If you are going to drive in Fort Worth, learn all you can about your side streets! Because everything is so spread out in Texas, it can be confusing for newly arrived residents. Buy a map and keep it handy, at least until you learn exactly where "Jacksboro Hwy" becomes "Hwy 199", which becomes "South Henderson Street" as you get into downtown. It may all be the same stretch of asphalt going by different names in different places, but as with everything Texas has to offer, there is a story in there worth learning if you will make the time.

If you are on Loop 820, I guarantee you will find more dealerships than you can shake a stick at. On the northeast portion are rows of name brand dealerships (Cadillac, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Honda, etc) with all shapes and sizes of vehicles to offer. There is a matching set of dealerships out on the southwest portion of Loop 820, as well. Pretty much any Highway or Interstate in Texas will have car dealerships blooming like weeds on the side, large corporate dealership, mid-sized local legends and even small mom-and-pop styles dealerships. In Texas, we love our cars only slightly less than our children and our pets. If you want the fancier vehicles that cost the price of a good three or four bedroom home, then take yourself down to White Settlement Rd. Just around the corner from North University Dr. Pick a new Ferrari, Porsche or even a pre-owned pretty from one of the several wonderful Autobahn dealerships that have been there for more decades than I can count. If you are looking for a Lamborghini, though, take Loop 820 to 183 to 635 (out Dallas way) to Central Expressway. Mind the Dallas Canyon though, it can be dangerous.

My favorite memory of driving in Fort Worth is from the 4th of July each year. I always drive south straight up Business 287, also known as Main Street once you reach the Stockyard's and are heading into downtown Fort Worth. The City of Fort Worth always has a massive fireworks display right outside the downtown area over the local branch of the Trinity river that skirts the city. There are numerous turn offs into local businesses, just before you reach downtown, where you can park if you ask permission and there is still room. Side streets also provide easy parking for the massive lights show. If worse came to worst, I could always drive straight into downtown and go for one of the many storied parking garages, drive straight to the roof, park and enjoy the show from on high. The trip back out was always hectic with traffic, but still enjoyable for me as I headed back to the North side area because from Main Street you get to see all the other, smaller cities surrounding Downtown Fort Worth, who are still setting off fireworks on the way back home. Many shows, all free and filling the night sky with beautiful colors to the tune of many "Oohs" and "Aahs" that you just cannot keep yourself from saying, no matter how hard you try.

Loop 820. Loop 820 is my favorite because is encircles the entire city. I love to drive anyway and when you get on Loop 820, you have multiple lanes to choose from, including an HOV for ride-share. If you are in a hurry and need to get somewhere fast, Loop 820 will undoubtedly be within a few minutes of your departure point, your destination point, or sometimes both. Even if all you want to do is drive and clear your head, Loop 820 is the way to go. You can put on some relaxing music, choose a lane and cruise the Loop. You can go through the many hills covered in wildflowers to the west, up north, you can drive beside Meacham Field (Fort Worth Int'l Airport) watching the antique biplanes flying overhead, cross over Lake Worth on the northwest side of the Loop and drive beside Lake Arlington on the southeast. When you drive Loop 820, you circle paradise.

If you wish to get from one place to another quickly, mostly without the traffic urban areas are known for, stay on Loop 820, going around the perimeter of the city. It is a quick jump off the Loop to anywhere in the city. If, however, you would like to experience the flavor of a 'big city' that feels neighborly and small, stay on the surface streets cutting through the city. You will be glad you did.

If you are trying to find a new car, stay on Loop 820, and go to the Northern/Eastern side of Fort Worth. Here you will find every brand of new car Dealer you can think of. If you are in the market for a used car, I would suggest Craigslist, to save yourself a lot of driving around and looking. If you would rather see 'what's out there', head to Hwy. 80 West, or take a drive down Lancaster, there are hundreds of used car lots, ranging from Tot-the-Notes to gently used 'new' used cars.

I learned to drive in this city, more than forty years ago. My favorite memory of driving in Fort Worth continues to be along Camp Bowie Boulevard, in the late 70's, early 80's. Part of Camp Bowie, for a distance of several miles, is still covered with the original brick pavers, decades old. This has always lent a unique flavor to driving along this road. The locale is urban, but not city-congested. In the 70's, all along that section of Camp Bowie you were surrounded by clubs and discos, and all the air of youth and excitement contained in that short period of time. Driving on brick cobbles just added to the feel of being caught in a kind of endless time-warp.

Camp Bowie/Hwy. 80/180. From the western end, where it is named Hwy. 80, You start surrounded by smaller stores, Mexican flavored stores and restaurants. As you progress eastward into the city of Fort Worth, the surroundings become more upscale and fashionable. By the time you have reached the intersection of Interstate 30 and Camp Bowie, you have entered into an area of boutique shops, smaller fine dining restaurants, and quirky off-the-wall enterprises. You are now only a couple of miles from the cultural district, and museums, and the atmosphere feels it.