21 Places to Go with Kids During the Summer in the Dallas Metroplex Area – A Guide for Summer 2017

Before every summer in March or April I sit down to research places I can take my kids to during the summer. Even when I was a teacher, with the summers off, I would look forward to the time with my children; time used to explore the surrounding area.

To some places, we are members. To some, we are just curious. But, every year, I am asked by other moms about the places I have found. Even my husband sometimes mentions how I am always filled with ideas of things to do an places to go.

Each year is different, of course, because my kids are different – older. This summer my daughter will be ready to begin 5th grade and my son 2nd grade. The kids now also have things they want to do and each year I am finding myself getting those activities into my schedule. Although, I still take them to places they can’t even begin to imagine could actually be interesting or fun, only because if I didn’t, then they wouldn’t experience them.

Here are the places I recommend to visit during summer 2017 with elementary aged children:

1. Heard Museum

Location: 1 Nature Pl, McKinney, TX 75069

Indoors? Yes and No.

Hours: 

Closed Monday, 

Tuesday to Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm

Cost: For the summer (June 1st-Sept 30th), Adults: $9, Seniors 60+ & Children 3-12: $6, Children 2 and Under: FREE

Parking Cost: $0

Family Membership: $150, Worth It? No. 

About: The Heard is a Natural Preserve, which means most of the fun happens outside, although there is a small museum inside (with A/C) and gift shop. It is a great place for a picnic, to walk the trails. If you have kids who like to walk I definitely recommend the Wood Duck Trail. It goes over the Wetlands and the kids love walking on the paths over the water and trying to find animals around them. It is about a 2 mile trip, so bring water. The Heard also has a small outdoor animal exhibit and a Pioneer Village the kids love to play in. 

If it’s over 90F, I don’t recommend going to the Heard. Perhaps only during the first weeks of June or if you see it’ll be cloudy and under 90F. 

2. Perot Museum

Location: 2201 N. Field Street, Dallas, Texas 75201-1704

Indoors? Yes! 

Hours: 

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Cost: 

Adult: $20*, Youth: $13*, Senior: $14* 

Short Film: $6, Long Film: $8, Exhibit: $30*, Admission+Exhibit+Short Film: $36*

* You get $2 off if you buy online

Parking Cost: $10, Member: $5

Family Membership: Regular: $119, Plus: $179 Worth It? Yes. The Plus Membership also includes free admission to the Fort Worth Museum of Natural History and The Heard Museum. 

About: This is an amazing museum with plenty to do. We have been members since it opened and the best time to go is those two hours before opening Saturday or Sunday. During the weekdays in the summer the museum is crowded with all those daycare field trips, so weekends are better. The membership also includes admission to the Fort Worth Science Museum and The Heard, so it’s definitely worth it. Right now the Maya: Hidden World Revealed will be on display all summer.

3. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Location: 1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth, TX 76107

Indoors? Yes! (with the water play and fossil digging area outdoors)

Hours: 

Cost: 

IMAX – Adult: $8, Junior & Senior: $7

Museum+IMAX – Adult: $21, Junior: $17, Senior: $19

Museum+Planetarium – Adult: $15, Junior: $12, Senior: $14

Parking Cost: There is a fee, Members free

Family Membership: Regular: $115, Plus: $195 Worth It? No. The Perot is cheaper and includes free admission to the Fort Worth Science Museum. Also, if you buy the Fort Worth Museum, you don’t get free admission to the Perot Museum, instead you get admission 50% off. 

About: In my opinion this museum is more for younger children (in my opinion younger than 8 years old). The Planetarium has a showing for adults and one for children (starring Elmo!), which is pretty fun. The engineering area is the one my children enjoy the most, since they can create and manipulate objects. They have a pretty neat energy tour and last we went they were updating the dinosaur area.

4. Kimbell Art Museum

Location: 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Indoors? Yes! 

