If you’re looking for attractions to enjoy with your children, look no further than Dallas. With beautiful weather for much of the year, Dallas offers an amazing array of outdoor activities. But even if the weather turns, there are plenty of inside attractions that offer just as much fun. Here is just a sampling of some of the best kid-friendly attractions you can check out in the greater Dallas area.
Dallas Zoo
As the oldest and largest zoo in Texas, the Dallas Zoo opened in 1888 at City Park with two deer and two mountain lions as its first animals. The zoo later relocated to Marsalis Park, just a few miles south of downtown, and currently covers 106 acres. You can visit approximately 8,000 creatures at the zoo, including chimps, African elephants, and koalas.
An interactive zoo, visitors can feed lettuce leaves and rye crackers to the giraffes before the kids head over to the children’s area. Here, children can pet pygmy goats, feed the birds, and ride ponies. Your kids will also love riding on the monorail that takes visitors around the park.
Klyde Warren Park
Found between Uptown and Downtown, Klyde Warren Park sits over Woodall Rogers Freeway. Open daily from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., the 5.2-acre free park includes a variety of activities to will help your kids burn off energy. There is a child-size amphitheater and storytelling tree, or maybe they would rather check out the caterpillar fountain that turns into a butterfly when the water comes out. If your forgot to pack a lunch, grab a bite to eat at any of the food trucks or restaurants that reside along the park’s perimeter.
Perot Museum of Science and Nature
Home to almost a dozen permanent exhibit halls and traveling exhibitions on its five floors, the Perot Museum of Science and Nature is one of the area’s newest museums. The museum is actually a combination of three already-established facilities, which includes the Dallas Children’s Museum, The Science Place, and the Dallas Museum of Natural History. You can check out the IMAX theater, interactive kiosks, and an earthquake simulator.
Dallas World Aquarium
Found in the historic West End district of Dallas, the Dallas World Aquarium houses exotic animals from across the globe. You can watch tropical birds flying freely overhead, watch crocodiles eat, and gaze upon a 40-foot waterfall. Other animals, such as sloths, monkeys, jaguars, and manatees, call the aquarium their home. Don’t forget to check out the 400,000-gallon shark tank.
The greater Dallas area offers a variety of kid-friendly attractions that are sure to entertain the whole family. Take your children to the Klyde Warren Park and have them run around or visit the zoo and feed a giraffe. If the weather is an issue, step inside at the aquarium to see the marine life or check out the science and nature museum to view one of its many exhibits. The toughest decision will be determining which one to check out first.
Photo: “Dallas Zoo 3-14-2014-16” by Josh Grenier via Flickr licensed under CC BY 2.0 | Cropped form original