Staying cooped up in the house is no fun for little ones who have "ants in their pants" and are eager to discover, play, and grow! Dallas has a lot of options when it comes to outdoor fun, from trips to the zoo to the waterpark, discover some of these fun outdoor venues for a chance to escape the humdrum of the home:
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
6701 West Parker Road
Plano, TX
972.941.7788
Hours
Daily: 5 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Besides beautiful trails, this 200 acre oasis includes a playground, observation tower, rental facilities, and restrooms.
Bahama Beach
1895 Campfire Circle
Dallas, TX 75232
214.671.0820
Formerly Hawaiian Falls, this waterpark is a great place to cool off. Interactive kids play area, tube and body slides, mat racing, lazy river. Locker rentals, special events, and birthday parties. Open seasonally.
Cedar Ridge Preserve
7171 Mountain Creek Parkway
Dallas, TX 75249
972.709.7784
Part of the Audubon family of nature preserves, this lovely area boasts abundant wildlife, 9 miles of unpaved trails, wildflowers, butterfly gardens, and limited picnic area. Seasonal hours.
Dallas Arboretum
8525 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
214.515.6500
Hours: Open Daily: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission
$9.50 for adults
$8 for seniors 65 and older
$6 for children 3-12
Free for Arboretum members and children two and under
650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway
Dallas, TX 75203
214.670.5656
www.dallas-zoo.com
Hours
Open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission
Free to Members
Adult: $10.00
Senior (65+): $7.00
Child (3-11): $7.00
Child (under 3): Free
Dallas Zoo’s Giants of the Savanna!
Open Daily | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dallas Zoo. 650 South R.L. Thornton Fwy. Dallas 75203
Admission is $12 for ages 12 and above, $9 for ages 11-3 and seniors 65 and above, and free for ages 2 and younger and DZS members.
www.DallasZoo.com
Take a trip on an African safari without ever leaving the Dallas city limits! The newly opened Giants of the Savanna at the Dallas Zoo provides an interactive experience for our guests built around the many different species of animals that will call the Giants of the Savanna home: elephants, giraffes, impalas, zebras, ostrich, lions, warthogs, red river hogs, guinea fowl, and cheetahs. Learn more about these animals while experiencing the unique aspects of their new habitat firsthand. As the summer unfolds and the animals adjust to their new home, there will be changes happening daily so no two visits will be exactly alike. Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: www.dallaszoo.com or 214-670-5656
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
9601 Fossil Ridge Road
Fort Worth, TX 76135
817.237.1111
A hidden jewel with a wilderness comprised of forests, wetlands, and prairies. There are 20 miles of hiking trails and a friendly staff at the Hardwick Interpretive Center to help make the most of your visit.
Summer Hours
Mon – Fri: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Winter Hours
Mon – Sun: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission
$ 4 Adults
$ 2 Child (3-17 years old, under 3 FREE)
$ 3 Senior (65+)
From 10 am – 12 pm, join a naturalist for a leisurely hike on the trails of the FWNC&R. Hikes feature current natural history events such as blooming wildflowers, commonly seen insects, birds, and other animals and current projects on the Refuge. Water and appropriate clothing suggested. Call 817.237.1111 for more information.
Saturdays | 10 am – 12 pm: Nature Hike
Sunday, July 18 | 12 pm – 4 pm: Canoe Fest
Friday, July 23 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am: Preschool Discovery Club
Hawaiian Falls Firewheel Waterpark – Garland
4550 North Garland Avenue
Garland, TX 75040
972.675.8888
This waterpark features a wave pool, tubing, swimming, shaded toddler area, racing slides, dive-in movies and live music. There are height and age requirements on some of the rides. Open seasonally.
Hawaiian Falls Firewheel Waterpark – Mansfield
490 Heritage Parkway South
Mansfield, TX 76063
817.853.0050
This waterpark features a wave pool, tubing, swimming, shaded toddler area, racing slides, dive-in movies and live music. There are height and age requirements on some of the rides. Open seasonally.
Hawaiian Falls Firewheel Waterpark – The Colony
4400 Paige Road
The Colony, TX 75056
972.370.4327
This waterpark features a wave pool, tubing, swimming, shaded toddler area, racing slides, dive-in movies and live music. There are height and age requirements on some of the rides. Open seasonally.
Katy Trail
Dallas, TX
214.303.1180
The trail head begins at Victory Park and winds through Dallas to Airline Road in Highland Park. Three-and-a-half miles of wide paved trail great for biking, running, and skating. Open until 11 p.m. in the summer months and 9 p.m. the rest of the year. The trail is lit in the early morning and after dark. No bathrooms.
Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area
201 East Jones
Lewisville, TX 75057
972.219.3930
Hours
Mon – Fri: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Admission
$5 per person
Children 5 and under free
McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, M-Line Trolley
214.855.0006
www.mata.org
WELCOME ABOARD…for a Ride of Adventure! The M-Line is also available for birthday parties for ages 4 and up. Children’s parties are their most popular charters! All trolleys are air-conditioned and heated.
North Richland Hills Family Waterpark (NRH20)
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
817.427.6500
This popular water mecca offers tons of rides, splashatory for all ages, toddler area, sand volleyball, and swimming lessons. Amenities include a charging station for electronics and group facilities. Height and age requirements on some rides. Open seasonally.
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve
3401 East Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, TX 75074
972.941.7263
Park is scheduled to open this summer! It will offer approximately 4 miles of soft surface trails, an all weather recreational trail, and has a pond. Woodland and prairie grasses abound for great bird watching! Call for updates and progress on the park.
Owens Spring Creek Farm
1401 East Lookout Drive
Richardson, TX 75082
972.235.0192
Conducting educational spring tours where children can experience different areas of the farm, including feeding animals and viewing artifacts in the museum.
River Legacy Park in Arlington
703 NW Green Oaks Boulevard
Arlington, TX 76006
817.860.6752
Hours
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Naturalist-led Nature Walks every Saturday with birding and seasonal themes. Free, but RSVPs required. Call ahead to sign up.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
1800 East Lamar Boulevard
Arlington, TX 76006
817.640.8900
Twisting flumes, a 60-story water funnel, suntan deck, rapids, and a lazy river make this destination an all-day outing. Also includes a toddler area with slides and sprays, beach volleyball, and facilities for events. Open seasonally. Height and age requirements on some rides.
Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park
3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75210
214.428.7476
Hours
Mon – Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Top Golf
8787 Park Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
214.341.9600
Top Golf is a game where everyone can play and compete. The game is played aiming at targets ranging from 25 to 250 yards from covered all weather suites. Bring your own clubs or they will provide them at no extra cost. Alternatively, you can play on Mini-Golf courses. Some options to include are pizza, drinks, cupcakes or the use of the batting cages.
Trinity River Audubon Center
6500 South Loop 12
Dallas, TX 75217
214.398.8722
This 120-acre site offers miles of hiking, picnic places, and nature viewing. To help families explore the natural beauty of the Great Trinity Forest, a learning center provides hands-on experiences, information, and classes geared to families and children.
White Rock Lake
8300 East Lawther Drive
Dallas, TX
214.670.8740
Fishing, biking, running, and birdwatching are a few of the pleasures at this conveniently located lake in the middle of Dallas. Picnic areas and rental facilities available. There are also two dog runs located near the lake.