Hours: 

Cost: 

Free

Exhibition: Adult: $18, Junior: $14, Senior: $16

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: Regular: $120 Worth It? No

About: This is a beautiful museum. We took the kids there last year and, even when we each had to walk with one kid to keep them from touching the art, they enjoyed it. It has a big garden outside which we used to run around a little after a while. The museum is always very quiet, so it’s something to keep in mind. A lot of paintings should not be photographed. I still recommend it.

5. Dallas Arboretum

Location: 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX, 75218 

Indoors? Mostly all outdoors

Hours: Daily 9-5pm

Cost: 

Adult: $15, Children: $10, Seniors: $12, Children >2: Free

Children’s Adventure Garden: $3 extra 

Parking Cost: $15 (online $8), Members Free

Family Membership: Regular: $131, Plus: $179 Worth It? Yes (if you plan to visit over 3 times a year). The Regular membership offers 12 scheduled visits to the Children’s Adventure Garden.

About: Great place to walk and enjoy nature. The Children’s area is totally worth it. You can see it all in one full day, but the kids love it. The only drawback is it’s mostly all outdoors, so I recommend going in early June or a few hours early in the day. There is a café, but we always pack a lunch.

6. Dallas Zoo

Location: 650 I35, Dallas, TX 75203 

Indoors? Mostly all outdoors

Hours: Daily 9-5pm

Cost: Adult: $15, Children & Seniors: $12, Children >2: Free

Parking Cost: $8, Members Free

Family Membership: Regular: $129, Plus: $149  Worth It? Yes (if you plan to visit over 2 times a year). Regular family membership offers 6 tickets to monorail or carousel.

About:  I personally like the Dallas Zoo more than the Fort Worth Zoo. The children’s area is amazing. Kids should wear their bathing suits because then can get wet! The zoo has two main sides (divided by a tunnel), it’s spacious and there is a lot of walking. We usually visit one side one day and the other the next (with the children’s area both days). It is mostly an outdoor place, so visit early in June or early in the morning.

7. Fort Worth Zoo

Location: 1989 Colonial Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76110 

Indoors? Mostly all outdoors

Hours: 

Cost: Adult: $14, Children & Seniors: $10, Children >2: Free

Parking Cost: $5, Members Free

Family Membership: No Family Memberships – Adult $52, Child $23  Worth It? Yes (if you plan to visit over 3 times a year).

About: We have only visited this zoo once. It was very crowded, but worth the visit. It is also mainly outdoors, so I recommend going in early June or early in the mornings. 

9. Sealife Aquarium

Location: Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine, TX 76051

Indoors? Yes

Hours: 

Cost: 

Online – General: $20, Children: $16, Children >2: Free

WalkUp – General: $15, Children: $12, Children >2: Free

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: No Family Memberships – $50 per person  Worth It? No

About: This is the aquarium which is right in front of Legoland. It is small, but pretty nice. I definitely recommend a visit, maybe once a year. It is dark inside and the decorations are simple, but engaging. 

10. Dallas World Aquarium

Location: 1801 North Griffin St., Dallas, TX 75202

Indoors? Yes

Hours: Daily 9-5pm

Cost: Adult: $20.95+Tax, Child: $14.95+Tax, Senior: $16.95+Tax, Children <2: Free

Parking Cost: You pay for public parking wherever you want to park ($5-$10)

Family Membership: Regular: $195, Single-Parent: $140  Worth It? No

About: This used to be an awesome place, also one of the most expensive experiences in the DFW area, in my opinion. The Aquarium follows an inside trail where you can see animals ranging from water, sky and land. The last time I visited was with my daughter’s school for a field trip. It was two years ago and the place smelled like the water wasn’t being treated. I hope this situation has changed. We will visit again sometime this summer and hope that has been taken cared of. Apart from that, it is a good place to take the kids.

11. African American Museum

Location: 3536 Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX  75210

Indoors? Mostly yes

Hours: 

Cost: Free

Parking Cost: $12, or you can pay for public parking ($5-$10)

Family Membership: No family membership, Individual: $35, Child: $15  Worth It? No, unless you want to support the museum.

About: We haven’t gone to this museum yet. It is an art museum, which demands a certain etiquette from the children. If your children can behave in an art museum, then this is definitely a place to visit.

