Fun, inexpensive things to do with kids? (Dallas, Fort Worth: coupon, waterpark)

[Runemaster]

We'll be visiting the area soon and are looking for fun things to do with our five year old that won't break the bank. We already have tickets to the Lego Discovery Center and would love to find some similar things to do while we're in the area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[globe9]

Ft. Worth Stockyards is fun for kids. It's got that old West feel to it. Free twice daily cattle drives, a free gunslinger show twice a day and various other activities. There is an old steam locomotive train you can take from Grapevine to Ft. Worth that looks fun but I dont know cost.

The Perot nature and science museum is awesome for kids and isn't too expensive. Buy tickets online b/c it's very popular and sells out.

There is also a small waterpark in N. Garland named Hawaiian Falls that is fun for Kids.

[pepper131]

Ft Worth Zoo
Forest Park Train
Japanese Garden inside Ft Worth Botanical Garden
Playground at Klyde Warren Park
McKinney Ave Trolley

[Ralyks]

I second the Ft Worth Zoo and the stockyards. You can find free parking at the stockyards if you come early in the day. Cattle drives are at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM through the street.

Ft Worth Botanical Gardens is free except $2 for the conservatory and $5 for the Japanese Gardens.

Several towns have a small waterpark at their community center. I know the Flower Mound Community Activity Center does. 2 outdoor water slides, 1 indoor water slide, a play area for littler kids with mini slides and a dumping bucket, lap lanes, tiny lazy river (current but no tubes), small rock climbing wall in the indoor pool, diving board - if you are a non-resident, admission is $8 for adults and $6 for kids. Easy to supervise a 5 year old there.

Meadowmere Park on Grapevine Lake is $5 per car to enter and has a beach and swim area, children's playground, and boat rental.

If you hadn't already bought Lego Land tickets, I'd say to get the combo ticket with Sea Life Aquarium, but, by itself, Sea Life probably isn't worth the money. It takes maybe an hour to go through that aquarium

Going Bonkers in Lewisville is a giant indoor playground (great to beat the heat) and arcade. Admission is $6 for kids and $1 for adults. They also have a snack bar.

It'z Pizza in Euless has an all you can eat pizza buffet, rooms to sit where they show kids' movies, a huge arcade with lazer tag, bumper cars, mini bowling, regular bowling, a lazer maze, and a rock climbing wall.


If he's into trains, Grapevine has a historic railroad with a "fun train" one-hour ride. It doesn't really go anywhere though - just goes out and comes back. You can also take it from Grapevine to Fort Worth, but they don't leave you much time in Fort Worth before it comes back.

[KSJT]

There is a good place to watch trains in Saginaw

Saginaw, Texas - Railfan Primer

Of Course, summer may be a little warm but worth a try. Also try Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine which has fish tanks and stuffed/mounted animals kinda like a zoo but inside.

Grapevine Vintage Railroad also is cool

[TheOverdog]

Dallas Museum of Art. Tickets are free. They have several art making and play rooms for little kids. Fair Park also has an aquarium that is decent for children and is $8 a ticket. They have a really nice stingray touch tank specifically sized for small children, and little kids love it. If you did DART (the light rail system in Dallas) you could hit both in the same afternoon. Both are also relatively wide open, which is great for small kids who like to run and bounce around.

[storyinme]

I started a thread a year ago about staycation ideas for the area and Texas. Got a lot of great responses. Good info for those occasional long weekends.

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[jdallas]

Originally Posted by KSJT

Also try Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine which has fish tanks and stuffed/mounted animals kinda like a zoo but inside.

what zoo do you go to where all of the animals are dead?

[RonnieinDallas]

VisitDallas.com has a great coupon, for the price of an adult ticket your child gets in free to four different attractions. The coupon is good for The Dallas Zoo, Dallas Arboretum's Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden, Reunion Tower Geo-Deck, and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. All of those are worth visiting, and close.

The McKinney Ave. Trolley is free and runs all through Uptown. The Klyde Warren Park is a lot of fun and near all the Musuems, including the The Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The Highland Park Soda Fountain Restaurant is very affordable and a good place to take kids to eat.

[pharpe]

If the weather is nice check out the White Rock lake area. It's in East Dallas off Mockingbird Ln. I would suggest The Lot to eat. It's a restaurant right off the White Rock trail with lots of play area for kids. Also on the Lake is the Dallas Auditorium. They have a cool childrens garden.

For indoor activities try the Perot museum. They have a lot of kid activities.

If you want to drive a little further you could go to the Fort Worth Stock yards. the have losts to see and eat. They have rodeos every Friday and Saturday I think. Check out Joe T Garcia's to eat. Its a famous Fort Worth TexMex restaurant with a great patio.

Here is another thread from a few months ago on the same thing.
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