NCFR Conference Guide to Fort Worth
If you're joining us in Fort Worth, Texas, for the 2019 NCFR Annual Conference, we realize that you might also be interested in exploring Fort Worth outside of the conference.
Below, see tips and recommendations — made with your comfort and safety in mind — for:
- where to eat in Fort Worth
- what to see when you're out and about
- how to get around the local area
- resources for LGBTQ and allies
Many thanks to the Local Arrangements Committee of NCFR members who invested their time in compiling these resources.
To view their complete guide in a single document and/or to print it, see this PDF. The guide includes local neighborhoods, local transportation, medical facilities, restaurants, activities, and shopping.
Dining in the Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Find several dining and beverage options within the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, the site of NCFR's 2019 conference:
- Cash concessions for conference attendees — Wed.-Fri., 7–9 a.m. breakfast, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. lunch. Cash only!
- Starbucks coffee — 6 a.m.–7 p.m. daily
- Cast Iron Restaurant for casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner — 6 a.m.–2 p.m., 5–10 p.m.
- Whiskey & Rye sports bar (serves bar food) — Mon.-Wed. 2 p.m.–midnight; Thu.-Fri. opens 11:30 a.m.; Sat.-Sun. opens 11 a.m.
- Bob's Steak & Chop House for a more upscale dinner — Mon.-Thu., 5–10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 5–11 p.m.
The hotel also has a wine bar and a pool bar.
Dining in the Neighborhoods of Fort Worth
If you're looking to get out of the hotel for a bit to find a dining option, check out the list of selected restaurants (PDF) compiled by our Local Arrangements Committee, organized by neighborhood and with descriptions of each neighborhood.
Locations marked with an asterisk are recommended as LGBTQ-friendly. Visit Fort Worth also has information on its website about LGBTQ inclusivity in Fort Worth.
Selected Fort Worth Restaurants (PDF)
Local Resources for LGBTQ and Allies
The organization Resource Center has generously provided to our Local Arrangements Committee this list of local resources and organizations (PDF) for LGBTQ and allies.
Resources for LGBTQ & Allies (PDF)
Fort Worth Activities & Resources
Find activities in Fort Worth outside of the conference and conference hotel that fit your interests! Thank you to our Local Arrangements Committee for compiling the suggestions below for activities and sightseeing.
Try One of These Fort Worth Activities:
Scat Jazz – located in Sundance Square this lounge features strong, classic cocktails and jazz artists. Starting at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Sundays and at 9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations recommended.
Fort Worth Water Gardens – located across the street from the hotel near the convention center. Great place to take a break.
Bass Performance Hall – 525 Commerce Street. This 2,042-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. Known for superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines, and ambience on level with great halls of the world. Events occurring during the conference are DRUMLine Live Holiday Spectacular (November 20th at 7:30 p.m.); Camille Thomas + Roman Rabinov presented by The Cliburn (November 21st at 7:30 p.m.); and Mozart and Dvorak presented by the fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (November 22nd and 23rd at 7:30 p.m. and November 24th at 2:00 p.m.).
The Fort Worth Zoo – 1989 Colonial Parkway. Home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection.
The Kimball Art Museum – 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. Always free to explore the collection and buildings. The collection includes paintings by Joan Miro, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Edvard Munch, Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, and many more well-known artists. Hosts traveling art exhibitions, including Renoir: The Body, The Senses from October 27 through January 26, 2020.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art – 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. The collection includes paintings by Grant Wood, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Frederic Remington. It also houses a collection of photographs by photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz, Dawoud Bey, Richard Avedon, and Ansel Adams. Featuring works by Gordon Parks: The New Tide, Early Work 1940-1950.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth – 3200 Darnell St. Collection of post-WWII art in all media with works by Henry Moore, Martin Puryear, and Clyfford Still. Exhibits during the conference will be Robyn O’Neil: WE, THE MASSES and FOCUS: Martine Gutierrez.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History – 1600 Gendy Street. This museum includes a 9/11 Tribute, The Catle Raisers Museum, Children’s Museum, Energy Blast, Dinolabs and Dinodig, and Launchpad.
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame – 1720 Gendy Street. Dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneering fortitude.
UNT Health Science Center – 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. Premier graduate academic medical center with five schools specializing in patient-centered education.
Casa Manana – 3101 W. Lancaster Avenue. This theater, presenting high quality live theater, celebrated 60 years in 2018. It has grown into the largest performing arts organization in Tarrant County. Featuring the show Jack Frost from November 22 to December 23.
