When the longer, warmer days of summer settle in, the open road calls out to all daytrippers, adventure seekers, and sightseers. With dining, shopping, and entertainment to meet every lifestyle, the time is right to make Wichita Falls your road trip destination for a quick summer getaway.
Venturing onto the red brick road of The Depot Square Historic District, a six block landmark from the “boom days” of oil discovery and turn-of-the-century railroad development, places sightseers within walking distance of family-owned and independent restaurants, coffee shops, urban wineries, retail shops, entertainment, museums, and a brewery.
The sunshine also brings cyclists to Wichita Falls, a bronze-level bicycle friendly community. Every year more than 10,000 professional and amateur cyclists descend upon Wichita Falls to compete in the Hotter’N Hell Hundred, one of the oldest and largest cycling events in the nation.
After the race, Downtown Wichita Falls transforms into a family-friendly block party with food trucks, craft beer, yard games, a DJed dance party, and more. In addition to the race and block party, the Hotter N’ Ale attracts a more leisurely crowd that strolls in a 0.5k walk hitting some of the best nightlife spots with plenty of craft beers, cocktails, shots, and entertainment along each of the ten bar crawl stops.
Night owls are invited to participate in the Downtown Farmer’s Market monthly Moon Market, an evening event highlighting local artists, artisans, and makers. The charming market is housed in a unique part of Wichita Falls history, a contemporary adaptation of the beloved Union Passenger Station built in 1910. Enjoy shopping under the moonlight while grabbing a bite to eat at one of the local food trucks. Join in a yoga session or sip on local wine while listening to the live music.
Downtown celebrates the thriving art scene the first Thursday of each month from April through October during the After Hours Artwalk. Patrons of the event leisurely stroll downtown while exploring the art galleries, studios, and vendor booths. Dining options are bountiful with food trucks joining in the festivities in addition to the many locally owned and operated downtown restaurants. Grab and go beer and wine is available from 6th Street Winery, Hook and Ladder, OG Cellars, and Wichita Falls Brewing. Live music can be enjoyed up and down the celebration starting with the spotlight performance at the Downtown Farmers Market.
Foodies will delight in the abundant selection of locally owned restaurants with tempting offerings to please any palate. Enjoy some leisure time at Fox Hill, a farm-to-table restaurant and urban garden. Relax in the beautifully restored century-old home while observing the tranquil pond and meandering pathways through native flowers and organic greenery. Dine on timeless, American cuisine from the ever-changing menu centered on nourishing and sustainable dishes that highlight seasonal produce from the on-site gardens.
At Progress & Provisions, guests tuck into “food as it should be.” Their innovative creations feature the highest quality locally sourced ingredients and thoughtful compositions that guests find both familiar and refreshingly new. They keep their menu short to focus on serving killer flavor at a price point that is family friendly.
Patrons of firefighter-owned Hook and Ladder will find an expansive beverage menu to suit their needs. Prepare for an action-packed evening ahead by indulging in small-batch artisan roasted coffee or decompress from a busy afternoon by sipping on a glass of wine and grazing on an artisan flatbread or charcuterie platter. On weekends, enjoy your refreshments with a side of live music.
Evening time wanderers are encouraged to kick back and indulge in a nightcap. The Speakeasy Distillery handcrafts and infuses all of their in-house liquor for their perfectly balanced cocktails. Their signature cocktails with a modern twist feature recognizable prohibition era names.
Karat Bar’s drink menu features elevated classic cocktails inspired by the historic Zales building that houses the restaurant and bakery. Their summer cocktail menu includes their sophisticated line up as well as some new offerings featuring refreshing summer ingredients such as watermelon, cucumber, and mint. For wine lovers, the international wine list has been carefully curated by the owner/sommelier.
Those who prefer an alcohol-free environment can rediscover their inner child at Maniacs Mansion, an arcade that features all-you-can-play vintage arcade games and a cereal bar that offers an assortment of cereals, milks, and toppings.
Indulge your summertime wanderlust and leave the traffic and noise of everyday life behind and unwind with us. You’ll see why everyone is falling in love with The Falls.
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