The Glen Rose center point is around the area of Downtown Glen Rose and the area of Somervell County Expo and Texas Amphitheatre.
U.S. News and World Report recommends traveling to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area (which includes Glen Rose) from September to November for the most pleasant weather, lightest crowds, and lower hotel prices. The Texas State Fair is also held in the fall. If you don't mind temperatures in the 50s and 60s, visit in January or February for true bargains. Both hotel prices and temperatures peak in the summer, so plan accordingly.
Glen Rose also hosts fun events throughout the year, so planning around those will affect your travel schedule. Bluegrass fans should plan to visit the first weekend in April, when the annual Spring Bluegrass Festival is held on Paluxy River, or in September for the Gospel Grass Festival, which features spirituals performed in true bluegrass fashion. There's also the Fall Bluegrass Festival the first weekend in October.
Choice Hotels properties, such as the Comfort Inn & Suites, offer special rates for senior citizens, AAA and AARP members, and government and military employees. The Best Western offers a discount for AAA members, AARP members, and military members and veterans.
You don't necessarily need to spend a lot to enjoy a pleasant hotel stay. For an excellent experience at a reasonable price, try the Best Western Dinosaur Valley Inn & Suites, conveniently located next to the town's Expo Center. You'll enjoy free wireless internet, complimentary hot breakfast, and a well-appointed lobby with coffee, tea, relaxing armchairs, and a cozy fireplace.
The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Glen Rose also offers plenty of comfort without blowing your travel budget. This highly-rated property features complimentary wireless internet as well as hot breakfast, an outdoor pool with whirlpool tub, and 24-hour fitness center. Every room features a flat-screen TV with HBO and other premium cable channels, as well as a mini-fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker. Fans of this hotel praise the pleasant, accommodating staff.
For more than 30 years, the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center has been dedicated to land and animal conservation in Glen Ridge. Visit the goats, emus, and potbellied pigs at the Children's Nature Center, which is always free to the public. If you arrange for a guided tour, you'll get up close and personal with giraffes, ostriches, cheetahs, and many other exotic animals.
Nearby Dinosaur Valley State Park consists of more than 1,500 acres of limestone, sandstone, and mudstone deposits that have settled along the Paluxy River. This unique rocky landscape was the site of many dinosaur footprint fossil discoveries throughout the 1900s. T-Rex fans in your family will love hunting for these prints in the riverbed, along with mountain biking, hiking, swimming, and fishing. Horseback riding and guided carriage tours are also available. With more than 20 miles of trails to explore, you'll be able to spend the entire day checking out Dinosaur Valley.
Another cool nature experience in Glen Rose is Big Rocks Park, also on the Paluxy River. Whether you want to wade and splash in the shallow water or have a picnic lunch on the slabs of rock on the riverbed, this is an awesome place to cool off from the hot summer sun.
Dinosaur World is a small museum with fun interactive exhibits like a fossil dig. Your kids will be thrilled by the sight of hundreds of massive dinosaur statues in a natural outdoor setting with play equipment and picnic areas.
If you'd like to do some shopping while you're here, there's no better place than historic downtown Glen Rose, TX. The town square has hosted a farmer's market since the 1880s, and you'll find one-of-a-kind boutiques and antique stores lining the streets. A quaint pie shop, dining options, ice cream, and green spaces with public art make this iconic downtown destination-worthy. Stop in at the Somervell County Museum at the side of the square, where you'll find cool artifacts from throughout the county's history.
The Green Pickle is a beer garden and gallery spotlighting local artists and brews. This is a great place to enjoy housemade sausage and other elevated bar fare, listen to live music, and browse the works of Texas artisans. Fans of this down-home eatery praise the excellent burgers and friendly, welcoming staff.
Barnard's Mill and Art Museum is like visiting two museums in one: a world-class collection of fine art and American Indian and Asian artifacts housed in the town's first permanent structure, a mill built in 1860. The mill is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. Barnard's Mill also hosts special events throughout the year, so check the calendar before you plan your visit.
Book your tee time at one of the top 50 courses in Texas as ranked by the Dallas Morning News--the 36-hole championship course at Glen Rose's Squaw Valley Golf Club. Cool off after you spend the morning on the back nine with the whole family at Wheeler Branch Park on the banks of the pristine Wheeler Branch Reservoir. This park is open every day and features covered picnic pavilions, public restrooms, and a boat ramp as well as open swimming and designated fishing areas.
Glen Rose, TX, is an amazing destination if you want to experience quintessential small-town living in Texas. In fact, Fodor's named it one of the best weekend getaways for those who live in the Dallas area, recommending stops at Nutshell Eatery and Hammond's BBQ. With so much to see and do, you may want to book an entire week at one of these picturesque lodges or comfortable, budget-friendly suite properties.
Below are reviews of the city of Glen Rose, TX from an actual visitor's perspective.
We enjoyed the Promise Passover very much and enjoyed historic downtown in the square.
Horse events.
Nice small Texas town. Fun little shops on the square, great places to eat (Storybook Cafe is our favorite). We topped off the night seeing a performance of THE PROMISE at the Texas Amphitheatre.
The town looked beautiful!
The staff made our stay enjoyable!
Shopping downtown and the Promise were wonderful. The Green Pickle restaurant was really good for dinner and H&H Grill was excellent for breakfast.
Enjoyed the city and all the local shops.
Fossil Rim
Just a great quiet place to get away for a vacation.
Peaceful