eb

We're scheduled to fly out of DFW next Monday and I've made arrangements to stay at the Comfort Suites DFW North.
Should I make our reservations for both Saturday night and Sunday night and make a weekend of it?
What's there to do?
(By the way, we're in our mid-fifties, love to dine out - steaks and seafood mostly, antique "some", enjoy quaint pubs and/or wine bars...even sports bars. We like to hunt also, and considered a visit to the Bass Pro Shop)
Any input appreciated! eb from Texas

MzPossum

Hi eb
You might get more responses if you repost with Dallas in your title; Weekend suggestions for Dallas, or something like that.
Anyway, as you probably know, there are so many things to do in the Dallas-Ft. worth area although the airport is a little closer to Dallas. Excellent restaurants in Addison (suburb of Dallas) on Beltline. I haven't lived in the area for a long time but there are lots of DFW residents on the board. You could easily fill a weekend.

eb

Thanks MzPossum for your quick and helpful response!
I think what we're looking for is something really close to where we are staying so we don't have to venture out in the traffic too much.
Any ideas will be appreciate! eb

Marilyn

I am certainly no expert, however, we just spent almost a week "next door" to Grapevine at a conference. The town of Grapevine itself is cute, with little boutique-y shops, antique stores, and several good restaurants.

The Bakery on the main street is wonderful for breakfast or lunch. Great sandwiches and salads. We left the conference almost every day and drove there for lunch.

Big Fish (also on the main street) is very casual, inexpensive, sort of local pub/sports bar atmosphere, and the seafood was fresh and delicious.

There's a very popular Mexican restaurant just off the main street. Can't remember the name, but everyone knows it.

You will also be about 10 minutes from the Grapevine Mills Mall -- all outlet stores -- if you have the urge to shop.

There is a high-end steak restaurant called something like Silver Fox that was recommended to us. We didn't eat there because we were looking for something quicker and more casual, but it looked like an expensive, classy place.

So yes, I think you could fill 2 days in the area without venturing to Dallas (only about a half hour drive).

ChristieP

I'm a resident of Grapevine, Texas and I think it is a pretty fun place. Here's the city's official website: http://www.ci.grapevine.tx.us/

Downtown Grapevine has lots of cute stores and the restaurants that EB mentioned, plus Esparza's Mexican and the Tap Inn pub. There is also a wonderful gelato store called Flavors of Florence on the North end of Main. You certainly won't go hungry! We also have pretty much every chain restaurant in the world here, too.

If you like to hunt, Bass Pro and the new Cabela's are a MUST! Cabela's is only a 15-minute drive on 114 to 170 (almost zero traffic), and it is about TWICE the size of Bass Pro! The taxidermy collection at Cabela's is just amazing!

If you want to see Fort Worth's stockyards but don't want to drive, the Grapevine Historic Railroad runs trains to and from it twice a day from the depot downtown. The weekend trains usually use an authentic steam engine!

Marilyn

Esparza's is the place -- thanks ChristieP.

mikemo

Pretty red neck, imho.
M

eb

Marilyn and ChristieP, Just the type of info I was looking for! Thanks so much!!!!!
Mikemo, not sure what you were referencing re "redneck" - the train or the whole thing?

Marilyn

eb, glad to be of help. It's funny to me that of all the traveling I've done all over the world, I could give you information on Grapevine, Texas. Only because we were JUST there, so it's all fresh in my mind.

missypie

Another Grapevine resident here.

Grapevine Mills Mall is great for shopping. If you want to eat near there, we like Cozymels for the best Mexican. There's also good barbeque at Colters nearby.

Drive toward town and stop for a while to gawk at the lobby of the Gaylord Texan. Drive into old downtown Grapevine. If you really want to eat like a local, stop to eat at Nero's Heroes...they have a great old 60s building and you eat outside at school desks. Yummy huge sandwiches.

Down northwest highway is Cafe Italia..very good Italian food but you should make a reservation. Also on the same street is Sonic....if you don't have those where you live, stop and get a cherry limeade.

Browse the shops on downtown Grapevine. Look in the log cabin and train depot.

If you enjoy steak and are willing to drop some $$$, make reservations at Silver Fox.

There is a restaurant connected to the Bass Pro Shop. Last time we were there, the drinks (micro-brewed) were good but the food was only so-so.

Please skip Esparzas, unless you just want a drink. I think the food is bad at Esparzas but everyone raves about it. My theory is that their margueritas are so good and so strong that everyone is pretty well smashed by the time their food comes, so they think it is good.

