If you’ve been following along, you know we recently packed our bags for a Texas trip that had a little bit of everything — a gorgeous wedding, a Buc-ee’s pilgrimage, and a full weekend soaking up the Fort Worth Stockyards. Here’s the full recap in case you’re planning your own Texas getaway (and trust us, you should be)! You can also check out more of our travel blogs here!
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Thursday: Landing in Dallas and Exploring Historic McKinney, Texas
We flew into Dallas Thursday morning and headed straight to the historic downtown McKinney area to kick things off with a little bar hopping before the big day. We started at The Yard, moved on to Shorty’s, and wrapped up our crawl at Union Bear — all within walking distance of each other in that charming historic downtown. If you ever find yourself in McKinney with an afternoon to kill, this stretch is such a fun, walkable way to spend it.
From there, it was back to the hotel to get glammed up for the wedding.
The Most Beautiful Wedding at the River Road Chateau
That evening, we celebrated our sweet friend Lacie as she said “I do” at the River Road Chateau, and it was hands down one of the most beautiful weddings we’ve ever been to. We danced the night away celebrating the bride and groom, and it was the perfect start to our Texas weekend. If you’re looking for a wedding venue recommendation in the McKinney area, this one is stunning.
Friday: The Legendary Buc-ee’s Stop
The next morning, we packed up and hit the road toward Fort Worth — but not without the mandatory Buc-ee’s stop along the way. This was Kati’s first time ever stepping foot in a Buc-ee’s, and honestly, watching her reaction was half the fun. She was in complete awe of the sheer number of gas pumps, the wall of fountain soda options, and — of course — the famously clean bathrooms.
We couldn’t leave without stocking up on the essentials: Beaver Nuggets, beef jerky, and a few shirts for the kids back home. If you’ve never experienced Buc-ee’s, it really is a must-do Texas rite of passage, and it’s such an easy, affordable stop to break up a road trip.
Checking Into the Fort Worth Stockyards
From Buc-ee’s, we made our way to the Marriott Fort Worth Stockyards and spent the rest of the day touring everything the Stockyards had to offer. The guys picked up their own cowboy hats to fully lean into the Texas spirit, and we grabbed our first round of drinks at Provender Hall.
One of the coolest parts of the day was catching the cattle drive, which happens right through the Stockyards twice a day — such a fun, only-in-Fort-Worth kind of experience.
A Night at Billy Bob’s Texas
Saturday: Brunch at 97 West and More Stockyards Fun
The next morning called for brunch at 97 West Kitchen and Bar inside the Drover Hotel — and wow, it did not disappoint. Between the stunning atmosphere and the delicious bloody marys, it’s a brunch spot we’d recommend to anyone visiting the Stockyards.
After brunch, we spent the day doing a little shopping, grabbed a drink at Second Rodeo Brewing, caught some live music at the Love Shack, and took in all the amazing history the Stockyards has to offer. There’s so much charm packed into that area, and every corner seems to have its own story.
Heading Home
On our last morning, a quick 30-minute Uber ride got us to the airport and we were headed back home, already talking about when we’d be back.
Between the wedding, the Buc-ee’s stop, and the full Fort Worth Stockyards experience, this trip had everything — celebration, adventure, good food, and even a little cowboy hat shopping. We highly recommend adding this combo to your own Texas bucket list. We will definitely be back!
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