As a busy parent in the Dallas area, you might be scrambling for Dallas summer activities to keep the kids entertained. One of the best things about living in the Dallas area is that summer fun doesn't have to be restricted to the kids. There are plenty of fun summer activities that will appeal to the entire family. Read on to find out some super fun summer activity ideas in and around Dallas.
The Dallas World Aquarium
The Dallas World Aquarium offers unique experiences, including a reproduction of the Orinoco rainforest on the top floor. You can see sloths, toucans, manatees, Orinoco crocodiles, and electric eels living as they would in the wild. On the first floor, you can see exotic sea animals like sea anemones, live corals, and jellyfish from all over the world.
There are hands-on feeding opportunities for some animals, and kids love the interactive exhibits with touch screen technology. A visit to the Dallas World Aquarium can easily take up an entire morning, and if you have a leisurely pace you can plan the whole day around this trip. The Cafe Maya is a fun lunch spot on the premises -- it even has an exotic animal theme! There's also a Jungle Forest Cafe on the top floor.
Trinity Forest Adventure Park
If you have active kids, the Trinity Forest Adventure Park might just be the best spot ever for summer fun in the Dallas area. This seven acre park includes family fun such as zip lines of all heights, aerial obstacle courses, a lake with pedal boats, a rock climbing wall, a petting zoo, a bubble garden, and pony rides. The attractions are best suited for kids age six and up, but younger kids can enjoy some of the non-aerial adventures with you.
You can bring your own cooler full of food to have a picnic while you're there, and water is provided throughout the park. There's also a variety of beverages and snacks in the Harness House on site, but they don't serve full meals so it's up to you to bring hearty sustenance to fuel the adventures of your kids (and you, too!)
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a short trip from the Dallas city center. This attraction boasts more than 66 acres of stunning gardens, but it offers more than just impressive visuals. The Children's Adventure Garden has an atmosphere straight out of The Secret Garden, and it has a variety of interactive activities that help kids really connect with nature. There are special activities planned every few days during July and August. You can download the Agents of Discover app in the Google Play Store or on iTunes. You can also check the upcoming activity schedule here.
There's plenty to explore and enjoy here, including giant picnic areas and a pioneer village for kids. You can plan a whole day here if you bring a picnic basket or eat lunch at the on site restaurant, the Lula Mae Slaughter Dining Terrace. Be sure to bring along some extra bottles of water, as you'll be spending a lot of time outdoors while at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
A Few Other Dallas Area Summer Fun Front-Runners
- Spend a fun and thrilling day at Six Flags Over Texas!
- Get wild at the oldest Zoo in Texas - the Dallas Zoo
- Try a fun day swimming and hiking at the lake - White Rock Lake
- Float down a lazy river at Hawaiian Falls water park
The Dallas, Texas area is the perfect place to be when you're looking for summer fun for the family, as the suggestions above clearly demonstrate. Plan your fun family adventures today and enjoy the rest of your Dallas summer activities!
