15 Best and Fun Things to Do in Grapevine TX (Texas)

Things to Do in Grapevine TX Grapevine, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, is a historic city that takes great pride in preserving its Texas heritage. Grapevine is a walkable and welcoming city with a variety of activities available, ranging from historical experiences and shopping to outdoor recreation at grapevine texas.

So what are things to do in grapevine tx?

Grapevine’s charming Historic Main Street, with its renovated 19th- and 20th-century buildings housing art galleries, shops, and restaurants, is the heart of the city’s authentic living history.

Grapevine’s historic roots are brought to life six times a day by the exciting Wild West show performed on top of the historic Grapevine Glockenspiel Clocktower. The Heritage Trail connects the city’s foundational points of interest, such as the 1890s Nash Farm and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

The Grapevine Mills shopping and entertainment district, which includes tourist attractions such as Legoland and SEA LIFE Grapevine, is located just beyond the historic Main Street District. Walking trails, water recreation at Lake Grapevine, and golf are all available on the outskirts of Grapevine lake.

It is simple to spend time in the historic district because there is plenty of free public parking. The Grapevine Visitor’s Shuttle, which runs between Historic Downtown Grapevine and the Grapevine Mills area, is another easy way for visitors to get around to the city’s most popular attractions. Check out our list of the best things to do in Grapevine, Texas as you plan your trip to this historic city.

15 Best Things to Do in Grapevine TX Today

1. Take a stroll down Main Street.

Grapevine’s Historic Main Street District is a great place to start your visit to this charming Texas town. One of the best ways to enjoy it is to stroll down the sidewalks, where you can see how the renovated historic buildings have been repurposed into boutique shops while retaining their authentic historic charm at main st.

Small eateries like Tolbert’s Chili Parlor, a downtown institution, are great places to eat. Take a seat on a bench along Main Street on a Friday night to enjoy the vintage car cruise-in, which has become a weekly tradition in Grapevine at North Texas.

The Grapevine Main Station, the city’s newest landmark, is where culture and modernization collide, with the town’s historic roots depicted in statues like the Peace Circle on the plaza and historical markers. Harvest Hall is a European-style food hall with seven distinct vendors, 40-foot ceilings, and large murals depicting Grapevine’s history.

Climb to the top of the 150-foot-tall Grapevine Main Observation Tower for panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas. You can either take a guided tower tour or visit on your own at North Pole.

2. SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium 

The SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium is one of the best Grapevine attractions for families, with interactive exhibits placed at eye level for children. The aquarium is divided into two levels and is themed to give visitors a sense of the environment in which various species live, such as the rainforest.

The elevated platform and daily feedings, when staff is available to talk about the sea creatures that live in the tank, make the Stingray Bay area popular. The touch pools, ocean tunnel, moon jellyfish display, and Candy Cane window, where you can see underwater pumpkin carvings in the fall and a scuba diving Santa during the holidays, are also must-see exhibits at the aquarium.

Make a point of visiting the animal rescue area, where you can see injured sea life being rehabilitated. For a fee, behind-the-scenes tours can be booked for an extra special experience.

Grapevine, Texas 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway Suite 525

3. Grapevine Mills Shopping & Entertainment

Grapevine Mills, a complex of shopping and entertainment options, has transformed shopping into “shoppertainment.” This is an excellent family destination because it has something for everyone, young and old at grapevine mills mall.

The shopping mall is a confined space that houses over 180 stores, restaurants, a movie theater, and other tourist attractions. Saks OFF 5th, Coach Factory, NIKE Clearance, Under Armour, and Disney Outlet are among the popular stores at grapevine wine.

The LEGOLAND Discovery Center is one of Grapevine Mills’ most popular attractions. It is a 35,000-square-foot facility where you can explore, build, and interact with the LEGO world, including the Build and Test area where you can create and race your fast LEGO cars on a track.

Another popular family-friendly Grapevine Mills attraction is Peppa Pig World of Play, an engaging indoor play center for pre-school-aged children.

Grapevine, Texas 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy.

4. Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark

The Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark is a popular family attraction in Grapevine. The full-service Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine resort combines lodging, attractions, and a large indoor waterpark. A four-story treehouse and waterslides, Coyote Canyon, a 40-foot drop waterslide, and a Cub Paw Pool for toddlers are among the waterpark attractions.

Non-water activities at Great Wolf Lodge include a ropes course, an arcade, a build-a-bear workshop, and a mining area where children can look for gemstones. Seasonal events at the lodge, such as arts and crafts, yoga, and story time, can round out your stay at texas star dinner theater.

