
Deep in the heart of North Texas, Dallas offers an array of museums (some free). Plus, parents will find parks, an amusement park, a zoo and an aquarium. Dallas is an easy getaway for families, no matter the season or weather since there’s a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Travelers can focus on animals and science or arts and culture during their visit, a mix of all. Here are the top 30 super fun Family Friendly Things to Do in Dallas.
30 Family Friendly Things to Do in Dallas
American Airlines CR Smith Museum
African American Museum of Dallas
Bishop Arts District
Belo Garden
Crow Collection of Asian Art
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Farmers Market in Dallas
Dallas World Aquarium
Deep Ellum Murals
Dallas Firefighters Museum
The Dallas Museum of Art
The Dallas Zoo
Frontiers of Flight Museum
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Giant Eyeball
Klyde Warren Park
Lakeland Hills Park Skatepark
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
McKinney Avenue Trolley
Meadows Museum
Nasher Sculpture Center
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Pioneer Plaza
Reunion Tower
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Six Flags Over Texas
Trinity River Audubon Center
White Rock Lake
Should Visit Dallas with Kids?
Dallas offers a rich selection of museums, many free. From the Perot Museum of Nature and Science to the Dallas Museum of Art, families will find enriching activities to do together.
It boasts parks and green spaces, like the Klyde Warren Park. Or head to a highpoint and see the skyline, like at Reunion Tower. Don’t forget the history lessons at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
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American Airlines CR Smith Museum
Did you know that larger airlines operate museums? Yes, for aviation buffs, the American Airline CR Smith Museum is a must.
Visitors walk through a 1940 Douglas DC-3, the first airliner American Airlines used for passenger travel. Additionally, guests will see all the flight attendant uniforms from the beginning. The cockpit simulator is another must.
Located at 4601 Texas Highway 360. Open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult admission is $12 and kids 2 to 17 are $6 with discounts for seniors and the military.
African American Museum of Dallas
This museum features one of the largest collections of African American folk art in the country. The “Facing the Rising Sun” collection features historical documents, photos and found objects from the North Dallas community called Freedman’s Town.
Located at 3536 Grand Avenue in Historic Fair Park. Open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Bishop Arts District
You can find a collection of boutiques, restaurants, and galleries in an eclectic neighborhood. It’s near the Texas Theatre, a place to introduce your older kids to a classic movie.
Located southwest of downtown Dallas in the North Oak Cliff area. Free
Belo Garden
This downtown garden marries native plants with Texas granite. The interactive water feature will be a win for the kids. At night, there are lights in Belo Garden.
Located at 1014 Main St., a few blocks north of Pioneer Plaza. Open year-round. Free
Crow Collection of Asian Art
Visitors will see collections from China, Japan, Vietnam, and India, along with other Asian countries, at the Crow Collection of Asian Art. Located on the University of Texas at Dallas campus, guests will find work from ancient works to contemporary along with screens, lacquerware and samurai items among its permanent exhibits.
Located at 2010 Flora St. Open from Tuesday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Free general admission though donations accepted.
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Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Along the shores of White Rock Lake, explore the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden with its rainbow-colored blooms throughout the seasons. In fact, it’s one of the Top Things to do in Dallas with Kids.
Each garden feels like a unique room that flows into another. The Sunken Garden is a favorite. The Crape Myrtle Allée is a sight in full summertime bloom. Remember, a botanical garden feels like a park to most kids. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden offers a Children’s Adventure Garden ($3 additional).
For fall foliage, the Maple Garden offers 80 varieties of Japanese maples. The Pecan Grove is home to the Pumpkin Houses, fanciful gourd huts.
Located at 8525 Garland Road. Open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $21.95 and kids 2 to 12 are $17.95. Parking is $15. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden offers reduced admission during slow seasons: $5 general admission in January and $3 in August.
Farmers Market in Dallas
Since 1941, shoppers have gathered at the Dallas Farmers Market. Travelers frequently stroll among the stalls to taste the local flavors and products. This area has been reinvented over the years and offers produce, farm-raised meat, dairy, and eggs, along with artisan-made food and crafts.
Additionally, visitors will find a food hall and The Shed, an open-air pavilion with produce, open on weekends. There’s also boutique shopping in the complex.
