This Destination Spotlight was paid for by a promotional fee from a Home & Away Publishing advertiser.

The secret may be out. Just last year CNNMoney.com named Grapevine, Texas, one of America’s best places to live. This little city, situated between Dallas and Fort Worth and home to the DFW International Airport, is not only booming with new development but its history and countless attractions continue to attract visitors wanting to see what the fuss is all about.

Grapevine, one of the oldest settlements in northern Texas, was established in 1844, one year before Texas gained statehood. The town takes its name from the wild mustang grapes that historically grew in the region, and still today the city enjoys a thriving wine-making industry. Preservation has played a significant role here. A renovated downtown—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—and a bustling vintage railroad remind visitors the past is worth revisiting.

Paying Homage to the Past
Anchoring Grapevine’s historic downtown entertainment district is the restored Palace Theatre. Built in 1940, the theater houses the Grapevine Opry, a renowned venue that hosts a number of performing arts groups and most notably features a country-western stage show said to rival Nashville.

At the Historic Cotton Belt Railroad District, visitors may tour the restored 1888 Cotton Belt Train Depot, which serves as the Grapevine Visitors Information Center and is also home to the Grapevine Historical Museum. The working depot is also the base for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, a popular excursion train. The railroad is serviced by two historical locomotives—Puffy, an 1896 steam locomotive that is the oldest continuously operating steam engine in the south, and a 1953 diesel locomotive. Passengers travel aboard authentic 1920s and ’30s coaches along the Cotton Belt Route en route to Fort Worth’s Stockyards National Historic District.

Shopping reigns supreme in Grapevine as dozens of specialty stores, boutiques, art galleries and antiques shops beckon visitors to the historic downtown. For a broader buying experience, shoppers can check out Grapevine Mills, a pedestrian-friendly outlet mall, and Grapevine Towne Center, a centrally located collection of retail stores and restaurants. Outdoor enthusiasts aren’t left out as Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World offers more than 200,000 square feet of everything outdoors.

A Toast to Texas
Texas now ranks as the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the nation, and Grapevine has much to do with this distinction. Nine winery tasting rooms call Grapevine home, and all feature tasting rooms that let visitors sample their various vintages. Many of the wineries are family owned and operated and provide a homey, comfortable setting for visitors to sample and ask questions. Some, such as Su Vino Winery, located along downtown’s Main Street, offer educational sessions that walk patrons through the process and answer some of the more common questions. Situated nearby in an 1890s Victorian home just off Main Street, the Homestead Winery’s tasting room offers samples of vintages grown in north Texas.

At Delaney Vineyards, 10 lush acres of Cynthiana grapes welcome visitors to the scenic location. Complimentary tours teach visitors about the growing, harvesting and wine-making processes as well as the special grapes that grow and thrive in the unique north Texas climate.

Staged annually are two popular wine events, the Annual Blessing of the Vines & New Vintage Wine & Gallery Trail and GrapeFest. This April, wine enthusiasts will gather for Grapevine’s Annual Blessing of the Vines with special events and tours at area wineries, art exhibits, live entertainment and a jazz wine train. It’s the ideal time for visitors to sample area wineries’ new vintage release wines. Come September, Grapevine draws as many as 250,000 folks to one of the largest consumer-judged wine competitions in the country. Not limited to just wine, GrapeFest will also feature activities for the whole family.

With a year-round mild climate, outdoor recreation is another draw to the Grapevine area. Three public golf courses, one designed by golfing legend Byron Nelson, offer more than 63 holes of challenging links. Just a mile north of downtown, Grapevine Lake features 146 miles of shoreline. Popular among windsurfers, sailors, water skiers and anglers, the surrounding park features camping facilities as well as hiking and biking trails.

Entertainment Abounds
For those seeking livelier pursuits, visitors can look to an evening out at Glass Cactus. This state-of-the-art nightclub overlooks Grapevine Lake and features live music five days a week, late-night entertainment and deck-top bars with stunning views of the water.  

Live music can also be found at several downtown venues, including the historic Palace Theatre. Nearby restaurants serve a variety of culinary favorites—from Italian to Tex-Mex. A quiet stroll down Main Street following dinner may interest visitors versed in the arts. The Grapevine Public Art Trail treats visitors to a handsome collection of sculpture, many cast by artist-in-residence Archie St. Clair. More of his work can also be seen at his studio adjacent to the railroad depot.

St. Clair is just one of many artists operating galleries in Grapevine. Art aficionados will discover work in other media, including works by glass and clay artists, oil paintings and blacksmithing.

For visitors overnighting in the area, several options exist from economy lodgings to full-scale resorts. Among the area’s newest are the Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center, which opened in 2004, and an all-suite Great Wolf Lodge, which opened late last year.

Overlooking Grapevine Lake, the Gaylord Texan is a Texas-sized resort complete with a spa and fitness center, a championship golf course and enclosed glass atriums where dining, shopping and entertainment abound.

Last December, Grapevine welcomed the opening of the Great Wolf Lodge, a family resort that exudes a Northwoods theme and includes an 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark resort. Six pools, nine waterslides and a four-story tree house water fort entertain family members of all ages.

For More Information
To learn more about Grapevine, contact the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 457-6338 or go to www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com. To check on scheduling and pricing for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, call (817) 410-3123 or log on to www.GVRR.com.