Family Vacation Ideas In the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Area
The Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. With attractions that range from nationally recognized zoos and science museums to multi-event facilities with go-kart tracks, it offers a variety of fun-filled activities for every member of the family vacationing in the area.
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Museum of Nature and Science
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The Museum of Nature and Science is in Fair Park, two miles east of downtown Dallas. The facility includes four primary attractions: the Nature Building (a 200,000-item collection of artifacts and mammal specimens), the Science Building (200 hands-on science exhibits), the 323-seat IMAX Theater and the Planetarium. It also has a children's museum with five hands-on galleries (Little Urban Farm, Water Room, Your Town, My House and Your Backyard) and a number of family-oriented programs such as camp programs, little explorers, discovery days, engineers' week, sleepovers and birthday parties. Dining options include the Museum Cafe in the lobby and the Old Mill Inn Restaurant, which offers home-style menu items. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Sunday hours from noon to 5 p.m.
Dallas World Aquarium
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The Dallas World Aquarium, opened in 1992, is in the West End district in downtown Dallas. In addition to the collection of aquatic life and the 220-foot entrance tunnel, it has the 200-foot Wilds of Borneo lined with plants and animals from the region, the indoor Orinoco rainforest exhibit complete with a 40-foot waterfall, an outdoor South Africa with a Madagascar display, and the Mundo Maya exhibit with a Tree of Life. A variety of 30-minute family-oriented programs are on tap daily with topics such as otters, penguins and sea turtles. It also includes three on-site restaurants, a gift shop and a book store. The facility is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in autumn and winter, and opens at 9 a.m. in the months of March through August.
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Fort Worth Zoo
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The Fort Worth Zoo is the oldest zoo in Texas and it has 519 species of animals with 42 on the endangered list. It includes 12 permanent exhibit areas ranging from penguins and primates to recreations of the Australian outback and the African savannah. Additional family-oriented attractions include the Kids Saturday Classes, petting corral, the country carousel, the interactive farm and barn with play area and the Yellow Rose Express, which is a miniature train that travels between the Safari Depot and the Texas Wild exhibit. Dining options include a number of choices throughout the facility as well as the Crocodile Cafe, which is the zoo's food court. The zoo is open 365 days a year with opening times of 10 a.m. and closing times that vary between 4 and 6 p.m. depending on time of year.
Malibu SpeedZone
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The Malibu SpeedZone is a motorsport-themed family entertainment center in Dallas. It offers four different racetracks: Thunder Road (family-orientated racing with single- and double-passenger karts), Top Eliminator Dragster (head-to-head racing in 300-horsepower dragsters), Slick Trax (drift-style racing for up to 10 racers), and Turbo Track (high-torque turbo car racing for up to 20 drivers). In addition to the kart racing, the facility includes a six-story roller coaster, two 18-hole miniature golf courses and a state-of-the-art arcade. Dining options include the SpeedZone Cafe and bar that offers a variety of menu items ranging from appetizers and pizza to entrees and desserts. It is open seven days a week and the hours of operation are generally from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with extended hours to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
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