A Cattle Drive in Fort Worth
Whether you take the train from Grapevine or drive from Dallas, Fort Worth is a must-see destination for groups exploring northeast Texas. The city was once the Texas hub for the cattle business and an important stop on the Chisholm Trail, the route that took cattle drivers from Texas to Kansas railheads.
The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District preserves the area that was at the center of Texas’ 19th-century cattle culture. The area features original brick walkways and wooden corrals that were used to sort and separate livestock for the long journey north. Twice a day the Fort Worth Herd cattle drive demonstration gives visitors a glimpse of what working in the stockyards was like for cowboys of the day.
Guides also offer guided walking tours of the area, and groups can enjoy free time at the restaurants, saloons and shops in the district.
While you’re there: The Fort Worth Cultural District gives visitors a more complete look at the city’s past. The district encompasses five museums, including the National Cowgirl Museum, the only museum in the country dedicated to the story of women in the West.
All Things Magnolia in Waco
An 85-mile drive south from Fort Worth brings travelers to Waco, a city that has reinvented its public image thanks to the popularity of the hit HGTV show “Fixer Upper,” which features interior designers and Waco residents Chip and Joanna Gaines restoring and redecorating homes around the city.
The Gaines’ design business, Magnolia, and associated enterprises have grown into a phenomenon in Waco, and the city’s tourism officials have created the Magnolia Trail for fans of the show to see sites featured on the show and related to the Gaines’ business. Among the most popular sites on the trail is Magnolia Silos, former grain silos that now house the Gaines’ home decor store, Magnolia Market.
If you have superfans of “Fixer Upper” in your group, consider arranging a tour of the 1910 Mailander House, which was featured on the first season of the television show, by contacting owner Dave Morrow at mailander.house@gmail.com.
While you’re there: Texas Rangers are fixtures of Old West lore, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco pays tribute to the oldest state law-enforcement agency. Artifacts include historic cowboy hats, silver stars, guns, saddles and items from Texas Ranger depictions in pop culture.
Tyler: The Rose Capital
About 130 miles east of Waco, Tyler has staked its claim as America’s Rose Capital. Farms throughout the area produce millions of roses and other commercial flowers each year, and groups that visit the city can immerse themselves in this horticultural heritage in a variety of ways.
The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the largest rose garden in the country. More than 450 varieties of roses grow on the 14-acre campus, and botanists there regularly breed and display new varieties.
Groups that travel to Tyler in mid-October can attend the Texas Rose Festival, which is held at the rose garden. This event features music, parades and the coronation of a local young woman as the Rose Queen. The museum at the garden features gowns worn by former Rose Queens as well as other memorabilia from past editions of the festival.
While you’re there: Roses aren’t the only flowers to be found in Tyler. Azaleas grow abundantly in three areas of the city that are all listed on the National Historic Register. These neighborhoods are connected by the 10-mile Azalea Trail, and groups can see highlights on tours led by step-on guides or on an open-air shuttle.
