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Spring Break doesn’t always mean escaping to a Florida beach to shotgun beers and yell “woo!” every so often.
In fact, the South offers far more than Florida. There are some incredible cities to visit this spring with no beach anywhere in sight.
Texas is certainly one of those destinations despite having a sprawling coastline along the newly named Gulf of America.
But anyone who visits Galveston’s shores will surely wish they had opted for Florida, as blue water over brown water is always a win.
Albeit Texas beaches aren’t typically the main draw to the Lone Star State – it’s the food, vibrant cities, stunning lakes, and charming small towns oozing quintessential “southern hospitality” scattered around the mainland’s largest state.
While you could argue there’s no trendier city than Texas’ very own Austin, it’s actually fair to say another city that used to lie in Dallas’ shadow takes that title.
Now boasting grand hotels, timeless attractions, and authentic Texas charm as the “gateway to the West”, the numbers back up the claim Fort Worth is the South’s trendiest city this spring.
The South Has Risen Again With Fort Worth Leading The Way
The South has long had a ton of potential for tourism, but many travelers who aren’t familiar with the region just go with what they see, which is often portrayals of Rebel Flag-bearing, oversized truck-driving, tobacco-spittin’ hillbillies who have the IQ of a crawfish at a crab boil.
Well, as a born-and-raised Texan, I can say that’s fair in select areas. If it’s your first time in the South, just know southern hospitality holds true with friendly greetings of “how ya doin?” and farewells of “have a blessed day”.
Oh, the looks of furor if this were the norm in New York City…
Texas small towns are hit or miss with their less-than-desirable ‘redneck’ reputation, but every major city is welcoming and a blast to visit, even the very misunderstood El Paso.
There’s no better example of a Southern reform than Fort Worth. Long sitting in Dallas’ expansive shadow, those are big boots to fill.
Fort Worth used to be looked at as a buzzing college town or a day trip destination to grab a nice steak dinner in an old-timey saloon setting.
With the moniker of “gateway to the West”, their claim to fame were country dance halls to shake your honkey-tonk badonkadonk and immense cowboy culture unlike any other city.
In other words, it was easy to stereotype. Fort Worth has actually done a remarkable job rebranding as more travelers are now visiting their city over Dallas for a surprisingly luxurious getaway.
I mean, it is called the Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport after all…
Despite its rapid growth, Fort Worth still holds all the attractions locals have grown to love and are now sharing their beloved city with 11.5 million visitors, according to 2024 statistics.
A City On The Rise Where Old Meets New
Fort Worth is one of the South’s fastest-growing cities. Believe it or not, more people now live here than in Austin.
As such, North Texas’ new golden child has seen a rush of developments in recent years, such as towering condos for residents and lavish hotels for tourists, which have garnered the attention of travelers worldwide.
Travel + Leisure featured one of the city’s newest ritzy stays last year, but that’s just scratching the surface.
I personally think Hotel Drover is one of the best hotels in America. You simply can’t beat the location, which brings me to the next aspect of Fort Worth, the beloved Stockyards.
This timeless district is like walking through a time portal to the 1800s or, at the very least, an old Western movie.
Well, minus the Tesla chargers. Hey, I did say ‘old meets new’…
The Stockyards is famous for its historic picturesque charm, daily cattle drives taking over the street, thrilling rodeo, lively honky-tonks like world-famous Billy Bob’s and an endless row of steakhouses and divey saloons.
One look around, and you’ll instantly see why scenes from Yellowstone prequel 1883 were shot here.
Springtime In Fort Worth (Including A New State Park!)
Now that March has arrived expect splendid temperatures in the 70s and higher from here on out ’til fall.
Believe it or not, there are some truly brutal winter days in North Texas, but springtime is blissful, with the exception of a few rainy days.
While Fort Worth isn’t known for its nature per se, taking strolls or bike rides along the Trinity River is a great way to get to know the city or hop around downtown’s attractions like bar-laden Sundance Square or renowned museums like the Kimball Art Museum.
There are also some fun events on the docket this spring, such as:
- Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival (April 3 – 6)
- Fort Worth Arts Festival (April 10 – 13)
- Mayfest (May 1 – 4 )
Texas is known for its vast bluebonnet fields; it’s the official state flower, in fact. Expect Fort Worth and the surrounding countryside to illuminate with seemingly never-ending fields of fresh blooms.
They’re awesome for photo-ops, but just know they’re illegal to pick. If you’re up for an outdoor adventure, Texas just designated a new state park slated to open in the near future.
Only 80 miles away from Fort Worth, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park offers a tranquil getaway steeped in nature with activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, and even stargazing away from DFW’s light pollution.
Stay tuned for an official opening date.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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