The Perfect Getaway in Grapevine, Texas

Winestein’s Tasting Room

Exit the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and you’re smack dab in Grapevine, Texas. This quaint, historic town 30 minutes from both downtown Dallas and Fort Worth is known for its massive resorts, fine dining and shopping along its historic Main Street and numerous festivals and the largest Christmas display in the state. Texas is the fifth largest wine producer in the United States and although Grapevine doesn’t include actual acreage of vineyards, it is home to numerous wineries offering tasting rooms and serves as the headquarters for the Texas wine industry. The award-winning Messina Hof, for instance, grows its grapes in Bryan but serves its wine in an elegant tasting room on Main Street and Grapevine Wine Tours will introduce visitors to an assortment of wines while they do all the driving to and from accommodations.

For those who’d rather not drive, the TEXRail commuter train carries visitors from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport right into downtown Grapevine and city shuttles take visitors around town for free.

Day One

Morning – Main Street Grapevine contains boutique shops, restaurants and art galleries within historic buildings that date to the 1800s and the turn of the 20th century. One quaint spot to start your morning is Chez Fabien with its bakery on one side and a French-style café on the other. Chez Fabien serves up a variety of dishes but don’t miss their award-winning pastries. We recommend the chocolate almond croissant. Absolutely delish.

Crepe at Chez Fabien

Afternoon – Tour Grapevine Main Street and pop in and out of the many shops owned by locals. At one end is the Grapevine Glockenspiel Clock Tower, the historic depot where the Grapevine Vintage Railroad departs for special excursions and Grapevine Main Station, a 20,000-square-foot food and entertainment destination that includes restaurants and bars, the boutique Hotel Vin and the Grapevine Observation Tower with 360-degree views of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Stop for lunch at Weinberger’s, a Chicago-style deli that serves up outstanding sandwiches such as The Settler, known as Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich, or the vegan bahn mi.

Evening – Catch a performance at the historic Palace Theatre on Main Street, then enjoy Italian favorites and craft cocktails at Napoli’s Italian Kitchen & Market across the street.

The Rioja Rooftop at Hotel Vin

Day Two

Morning – Tour Nash Farm, a 5.2-acre historical landmark that dates to the mid-1800s. In addition to tours of the home and farm, including animals, special events are held throughout the year, including Spring Into Nash agricultural festival on April 26 where visitors can experience 19th-century skills and trades.

Afternoon – Grapevine Mills is one of the largest and most impressive malls featuring a wide variety of stores. It also contains Legoland and Sea Life aquarium attractions, both offering hours of fun. Don’t miss the expressive creative energy that’s Meow Wolf, a space featuring both Texas and national artists telling an imaginative story that’s interactive and life-size. And when we say life-size, we’re talking an actual house where through appliances visitors will discover numerous rooms that contain everything from travel trailers to massive trees.

Meow Wolf

Evening – Grab the comfortable van at Grapevine Wine Tours and leave the driving to someone else. Tour organizers pick up participants at area hotels and take them to winery tasting rooms around town where they learn about the Texas wine industry as well as sample the state’s best. One spot we especially loved was Winestein’s Tasting Room, where Michael and Maranda Einstein serve up a lovely selection of world wines and a tasty charcuterie board while explaining the regions where the wines originated. There’s dinner at the conclusion of the Wine Tour, complemented by wines, of course.

Don’t Forget

If you’re traveling with kids, it’s hard to beat the Great Wolf Lodge with its 80,000-square-foot water park and a host of amenities, such as the kids-only spa. On the adult side, but family friendly as well, is the Gaylord Texan Resort next to Lake Grapevine. This “mega-resort” hosts numerous restaurants, shopping, a water park and a spa.