Fun Family Things to do in Dallas, Texas this Weekend

Perot Museum of Science
Perot Museum of Science

Being the 9th largest city in the country, you can find tons of family friendly things that you can do every weekend.  There are several family friendly adventures available in Dallas, rain or shine.

Below we will go over popular attractions in Dallas that are family friendly.  Dallas offers some interesting chains, as well as some things that are individual to Dallas.  Continue reading to find out what your options are.

Dallas Zoo

Tiger at Dallas Zoo
Tiger at Dallas Zoo

Dallas Zoo is an amazingly large zoo. They offer talks throughout the day. One particular stage has a new animal every 30 minutes that your child can see and learn about (since COVID, you cannot touch them).

There is a stream/water play area near the petting zoos.  This area has bathrooms located conveniently, so it is a great day to let your little ones splash around.  Being that it is Texas, your child may delight in seeing the armadillos in that area.

Legoland/SeaQuest

Legoland Discovery Center Dallas
Legoland Discovery Center Dallas

This is a chain, but something worth visiting if you have never been.  They run specials routinely, so be sure to try to look for a discount.  If you book early in the morning, you can ride the rides without waiting in a long line.

They have a theater where you can watch a short Lego movie.  They also have amazing Lego sculptures for your kiddos to look at.  There is a splash pad outside during the summer season, so be sure to bring your child a change of clothes.

You can buy an accompanying ticket for SeaQuest.  This small aquarium has some worthwhile things to check out.  They have an amazing sea turtle for you to see up close.  They also have a touch tank, where your child can lightly brush sea stars and the like.  Occasionally they have real mermaids that will interact with you.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not/Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks

Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks
Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks

Ripley’s may be a chain business now, but they all differ a bit in what they have for you.  Some are preserved objects (like a 2-faced kitten), while others are replicas (like comparing yourself to Robert Wadlow, the tallest person ever at 8 feet and 11 inches.  Beyond just this, there are interactive parts throughout the museum to keep your kiddos entertained and engaged.

Connected to Ripleys is Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks.  Some of the wax figures here are done amazingly well.  They offer a wide array of individuals for you to take selfies with, from Harry Potter to Prince Harry and Megan.

Tussaud’s Waxworks offer some classical things as well, such as Grimm’s fairy tales.  Currently they have a Wizard of Oz wax section and one room that showcases all the United States presidents, going all the way back to George Washington.

Perot Museum of Science

Perot Museum of Science
Perot Museum of Science

If you have an ASTC membership, this children’s museum is a must see for free.  Without an ASTC membership, it is still quite affordable.  There are several different floors that offer an array of activities.

You can take your kids on a simulated earthquake as you guide them through parts of the natural world.  If you have a dinosaur loving kid, they have a whole floor dedicated almost entirely to them.

There is another floor dedicated to science, with many interactive examples.  Your child can tell a robot what to do and watch it perform.  Or your child can test out how their  body moves.  Overall, there is a lot to look at and this museum is a good and educational way to spend the day.

The Dallas World Aquarium

A group of American Flamingo at Dallas World Aquarium
A group of American Flamingo at Dallas World Aquarium

This aquarium is unlike any others.  It is more than just aquatic creatures.  They feature several different birds and mammals, in addition to their fish.  They have a manatee which is always amazing to see in person.  They also have several interesting rays to look at.  The red octopus is delightful for kids to look at as well, reminding them of Hank from Finding Dory.

One of the highlights here is the tunnel that you can walk through and see the huge sawfish swim around you.  It makes for great pictures but even better memories.  This aquarium is also unique in that you start at the top and work your way around a spiral floor, gazing at animals along the way.

Six Flags Over Texas

Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas

The nice thing about Six Flags parks is that they differ from one another.  Located in Arlington, you can visit Six Flags Over Texas.  This amusement park offers things for adults to toddlers and everyone in between.

This massive park is divided into a few different sections: old west, Mexican, Looney Toon kids, and superheroes.  They regularly update their park and rides, so if you have visited in the past, it is entirely possible that it is quite different now.

There are also live shows that you can watch throughout the year.  A musical in the Old West, a shootout with bad guys and sheriffs, Christmas singing, modern singing; They cycle through and have a little bit of everything when it comes to entertainment.  Be sure to check out their schedule to see what they are offering now.

Kidzania

Kidzania
Kidzania

Located in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Kidzania is a massive city where children can roleplay in different professions.  Professions range from fire fighters, pilots, dancers, doctors, chefs, astronauts, secret agents, actors, and more.

This is the perfect, extended play place for children from around ages 3 to 12.  It is located in a nice, large mall, but also offers food inside the establishment as well.  Some of the activities allow the adults to participate, such as an audience member for a realistic television studio.  If you want to give your child endless time to play, this is for you.

Conclusion

Now you are aware of several different, family-friendly things for you to do in Dallas.  Whether you want to stick with a chain with its variants or to do something entirely new, Dallas has it to offer you.  Instead of picking one thing, why don’t you stay a whole week or two and see them all?

See Also

Things to do in US Cities

Fun Family Things to do in Dallas, Texas this Weekend

Hi and welcome to my travel blog! Based in London, I work in investment banking in a quantitative field and although I am not part of the travel industry, I have a ton of passion for travel. My blog is a reference guide for my fellow travelers with the same passion as me. Hopefully the blog is easy to navigate and my aim is to bring the most relevant and interesting information before you begin your journey!