Located at 920 S. Harwood St. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free and parking nearby.
Dallas World Aquarium
The Dallas World Aquarium offers more than marine animals in the West End Historic District. As a part of its conservation efforts, visitors find endangered land animals, like the Orinoco crocodiles. During your visit, see the kid-favorite, two-toed sloths. Of course, jellyfish, sharks, crabs and fish all live at the Dallas World Aquarium.
Located at 1801 North Griffin St. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult admission is $31.95, kids 3 to 12 are $21.95 and free for 2 and younger. Parking additional.
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Deep Ellum Murals
East of downtown, Deep Ellum offers a vibrant arts and entertainment community. Driving down the streets, the murals pop out and are perfect for selfies.
Find several murals on Elm Street or Main St. Free
Dallas Firefighters Museum
In an original 1907 firehouse, kids can learn about what firefighting was like over 100 years ago. Since horses were used, this is the location of the first horse hospital in Dallas.
Located at 3801 Parry Avenue. Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult admission is $6 and kids is $4.
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The Dallas Museum of Art
Art museums can be hit or miss with kids, so walk a gallery or walk a floor at the Dallas Museum of Art (or DMA). It offers an extensive permanent collection and is one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids.
Visitors should check out the special exhibitions for more to see. Best of all, the Dallas Museum of Art is part of the arts district with several art museums within walking distance.
If the kids need a break, head to the Center of Creative Connections for a space just for families. The Sculpture Garden offers another space to explore its outdoor exhibits. Find restaurants for dining inside the museum.
Located at 1717 North Harwood. Open Wedsday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free for collections, special exhibitions are extra.
The Dallas Zoo
Opening in 1888, the Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest zoo in Texas and is one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids. With 106 acres, zoo-goers find over 2,000 animals from 406 species with lions, elephants, gorillas, and hippos.
Located at 650 S R L Thornton Freeway. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. in winter and fall). The Dallas Zoo uses demand pricing. Adult admission starts at $18 to $24 daily. Kids (3 to 11) start at $15.25. Parking is $12.
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Frontiers of Flight Museum
With a Southwest 737 sticking out of the building, the Frontiers of Flight Museum grabs a kid’s attention. This museum features aircraft hanging from the rafters and parked outside, displaying 40 air and spacecraft.
As a bonus, head around back to see the Southwest jets take off and land at Love Field, one of its hubs. Don’t forget to walk through the Southwest jet that sticks outside the building.
Located at 6911 Lemmon Avenue, at the Dallas Love Field Airport. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $15 and kids (3 to 17) are $10.
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George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
As one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids, the Presidential Library walks visitors through recent history. At the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, guests will walk through the Nation under Attack exhibit and learn more about 9/11.
The replica of the Oval Office is a hit with kids. Visitors can take a picture behind the president’s desk.
Located on the Southern Methodist University Campus at 2943 SMU Boulevard. Open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $26, kids 13 to 17 $24 and kids 5 to 12 $20.
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Giant Eyeball
Everything is bigger in Texas, even the eyeballs. The Giant Eyeball is a 30-foot tall fiberglass eyeball, designed by Tony Tasset. For its novelty, it’s one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids.
Located at 1601 Main Street. The eyeball sits on private property though see it from the sidewalk.
Klyde Warren Park
Downtown parks are an oasis for families. Bridging Uptown and Downtown Dallas, Klyde Warren Park offers five acres to roam. Perched above the Woodall Rogers Freeway, find a green space with live music and lawn games.
Find food trucks on the side, so grab a bite. Then, head to one of the shaded green bistro tables. This is one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids.
Klyde Warren Park features a multi-dimensional playground in the Children’s Park. The Imagination Playground includes kid-sized foam blocks.
Located at 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway. Open dawn to dusk. Free
Lakeland Hills Park Skatepark
Head to this eight-acre park if you have a skater in the car. It’s located in a neighborhood south of White Rock Lake.
Located at 2600 St. Francis Ave. Open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
You’ve seen it; you just didn’t know its name. The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge transformed the Dallas Skyline when it opened in 2012. Spanning the Trinity River, the cable-stayed bridge offers a sculptural element to downtown Dallas.