Grapevine, Texas, 100 Great Wolf Drive

5. Ride the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

Grapevine Vintage Railroad is a must-see attraction in Grapevine. When the St. Louis & Southwestern Railroad arrived in Grapevine in 1888, it built the original depot along the Cotton Belt Route.

Excursions and special events are held on the vintage railroad 46 weeks of the year. There are two types of excursions: a four-hour trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards and a one-hour trip suitable for children. Climb aboard a restored 1920s day coach and sit in the original seats as you learn about early-century rail travel at cross timbers winery.

While you wait for the train, walk around the platforms to the Foreman’s House, where living history actors will share railroad information and demonstrate communication tools used when the railroad passed through Grapevine.

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

Grapevine, Texas (636 S. Main Street)

6. Take a stroll through the Grapevine Botanical Gardens.

The Grapevine Botanical Gardens at Heritage Park are a peaceful haven with a symphony of sensory delights. Walk along the paved paths that are surrounded by hundreds of different plant and flower varieties. This is a nice park with water features, a koi pond, and sitting benches where you can spend an hour or stop for a picnic.

The botanical gardens are open all year and are free to visit. Visit the butterfly sanctuary or time your visit to coincide with the annual butterfly release, when over 1,000 butterflies fly from the gardens.

411 Ball Street, Grapevine, Texas

7. Lake Grapevine’s Rockledge Park

Lake Grapevine is a one-stop shop for planning a day of water recreation in Grapevine. The lovely lake is well-known for its adventure opportunities, and it is a pleasant place to set up camp for the day.

Kayaking, hiking, swimming, fishing, biking, and paddleboarding are all popular activities on Lake Grapevine. Near the park’s entrance, you can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, paddle boats, and inflatable tubes.

There are comfortable spots with individual parking spaces located all along the shoreline, shade pavilions located on outcroppings over the lake, and several public beaches. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset and charges a day-use fee.

Grapevine, Texas (3600 Pilot Point Road)

8. Vetro Glassblowing Studio and Gallery

With its artistic statues on the lawn and a collection of blown-glass creations visible through the windows, the Vetro Glassblowing Studio and Gallery is sure to catch your eye as you walk by. Visit the gallery and working art studio to see live glassblowing demonstrations and learn about the artists who create these works.

A visit to Vetro is memorable and a fun way to learn about this unique art form in Grapevine’s historic district, whether you just want to browse and shop in the gallery or take a glassblowing class from a professional artist while you are in town.

Grapevine, Texas 701 South Main Street, #103

9. Attend a Performance at the Palace Arts Center

The Palace Arts Center, located on Main Street, is one of the best places to go for some evening entertainment while enjoying the retro atmosphere. The Palace Arts Center includes the historic Palace Theatre as well as the Lancaster Theatre. Both venues host events all year and have a special place in Grapevine history.

The Palace Theatre, which was built in 1940 and has been restored to its former glory, now shows movies and hosts performing arts, music, and other events. The Lancaster Theatre, which was once the Buckner Cash Grocery Store in the 1930s, is now a dinner theater and a community activity center for year-round events.

Grapevine, Texas (300 S. Main Street)

10. Visit Nash Farm to learn about farm life in the 1800s.

A visit to Nash Farm, where the working-farm life of the late 1800s is still practiced today, should be at the top of your list while in Grapevine. Don’t be fooled by the residential neighborhood you drive through to get to Nash Farm; the sheep, chickens, and likely the aroma of fresh-baked cookies in the woodburning stove are all real.

The five-acre farm is all that remains of the 500 acres that were on this land in 1890. This preserved piece of Grapevine’s agrarian past operates on the same scale as it did in the late 1800s.

Visitors can step back in time and learn about livestock, vegetable gardening, crops, and farm life from living history interpreters. The original farmhouse and grounds can be explored on a guided or self-guided tour.

One of the best times to visit Nash Farm is during a public event, when you can participate in activities such as making homemade chicken noodle soup, knitting, and sheep shearing. The Nash Farm is open to the public for free.

Grapevine, Texas (626 Ball Street)

11. The Glockenspiel Clocktower 

Grapevine has many free attractions, but one of the most exciting takes place 75 feet in the air on the Glockenspiel Clocktower. The clocktower on Main Street is where two historic mechanical characters, Nat and Willy, have an old-fashioned western shootout six times a day.

