Fort Worth tends to get lumped in with Dallas, but it has its own personality, and it's a lot of fun. This is where the West begins, and the city wears its cowboy heritage proudly.

Start at the Fort Worth Stockyards, once a major stop for cattle drives on the historic Chisholm Trail. Today you can catch a rodeo year-round and watch real longhorns parade down the street in twice-daily cattle drives. Then visit the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, which honors the women who shaped the West, from Annie Oakley to Sacagawea. When it's time to put on your boots and grab dinner, head to Sundance Square, named for the Sundance Kid, who spent time in the area's saloons and gambling halls. Today it's a lively spot for shopping and dining.

There's more than cowboy culture, too. The Cultural District is home to five excellent museums, including the Kimbell Art Museum, which holds the only Michelangelo painting in the Americas, his very first work, The Torment of Saint Anthony. Stroll the Fort Worth Botanic Garden or cool off at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. I'll put together a weekend that mixes rodeo nights with world-class art.