People all over the world have spent the last 18 months re-evaluating their lives and prioritizing whats most important to them. And, many people have taken the opportunity to move to a new city and put down roots where lifes a little slower, the traffics not as heavy, they can get a bigger home for the money and friendly neighbors make them feel more welcome than anywhere theyve lived before. If that all sounds appealing to you, youll soon understand how that so deftly describes living in Fort Worth  also known as Cowtown and Funkytown, the latter purported to have sprung from the citys 1980s R&B and hip-hop scene.

The beauty of Fort Worth is its unique marriage of cosmopolitan and country, modern and historic, energetic and chill. Its a city of juxtapositions existing in perfect harmony  and the team at Briggs Freeman Sothebys International Realty can help you find the place where youll fit in best, embracing the experiences you bring with you and those youve yet to discover. The list of reasons youll love Fort Worth could fill a book, but here are five of the best.

1. The Neighborhoods

Just when you think youve found your favorite neighborhood in Fort Worth, you come across another one you like even better. Its a common occurrence but an enjoyable dilemma. After all, having so many options for settling down in a new city makes a move something to look forward to with eager anticipation. But before you call the movers, browse through some of the most inviting neighborhoods in Dallas metroplex counterpart.

Depending on whether youre wired more for a fast-paced existence, a more laid-back home life or something that falls somewhere in between, youll find a place to happily call home in Fort Worth. Downtown Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Rivercrest, Tanglewood, Westworth, Colonial Hills and the Historic Southside each offer a different vibe and style of home, whether youre seeking a large estate or a comfortable residence within a high-rise development. Here, the property types run the gamut. 

2. The Wild (and Not-so-Wild) West

Dallas often has a reputation, especially internationally, as a place where everyone rides a horse and wears a cowboy hat. Even though thats still a stereotype of all Texans, youre much more likely to find people embracing the Wild West in Fort Worth where that heritage helped put it on the map. First and foremost, the city is home to the Fort Worth Stockyards, a National Historic District where you can enjoy a year-round rodeo, a twice-daily cattle drive (the only one in the world) or a toe-tappin show at the Cowtown Opry. If youre up for it, you can even hop on a mechanical bull to see how long eight seconds can feel when that bull gets to bucking. Throughout the district, youll find hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops with a western vibe, but because of ongoing programming and pop-up events, the area is a thoroughly enjoyable place to visit regularly, not simply when you have people in town, visiting. 

3. The Unique Eats and Drinks

Anyone whos ever visited Texas knows how seriously we take our food. From hole-in-the-wall eateries to fine dining, Texans want food that packs a punch of flavor and often spice so that our taste buds always can do a little happy dance. (OK, maybe even a two-step.) Like Dallas, Fort Worth has some definite must-visit restaurants that we simply cant recommend enough. Youll also find plenty of standouts, as well as shopping opportunities, in the 35-block Sundance Square entertainment district. 

When it comes to drinking, youll find several local breweries, including Rahr & Sons and Cowtown Brewing Co., as well as spirits distilleries. At all of these spots, you can enjoy tastings and tours or grab a few cans and bottles to take back home to enjoy in your new backyard or while enjoying the view from your balcony. As for nightlife, no move to Fort Worth would be complete without a visit to Billy Bobs Texas, the worlds largest honky-tonk, or a sophisticated evening of jazz and martinis at Scat Jazz Lounge.

4. The Outdoor Adventures

Fort Worth is known for its many green spaces. The Trinity River, which runs through the city, has more than 100 miles of tails alone, while the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge offers another 20. Explore the river more up-close-and-personally when you rent paddleboards, kayaks or canoes by the hour with advance reservations at Backwoods Paddlesports. Stroll around the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and get mesmerized exploring the famous Fort Worth Water Gardens. Or get in touch with the crazier side of nature at the Fort Worth Zoo, named the No. 1 zoo in the nation. Add in neighborhood parks by the dozen, plenty of area lakes and a very bike-friendly city and youre pretty much guaranteed to get more than your fair share of vitamin D on a daily basis.

5-The World-Class Arts

Even though its quite a bit smaller than Dallas, Fort Worth boasts a famously incredible art scene. Get a sense of history through paintings, sculptures, photographs and a variety of artifacts throughout the Cultural District and its menagerie of museums, including the gorgeous Kimbell Art Museum, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and HIstory, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and The Modern. 

For performing arts, youll enjoy discovering your own favorite venues, whether its theater-in-the-round at Casa Mañana or a variety of performances at the citys crown jewel: Bass Performance Hall. Often ranked in the top 10 opera houses in the world, thanks to its neo-historic architecture clothed in the forms and colors of yesteryear, said The Washington Post in 1998 and the kind of incredible acoustics that performers absolutely love, it is home to touring Broadway productions, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Fort Worth Opera, Texas Ballet Theater and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Every performance here is a masterpiece.