Fort Worth Travel Guide

Babysitters -- If your hotel does not offer babysitting services, Sitters Unlimited (tel. 817/535-4449) arranges babysitting at hotels throughout Fort Worth.

Dentists -- Call tel. 800/577-7320 for a dentist referral service.

Doctors -- Call the Tarrant County Medical Society (tel. 817/732-3997) for a doctor referral.

Drugstores -- Area locations for Eckerd Drugs include 3208 N. Main St., near the Stockyards (tel. 817/625-6179), and 611 Houston St. at Sundance Square (tel. 817/336-7105). The Eckerd store at 6389 Camp Bowie Blvd. in the Cultural District (tel. 817/737-3125) is open 24 hours.

Hospitals -- Two large, full-service hospitals located in the Medical District, south of downtown, are Columbia Plaza Medical Center, 900 8th Ave. (tel. 817/336-2100), and All Saints Episcopal Hospital-Fort Worth, 1400 8th Ave. (tel. 817/926-2544).

Internet Access -- One centrally located cybercafe is Cyber Rodeo, 1309 Calhoun St., within the Rodeo Steakhouse (tel. 817/332-1288). Free wireless hotspots include 8.0 Restaurant and Bar, 111 E. 3rd St. (tel. 817/336-0880) and Flying Saucer Drought Emporium, 111. E. 4th St. (tel. 817/336-7468).

Maps -- Any of the Fort Worth tourist information centers can provide you with free maps of all of Fort Worth or of individual districts.

Newspapers & Magazines -- Both the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Dallas Morning News "Weekend Guide" have plenty of arts, entertainment, and dining information for Fort Worth and the Metroplex.

Police -- For an emergency, dial tel. 911. For nonemergencies, call tel. 817/871-6458. The main police station in downtown Fort Worth is located at 350 W. Belknap (at Taylor).

Post Office -- The main downtown post office, 251 W. Lancaster (tel. 817/348-0565), is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 7pm.

Safety -- For a city of nearly 500,000, Fort Worth is a relaxed and, from most appearances, a safe city. Still, as in any large city, visitors should exercise caution and keep an eye on their handbags, especially at night, in major tourist destinations such as the Stockyards and Cultural District, and downtown around Sundance Square. Beyond Sundance Square, which is very lively at night, much of downtown Fort Worth is virtually deserted after 9pm. Drive or take a taxi late at night.

Taxes -- The general sales tax is 8.25%, hotel tax is 15%, and restaurant tax is 7%.

Transit Info -- For general public transportation questions, call the Fort Worth Transportation Authority at tel. 817/871-6200. For "the T" bus schedule information, call tel. 817/215-8600 or 817/334-0092 or visit the website, www.the-t.com.

Weather -- For the latest weather information, call tel. 817/787-1111.