Holidays In Grapevine Texas
If you’re looking for that really neat, one-of-a-kind place to go and experience an old-fashioned family Christmas/holiday season then I have just the place for you. Texas residents and those from far away alike should put Grapevine Texas on the map and make plans to come and spend at least a full day here to stroll up and down historic Main Street to take in all the sites, sounds, smells, tastes, and holiday spirit in all its forms. Located just 25 minutes North East of downtown Fort Worth, it's an easy drive or even a train ride to town. Let me show you what my fiance’ Stacy and I did on our first ever visit to The Christmas Capital of Texas and some of the hotspots you may want to go check out this holiday season as well.
Breakfast: Old West Cafe- Big days of adventure start with a big breakfast! We found it here! Plan for waits if you arrive near 10am or later. We waited for only about 15 minutes as their waitlist system of mobile text is pretty nifty and effective. You can see your spot in line in real-time. Service is fast, friendly, accurate, and very kind. Our server was truly amazing. Our orders went in and came out pretty fast for how busy they were. The numerous hotcake and french toast plates we saw pass by was crazy good looking I gotta say! I settled on The Western 4-egg massive omelet with double ham, turkey bacon, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. No cheese sadly as I cannot handle cheese well at all. I got sourdough toast and sliced tomatoes as my side opens. Stacy did the Coosie Skillet and I am not 100% sure what all was in it but it looked really good and she sure loved it! Portions are big, food is delicious, prices fair, service awesome. A must-stop spot for grubs in town! Video if our entrees.
Wine & Charcuterie: Sloan & Williams Winery
This place is just plain fun! Owner Alan, Sommelier, and wine expert William, or Executive Chef Mandy Crum, all of them are one heck of an amazing team putting out spectacular international wines of every kind as well as fantastic charcuterie boards and flatbreads that please the palate in oh so many ways. They all love their work that's clear. The red wine flight I got was solid. The cab really impressed me as did the grenache and pinot noir. All quite unique in their own right. Stacy did the fall flight and her Bootlegger dessert wine-port wine was truly amazing we both agreed. The charcuterie and flatbreads you need to see and hear about, not read about. See these videos for that close-up insider! Charcuterie and flatbread videos. Bravo Chef Mandy!
Craft Beer: Hop & Sting Brewery
If craft beer is also (or more so) your jam then take a brisk walk 4 blocks down the street, hang a left, and go 2 more blocks, find this brewery in a shared warehouse space and take a seat outside on the patio or inside at a table. Order at the bar by the glass or grab a flight as I did. Your gonna find something you like here for sure! Brian the co-owner is a class act dude with an amazing story of coming into the beer industry and being at the helm of this place since summer 2018. The Christmas Cookie English ale (Xmas in a glass!) and the Funkadelicious mixed berry sour ale are clear winners in my book. Try them and let me know your thoughts.
More Wine: Bingham Family Winery
Having met Betty Bingham at Grape Camp 2021 in Dripping Springs Texas just a month ago, I reached out to ask about a visit here and got lucky with a connection to Jenn and Marissa, GM of this site and Bingham winery manager respectively. We also got a VIP tasting experience a the tasting room. It's smaller sure but it's modern, open, welcoming, and charming as well. You have options for the flight of wines you wish to taste and then you get a story on the name and origin of the varietal(s) within that wine as well. I did the red flight and Stacy did the white flight. I suggest the 2019 Turnrow blend, 2018 Dolcetto, and the 2018 Dugout blend as must-try red wines. Jenn and Marissa are truly awesome people to chat with and talk about wine or life in general.
Cool Shopping Stop: Grapevine’s Market on Main
We swung in here right after breakfast to mosey around and burn time before hitting up our noon appointment at Sloan & Williams Winery. Glad we did as we both found some nifty goodies we seek out on all our trips like this. Magnets, Christmas decorations, earrings, spices, mugs, etc… you look for it, they likely have it. Very charming little store for local craft goods and gifts and mementos.
Lastly, I have to mention the multiple stops they have along Main Street for photos. The town does well to set up several small grassy areas and gazebos, lawns, storefronts, and other settings for pictures with giant ornaments, reindeer, Santa and Mrs. Clause, holiday art decorated sit-in boxes, The Grinch, Frosty, and more! See our album of photos for all of this!
