family having fun together.

The 5 Best Things to do in Dallas with Kids

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Dallas with your kids, you’ve come to the right place. No matter if you’re a native Texan or a visitor to the Lone Star State, you’ll find plenty to do and see here in Dallas. From seeing exotic animals at the zoo, to flying through the trees on a zip line, there are tons of family attractions in Dallas that will keep you coming back for more. Who knows? We might even convince you to consider moving to Dallas, so you’ll never be far away from these family-friendly adventures!

The Dallas Zoo

Mother and child feeding a giraffe at the zoo.

If there’s one best thing to do with kids in Dallas, it’s this: go to the zoo! The Dallas Zoo spans 106 acres of land and features of 400 different species. Kids will love getting up close and personal with wildlife during wildlife exhibitions, feedings and other education programs that take place throughout the zoo every day. In the Children’s Zoo, your kids will get to pet farm animals and feed birds at Bird Landing. For a more exotic experience, stop by the Giraffe enclosure, where you can feed a giraffe from the palm of your hand!

We recommend at least a half day to enjoy the Dallas Zoo. In addition to walking around the park, you’ll need plenty of time to hop on the monorail, see the only koalas in Texas, and watch hippos through the underwater viewing space. If you stick around till the evening, you’ll get to see Safari Nights, a nightly concert for kids; while the kids rock out, the adults can even grab a cold beer or glass of wine to end the day.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

You might not think of a botanical garden as a top attraction for families in Dallas, but the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is here to prove you wrong! It turns out, this attraction is a great way to end the day, with gorgeous sites for parents, lots of spots for the family photos you want to post on Social Media, and even a few fun perks for the kids. Let’s start with just the natural beauty of this place. With over 66 acres of gardens, the Arboretum is a world of color and scent. Plus, with White Rock Lake at its back, the scenery is even more gorgeous.

But this experience is more than just a walk in the park. The Gardens have programs going on every day to engage visitors, including educational programs about plants, tastings for local produce, and more. The Rory Meyer’s Children’s Adventure Garden offers easy playtime for kids, with more than 150 kid-friendly educational activities about nature. There are also tons more events that happen throughout the year. For example, if you visit in the Fall, you’ll get to experience “The Adventures in Neverland,” a seasonal pumpkin village, which features scenes from the book Peter and Wendy made out of 90,000 pumpkins!

Jump Street and Coo Coo’s

Little girl enjoying an indoor trampoline park.

Doesn’t it seem like kids have more energy than is possible in their bodies? Well, we’ve found the perfect thing to do in Dallas with kids to tire them out. Today, there are trampoline parks in many cities, but Jump Street is a Dallas original. With wall-to-wall trampolines, basketball courts and obstacle courses, your kids will bounce and play out all that energy in just a few hours. Plus, this is the perfect place to let out your inner kid, and finally nail that backwards flip.

Most Jump Street is intended for kids 7 and up, but if you’ve got little tikes, never fear! There is a section for younger children in the trampoline park, including a bounce house and play area. If you need something more entertaining for the toddlers, walk next door to Coo Coo’s, a bouncy castle paradise perfect for kids of all ages. Trust us, you’ll have a blast, and the ride home should be full of quiet, napping kids.

Trinity Forest Adventure Park

Do you have older kids or teens? Then you need to check out Trinity Forest Adventure Park! This epic treetop adventure is one of the best things to do in Dallas with kids who love adrenaline! A ticket gets you three hours of fun, including help harnessing and Ground School, where you learn the important safety measures needed to swing through the canopy.  The park is self-guided, so once you’re strapped in, you can go anywhere in the park that you want.

There are a variety of courses, which are color coded for different difficulties (Yellow being beginner and black being expert). The codes also denote which courses require supervision or adult accompaniment for kids under 16. You can try them all, or go along the easier routes, especially if it’s your first time. The obstacles range from ladders, tightropes and wobble bridges, to zip lines that will have you practicing your George of the Jungle call.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Kids enjoy learning at a science museum.

Perot Museum of Science and Nature is the top place in Dallas to take your kids if they love learning and having fun! As you walk through 5 floors of exhibits, you’ll get to experience the wonders of our world, and beyond. Eleven permanent exhibits include explorations into the human body, engineering, minerals and dinosaurs. The museum also features a rotation of amazing, 3D science films, which you can enjoy in their massive theater! For smaller kids, you can also visit the Moody Family Children’s Museum, play areas and daily programs to entertain children 4 and under.

Another great thing about the Science Museum? It’s one of the best free things to do in Dallas with kids! That’s right, general admission is absolutely free–you only have to pay for films and the special dino traveling exhibit, if you decide to go to them. The museum has hours of fun exhibits to enjoy, but most families can have their fill in less than a half-day here, or 2-4 hours.

More Fun Things to do in Dallas with Kids

They might not have made it into our top 5, but there’s no reason not to explore even more of what Dallas has to offer families. Here are a few more amazing experiences you can have with your family while visiting Dallas:

  • Dallas World Aquarium: Walk through a 22,000 gallon tunnel while fish swim all around you.
  • Klyde Warren Park: Built above the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, this urban green space features a kids park with interactive fountains and a playground.
  • Hurricane Harbor: Can’t handle the Texas heat? This is the largest water park in Dallas, so get ready to get soaked.
  • Dallas Heritage Village: You can take a step back into history here by viewing Victorian homes and storefronts and learning about what life was like here in the 19th century.

Having Too Much Fun? Consider Moving to Dallas!

Oh, we’re serious. The only thing better than visiting Dallas is living here! Dallas is a great city for families. There’s plenty of work opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. There are lots of great suburbs and amazing school choices. You’d be living in a State with no income tax! And have we mentioned, there is so much to do here?

If you are thinking about moving to Dallas, be sure to read up on the area first. Our blog has some great articles on things you should know about Dallas, and some of the best neighborhoods you’ll want to talk to your realtor about. Plus, when you’re ready to make the move, our local moving services will make your transition effortless.

If you have more questions about Dallas, or want a free moving quote, call us at (214) 733-4411. We can’t wait to hear from you!