Bring on the tourists
This Texas city is among the 50 best places to travel in 2024, says Travel + Leisure
Austinites may want to forgo their out-of-state travel plans next year and opt for a little weekend vacation to Fort Worth. A new Travel + Leisure report has named Fort Worth one of the The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024, specifically highlighting the region for its "big-city thrills."
Fort Worth was the only Texas city to make Travel + Leisure's prestigious list, and one of just a handful of U.S. cities (including Cleveland, Ohio and Kansas City, Missouri). It's keeping good company with the likes of international destinations such as Paris, Istanbul, and Bangkok.
The annual report was compiled by more than 20 Travel + Leisure staffers who picked the cities based on their own travel experiences. The chosen places were divided into seven categories, for: cultural immersion, food and drinks, big-city thrills, moments on the water, nature lovers, beach vibes, and adventurous travelers.
"These are the destinations that have captured our imaginations, the spots where T+L editors want to spend their own time in the year ahead," the report's authors wrote.
Fort Worth's booming tourism industry raked in $3 billion in revenue just in 2022, the report says. From several highly-anticipated hotel openings (including one that's enticed a famed Food Network chef) to fun attractions like cattle drives and stock shows, the authors note, there's plenty to explore across the city.
Fort Worth's museums are another major magnet drawing people to the city, the report says. Tourists can explore the history of aviation at the Fort Worth History of Science and History, or spend some time appreciating beautiful paintings at the Kimbell Art Museum.
The report also references a new museum exhibit coming next year, and a long-awaited new museum celebrating Black history that's expected in 2025.
"The National Cowgirl Museum...will run a 2024 exhibit honoring the Mexican female horseback riding tradition of escaramuza charra," said Mariah Tyler, Travel + Leisure's associate visuals director. "Looking ahead, the National Juneteenth Museum is scheduled to open in the city’s Historic Southside neighborhood in 2025."
Other cities that are the best places to travel in 2024 "for the big-city thrills" are:
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Montreal, Canada
- Paris, France