PTY1K

Looks like I will have a couple of weeks to kill in/around FW in July/August.

Any suggestions for cheap activities to keep me occupied such as biking trails or other day/overnight trips? I like arts, culture, outdoors, relaxing, sports etc. I don't want to spend two weeks beside the pool (maybe one week) and would like to spend some time out of the cities.

I don't drive so hiring a car is not an option. I will visit Dallas but would like some more ideas. Cost is a big factor here.

Thanks!

EmailKid

Well, if you like outdoor activities, there are plenty of trails for walking and/or bike riding around the river in Fort Worth. Used to make good use of them when I lived there a long time ago.

But a word of warning, July and August is very hot in Texas, with high normally pushing 100 F, and quite often exceeding it. If you want to stay indoors, the Museum District has plenty to see, much of it for free. And Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth is a nice place to hang out.

And of course another word of warning, Texas does not have much in way of public transportation, and as noted above, it's rather warm for doing serious walking during the day.

I'd say day trips will be challenging without a car. I'd look into Megabus, but you'd have to get to downtown Dallas (most likely via TRE, which does not run on Sundays), or try the new Greyhound Express service - not sure if it's available from Fort Worth.

EmailKid

spankytoes

Arlington has a lot outdoors, but it may cost you a bit more. You can see a Rangers game, visit the Cowboys stadium and go to Six Flags and/or Hurricane Harbor. They are all walkable from each other.

I echo the above on public transportation. Dallas is much better on that front...and it still isn't great. I'd take an express bus to New Braunfels and tube the river on a weekend. The Hill Country is a much better option for outdoor activities.

And yes, it will be very, very hot.

PTY1K

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I had only planned to stay for a few days but life has its way of messing up one's plans.

New Braunfels is already booked, so I'm looking forward to that. Would love to do some biking but I realise that will be a challenge in the Texas heat. Is there anything in Oklahoma worth seeing?

swag

Lots of folks bike in Texas in the summer. The trick, of course, it to go early in the day. Even in the worst part of the summer, average overnight lows in the DFW area are still in the upper 70s. If you can hit the road shortly after sunrise, you can get a couple of hours of biking in, and still get home before it hits 90.

I haven't checked it out yet, but there's a new business right by downtown FW on the Trinity River that rents kayaks and canoes. http://www.kayakfortworth.com/

For sports, if getting over to Arlington is too much of a challenge, the Ft Worth Cats play minor league baseball at LaGrave Field, just a mile from downtown. http://www.fwcats.com

PTY1K

This is definitely on my list, thanks!

EmailKid

IMHO, NO :-:

And while not quite as humid as Texas, quite a bit hotter in the summer.

If you are up for a longer trip, Padre Island in south Texas can be nice, or the mountains in west Texas, possibly with a trip down Rio Grande.

EmailKid

PTY1K

Looks beautiful, but may be a little too far; I'll do some research.

EmailKid

You can get to both on Southwest Airlines.

EmailKid

FlyForFun

There is a bicycle shop at Sundance Square, Trinity Bicycles, that rents bikes by the hour or for multi-day periods. Maps of bicycle trails are available at www.trinitytrails.org. Benbrook Lake and the surrounding area has great bike trails.

The Cultural District is easily accessed by public transportation. The Kimbell Art Museum is a lovely art museum with a stunning collection; admission is free. Other museums in the area include: the Museum of Science and History, the Amon Carter Museum, Cattle Raisers Museum, Modern Art Museum, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and Leonards Department Store Museum.

The Stockyards area north of downtown is historic and highlights Fort Worth's cowboy past. This area is also easy to get to via public transportation. Billy Bob's Nightclub still has mechanical bulls, line dancing, and concerts. Joe T Garcia's Mexican Restaurant is still quite popular. Texas-style barbecue is available throughout Fort Worth.

Downtown Fort Worth has Sundance Square with a good selection of restaurants, shops, and actvities. It is a very safe area - even at night.

The Fort Worth Zoo is one of the best in Texas and is easily reached by public transportation. There are bike trails and jogging areas in the Trinity Park area near the zoo. Log Cabin Village, a collection of restored historic dwellings, is near Trinity Park. The Botanic Gardens and the Japanese Gardens also are near.

I was born in Fort Worth and still live in the area. If you need additional information, just let me know.

If you are interested in doing some weekend jaunts that will rack up frequent flyer miles, then sign up for American Airlines (based in Fort Worth) NetSaavers. Deeply-discounted fares are advertised on Tuesdays for travel that weekend and the next weekend. DFW Airport is accessible from downtown Fort Worth by public transportation or by taxi or shuttle.

SMFlagg

Biking on the Trinity is popular. I'd recommend during the morning for sure.

The FW Zoo is also definitely worth your time. And due to the shade, it could be accomplished even during the day.

Sundance Square is also at the top of my list. Circle Theater is located there, and I've seen many good shows at reasonable prices. It's a small theater, very intimate.

PTY1K

These are great suggestions, thank you so much. I'll definitely look into hiring a bike for some of the time and hold for some late deals on flights. The cultural stuff would definitely be of interest too.

Maybe it's not as bad as I first thought!

peersteve

Oklahoma???? What does Oklahoma have that Texas does not? Snow-capped peaks? Well, ummmm, nooo...but we have casino gambling!

If you're based in Ft Worth...... the Amtrak train station in downtown FTW is where the once-daily train north to Oklahoma City (The "Heartland Express") originates....but also has trains south to Texas cities, such as San Antonio..... the train is slow, but the station is walking distance (certainly for someone fit like you) to the Riverwalk historic and entertainment area......train might not be much cheaper than flights from DFW, but would save on airport transportation....train schedules at Amtrak.com, and likely more info at Amtrak forum here on FT.....enjoy!

swag

If you'll be in town a couple of weeks, worried about cost, and without a car, I'd look into buying a bike, either a used one at a bike shop or on Craigslist, or if those don't pan out, then a cheap used one at Walmart. That'll likely come out cheaper than repeated rentals. And even when it's too hot to take a long recreational ride, having a bike for traveling short distances, 1-3 miles or so, will be easier than walking or waiting on a bus.

Where in FW will you be staying? The above is even more true if you're not right in downtown.

FlyForFun

I just found out that Fort Worth has a "Bike Share" program where you can get a bike at a station and return it to a different station. A pass for the day is $8. The website is www.fortworthbcycle.com