The World Cup might be the main reason people from around the world are traveling to Dallas, but they\u2019re quickly becoming captivated by something else when the pitch stops.<\/p>\n
International visitors have become so fascinated with the megaconvenience store Buc-ee\u2019s that officials in nearby Fort Worth are organizing daily shuttles to take tourists to and from the chain\u2019s gas stations.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe were told it was an American institution, and that you couldn\u2019t leave Dallas or Texas without coming here,\u201d Canadian Ryan Reynolds (no, not that one) told The Dallas Morning News (1).<\/p>\n
Buc-ee\u2019s is a curiosity for many Americans. For international visitors, it\u2019s downright fascinating. The sheer size of the convenience store (which holds a Guinness World Record for the Dallas location), the cleanliness of the bathrooms, the wall of beef jerky and the employees in their red shirts are unlike anything many visitors experience \u2014 or can even imagine \u2014 back home.<\/p>\n
Travel by Cowtown <\/p>\n
The Cowtown Visitor Shuttle is running daily through July 12. Beyond Buc-ee\u2019s, it gives visitors a chance to explore the Stockyards historic district, where they can grab cowboy boots, try line dancing and catch a rodeo. Riders can also visit Six Flags, which is set to open Tormenta on June 26. The coaster will reach speeds of 87 mph, feature a 95-degree drop and set six world records.<\/p>\n
Other destinations include Tanger Outlets, the Fort Worth Zoo and the Fort Worth Botanical Garden.<\/p>\n
Read More: About 1 in 5 Americans over 50 has zero retirement savings. Here’s why it’s not too late<\/a><\/p>\n The shuttles are typically used to handle overflow from the city\u2019s rail system and help visitors get to World Cup matches (2). On non-match days, transit officials decided to put them on the Buc-ee\u2019s-and-more route to promote local tourism.<\/p>\n Buses depart every 30 minutes from downtown Fort Worth. An all-day pass, which also includes access to the region\u2019s public transportation network, costs either $10 or $20, depending on the destination.<\/p>\n A fascination with Americana <\/p>\n Buc-ee\u2019s isn\u2019t the only thing World Cup visitors are finding fascinating about America. Ranch dressing has become a favourite among many World Cup tourists, with a few even drinking (3)[a]<\/a>[b]<\/a>[c]<\/a> the condiment on its own (3). It has become so popular that the Transportation Security Administration posted a tongue-in-cheek reminder (4) that travelers can\u2019t pack four bottles of ranch in their carry-on luggage.<\/p>\n The Cheesecake Factory has also been a hit. So have In-and-Out Burger joints. And trips to Waffle House (5) have become the cultural equivalent of a badge of honor, especially in the early morning hours.<\/p>\n Soccer may be what brought people to the United States during a tense political environment, but it\u2019s Americana that\u2019s keeping the visitors engaged. For plenty of Americans, that\u2019s a welcome distraction.<\/p>\n \u201cMy absolute favorite thing right now is World Cup fans visiting from different countries and experiencing American culture shock,\u201d Kasey Gifford wrote on social media (6). \u201cSome great examples were a Japanese man losing his mind over free chips (7) in a Mexican restaurant and two British guys at a Buc-ee\u2019s trying the fresh BBQ brisket.\u201d<\/p>\n You May Also Like <\/p>\n Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/p>\n Article Sources <\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Dallas Morning News (1<\/a>); Trinity Metro (2<\/a>); TikTok (3<\/a>); Instagram (4<\/a>); The Wall Street Journal (5<\/a>); Bluesky (6<\/a>); X (7<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com<\/a> under the title: Fort Worth organizes Buc\u2019ee\u2019s-and-more shuttles as World Cup visitors embrace Americana<\/a><\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/p>\n