Last time I checked, it’s supposed to rain all weekend. Now that Four is a full-on toddler, he *HAS* to get his energy out or it makes for a very long day. Most days, he’ll run around our backyard for hours or we’ll visit a park. But when it rains, I’ve got to get creative and find other ways for him to be entertained.
When I was looking up activities for us to do this weekend, I came across a blog post that rounded up some of the best spots for kids in Dallas. It was so helpful for me that I decided to put together something similar to share with those of you who are moms or the fun aunt who needs somewhere cool to take her nieces and nephews.
This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, but I tried to include as much as I could remember. Most of these are ideal for toddlers since I really focused on places we’ve been with Four or are hoping to take him soon. I know there are a lot of other options for older kids, but we haven’t been to a lot of those just yet.
I hope this list helps you out in a pinch when you need to get your kids out of the house this weekend!
Best Spots for Kids In Dallas
Play Street Musem
This is our go-to spot when we need a place to hang out indoors since there’s one not far from my house. They have a limited number of spots for each time slot, but you can make an appointment beforehand to guarantee you’re able to get in. I appreciate that they have all kinds of interactive activities that require imagination instead of some play places that are solely meant to get energy out lol. They also offer different education exhibits randomly, so be sure to sign up for their emails!
Perot Museum
We’ve only been here a couple of times because it’s honestly a bit overwhelming. To be honest, For is still a *little* young for the Perot Museum, but it is a fun place to visit. They have different science programs and exhibits for kids with lots of hands-on activities. I’ve heard that getting the membership is a great value if you’re planning to go more than once or twice a year.
The Little Gym
The Little Gym is one of the first places we took Four to participate in group classes. You can bring infants as young as 4 months, but I didn’t think it was really that fun until Four was able to walk on his own. Now he loves to run around to all of the different gym equipment, even though he’s still too small for some of it. I appreciate that everything in the gym is SUPER padded so there’s not a big risk of them getting hurt. However, we do still follow him around the entire time he’s there.
Dallas Zoo
Okay so it’s probably not a great option for this weekend if it’s going to rain, but I had to include the Dallas Zoo on this list. If you live in Dallas and have kids, the zoo is a MUST. The cost is literally $8 per person right now, and kids under 2 are free. I should note that you have to pay for parking, but it’s not much at all. Four loves seeing all of the different animals and he’s obsessed with riding the little mini-train.
The Dallas World Aquarium
We haven’t actually been to the aquarium with Four yet, but I have a lot of friends who recommend it. I used to love going to the aquarium as a kid, and I’m honestly really excited for us to visit as a family soon. It is kind of expensive… it’s $30 for adults and $20 for kids (2 and under are free though). But it’s so fun to explore and see all of the different marine life!
Dallas Arboretum
This is another one that isn’t great if it’s raining, but as we get closer to spring, we’re planning to visit the Dallas Arboretum a lot. In fact, I think we might get a membership this year. I’ve got friends who have one and they love that you can arrive before the park opens to the public and enjoy a quiet morning at the park. They’ve got all kinds of different exhibits depending on the time of year, and there’s a children’s garden with tons of activities for kids.
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
If you don’t mind driving north, McKinney has a great wildlife sanctuary. It is a MASSIVE space of 289 acres filled with gardens, nature trails, and different exhibits throughout the year. They have different animals that live in the sanctuary (in cages) that you can see, or you can just explore the different trails. A friend of mine had her son’s birthday party there and said it’s a total blast for kids.
Local Libraries
If you’re looking for free things to do with your kids, there’s nothing better than the library. Four loves walking around and grabbing every book he can (and I’m usually chasing him, trying to put them back on the shelf). We try to go to story time fairly often, especially on days when it’s cold or rainy outside. The best part is there is a library close to you no matter where you live!
Texas Discovery Gardens & Butterfly House
This is another spot we’ve yet to visit but heard great things about. This is located in Fair Park and is essentially a giant indoor space filled with butterflies. I’ve heard it’s really cool to experience. There’s also a garden and a snake shack (that’s a nope for me lol) outside of the house if you want to explore some more. If you’ve purchased a Pogo Pass, you get one visit here for free!
Klyde Warren Park
We love Klyde Warren Park for a free and easy activity on days we just need to get out of the house. There are always things to do — although I will say, it can be pretty crowded on a nice day. It’s so fun to grab a bite to eat at the park and just let Four run around though. It’s the closest thing we have to “nature” here in Dallas proper, so we’ll take it!
Kidzania
I think Four is still a little young for this too, but I’ve heard a lot about Kidzania in Frisco. It’s located right inside Stonebriar Mall and is basically a giant city where kids can pretend. They’ve got different kid-sized buildings, streets, and vehicles, and kids can play and imagine that they’re working in different professions, driving cars, etc. I feel like I would’ve loved this place when I was younger.
Crayola Experience
This place is located at The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano. I’ve heard it’s pretty pricey, so we haven’t taken Four yet. I want to make sure he’s old enough before I spend the money to take him. But basically, it’s a massive space set up with different crayon-related activities that your child can do. For instance, they can make their own crayon, draw on a giant digital sheet that shows up on the wall, etc.
Grapevine Vintage Railroad
I’m dying to take Four here. He LOVES trains right now, so I know he’d have fun actually being able to ride on a “choo choo.” They offer different routes, so you can choose the length of ride you want depending on the age of your child. I honestly am not sure how long Four would last before wanting to run around, so we’d definitely opt for the shorter route lol. But you get the full-on train ride experience, which is so fun for little kids.