The nine-foot-tall characters act out a train robber scene and emerge from the Glockenspiel Clocktower at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m. With a golden nine-foot weathervane, the 127-foot-tall clocktower presides over Main Street. Please keep in mind that Nat and Willy may not appear if the weather is bad.

12. Golfing around Grapevine

Golfing around Grapevine: While Grapevine is not known as a golfing destination in and of itself, it is home to several excellent courses, including the Cowboys Golf Club, the world’s only NFL-themed golf course. The Cowboys Golf Club has a championship golf course and is open seven days a week to the public. The Dallas Cowboys’ rich sporting history is commemorated by stone markers placed throughout the course.

The 18-hole golf course is designed with elevation changes, water features, and dense forest surrounding it. Cases of Cowboys memorabilia, such as Super Bowl rings and trophies, can be found inside the clubhouse. Guests at the all-inclusive resort have access to golf carts, snacks, and practice balls. There is a practice facility, a restaurant, and a pro shop at the golf club.

The Bear Creek Golf Club, located near Grapevine, also has two 18-hole courses designed by Ted Robinson. Deep bunkers, mature oak trees, and numerous water features can be found on the courses. The clubhouse offers dining as well as a golf pro shop.

Another option is the Grapevine Golf Course, which has 27 holes to play on a challenging course that has been open since 1979. The facility offers golf lessons and clinics.

13. Oak Grove Park 

If spending time outside appeals to you, the expansive Oak Grove Park has a facility or environment to suit every activity. Walking and biking trails, picnic tables, baseball and soccer complexes, and a boat launch at Scott’s Landing Marina are all available at the park.

The 40-acre park is one of the largest in the area, with ponds, children’s play areas, and plenty of green space to enjoy a nice day outside. The park is located on the south side of Lake Grapevine, so you can easily access the water or simply enjoy it as a backdrop for a game of sand volleyball or fishing. You can also take a scenic drive along Oak Grove Loop, the park’s main road.

Grapevine, Texas 2520 Oak Grove Loop South

14. Transfer to City Museums

The Settlement to City Museums is a fantastic historical complex just a short walk from Main Street. It is a collection of museums that showcase Grapevine’s foundation. The Donald Schoolhouse depicts the evolution of education in the area from a log cabin in 1900 to modern-day schools.

The Keeling House Museum is housed in an 1888 home and contains artifacts and information about Grapevine’s transformation from a pioneer town to a modern city. The Grapevine Cotton Ginners Museum is a structure in the complex that chronicles the history of the city’s cotton production.

Grapevine, Texas, 206 W. Hudgins Street

15. System of Grapevine Trails

Grapevine is home to a growing network of walking, biking, and paddling trails. There are 23 designated recreation trails that connect neighborhoods and parks and range in length and difficulty. The more than 67 miles of trails include paved, natural, and nature hiking trails through the woods. There are several scenic paddling trails that range from two to three miles in length and provide easy access to the water.

The grapevine trail system is simple to use. Trails can be chosen based on surface preference, type of use, distance, loop or one-way, and features such as exercise stations and restroom availability. The Oak Grove Trail, Horseshoe Trails, and Parr Park Trail are among the most popular trails in Grapevine.

WHERE TO STAY IN GRAPEVINE FOR SIGHTSEEING?

Grapevine offers a wide range of lodging options, from luxury lodging in the historic downtown to resorts and mainstream hotels.

Luxury Resorts and Hotels:

• Hotel Vin Autograph Collection in Grapevine’s historic downtown offers some of the most luxurious accommodations. The pet-friendly boutique hotel is located in Grapevine Main Station and offers luxury amenities as well as modern upscale rooms.
• The Gaylord Texan Resort is a full-service resort on Lake Grapevine with multiple pools and indoor gardens, as well as close proximity to Grapevine Mills shopping.

Hotels in the Mid-Range:

• Many mid-priced hotels, such as the Courtyard Dallas DFW Airport North/Grapevine and the Hilton Garden Inn DFW North Grapevine, are close to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport while also being close to Grapevine.
• If you want to stay close to Grapevine Mills, the Hyatt Place Dallas/Grapevine, which offers a free breakfast, is an option.

Hotels on a Budget:

• There are a number of nice budget hotels in the area, including the Super 8 by Wyndham Grapevine/DFW Airport Northwest, which offers free breakfast and shuttle service to DFW Airport, Grapevine Mills, and historic downtown.

FAQs about Things to Do in Grapevine TX