Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Do you have the family in Dallas and dont know what to do? Relax! Dallas has lots of family-friendly places to take the kids. Here are some suggestions:
Fair Park
The State Fair of Texas takes over Fair Park during the end of September through mid-October, and has midway rides, shows, and other exciting activities for children. During the rest of the year, you can go there to visit the nine museums and six entertainment venues that are open year-round in Fair Park, including the Dallas Aquarium, Science Place, which has a planetarium and IMAX theater, the Natural History Museum, which has a dinosaur skeleton and other exhibits, and The Age of Steam Railroad Museum, which should interest young train enthusiasts.
Dallas Zoo
Youll know youre close to the zoo when you spot the huge statue of a giraffe on Interstate 35E. The Dallas Zoo sports all the usual animals, and also has a Monorail Safari that will take you for a ride over the habitats of many different animals. The zoo breeds two different types of tigers, and you can see the tigers all around you when you look out the glass of the Endangered Tiger Habitat. Theres a childrens zoo with animals your kids can pet, pony rides, and The Underzone, where you can see naked mole-rats. (What kid wouldnt want to see a naked mole-rat?) You can reach the zoo on the DART light rail red line, or drive your car to 650 Interstate 35E.
Fun Family Dinners
Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament should interest families who are interested in knights, castles, and the middle ages. The admission price includes a four-course meal, beverages, and a show. You can cheer for your favorite knights as they joust in tournaments, and learn more about medieval times and pageantry as you watch the show. Actors dressed in period costumes perform music, skits and games and speak the Kings English, of course. Discount coupons are readily available at many hotels.
Another fun place to take the kids is the Magic Time Machine restaurant on Beltline in Addison. The waitstaff consists of different characters from literature, cartoons, movies and television, and everyone acts in character. You never know which character you will have at your table; it could be Pebbles Flintstone, or the Mad Hatter, or maybe Spongebob Squarepants. The dcor of the restaurant is very unusual, and you could end up dining in an igloo or phonebooth. Kids will have fun spotting characters and interacting with the waiters. If you have a large group with older kids, order the Roman Orgy; the presentation is fun and the food is delicious. If you go to Magic Time Machine, reservations are advised, especially on weekends or with large groups.
Las Colinas
If your family is interested in horses, scouting or movies, head to Las Colinas, west of Dallas. The Movie Studios at Las Colinas gives tours of the movie and television production facility there, where many films, TV shows, music videos and commercials have been made. There are also displays of movie memorabilia.
The National Scouting Museum has almost 500,000 items that illustrate the history of scouting. Norman Rockwell works are also displayed.
The Mustangs of Las Colinas are beautiful and realistic statues of a herd of nine mustangs running through a river. The whole family can have fun snapping photos with the mustangs, or watching the film about mustangs and how the statues were made. The film is shown at the Mustang Sculpture Exhibit in the West Tower of Williams Square. The Mustangs are located on OConnor Road; check out the flower clock on the same road.
Amusement Parks
Six Flags Over Texas is located south of Interstate 30 in Arlington, west of Dallas. There are over 20 thrill rides, such as roller coasters, for the older kids, and about the same amount of rides for smaller children and families. Eleven of the thrill rides allow you to make reservations so you dont have to stand in line. Print out tickets online, or check with hotels, visitors centers or soft drink cans for discounts. Six Flags is open full-time during the months when school is out and remains open on weekends and holidays through December. The fall is a pleasant time to visit, since its cooler and there are often special events going on.
Hurricane Harbor is located north of Interstate 30 in Arlington. It has more than 45 acres of water slides, wave pool, surf rider, water treehouse, and interactive water games for the kids. There are volleyball courts for the active, and lots of lounge chairs for the weary. Whether you want to experience the thrill rides or just relax on your tube as you float around the lazy river, you will be able to cool off at Hurricane Harbor. Its open during the summer when school is out.
Sandy Lake Amusement Park is in Carrollton, north of Dallas. Its an old-fashioned park, with a train that will take you around the perimeter, a huge swimming pool, and lots of rides for small children. Its an ideal place to take a picnic and spend a relaxing day with the family.
The Palace of Wax and Ripleys Believe It or Not are both located on Interstate 30 in Grand Prairie, west of Dallas. Both attractions are open year-round. The Ripleys museum contains some really weird stuff that will fascinate children, and the wax museum has over 200 figures of everyone from historical figures to movie stars. Discount coupons are readily available in hotels.
Baseball
Catch a Texas Rangers game during the summer months at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. Kids will have lots of fun playing interactive games, touring the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum, or visiting the gift shop. The baseball games are kid-friendly; you can take in soft coolers and food and there are picnic tables on the third level. Small kids will love Rangers Captain, the horse mascot who leads the fans in singing YMCA and other crowd-pleasers. You can join a kids club on the Rangers website and get a hat, wristbands and free tickets and prizes for each month, plus newsletters that will inform you of special events.
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