A few weekends ago, we got to cross something off of our spring family friendly activities in DFW list. We got out early on a Friday and headed over to the Ft. Worth Stockyards. Sure, this is kind of a touristy thing to do, and they may not feel like the most authentic stockyards in the world. But it is a great place for kids to experience new things and just have a fun day doing something different.
If you are wanting to go any time soon, now is the time to go! It’s only going to get hotter and hotter, and this is a place where you are outside a good amount. We ended up having a great time! We got our son his first cowboy hat, and the other son successfully slept on me almost the whole time. Double score! Here are a few of the tips and tricks we learned along the way. If you are going with little ones, you will definitely want to consider these:
1. There IS free parking. Don’t get fooled by all the $5 lots along the streets. When you turn onto Exchange Avenue (the main road), keep driving all the way down until it basically dead ends. The lot on the end, to the left is all free parking. And you are actually much closer than some of the other paid lots. This lot fills up quickly, so get there early!
2. Do NOT bring a stroller. Okay, this is more of a preference thing. We packed up our doublewide double stroller to the brim of everything you could possibly need for a toddler and a newborn. After about 10 ft. into the old, paved roads, we right back at the car unpacking that thing. The jagged bricks on the road make the ride VERY bumpy. I knew our stroller would either fall apart from the rugged terrain, or one of the kids would get bumped right out from a pothole 🙂 Our toddler (21 mo.) was fine walking the whole time and our newborn was pretty content being worn by me.
3. Don’t get fooled by the petting zoo. It should basically be called a viewing zoo. You don’t actually get to go in it. You can only pet the animals through the fence. womp womp.
4. Cattle drive is at 11:30 and 4pm. It’s a little anticlimactic, but it’s a fun sight for the kids. Be sure to start lining the street early (11:15 or so) to get a front row view.
5. The train rolls into the station at 2:15 and 4:15. Riding it is not an easy feat with kids (considering it’s HOURS long and not cheap), but if your kids are obsessed with trains, like so many are, it’s quite the event!
6. Bring coins for the little horsey rides. You know you’re kids will see them. You know they’ll want to ride them. And why not? It’s a special day, so go for it! Sadly we didn’t have any coins, but our little buckaneer had a blast just sitting and bouncing on them. He was none the wiser, but an older kid definitely would be.
7. Bring a picnic. Only if you don’t want to enjoy the delicious Texas cuisine, that is. If you are trying to cut costs (or screaming children sitting at a table for an hour!), bring your own lunch and a blanket. There are plenty of grassy areas in front of the Rodeo and Stockyards Museum. We decided to dine at one of the restaurants, but we did enjoy us a few good diaper changes on the lawn!
8. Choosing a restaurant. There are probably several great options, but I would suggest (with kids in tow) either Risky’s BBQ or Trailboss Burgers. They are actually right across from each other and both have large covered patios kept cool by misters. There are tons of people walking by and things to see to keep the kids distracted to (hopefully) make it through the meal.
9. Have fun! Remember, if you’re doing this excursion for the kids, be sure to join their excitement and let them marvel at all the cowboy garb. You may not be super impressed by the “authentic” cowboys lining the street and the 10 steer cattle drive, but for little ones, it’s like being in a story book. Try to see things from their perspective and make the most of the experience!
And the usual tips: don’t forget the sunscreen, good walking shoes for the kids, plenty of hand sanitizer, cameras, and comfy blankets or sleeping aids for the inevitable naps (fingers crossed) on the ride home.
is there any place nearby for breastfeeding like a nursing room?