The kids have been wanting to see the Fort Worth Stockyards, and this week I finally got the magical combination of a Saturday off and nice, non-rainy weather. In the spirit of “little experiences tucked in wherever we can fit them,” we decided to drive to Grapevine and travel by rail to the Stockyards. Grapevine has held a special place in our hearts ever since our first December in DFW, when we were searching for local holiday cheer and found it on Grapevine’s Main Street in sparkly abundance. This is one town that loves Christmas.
So we booked tickets for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s round trip to the Stockyards, and got there early enough on Saturday to do a little wandering.
Grapevine has just begun to deck its halls.
We stopped at the Blacksmith Shop, and Luke had fun pumping the bellows while the smithy did his thing at the forge.
Saw this guy crafting something out behind the glassworker’s shop.
At 12:30 it was time to board the train. We pulled out of the station at 1pm, powered by a 1953 diesel locomotive named Vinny.
The cars were looking festive.
The scenery was nice, just turning to Fall. I saw a few parks and trails that I’m looking forward to exploring on foot.
We arrived at the Stockyards Station at about 2:30.
The kids wanted to try out the Cattlepen Maze, so that was our first stop.
There was more going on in the Stockyards this time than the last time I was here (on a Tuesday). More people, more carriages, more attractions and performers.
There was a mechanical bull this time, and of course the kids had to ride that.
Took a detour though Saunders Park. What a pretty little place.
We checked out the Station shops, bought some yummy fudge and explored the old livestock chutes, and then it was time for the cattle drive. Elizabeth staked out a spot up front on the curb…
…while Luke and I found a comfy perch on a wall behind the crowd.
My one complaint is that we didn’t have time to see everything at the Stockyards before the train came back and it was time to leave. An hour and a half isn’t long enough!
Goodbye, Stockyards.
It was getting dark when we pulled into Grapevine Station around 6pm.
It was a fun trip. One of these days we’ll drive out to the Stockyards and explore the whole area at our leisure. And, of course, we’ll be heading back to Grapevine at least once more this year, after all the lights are up and the Singing Christmas Tree has begun its nightly performance. They say December is the darkest and brightest month, and that’s especially true in the Christmas Capitol of Texas.
An Invincible Summer 