Fort Worth Entertainment

Why we love Texas: Great ways to explore food, outdoors and culture this summer

Stories by Fort Worth Star-Telegram journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of Star-Telegram stories highlights some of the best summer adventures that show off Texas food, the great outdoors and our Western culture.

Slow-smoked brisket at Goldee’s Barbecue. Cooling off at top-ranked waterparks. Hiking, camping or looking for dinosaur tracks at our state parks.

Those who appreciate history can visit our nearby cities like Granbury, or travel farther to see cowboy artifacts at the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera. Music lovers might explore historic Gruene Hall, the oldest music hall in Texas, while drive-in movie fans can catch a double feature at the Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre in New Braunfels or relax by the Guadalupe River. Hikers may soon trek the planned 1,500-mile Cross Texas Horse, Hike and Bike Adventure Route.

Read the stories below.

The sun sets on a summer day in Possum Kingdom State Park in Palo Pinto County. By Yffy Yossifor

NO. 1: NORTH TEXAS STATE PARKS WORTH VISITING: DINOSAURS, WATERFALLS AND KARAOKE

Check out these state parks less than three hours from Fort Worth. | Published May 19, 2023 | Read Full Story by Dalia Faheid

JANUARY 19, 11:13 a.m. - Cousins Tripp Jones, 8, and Riggin Purcell, 8, take their cow Goldilocks on a walk in the morning behind the Cattle 2 barn at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

NO. 2: 24 HOURS OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES PHOTOS FROM FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO

“You wake up early to take care of your cattle. You go to bed late after making sure they’re safe and have what they need.” | Published January 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by James Hartley

Local Craft BBQ serves up various smoked meats, sandwiches and sides in Newark, Texas.

NO. 3: BEST BARBECUE IN FORT WORTH? HERE’S A LIST OF THE TOP JOINTS

Fort Worth will always be barbecue’s biggest fan, but which joint has the most fans? O | Published February 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country RV Resort in New Braunfels, Texas. By Courtesy photo by Camp Fimfo.

NO. 4: FORGET BOONDOCKING. THESE TEXAS RV PARKS, TRAILER HOTELS ARE AMONG THE BEST IN U.S.

See where to hook up your RV in style this summer. You won’t have to go far. Texas has some choice spots. | Published May 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

Gruene, Texas was named as one of the best small towns in the U.S., according to HGTV.

NO. 5: THIS 25-ACRE TEXAS BURG IS ONE OF HGTV’S ‘MOST CHARMING’ SMALL TOWNS

And it’s worth the road trip from Fort Worth. | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

Plate of brisket, beans, and good barbecue from The Original Roy Barbecue in Trophy Club, where Tik Tok influencer Keith Lee rates the brisket a 9.1 out of 10. By Bud Kennedy

NO. 6: THIS NORTH TEXAS BARBECUE SPOT MADE YELP’S TOP 100 PLACES TO EAT. IT’S WORTH A VISIT

Eight other Texas restaurants made the list, too. | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

Museum of the Big Bend is voted as one of the country’s top ten best small museums by USA Today readers and experts.

NO. 7: USA TODAY READERS RANK THESE TEXAS BURGS FOR HAVING THE BEST SMALL TOWN MUSEUMS

If you’re a fan of old Western history, check out these two small-town museums in Texas. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

Charles Gandy on the road, planning the xTx route.

NO. 8: EPIC ADVENTURE TRAIL PLANNED FOR TEXAS: 1,500 MILES OF RUGGED BEAUTY

Outdoor enthusiast Charles Gandy is out to do the impossible by creating a cross-Texas route to rival the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Adams

Aquatica Orlando’s water slide, KareKare Curl— a 35-foot drop in the enclosed tube and then rush up a vertical wave wall. The ride takes about 15 to 20 seconds to complete. By Rich Pope

NO. 9: TEXAS HAS TWO OF THE BEST OUTDOOR WATER PARKS IN THE COUNTRY, SAYS THIS LIST

Beat the heat this summer at these water parks. | Published May 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

A late afternoon sun lights up Texas flags at the old Hood County Courthouse on the Historic Granbury Square Friday, March 19, 2021. By David Montesino

NO. 10: THIS NORTH TEXAS TOWN IS THE BEST HISTORIC SMALL TOWN OF 2025, LIST SAYS

Head on over to Hood County. | Published May 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jake Harris

The sun sets as a movie begins at one of four screens at Coyote Drive-In movie theater on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Fort Worth. The drive-in initially closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but opened at limited capacity when the state began reopening in May. Chris Fortune, director of operations at the drive-in, said they have sold out every night. By Amanda McCoy

NO. 11: USA TODAY SAYS THIS TEXAS DRIVE-IN THEATER IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY

Drive-in theaters have some strong Texas roots. | Published June 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jake Harris

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.