Grapevine Lake spans 7,400 acres and is perfect for boating, water skiing, windsurfing, fishing and swimming. Twelve parks and four marinas surround the complex with its 150 miles of tree-lined shores. The park system provides areas for various sports, as well as playgrounds and fields for all kinds of activities. In addition, there are campgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking and biking trails. Pavilions are also available for group activities. A visitors center is located off Highway 26/121 near the dam.

This is the largest park in Texas with handicap access. The park was designed specifically with handicapped children in mind. A wood fiber material that is hard enough for wheelchairs, yet soft enough to minimize the effects of falls is found throughout the park. There are several playground areas for children of different ages and ramps, instead of stairs, lead to the equipment. Access points allow children to climb on the equipment from their wheelchairs. The park is just the beginning of a 100-acre development planned by the city of North Richland Hills.

Texas' own major movie production facility is the largest in the country outside of Florida and California. The studio's production company, Thornhill Productions Inc., has helped create such prestigious films as Silkwood, JFK and Trip to Bountiful. The public tour features such film artifacts as costumes from The Sound of Music and the bench from Forrest Gump. The tour lasts about an hour and a half, and includes The Blue Screen F/X Show, where the magical effects of the movies are explained and demonstrated. The National Museum of Communications, located in the same complex, holds the world's first color television and a Guttenberg printing press.

Two fascinating museums share space under one huge domed roof. Visitors can choose to visit only one museum, but a discount combo ticket is available for those who want to see both. The Palace of Wax houses more than 175 wax statues of famous people from books, history and the movies. The two most striking exhibits, in a macabre display of opposites, are a multi-room study of the life of Jesus Christ and a torture chamber display entitled "The Fear is Here." Ripley's Believe it or Not! features many of the strange and startling discoveries chronicled by Robert Ripley in the 1930s. Interactive exhibits allow the visitor to live through a tornado and an earthquake.

With its avenues of restored buildings and quaint houses rich in Texas heritage, the Grapevine district's historical significance is well known. It is home to a wide variety of eateries, specialty and antique shopping opportunities, art galleries and historic buildings. Grapevine considers itself the wine capital of the world, presenting you with some of Texas' best wines at CapRock, Delaney, Homestead, La Buena Vida, La Bodega and North Star Winery/Tasting Rooms. First settled in 1844, Grapevine is Tarrant County's oldest city and was named for the wild mustang grapes that grew in the area.

This pretty, leisurely five-mile journey takes passengers from Forest Park through the woods, over trestles and under bridges, to the duck pond at Trinity Park and back. In Trinity Park, the train stops at a refreshment depot for soft drinks and popcorn, the remaining attraction is the old Forest Park Rides built in 1958. Two trains run simultaneously on the busiest days. Children find it the ride to be a great adventure, while parents will enjoy the leisurely pace.

Founder Mrs. Ninnie L. Baird began baking bread in her home at the turn of the century. She died in 1961, but the Baird family and, more recently, a Mexican company known as Grupo Bimbo have worked to maintain her legacy and uphold her high standards. Free tours of this historic bakery are offered every Tuesday-Thursday every hour beginning at 10a. Always a big hit, the excursions average 45 minutes. Reservations two weeks in advance are required, and a maximum of 50 people are allowed per group. No visitors younger than six are allowed on the tours for safety reasons. Tour takers are given a fresh, warm loaf of bread.

Located in southwest Fort Worth just below the Lake Benbrook dam, Pecan Valley offers two 18-hole courses. The river course provides some challenging moments with two par-5 holes that use the winding river as the focus. Pecan Valley is adequate, inexpensive and interesting. Amenities include a driving range, golf shop and lessons.

It's "Miller Time" all the time at the Marketplace, located inside the Miller Brewery just 10 minutes south of downtown Fort Worth. Shoppers can purchase bar accessories, golf bags, glassware, Tommy Hilfiger shirts and even autographed memorabilia from NASCAR racing great Rusty Wallace-all sporting the Miller logo.

The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame is a museum that exhibits cowboy memorabilia from way back. It also hosts educational events about cowboy folklore around campfires. The National Day of American Cowboy festivities is also held here. The museum has a large collection of lifestyle wagons, buggies and other exciting exhibits. The Chisholm Trail Collection exhibits interesting cowboy artifacts and items. You can have your photo taken in the Jersey Lily photo parlor or pick up a souvenir from their gift shop. School and group educational tours are regularly arranged for.