Fort Worth, Texas

Often dismissed as some kind of poor relation to Dallas, friendly Fort Worth in fact has a buzz largely missing in its neighbour 30 miles to the east. Fort Worth is one of the most western cities in Texas. In the 1870s it was a stop on the great cattle drive to Kansas, the Chisholm Trail, and when the railroads arrived it became a livestock market in its own right. Cowboys and outlaws populated the city in its early years, and much of that character remains. But while the cattle trade is still a major industry, and the Stockyards provide a stimulating, atmospheric slice of Old West life, Fort Worth also prides itself on excellent museums – the best in the state – and a bustling downtown that exists on a human scale. Looking toward the future, the city is also undertaking the massive Trinity River Master Plan, which will include one of the largest urban parks in the US and trails and greenways along the Trinity River.