Calling all budget peeps in Texas & Arkansas

[CruiseBoundnKY]

Hey all!! I need help planning a trip this spring. We are traveling to Eastland Texas to look at some goats and we are looking for fun things to do in route.

I've looked at Great Wolf Lodge waterpark in Texas. Thats kinda on the way. I should state that we're traveling from central KY and Eastland TX is 1000.6 miles away , so I don't want to go too far off our path.

We normally stop at Bass Pro Shop. (we're an outdoors/farm family)

I really want to check out Ft. Worth stockyards, and I would love it if someone could tell me what to expect when visiting there.

I've also looked at Hot Springs AR but again I would love to hear feedback.

Any budget ideas???

TIA!! Karen

 

[JusbKoz]

I am kinda new to Texas but if you are in the Dallas area there is the Dallas Zoo-this at one time had a bad reputation but we have been since they renovated and it is awesome. There is also Cabelas store in Fort Worth since you said you like Bass Pro Shop.

 

[Kirby]

Have you thought about stopping to dig for diamonds in Arkansas at Crater of Diamonds?

 

[KCS]

Hot Springs is really nice, and would not be to far out of your way. Oaklawn Racetrack is there, but since you are from KY you are probably used to horse racing. Lake Hamilton is in Hot Springs, and it is a beautiful lake with great fishing and boating, and has some great restaurants on the lake and shopping.

 

[NewCrew42]

We have stayed at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas. We really enjoyed it. I would say the key here is to check-in as early as you can and then check-out as late as you can.

We didn't arrive until late so we stayed our first night at Embassy Suites just up the road. This ES is actually attached to a Bass Pro Shop. The next morning, we ate breakfast, went to Bass Pro Shop which was fun and then headed over to the Grapevine Mall. There is a Rainforest Cafe in this mall so that was fun. (I think this is the order we did things in.)

As soon as we could, we checked in to Great Wolf. We did leave to go eat at Whataburger over by the ES and Bass Pro Shop. Eating at GWL is very expensive.

Then I think we stayed pretty late enjoying the Lodge and headed home.

Very fun!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[CruiseBoundnKY]

Thanks guys!! Keep the ideas coming. Still hoping for someone who has been to the stockyards too.

You guys are the best!!!

 

[happiestgrl]

I love the Stockyards area. I even got married there! What kind of info are you looking for?

 

[tcmata]

We have always lived in FW and I think the Stockyards would be a great stop for you all! If you haven't checked out this site, it has a lot of information on the shops and tours. Lots of things to do to explore the history!

http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/Attractions.aspx

There is a lot to do there with lots of places to eat as well. Another great place is the FW Zoo- I have heard it is one of the top ranked zoo's in the country.

 

[CruiseBoundnKY]

I love the Stockyards area. I even got married there! What kind of info are you looking for?

YAY!!! Ok..we will have ds 8 and dd 13 with us. What all is there to do? Best place to stay/eat? What is the cattle drive like? We really want to go to the "actual" yards to watch animals sell, do you know if there is a schedule of what they sale and when?

THanks!!
Karen

 

[happiestgrl]

I second the suggestion for Cabela's...especially if you're going to be in Fort Worth. There's a US Mint really close to Cabela's as well. They do free (or really cheap) tours.

 

[happiestgrl]

Check out the Billy Bob's website. Yes, it's a bar...but very family friendly...especially if you go early. They have an indoor arena with bull riding most (if not all) nights, pool tables, games, dance lessons and a really cute photo op on a bull. There's a really good mexican restaurant across the street from Billy Bob's, Los Vaqueros. My favorite restaurant is Riscky's BBQ which is located in the Stockyards Station. It's on the other of the stockyards, less than 2 blocks from Billy Bob's, on Exchange Avenue. That's the street the cattle drive will be held on. I usually park at Stockyards Station, lots of parking there. The Station area has several stores and a cattle pen maze. The Stockyards hotel is on Exchange. Make sure you point out the room on the corner of Main and Exchange to the kids...that was Bonnie and Clyde's room. The White Elephant Saloon is across the street and was the site of the last gunfight in Texas. There is a walking tour that covers all this and would keep your kiddos entertained. I'm not sure about the actual cattle auction, but I'd be happy to find out for you. How long are you going to be in the Fort Worth area?