12. Dallas Museum of Art

Location: 1717 North Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201

Indoors? Mostly, yes

Hours: 11am-5pm, except Thursdays closes at 5pm and is closed Mondays

Cost: Free, Special Exhibition: $16

Parking Cost: You pay for public parking wherever you want to park ($5-$10)

Family Membership: Supporter (2 people): $100, Ambassador (4 people): $250  Worth It? No

About: This museum has a special children’s area. Kids can do crafts and explore. The rest of the museum displays art only, so make sure your children know how to follow the rules of art museums. We like this museum a lot. This summer they have the Mexico 1900-1950 exhibit with works by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and José Clemente Orozco through July 16th and we can’t wait to go see it together.

13. Nasher Sculpture Center

Location: 2001 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201

Indoors? Indoors and outdoors

Hours:  Tuesday-Sunday: 11am – 5pm

Cost: Adult: $10, Children under 12: Free, Seniors: $7 (Free for all every first Saturday of the month)

Parking Cost: You pay for public parking wherever you want to park ($5-$10). Members park Free at the Dallas Museum of Art garage

Family Membership: $125. Worth It? No

About: The sculpture center is amazing! The best time to visit is that first Saturday of the month because, not only is it free, but they have a special treasure hunt in the garden for the children and they get a little gift bag. They also have a special craft in a special room for the kids. The treasure hunt is outdoors, so arrive early during the summer. The rest of the museum is indoors and museum rules apply.

14. Latino Cultural Center

Location: 2600 Live Oak St, Dallas, TX 75204

Indoors? Indoors and outdoors

Hours:  Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm

Cost: Free

Parking Cost: You pay for public parking wherever you want to park ($5-$10).

Family Membership: $75 Worth It? No

About: This museum that highlights art from the Latino Culture has different exhibitions throughout the year. The current exhibition, Hecho en Dallas, lasts until June 30th. No information about the next exhibit has been announced at this time. This is also an art museum. Art summer camps and after school are offered for children.

14. Spark!Dallas

Location: 1409 S. Lamar Street, Suite 004, Dallas, TX 75215

Indoors? Yes

Hours: Saturday: 10am- 4pm. They also open Sundays during the summer.

Cost: Online: $8, In Person: $10

Parking Cost: In Lot A. It’s a surface lot charging $2.00 per day.

Family Membership: $125 Worth It? No

About: This amazing underground playground is recommended for children 2nd Grade and up. It is a nice place to visit during the heat of the summer months. The kids can spend hours playing and exploring the playground. There is also a “pop-up” activity which changes every month; June’s activity is to design a postcard for a place you’d like to visit, July’s is to make a tinfoil fish with fun textured patterns and August’s is to come up with a collage created from magazines.  No Outside food is allowed, but there is a concession stand to purchase snacks.

15. Museum of the American Railroad/Frisco Heritage Museum

Location: 6455 Page Street, Frisco, TX 75034

Indoors? Indoors and outdoors

Hours: 

Cost: Adult: $8, Children: $4 (Railroad), Adult: $4, Children: $2 (Heritage)

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: None available

About: The Frisco Heritage Museum is a small and interesting museum about Frisco. It also has buildings outside resembling life from the past. The American Railroad Museum consists of guided railroad tours, but only at certain times and dates. Tours start at the Heritage Museum. The summer schedule hasn’t been posted yet for tours. Make note that the trains are outside, so be ready to be hot and walk for about 45 minutes in the summer. The Heritage Museum is small, but if you combine your day with both Museums it’s a great experience. 

16. Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Location: 601 East Palace Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

Indoors? Yes

Hours: 

Cost: 

Two-Attractions – Adult: $23.99, Children: $13.99                  

Three-Attractions – Adult: $28.99, Children: $18.99

All Attractions – Adult: $36.99, Children: $26.99

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: None available

About: This is the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not that is close in our area. It has five sections:

1) The Ripley’s Believe It or Not Exhibit (galleries with bizarre and strange things)

2) Louis Tussuad’s Palace of Wax (wax figures)

3) The Ripley’s Enchanted Mirror Maze (2,000 sqft maze)

4) Ripley’s Impossible Laser Race (obstacle course)

5) Moving Theater (7D)

It is a great place to spend a hot summer day. There is plenty to do and see. The only thing I don’t like that much is the price, but it is what it is. It’s a place to at least experience once. If you do go, you should at least consider getting two attractions, but of course the best value is to get all five. It is a fun place to visit.