La Hacienda Ranch also has good steak and Mexican food, in a fun atmosphere. (The best Mexican food is at Reposadas in Colleyville - about a 15 min. drive from where you'll be.)

Grapevine has a nice little botanical gardens if you want to stretch your legs a bit. Note: Last night at 8 pm it was 100 degrees. It's supposed to cool off a bit over the weekend.

Marilyn

missypie, I agree about Esparza's. The margaritas were great, the food was just ok.

eb

Marilyn, I know what you mean!
We're off for a short trip to Jamaica - but I like to "make the most" of our trips!
We usually fly out of Houston and have "scoped" that area out for the best place to stay and restaurants located nearby.
We haven't flown out of DFW in quite awhile, so I decided we needed to try something different!
Missypie, Thanks for your suggestions too! I think we may just have to check out the Gaylord Texan (maybe for a future stay?) Also, must have a drink (or two?) at Esparzas....
If time, would love to go to Cabella's.
Thanks to all on this board for the wonderful input! eb from Texas

eb

P.S., And yes, we have a Sonic here! One of the few "restaurants" we have in our small town! I guess that's why I "Scope out" the places to stay/eat when we fly out of IAH or DFW....

Wayne

When I've visited that area, I've always eaten at the Atchafalaya restaurant in Addison. It's a casual Cajun-style restaurant that does a good job in terms of authentic Cajun fare.

ChristieP

I personally can't stand the BBQ at Colter's. They use a mustard-based sauce that I find just awful. I like Dickey's, Spring Creek and Sonny Bryan's a LOT better, and we have all of those in Grapevine, too.

Grapevine and Addison really aren't very close. It's about a 30 minute drive IF traffic is cooperative, which is usually not the case since it involves 635.

BeachBoi

I agree...Sonny Bryan's for this Angelino! There is one down the street from my TA in Carrollton...But Christie P I thought I went from The Gaylord Texan to Addison on the GB Frwy...was I dreaming or lost??...or both!!

ChristieP

Beachboi, you were dreaming! GB doesn't come all the way out to Grapevine, nor does it go to Addison. You have to take the Dallas North Tollway southbound from the GB to get to Addison, and getting to the GB from Grapevine involves taking either 635 or 121. Once the missing piece of the GB to 635 is finished, or once the improvements to 121 are finished, it won't be such a mess. But for now, there's no easy way to get from Grapevine to Addison.

BeachBoi

CP..Now I remember....We took a left from the hotel and it was north..So that was 121 then veered to the right...w/Vista Ridge on the left we took a right....I35?? then to GB then to Tollway....cheeeez.......And I think LA is tough??? Thanks....

eb

I originated this message and just wanted to thank all of those who responded and gave me such useful information.
Now for the results of our trip:
We drove to Grapevine on Sunday (for our flight out on Monday morning to Jamaica). We stayed at the Comfort Suites. Great rates, great service, great hottub for two in our room, very new and clean (reservations thru choicehotels.com). Also, free parking and shuttle service to and from the airport.
That afternoon, we ate at Esperanza - great margaritas and the seafood chalupas were wonderful! The downside -VERY noisy! Lots of small children/families.
Checked out only two of the wineries downtown: Homestead Winery and Su Vino. Both very neat in their own way.
Upon our return from Jamaica on Friday evening, again stayed at the Comfort Suites. Drove over that evening to the Big Buck Steakhouse at the Bass Pro Shop. Wonderful steaks (especially the filet mignon) and great service; really beautiful.
The next morning enjoyed a great continental breakfast which I carried back up to our room on the tray from our room - included wonderful hot tea/coffee, sweet rolls, fresh waffles (batter measured out in cups and placed beside a great waffle machine), all the accompaniments, plus boiled eggs, yogurt, toast, etc. - best continental breakfast I've ever seen for a hotel like this!
Also, forgot to mention that we visited the Gaylord Texan on the Friday we arrived in Grapevine and the next Saturday before we left Grapevine to return home. Fantastic. A must-see. Just pull up to the lobby and tell the Valet parking guys that you don't want to park...you just want to go in and see it for a future stay. Fantastic! We will definitely go back there...plus stay at the Comfort Suites again as well! AND visit more of the shops, bars, restaurants, and wineries in the Grapevine area! Great weekend trip.
Again, thanks for the great input! eb from Texas
P.S.... Didn't even have a chance to check out the popular Grapevine Mall!

missypie

Glad you enjoyed our fair city. And you didn't even complain about the heat!