6 reasons to love Grapevine, Texas

Now here’s a town that likes to party…and for good reason. Its natural resources produce the optimum environment for growing grapes—i.e. perfect for wine making—and it’s the headquarters for the Texas Wine Industry. Located just a few miles from Dallas, the city of Grapevine offers plenty of exciting family-friendly attractions, world-class events, dining, shopping and just plain fun. You might even say it’s aged to perfection.

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Photo courtesy of Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel

Stay at the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel

Treat your family to the ultimate, first class Grapevine experience with a touch of Southern hospitality thrown in. You know the old adage, “everything’s bigger in Texas”? Well, the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel will make you a believer. Overlooking Lake Grapevine, this spectacular atrium hotel has so much going on, you’ll hardly want to leave…spacious, luxurious accommodations, acres of lush, indoor gardens, Paradise Springs Waterpark (open seasonally), four restaurants, indoor/outdoor pools, Relache Spa, Glass Cactus nightclub, shops and entertaining activities for the kids.

Tasting the vintages at the annual Grapevine Grapefest | Photo courtesy of the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau

Stroll downtown Grapevine

Head first to the brand, spankin’ new Visitor’s Information Center for brochures, ticket purchases and the inside scoop on what to see and do. Don’t forget to grab your Grapevine Visitors Shuttle pass ($5/individual, families/$10) for transportation to and from hotels, restaurants and shopping. Walk along charming Main Street for a step back in time. Shop vintage boutiques, sip a few vintages of the award-winning Sloan & Williams Winery and enjoy authentic Italian at Farina’s Winery and Café. For tasty, over-the-top sandwiches, stop at Weinberger’s Deli. Find a souvenir or two to bring home like a treat from Dr. Sue’s Chocolate—natural dark chocolate handcrafted by a physician.

ALSO: We heard it through the Grapevine that Orbitz Rewards offers deep discounts!

Jazz it up aboard the Grapevine Jazz Train | Photo courtesy of the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau

Board the Grapevine Vintage Railroad

Hop on the Grapevine Wine Train and ride your way from one end to the other while tasting vintages and listening to jazz or ride to the historic stockyards. For kids, there’s the T-Rex Express Grapevine Fun Trains, where they play interactive games and activities related to dinosaurs and can thwart their very own Great Train Robbery. Come holiday season, the North Pole Express creates visions of dancing sugarplums as elves entertain and sing holiday songs.

Messina Hof is one of Grapevine’s popular wineries | Photo courtesy of the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau

Hit the Trail

Taste your way along the award-winning Urban Wine Trail, where you can even try wine ice cream. Purchase the Sip and Savor Passport for wine tastings at each participating winery.

Stompin’ of the grapes at GrapeFest | Photo courtesy of the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau

Celebrate the Fruit of the Vine

Come every September, Grapevine celebrates its namesake with the largest wine festival in the Southwest. Guests discover new vintages, enjoy live music and feast on vittles like turkey legs, fajitas and wild game sausage, along with pizza, corn dogs and funnel cakes. As you’d expect, there will be plenty of cork-popping activities including The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, GrapeStomp, Champagne Terrace, KidsWorld, GrapeFest Golf Classic, GrapeFest Tennis Classic, the Texas Wine Tribute and more.

Flickr CC: Grapevinetxonline

Shop and get culture in the same place

Find Texas-style deals at Grapevine Mills Mall with popular, high end retailers as well as AMC 30 Dine-In Theatres. Explore the underwater world at SEA LIFE Aquarium and see seahorses and sharks. Just opened is the Rainforest Adventure, which lets kids’ imagination run free at LEGOLAND with 15 different rides and attractions.

For more information, download a free Grapevine Visitor’s Guide here.

Tagged: Destinations, Family time