 

[tcmata]

The daily cattle herding and the cattlepen maze are both a lot of fun.

Here is another site with more information
http://www.fortworth.com/visitors/things-to-do/western-experience/

Not sure if it would interest you, but #14 has:
Every weekend year-round, the Stockyards Championship Rodeo offers bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping, and more. Pawnee Bill’s Wild West show, a reenactment of the original Wild West show, provides a look at Western history, including trick shooting, roping, riding, and cowboy songs.

Bureau of Engraving & Printing's Western Currency Facility information
http://www.fortworth.com/listings/?listingID=4214&menuID=42&hit=1

 

[happiestgrl]

I just saw the sale dates/info is posted on the stockyards website. I agree with PP about the Fort Worth zoo. There's a log cabin village across the street from the zoo that my kids liked and they really enjoyed the Japanese Gardens. I've had lots of luck with Priceline getting a room downtown. Sundance Square (downtown) is a really nice area...lots going on and safe to walk around at night. Feel free to PM me if you want any info!

 

[happiestgrl]

tcmata - thanks for filling in the blanks for me! We should both work the visitor's bureau! I moved back to TX in September...sooo happy to be back!

 

[SoonerSarah]

We love the Ft. Worth Zoo and the Dallas Zoo as well, Ft. Worth is bigger though. Dallas World Aquarium is really nice too, but not so budget friendly. If you have an annual zoo pass for any local zoos, you can look up to see if you are given any benefits at any of those three "zoos" as well (some will be discounted, others will be free).
http://www.aza.org/uploadedFiles/Me...ent_AZA_Members/Free_Discounted_Admission.pdf
(it appears the aquarium is no longer on there, but free admission to Dallas & Ft. Worth Zoos)

here is a list you might want to look through
http://attractions.uptake.com/texas/dallas/family/870912197.html

 

[Macgyver91]

I don't know if you would really call a bunch of fat, lazy steers a "real" cattle drive, but it is really cool. They have walked that route so many times that I think they sleep through it... If it is still there, Risky's is a GREAT place to eat! About the zoos...Fort Worth is better. They have done lots of work on Dallas but if you have to choose go with FW. On another note, I don't know if Glen Rose is on your way but it sure has some cool stuff. There is Dinosaur State Park...real dino tracks in the little creek there. There is also Fossil Rim Wildlife Park and this is a very cool place to go. If you go early in the morning all of the animals come up to your car and want to be fed. You can also stay the night there. At first glance it looks expensive but if you break it down as to what you get it really isn't that bad. If you stay there, they have "tent cabins" that are surrounded by all of the wild animals. When you wake up in the morning and walk out on your porch you are within 50 feet of most of the animals. If you stay there, you also get a behind the scenes look at the animals not on display. I will keep thinking and see what else I can come up with...

 

[Planogirl]

If you go to the stockyards look for the cowboy that rides a steer. He's an interesting sight.

I suggest that you order this free travel guide: http://www.traveltex.com/plan-your-trip/travel-guide/order-travel-guide I always get one for us and we live here!

As for Hot Springs, be sure to tour the old bathhouse on bathhouse row. http://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm

We've spent a lot of time in Arkansas and we always enjoyed driving home through the Ouachita Mountains, into Oklahoma and then south. It takes longer but it's a beautiful area. We sometimes stopped at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in the Arkansas side which is gorgeous. http://www.queenwilhelmina.com/

Incidentally, Arkansas' state parks are all clean and well taken care of. If you need somewhere for the kids to run around for a bit, I think that they're perfect.

 

[CruiseBoundnKY]

You guys are the best!! I greatly appreciate all the ideas. I'm going to look at the sites and order the tour book tonight.

We can't wait. I love road trips.

Karen

 

[kaywoody]

Another fun thing to do while in the DFW area is tour the Cowboys Stadium (which BTW is hosting the Super Bowl in 4 days!). It's amazing to see... just the size alone is crazy!

 

[rangermom]

Have you thought about stopping to dig for diamonds in Arkansas at Crater of Diamonds?

We did that on our honeymoon. We had a blast but found nothing . I would do it again in a heartbeat.