Jubilee Theatre – 506 Main Street. The Theatre’s mission is to create and produce theatrical works that give voice to the African American experience. Featuring “If Scrooge was a Brother: A Musical Revue by Ekundayo Bandele” from November 23-December 22.
W.E. Scott Theatre – 3505 W. Lancaster Avenue. November 22-24 Ballet Frontier of Texas presents The Nutcracker.
Military Museum of Fort Worth – 2507 Rodeo Plaza. Featuring Service and Sacrifice: Stories of Military Veterans from the 20th Century.
Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and Fort Worth Japanese Gardens – 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Featuring 109 acres it is the oldest major botanic garden in Texas. Includes the Fuller, Rose, and Japanese Gardens. November 23rd and 24th is the Japanese Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Trinity Park and Trails - 300 N. Main Street. More than 80 miles of scenic and safe trails winding along the Trinity River. You can walk, run, cycle, or ride horseback.
Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial – 2201 W. 7th Street. A living memorial for appreciation of those who sacrifice their welfare for ours.
Christian Arts Museum – 3221 Hamilton Avenue. Home to one of the world’s most unique pieces of modern Christian art, the life-size wax depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”
Cowtown Segway Tours – 213 W. 8th Street. A guided tour ride that includes downtown, the Trinity Trails, and other settings.
Fort Worth Bike Sharing – sites on 2nd, 4th, and 7th streets. Simply pick up a bike at any station and ride it to any other station. More than 35 docking stations throughout the city and along the Trinity Trails.
Fort Worth Stockyards Stables and Horseback Riding – 157 E. Exchange Avenue. Visit the stockyards and then grab a horse and ride the Trinity River Trails, or the famed Chisolm Trail.
Backwoods Paddlesports at Panther Island Rentals – 480 N. Taylor Street. Rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard and spend some time on the Trinity River.
Getting Around Fort Worth: Local Transportation
Our Local Arrangements Committee has the following tips and recommendations for making your way around the local Fort Worth area during your visit.
For transportation to and from airports, see their Complete Guide to Fort Worth (PDF).
We recommend that you book your flight to land at DFW Airport. It is closest, most convenient, and the least costly option for airport transportation options. If you are flying on Southwest Airlines, it will take you to Dallas Love Field. Transportation from Dallas Love Field to downtown Fort Worth can be expensive, and this may take away any money you save, so check before you go (unless you take public transportation).
Fort Worth has an excellent public transit system that includes the trinity-metro, ACCESS paratransit service, and the Trinity Railway Express. There are also easily accessed highways and bicycle routes. The NextBus phone app gives you real-time service information to get around. The GoPass phone app is an easy way to get tickets on the go. Register your device within the app and your tickets will be delivered to your phone. Be sure to activate your ticket before boarding and show the ticket to the bus driver or fare enforcement officer. GoPass is only good on Trinity Metro services in Tarrant County. The GoPass App works in Dallas with the DART System as well if you go to the “Buy Products” feature and switch to DART.
If you decide to go to an activity in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Cowboys Stadium), there is no public transportation. You will need to use a taxi, Lyft, or Uber services.
Trinity Metro
Trinity Metro operates 46 independent fixed routes with more than 190 compressed natural gas vehicles. Molly the Trolley runs from l10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, serving downtown Fort Worth. Stops include the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and other major hotels, the Trinity Railway Express Station. The cost for local busses is $2 per ride, express Buses is $2.50. Multi-ride passes are available for 1-day ($5 local; $12 regional), and 7-day ($25 local).
TEXRail
TEXRail runs from the Fort Worth T&P Station to Dallas Fort Worth Airport Terminal B. The cost one way is $2.50.
Trinity Rail Express (TRE)
The TRE runs from Fort Worth T&P Station to Union Station in Downtown Dallas, with stops at DFW Airport and the American Airlines Center (Basketball, Hockey). From Union Station in Dallas you can catch the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail trains to get around Dallas. The cost one way is $2.50.
ACCESS Vans
ACCESS Van one-way fare is $4 and $40 for a 10-Ride Book.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Information about how to get around Dallas using public transportation can be found at dart.org.
Parking at the Omni Hotel
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel uses the Convention Center Garage for its parking, located across the street at 1200 Houston Street. Daily parking is $22 per vehicle, with no in/out privileges. See more details here.
Street and meter parking is free weekdays from 6 p.m. – 5 a.m., and free over the weekends with no time restrictions.
