and was a nice relaxing way to end the day.  You can find my full review on that here: https://lonestarfamilyfun.com/2022/03/01/grapevine-vintage-railroad/

After all that excitement we are pretty wiped out and ready to head home.  We often stop for an ice cream and then make our way to the car.  They have a lot of different lots you can park in that are pretty close by.  They usually charge a fee for these lots, but for us it’s worth it not to have to walk too far back to our car.  I highly recommend a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards because there is so much to do for the entire family!  We will definitely be going back soon!

Tips for your visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards:

-If you would like to see the Cattle Drive they recommend getting there at least 30 minutes ahead of time to park so you are not affected by the street closures for the event.

-It gets very hot at the Stockyards (especially during the summer).  I recommend bringing a lot of water (or plan to purchase water there) because you will need it!

-If you have younger children I would recommend bringing a stroller.  Not only is it a lot of walking, but it does get very crowded at the Stockyards so it is a nice option to be able to put the little ones in the stroller when walking from one place to another.

-If possible I always recommend getting to places early and this is especially true for the Stockyards.  It gets crowded there pretty fast (because it is a very popular place!) and you will have a much easier time finding parking and walking around before the crowds get too heavy.

-There are plenty of places to purchase food, however I also recommend bringing some snacks along as it can get expensive buying all of your food for the day at the Stockyards.