PRAIRIES & LAKES REGION: GRAPEVINE

GRAPEVINE

Historic Grapevine, Texas is a popular getaway destination in North Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is in Grapevine.

Before all the towns and cities of the D/FW Metroplex melted together as one huge metropolitan area, towns like Grapevine were surrounded by agricultural land. General Richard Montgomery Gana, of the Confederacy, had a farm on the Grapevine Prairie that is now D/FW Airport.

At last count the population of Grapevine was 48,583. The town was originally called Cross Timbers, due to the stands of Cross Timbers that still exist in the area. By the 1850s the towns name was changed, named after a creek where wild Mustang grapes grew. Now, a century and a half later, Grapevine is home to a half dozen wineries, which host tasting rooms in Grapevine's Main Street Historic District.

In September, Grapevine hosts Grapefest, which is one of the largest wine festivals in America. Grapevine is also home to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, located in the Grapevine Heritage Center & Historical Museum, a 3 acre site that also features a blacksmith shop, farmers market, heritage garden and the Cotton Belt Railroad Depot, restored to its 1901 glory. In the Depot you'll also find the Grapevine Historical Museum and the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Information Center.

You can ride the Tarantula Train, which is a restored steam-powered train, from Cotton Belt Depot to the Fort Worth Stockyards and back. In Grapevine the train is turned around on the 1927 Santa Fe Railroad turntable.

Near the Cotton Belt Depot, on Main Street is the, built in 1939 Palace Theater. The old movie palace is now Grapevine Opry, a 500 seat theater for country music stars like Willie Nelson.

You will find a lot of places to shop inside Grapevine Mills. There is also a Gameworks, a huge Dr Pepper Starcenter Ice Rink and a 30 screen AMC Theater.

A Bass Pro Shop is considered to be part of the Grapevine Mills complex, but in its own building. There are many stand alone restaurants and stores in the Grapevine Mills complex, including several hotels.

Grapevine has a lot of parkland along Lake Grapevine. There are trails, both paved and not, plus many miles of mountain bike trails with the most popular accessed at its southern terminus at Rockledge Park, entered on the north end of Lake Grapevine Dam. Horseshoe Trails is another good mountain biking trail. There are several marinas and campgrounds on Lake Grapevine.

GRAPEVINE WINERIES

Grapevine wineries include Cross Timbers Winery, Delaney Winery & Vineyards, Homestead Winery & Tasting Room, La Bodega Winery & Tasting Room, La Buena Vida Vineyards and Su Vino Winery.

WHERE TO STAY IN GRAPEVINE

Visitors to Grapevine have 18 lodging choices, including Gaylord Texan and Great Wolf Lodge, where you'll find the largest indoor waterpark in Texas.

WHERE TO EAT IN GRAPEVINE

You'll find plenty of places to eat in Grapevine, with over 200 restaurants.

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