We had a staycation at the Fort Worth Stockyards in December to celebrate my birthday and have our first overnight without the baby! As hard as it started out, by the first morning I was feeling liberated. After a slow morning and a long shower, I was ready to start my baby-free staycation in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

The Stockyards were decorated beautifully with tons of Christmas lights. There were multiple holiday events so I compiled this list of things to do in Fort Worth Stockyards in December.

We stayed at the Drover Hotel

The Drover Hotel is located right in the stockyards. You can walk out of the hotel courtyard directly onto Mule Alley. In my opinion, the best part of the stockyards is the walkability so staying at a hotel located in the mix is important.

The hotel vibe is classy luxe cowtown. While checking in you have an artsy Texas inspo video to get you in the mood featuring the famous What-a-Burger cups and Dr. Pepper cans. To fringe chairs and cattle branding iron chandeliers there is never a dull moment for your eyes as you are completely submerged into cowboy culture.

Not only is this hotel epic year-round but they did a phenomenal job decorating for Christmas. Then as the sun sets and the Christmas lights begin to beam, your heart is instantly warmed by the truly grand outdoor extravaganza. They have a massive Christmas tree, lit-up lawn ornaments, lights a plenty and a whole backyard event called 12 Days of Christmas featuring Cowboy Santa and his real reindeer.

I felt like a kid participating in the hot cocoa and smores bar, around the firepits, while listening to the carolers sing. Of course, my baby-free moment was suddenly planning a return with our little boy to enjoy as a family!

Did You Know?

Drover is the name of someone that drives cattle or sheep.

Inside the lobby the seating is plentiful and I felt transported to a ski lodge. It was bustling with lively, classy but laid back, patrons. Laughter and chatter fill the area while people sipped toddies and whisky.

Maybe we are creeps but the people-watching was so fun! There were multiple holiday parties going on and people gathering for personal events. Some were dressed to the nines while others were just trying to stay warm and cozy. Everyone was bustling with happy holiday cheer. One of my favorite parts of this staycation was hanging in the lodgy lobby with the hubs watching all the guests drink and be merry.

Lonesome Dove

A beautiful walk out the back of our hotel along a river – and through the woods, to Lonesome Dove we go. It was a pleasant and romantic walk without the crowd of people. There is a back entrance, if you walk this way, up the stairs. Then head straight to the dining room. It’s an intimate lodge-type of a restaurant by Tim Love and you’ll be sure to try something new.

We had the elk sliders, rabbit rattlesnake sausage, lobster hushpuppies & elk tenderloin with mashed potatoes and candied blueberries. Not a single complaint from me even if I tried!! The candied blueberries bursting into my mouth was an experience in itself. At this dinner, I discovered that elk have double the amount of tryptophan than turkey. So we skipped dessert and headed back to our hotel for some cocoa and cuddles.

Cattle Herding

Other than room servicing breakfast, this was the number one thing on my list to do. So after my very slow and luxurious morning, we made sure to check it off.

Did You Know??

Fort Worth was the half way mark between the beginning of the cattle drive, San Antonio, Texas, to the end, Abeliene, Kansas. Thus the beginning of Cowtown.

I love the activities to do unique to a city. This was even more interesting than I expected. There was an MC explaining what we were going to see and why. He prefaced it with other to-do’s in the city and surrounding areas. It’s a quick little experience, but cattle herding is what made Fort Worth what it is today. It was worth paying homage and taking a moment to watch these experienced cowboys herd these beautiful longhorns.

Shopping

There is the Stockyard’s shopping mall with more touristy shopping and restaurants. Then there is Mule Alley and East Exchange Ave where you can find multiple boots, jeans and custom hat shops! The earthy smell of leather is prevalent everywhere you go. We fully immersed ourselves and picked out our favorite boots and tried on some hats as well. Next time maybe we will actually get some customs made. My favorite store was Thrifty and it was easy to find myself a new dress.

H3

We did a lot of snacking so here we had the ribs and tacos. They no longer have their stockyard VIP sampler so we ordered what the bartender said she thought was the best. I’m an anti-barbeque sauce type of gal. If your meat is done right who needs sauce? My brother among many others disagree. Also, I just don’t have a sweet tooth and bbq tastes sweet to me. With that being said – there’s something a little sweet about their meat, even on their tacos, but they were good. I preferred the tacos over the ribs, but my husband can make some really good ribs so it’s a little unfair.

With that said it’s a fun place. The service was great. They have infused margaritas served in large schooners. And if you are lucky you can snag a saddle to sit in at the bar and really feel like a cowboy that rode up for a drink.

Ice Skating

During winter the Fort Worth Stockyards set up a rodeo ice skating rink. The rink is located in front of the livestock exchange building. They have concession stands featuring Avo Cocoa and Coffee and live music. The rink is not massive and the crowds can really gather so reserve your ticket ahead of time – or if you live in Dallas and have the time maybe hit up the galleria instead. However, the ambiance was very lovely.

Pizza and Ice Cream

We passed Tanahill’s Pizza shop on multiple occasions and we knew we’d eventually grab a slice. This excellent new spot is perfect for a late-night bite. You can watch the Pizzaiolas in action through the outdoor window and of course while you are waiting for your slice. We loved our pepperoni pizza and the guys were very friendly. After, we enjoyed some Melts Ice Cream from across the street; we kept it plain and simple with some vanilla and it did not disappoint.

Other things to do in the Fort Worth Stockyards

• Cattle pen maze
• Mechanical bull riding
• Honky tonks
• Billy Bobs
• Rodeos
• Trail riding on the Chisholm trail

Our first nights without the baby were pretty simple. Fort Worth was the perfect little getaway. Staying close by I felt comfortable enough for my initial nights away, but checking into the Drover hotel made me feel like I was much further. We had a festive time staying at the Stockyards during Christmas time. As a result, I’m looking forward to our return as a family

What are your favorite things to do in the stockyards in Fort Worth, any time of year?