Fort Worth It

Fort Worth It
By: Lillian Bocquin

I have visited Fort Worth, TX several times in my life but many included just passing through. However, when one of my classes visited the city as a preparation trip for our journey to Puerto Rico, I discovered the Fort Worth Stockyards. The Stockyards were a vibrant part of the city I had not explored previously and we dove right in when we got there.

Having ridden the train from Norman to Fort Worth early that morning, many of us sought out food almost immediately upon arrival. A quick Google search for the best Mexican food in town led us to Los Vaqueros and they did not disappoint. I had quite literally the best vegetables of my life and the wonderful staff kept the chips and salsa flowing.

Photo by Lilly, Los Vaqueros Restaurant in Fort Worth Texas

That afternoon we were able to watch the cattle trail up the main street and speak with one of the women working the cattle. This woman told us the cattle drivers were city employees and expressed how much she loved what she did. She also revealed how difficult it was, especially the aspects people don’t see like taking care of the animals all day.

Photo by Lilly, Fort Worth Stockyard cattle drive

I hope to love my job one day as much as she does, no matter how difficult it may be. In fact, I think the most difficult jobs are the ones you truly love. Those are the jobs that are worth every bit of the blood, sweat and tears that go into it.

Pro Tip: Take a Pre-Trip

Before heading out to a completely unfamiliar place, Puerto Rico, we got our toes wet by visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards to get familiar with tourism and the idea of travel writing. I had never studied abroad previously, so going on a pre-trip with the class was and ideal situation to get used to what the class expected of us.

We traveled to Fort Worth by train, an new adventure for me, and arrived in time to explore the town and see what the Stockyards had to offer. By talking with local businesses and native Fort Worthers, we were given a better understanding of what the area entailed. Getting to know the western culture and see the daily Cattle Run that the locals put on was an enriching experience.

This pre-trip got me ready to study in Puerto Rico by showing me what parts of tourism to focus on and expanded my knowledge on tourism and the media. We interviewed several people on their jobs, their travels, and their overall experience in Fort Worth.

The view from the entrance of the Fort Worth Stockyards

The train station in Fort Worth

The famous Stockyards Hotel

Check these out:
http://www.stockyardshotel.com/
http://www.h3ranch.com/
https://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak

Contact Information:
Email: sdeshurley@ou.edu
Phone: 281-222-7329
Facebook: @sarahdeshurley
Twitter: @skdeshurley
Instagram: @so_desh_so_clean

AN INITIAL FORAY INTO TOURISM

By Jeremy Cowen (Twitter: @JeremyCowen)

(Tags: Travel blogging, Fort Worth, Fort Worth Stockyards, tourism, trains)

                Before the first travel experience of our class, I thought I was an experienced traveler and tourist.

After all, besides regular family vacations over the past two decades, I was an avid hiker and also spent time as a sports journalist traveling from college city to college city from one coast to another writing about sports.

It turns out, however, I was an experienced TRAVELER … not an experienced TOURIST. I had been to various places, but I hadn’t truly EXPERIENCED those places.

Our class traveled to Fort Worth via train (http://heartlandflyer.com) and, once there, we spent time in the Stockyards District (http://www.fortworthstockyards.org) looking for various things via our treasure hunt assignment. Through this assignment, where we interviewed other travelers, people working in the tourism industry either directly or indirectly and looked for “behind-the-scenes” things a typical visitor wouldn’t notice, I gained an insight on true tourism I didn’t have before.

I found it interesting in my observations to see how the BUSINESS of tourism was run, from my interviews with parking attendants to security personnel keeping the streets clear of visitors when the twice-daily cattle drive moves through (http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/events/fort-worth-herd-twice-daily-cattle-drive-1).  It all gave me insight on how – while tourism is certainly fun for those experiencing it – there are plenty of people working to make sure the trains run on time, both literally and figuratively.

Speaking of trains: The travel to and from Fort Worth via the Heartland Flyer train was a personal highlight. For someone who enjoys the “getting there” as much as “being there” while vacationing, train travel opens up plenty of new possibilities.

TOURIST WHISPERER — Linda Terrell, a bus driver for The T in Fort Worth, Texas, gives directions to a new driver she’s training. Terrell regularly shuttles tourists throughout Fort Worth after they arrive by train and understands the many questions they may have about the city. (Photo by Jeremy Cowen)

Hustle and bustle — The streets of Fort Worth’s Stockyards District are busy even on a non-descript weekday afternoon. The Stockyards District is one of the main tourist attractions in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Photo by Jeremy Cowen.

 

Helping hand — A valet stand awaits guests to the Stockyards Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. Valet parking is a must in the Stockyards District as parking can be troublesome even on a typical weekday afternoon. It is an example of the foresight needed behind the scenes to make a tourist destination rum smoothly. Photo by Jeremy Cowen.