Located next to the Trinity Groves, a 15-acre restaurant and entertainment district southwest of Downtown Dallas. Open 24 hours a day. Free
McKinney Avenue Trolley
Take a vintage streetcar to get around. The McKinney Avenue Trolley travels between popular Dallas destinations, like Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Museum of Art. The vintage cars are air-conditioned and heated for comfort year-round. This is one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids.
Find a stop designated by a maroon sign labeled with M-line Trolley. Free
Meadows Museum
With 66,000 square feet, the Meadows Museum offers work like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, and Diego Velazquez in its permanent collection. The Meadows Museum also offers a sculpture garden.
Located at 5900 Bishop Blvd on the Southern Methodist University campus. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Thursday, and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $12 and kids 18 and under are free.
Nasher Sculpture Center
Find an indoor and outdoor space with contemporary and modern sculpture at the Nasher. Visitors will find artists like Giacometti, Matisse, and Picasso, among others. Nasher offers student tours and family programs to introduce kids to sculpture. It is conveniently located next to the Dallas Museum of Art.
Located at 2001 Flora Street. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $10 and kids 12 and under are free.
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Perot Museum of Nature and Science
If you only have time for one museum, the Perot is it. Stroll the exhibits covering energy, the earth, dinosaurs and minerals. This is one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids.
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science offers a movie theater and lots of hands-on activities for kids and their adults. Additionally, the facility features the Moody Family Children’s Museum, though this facility is geared for younger kids.
Located at 2201 N. Field St. Open Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Tuesday), Adult admission is $25, and kids 2 to 12 are $15 with online reservations recommended.
Pioneer Plaza
Dallas was a rough-and-tumble place with a Western flavor 150 years ago. Relive its cattle driving past with a larger-than-life bronze sculpture depicting the Shawnee Trail. Kids marvel at the longhorns and their massive horns.
Located at 1428 Young St., next to the Dallas Convention Center. Open year-round from dawn to dusk. Free
Reunion Tower
With 360-degree views of Dallas and Fort Worth, it offers a bird’s eye view up to 470 feet. Find an indoor and outdoor space. This is the place for sunset.
Located at 300 Reunion Blvd. Open Monday through Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Adult admission ranges from $19- $40 and kids 4 to 12 are $10 -$20.
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The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Back in 1963, shots rang out from the sixth floor of a quiet building in downtown Dallas. By the end of the day, history changed course and the U.S. had a new President.
Visitors will learn more about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald from the sixth floor of the former book depository overlooking the parade route. It starts with events leading up to JFK’s visit to Texas and the morning of the assassination.
Located at 411 Elm St. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday) Adult admission is $25, kids (6 to 18) are $21 and kids 5 and younger are free. Or use your Dallas CityPass.
Due to its mature nature, this museum is best suited for tweens and teens. However, for older kids, it is one of the top things to do in Dallas with kids.
Six Flags Over Texas
Head to Arlington, between Dallas and Ft. Worth, for 45 amusement park rides, including El Diablo, the world’s largest loop coaster. There are rides for everyone and live shows.
Located at 2201 E Road to Six Flag St. Seasonal hours and days of operation. Admission varies.
Trinity River Audubon Center
What started as an illegal dump site is now a 130-acre site. Stroll through the bottomland hardwood forest or the wetland prairie habitat and see how the animals have returned to the area.
Located at 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. Trinity River Audubon Center is free. Reservations recommended.
White Rock Lake
Enjoy the day exploring White Rock Lake, or pack a picnic for a mid-day escape. Built in 1911, it features a 9.9-mile walking path and lots of green space.
Located at 8300 East Lawther Dr. Open from dawn to dusk. Rental boats are available for a fee. Free
Where to Stay in Dallas
Stay in an Art Centric Boutique Hotel just south of the Dallas Convention Center featuring 600 original works of art. The Lorenzo Hotel offers 237 rooms with dining, valet parking and a pool with a bar. Located at 1011 S. Akard St.
Where to Eat
Kids love burgers, so head to Burger House for solid burgers and seasoned fries. Located at 6248 E. Mockingbird Lane.
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