Fort Worth may get second billing to its glamorous twin, Dallas (their shared metropolitan area is known as Dallas-Fort Worth), but this northern Texas city is nobody’s sidekick. Once just a stop on the Chisholm Trail — a major cattle transportation route in the late 19th century — Fort Worth has a proud history rooted in ranching and the traditions of the American West. Today, that legacy is on full display in the historic Stockyards district, but it also echoes through the city in subtler ways. Watch for modern-day cowboys (complete with boots and hats), locally crafted leather goods, and, of course, a wealth of family-owned barbecue joints.

But don’t let the “Cowtown” moniker fool you: There’s more to Fort Worth than its pioneer past. The city is also home to a sophisticated Cultural District with major art museums and architecturally significant buildings; a buzzy downtown shopping and entertainment district packed with performing arts venues, restaurants, and shops; and plenty of wide, shady streets lined with eclectic boutiques, trendy eateries, and homegrown distilleries and breweries.

Hands down, the best time to stay in one of Fort Worth’s vacation rentals is in the spring, when the weather is warm and pleasant and the wildflowers — including the bluebonnet, the Texas state flower — are in bloom. It’s a comparatively quieter time of year here, after the football season, which always draws sports fans, has ended and before the summer crowds arrive, although there are quite a few music, food, and art festivals in the spring. You might want to bring an umbrella in the spring, though, as there’s a chance you’ll catch a thunderstorm around the end of May.

Despite the long, hot days, June through August are the liveliest months here, and the local events calendar gets busy, with celebrations and concerts that stretch into the languid, balmy nights. Fall sees a repeat of spring’s comfortable weather, though come September and football season, lodging can book up quickly when the local team is playing at home. Winters in Fort Worth can get chilly, though visitors escaping blizzards in other parts of the country will consider the weather downright warm.

Go Street Art Spotting

In a city with so many world-class museums, some of the best art in Fort Worth is surprisingly free and open to the public. Bold, beautiful, funky, and sometimes funny murals and installations by local artists grace walls all over the city. Be sure to stop by the well-known “Love the Fort/Worth the Love” mural in the hip Near Southside neighborhood, where you’ll find a number of other beloved works too.

Tour Historic Homes

Most people delve into Fort Worth’s past at the cowboy and cowgirl museums in the Stockyards district. Glimpse an alternate past when strolling by the Victorian mansion downtown and the historic, renovated bungalows and foursquare homes in the Fairmont neighborhood.

Panther Island

Set on the Trinity River east of downtown Fort Worth, the Panther Island Pavilion was built as a venue for concerts and major events. But when it’s not in use, the area is popular with kayakers who paddle the Trinity, as well as swimmers and picnickers.