17. Six Flags Over Texas

Location: 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington, TX 76010

Indoors? No

Hours: 

Cost: 

At the park: General – $74.99, Children under 48″ – $59.99, Children <2 – Free

At least 3 days in advance: General – $56.99

Parking Cost: $23.15 (season parking $80

Family Membership: Season Pass is $84.99 per person if you buy at least four. Worth it? Yes

About: I don’t think I need to explain much about Six Flags. It’s a park filled with rollercoasters and other rides. It has a kid sections with rides only kids can ride, shows and other entertainment. It can get pretty hot in the summer so be ready to survive in those long lines. 

18. Hawaiian Falls (Garland & The Colony)

Location: 

Garland: 4550 N Garland Ave., Garland, TX 75040

The Colony: 4400 Paige Road, The Colony, TX 75056

Indoors? No

Hours: Hours are subject to change

Cost: > 48″: $28.99, <48″: $21.99, Children <2: Free

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: Season Pass is $99.99 per person (on sale $79.99). Worth it? Yes, if you plan on visiting over 3 times.

About: If you like waterparks, this is the mainstream waterpark in our area. They have two parks in North East Texas, one in Garland and the other in The Colony. The one in The Colony is newer, but I’ve heard it’s the most crowded. We’ve been to the one in Garland and it was crowded. I would think they are about the same. The slides and attractions are very similar. The kids love going there! They have lockers available and they let you get a cooler in for $10 if you want to bring drinks and food from home. 

19. Great Wolf Lodge

Location: 100 Great Wolf Dr, Grapevine, TX 76051

Indoors? Indoors and outdoors

Hours: Pool opens at 10am-9pm.

Cost: Varies depending on room type and season. Summer can be somewhere between $300 and $700 a night.

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: No season passes.

About: Great Wolf Lodge is a resort with an indoor water park. Not only can you experience the pool, slides and other water playgrounds year round, but you can also participate in other activities (some for an extra price) during your stay. The kids love this place! It is definitely on the expensive side, which summer being even more expensive than the other months. I recommend staying for a night or two any other school weekend that is not a holiday. If you rent a room for one day you can use the pool area after check in and then all the next day as long as you leave the room before check out.

20. Adventure Landing

Location:17717 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75252

Indoors? Indoors and Outdoors

Hours: 

Cost: 

Go-Karts Single Ride(>56″): $7.99

Go-Karts Double Ride: $9.99

Laser Tag(>36″): $7.99

Golf Round: $7.99

Bumper Boats: $7.99

There’s also an arcade and batting cages. 

Specials on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: Regular: $79.99, Sale: $59.99 Worth It? No

About: We like Adventure Landing because it has a variety of things to do. You can play all three mini-golf courses, get on the go-karts (they have small and regular sized), bumper boats, play a round of a very simple laser tag and there’s an arcade. They also sell food (like pizza, hotdogs and burgers). Except for the arcade and the laser tag room, everything is outdoors, so I recommend going early in June or just as they open.

21. In-Sync Exotics

Location:3430 Skyview Drive, Wylie, TX 75098

Indoors? No

Hours: Saturday* & Sunday: 11am – 6pm

Cost: Adults: $12, Children & Seniors: $8, Children <3: Free

Parking Cost: Free

Family Membership: Not available. 

About: We visited this rescue center about five years ago. My kids were very young, then, but they enjoyed it. This is a place where they keep the wild cars they find lost or injured. They have tiger, lions, panthers, etc… It’s interesting to read about their stories, about how they found them and how they arrived at the rescue center. The place is small and it takes less than an hour to walk around it, but it’s a place we plan to visit again this summer.