101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Dallas | Kids Out and About Dallas <

101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Dallas

Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation.

Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Dallas. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!

KidsOutAndAbout is America's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you!

Explore Gardens and Sculpture Gardens

  Nasher Sculpture Center
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
  Lavender Ridge Farms
Dallas Museum of Art Sculpture Garden

 

 

Get Wild on a Hike

  Trinity River Audubon Center
Cedar Ridge Preserve
  Twelve Hills Nature Center
Spring Creek Forest Preserve
Texas Buckeye Trail

 

Time Travel Today

  Frisco Heritage Center
Heritage Farmstead Museum
Old Red Museum
Dallas Historical Society
The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
The Sixth Floor Museum

 

Make Life a Beach

Joe Pool Lake
Pebble Beach Park
Burger's Lake
Little Elm Park
Meadowmere Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park

 

Splash into Some Water Fun

Bahama Beach
Great Wolf Lodge - Grapevine
NRH20
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Hawaiian Falls
King Spa and Waterpark
Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex
Chisholm Aquatics Center
Water Works Park
Wet Zone
Randol Mill Family Aquatic Center
Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark

 

Spend the Day at a Museum

  Dallas Musuem of Art
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
The Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame
Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum and Sculpture
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
DFW Elite Toy Museum
African American Museum, Dallas

 

Explore These Cities

  Garland
McKinney
Allen
Waco
Fort Worth
Broken Bow
Tyler
Terrell
Longview
Palestine

 

All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)

  Commemorative Air Force
Frontiers of Flight Museum
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad
Museum of the American Railroad
McKinney Avenue Trolley
Forest Park Miniature Railroad
Cavanaugh Flight Museum

 

Grow Some Fun at the Farm

  Kadee Farm
Yesterland Farm
Elves Farm
Blueberry Hills Farm

 

Play Ball!

  Allen Americans
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Mavericks
Texas Rangers
Dallas Stars 
FC Dallas

 

Treat Yo' Self

  Rocket Fizz
Fuzziwig's Candy Factory
Blooms Candy & Soda Pop Shop
Pokey O's Cookies and Ice Cream

 

Connect with Nature

Klyde Warren Park
The Katy Trail
Lake Texoma
Davy Crockett National Forest
Caddo Lake State Park
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

 

Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks

  Splash Kingdom
Six Flags Over Texas
Big Rivers Water Park

 

Talk to the Animals

   The Gentle Zoo
 In-Sync Exotics
 Dallas Zoo
Children's Aquarium at Fair Park
Arbuckle Wilderness Park
Rocky Ridge Safari

 

Explore the Globe Close to Home

 Crow Collection of Asian Art
 The Samurai Collection
 Meadows Museum

 

Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls

Turner Falls State Park
Wichita Falls at Lucy Park
  Hamilton Pool Preserve

 

Get Active Indoors

   YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
 Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center
 ASI Gymnastics
 Premier Martial Arts

 

Challenge Yourself

  Go Ape!
Summit Rock Climbing Gym
Escape the Room

 

Shop Your Heart Out

  Grapevine Mills
Half Price Books
Toys Unique
Galleria Dallas

Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!


Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Dallas. For those that are a bit farther away:

             = Less than 1 hour away

          = 1 to 2 hours away

       = 2 to 3 hours away

   = Just over 3 hours away