Grapevine

Grapevine, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, is a historic city that takes great interest in preserving its Texas past. Grapevine is a walkable and friendly community with a variety of activities ranging from historical sites and shopping to outdoor sports.

With its renovated 19th- and 20th-century buildings housing art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants, the picturesque Historic Main Street is the epicenter of Grapevine’s true living history.

The thrilling Wild West show on top of the historic Grapevine Glockenspiel Clocktower brings Grapevine’s historical heritage to life six times per day. The History Trail connects the city’s first areas of attraction, such as the Nash Farm from the 1890s and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

Just outside the historic Main Street District is the shopping and entertainment center of Grapevine Mills, which features tourist attractions such as Legoland and SEA LIFE Grapevine. Many outdoor activities, including walking paths, water recreation at Lake Grapevine, and golf, are accessible from the outskirts of Grapevine.

It is straightforward to spend time in the historic neighborhood due to the abundance of free public parking spaces. The Grapevine Visitor’s Shuttle, which operates between Historic Downtown Grapevine and the Grapevine Mills region, provides an additional easy option for tourists to get to the city’s most famous attractions.

Check out our selection of the best activities in Grapevine, Texas.

Explore the Historic Main Street Area

Grapevine’s Historic Main Street District should be your first stop when visiting this charming Texas town. One of the finest ways to appreciate it is by taking a leisurely stroll along the walkways, where you can observe how the renovated historic buildings have been repurposed as boutique shops while retaining their original beauty.

Eat at local cafes such as Tolbert’s Chili Parlor, which is a downtown institution. Take a seat on a bench along Main Street if you’re in Grapevine on a Friday evening to watch the weekly classic automobile cruise-in.

The newest monument in the city, the Grapevine Main Station, is where culture and modernity mix, with statues like the Peace Circle on the plaza and historical markers depicting the town’s ancient heritage. Harvest Hall is a European-style food court with seven distinct vendors, 40-foot ceilings, and murals illustrating Grapevine’s history.

Climb the 150-foot-tall Grapevine Main Observation Tower for a panoramic perspective of the city and its environs. You can visit the tower on your own or enjoy a guided tour.

SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium

One of the top family-friendly activities in Grapevine is the SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium, where exhibits are interactive and positioned at children’s eye level. The aquarium is designed so that visitors can experience the environment in which diverse species live, such as the rainforest.

The Stingray Bay section is popular due to its elevated platform and daily feedings, during which personnel is ready to answer questions regarding the tank’s inhabitants. Additional must-see aquarium displays include the touch pools, ocean tunnel, moon jellyfish show, and the Candy Cane window, which features underwater pumpkin carvings in the fall and a scuba diving Santa during the holidays.

Shopping and Recreation at Grapevine Mills

Grapevine’s shopping takes on the guise of “shoppertainment” at Grapevine Mills, a shopping and entertainment complex. This is a fantastic place for families, as it offers something for all ages.

The enclosed shopping mall features over 180 businesses, restaurants, a movie theatre, and other tourist attractions. Saks OFF 5th, Coach Factory, NIKE Clearance, Under Armour, and Disney Outlet are among the most popular stores.

The LEGOLAND Discovery Center is one of Grapevine Mills’ most popular attractions. It is a 35,000-square-foot facility that allows you to explore, construct, and interact with the world of LEGO, featuring the Build and Test area where you may construct and race your LEGO cars on a track.

Peppa Pig World of Play is a famous indoor play area for pre-school-aged children that is also family-friendly at Grapevine Mills.

Awesome Wolf Lodge Waterpark

The Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark is a popular family activity in Grapevine. The all-inclusive Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine resort features accommodations, entertainment, and a vast indoor waterpark. There are waterpark activities for all ages, such as a four-story treehouse and waterslides, Coyote Canyon, a 40-foot drop waterslide, and a Cub Paw Pool for young children.

Big Wolf Lodge’s non-water attractions include a ropes course, an arcade, a build-a-bear workshop, and a mining area where children may search for gemstones. There are seasonal activities at the lodge, such as yoga and story time, that might enhance your visit.

Board the Grapevine Historic Railroad

Grapevine’s Grapevine Antique Railroad is an absolute must-do. The original terminal was constructed in 1888 when St. Louis & Southwestern Railroad along the Cotton Belt Road arrived in Grapevine.

The historic railroad provides trips and special events for 46 weeks per year. There are two types of excursions: a four-hour journey to the Fort Worth Stockyards and a shorter, child-friendly one-hour trip. Experience rail travels in the early 1900s by climbing onboard a restored 1920s-day carriage and sitting in its original seats.

Go around the platforms to the Foreman’s House, where living history actors are ready to give information about the railroad and show communication tools utilized when the railroad traveled through Grapevine.

If you are not staying in the region, you can take TEXRail from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport or the city of Fort Worth directly to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad depot.