An alluring mix of urban flair and small-town charm characterise the North Texan city of Grapevine, where visitors flock to enjoy a whole host of unique sites and attractions.
A train pulls into the station along the Grapevine Vintage Railroad (Photo: Neuwieser via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)
Known for its restored 19th- and 20th-century buildings lined with enticing restaurants, galleries and shops, those visiting this cultural and historic gem could fill an itinerary of weeks with great things to see and do. The city is one of the jewels in the well-decorated Texan crown, and few regret the choice to stop off for a look around, or a lengthier stay. Here are 10 of its most unique places of interest.
Relive a bygone era of rail travel
Traversing the historic Cotton Belt Route that runs between Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad – which forms part of the Grapevine Heritage Center and Historical Museum – is one of the city’s most enduringly popular attractions. Passengers are invited to step back in time as they board authentic Victorian-style coaches and enjoy the evocative railroad experience that recalls the halcyon days of the Roaring Twenties – a period in US history when rail travel grew to become a luxurious preserve of the wealthy. The ride lasts about 30 minutes.
707 South Main Street / Fri 8.30am-2pm Sat-Sun 11.30am-1pm
You can book tickets for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad via GetYourGuide
Embark on a kayaking adventure
The picturesque Grapevine Lake is a sight to behold at all times of day, but perhaps never more so than at sunset. Visitors keen to take in a Grapevine sunset from the water can do so by booking on to a kayak tour on the lake. Running for two hours, you and your small group will be accompanied by an experienced guide as you paddle through a peaceful cove. There’ll be ample time to soak up the nature around you as the sun sets and the sky turns pink and orange reflecting on the tranquil waters. All equipment is included in the tour price.
You can book a Grapevine Lake kayaking tour via Viator
A boat on Grapevine Lake set against a dazzling sunset (Photo: David Leo Veksler via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Head to a lakeside park
Located on the idyllic shores of Grapevine Lake (see above), Meadowmere Park is a favourite outdoor attraction and a magnet for leisure seekers throughout the year with its assortment of sloping sandy beaches, lakefront camping, large children’s playground area, covered picnic tables and picture-postcard scenery. There are also day sites with barbecues available for communal use where visitors can cook up a storm amid their scenic surroundings.
3000 Meadowmere Lane / Mon-Sun 8am-5.30pm
Immerse yourself in a magical art installation
In 2023, Meow Wolf, renowned creators of hypnotic exhibits, opened their latest large-scale art installation – titled ‘The Real Unreal’ – in the rather unlikely setting of Grapevine’s Mills Mall shopping centre. Not for the insipid, the exhibit invites visitors to explore a labyrinth-like maze of otherworldliness comprising over 70 interlocking rooms of kaleidoscopic art, imaginative sculptural creatures, and fantastical storylines and concepts, all designed to explore themes of perception and reality. A café and gift shop round out what is a truly unique attraction.
3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway Suite 253 / Sun-Weds 10am-10pm Thurs 12pm-9pm Fri-Sat 10am-11pm
An eye-catching exhibit at Meow Wolf (Photo: Martin Lewison via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Explore tranquil botanical gardens
Situated an easy walk from Grapevine’s historic downtown district, Grapevine Botanical Gardens provide the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city. Free to enter, the gardens are brimming with lush green beauty, its numerous meandering paved walkways lined with perennial flowers, plants, bushes, and trees. There’s also a scenic lake, a pond filled with ornamental fish, plenty of fountains and babbling brooks among the rocks and foliage, and two eye-catching sculptural art installations for visitors to enjoy.
411 Ball Street / Sun-Sat 6am-9pm
Learn about the city’s evolution at a museum complex
Comprising four separate museums, all located within the Grapevine Ice House, the Settlement to City Museums tell the fascinating story of the city’s development from its origins as a small township to the current day. Visitors can discover what life was like in the Grape Vine Prairie over 100 years ago by exploring such evocative replica sites as two 19th-century pioneer homes, a school house, and even equipment used by cotton and cantaloupe farmers of the era. There are also exhibits dating back much further, all the way to prehistoric life, when dinosaurs once roamed where the local airport runway now stands.
206 West Hudgins Street / Fri 10am-4pm Sat-Sun 11am-4pm Closed Mon-Thurs
A replica of a classroom at the Settlement to City Museums (Photo: Settlement to City Museums)
LEGO of your inhibitions
One of Grapevine’s most visited family attractions, LEGOLAND Discovery Center can be found a few miles northeast of downtown where it captivates kids with its dazzling array of plastic brick-based exhibits. The ultimate indoor LEGO playground, little ones are in their element as they jump from LEGO-themed rides to 4D Cinema to an out-of-this-world intergalactic LEGO-building experience. Children even have the chance to create their own LEGO racing car at the Build & Test Center.
3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway / Mon-Sat 9am-8.30pm Sun 10am-8.30pm
Visit an acclaimed winery
Housed within a replica of the historic 19th-century Wallis Hotel in downtown Grapevine, the award-winning Messina Hof Grapevine Winery is an acclaimed family-owned and operated business that has been producing Texas wines for over four long decades. Wine enthusiasts are invited to visit the winery where they can sample over 40 different wines, tastings and premium flights, as well as wine on tap by the glass or growler, and a wide range of gourmet food items and accessories.
201 South Main Street / Mon-Weds 12pm-7pm Fri-Sat 12pm-9pm Sun 12pm-7pm
The vineyards at Messina Hof Grapevine Winery (Photo: Messina Hof Grapevine Winery)
Catch a performing arts show
For a fun evening out in Grapevine, the Palace Arts Center is where the action can often be found. At the heart of Grapevine’s cultural scene, the restored 1940s-era theatre house plays host to a packed programme of weekly classic movies and live performing arts shows watched by audiences in a historic setting. Located in the heart of downtown, the Art Deco-style venue actually comprises two theatres that together can seat over 430 spectators – often including both locals and visitors alike.
Lancaster Theater, 300 South Main Street
Marvel at an array of exotic marine life
Another ideal family activity in Grapevine for when the weather lets you down, or you’re keen to escape the city’s sometimes oppressive heat, SEA LIFE Aquarium is home to more than 5,000 sea creatures that captivate all who visit. Spread across some 30 tanks, among the marine animals on display include sharks, seahorses, sea turtles, jellyfish, and horseshoe crabs, as well as There are also regular talks and feeding sessions, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes tours hosted by knowledgeable aquarium staff.
Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway / Mon-Sat 9am-8.30pm Sun 10am-8pm
You can book SEA LIFE Aquarium tickets via Viator