Excellent Adventures: Dallas Day Trips and Outings! (by Hannah S.)

When we lived in DC, I created a list of excellent adventures around the DC Metro area for a Stake Relief Society event. That list became my Bible for day trips and outings with my kids. When we moved here, I decided to do my homework and come up with a similar list, which I've copied for y'all below. Although we've been to several, we've not been to all of the places listed below, but I've read great things about them either in Parents' magazines or online. Some are very close to home, others are further away and warrant a full day or weekend trip. Let me know if you go to any of these places and what you think! Happy adventuring!

Aquariums
Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park (under renovation): http://www.dallaszoo.com/aquarium/aquarium.htm
Dallas World Aquarium (West End): http://www.dwazoo.com/d/

Farmer's Markets
Coppell Farmer’s Market: http://www.coppellcommunitygarden.org/coppell_farmers_market.php
Dallas Farmer’s Market: http://www.dallasfarmersmarket.com/
Frisco Farmer’s Market: http://www.friscofarmersmarket.org/
Grapevine Farmer’s Market: https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/ThingsToDo/GrapevineMarket/tabid/FestivalsAndEvents/GrapevineMarket/tabid/392/Default.aspx

Farms and Orchards
Gnismer Farms (Arlington): http://www.gnismer.com/
Henrietta Creek Orchard (Roanoke): http://www.henriettacreekorchard.com/
Nash Farm (Grapevine): https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/Heritage/NashFarm/tabid/522/Default.aspx

Gardens
Dallas Arboretum: http://www.dallasarboretum.org/
Discovery Gardens at Fair Park: http://www.texasdiscoverygardens.org/upcoming_events.shtml#Guided%20Garden%20Walks
FW Botanic Garden: http://www.fwbg.org/
Garden Conservancy (look up Dallas): http://gardenconservancy.org/

Horse Parks
Agape Farms (Sanger): http://www.agapefarms.com/
Frisco Horse Park: http://www.friscohorsepark.org/Home_Page.php
Horse Country Tours (Denton): http://www.horsecountrytours.com/
Monastery Mini Horses (Brenham): http://monasteryminiaturehorses.com/

Historical Sites
Dallas Heritage Village: http://dallasheritagevillage.org/
Heritage Farmstead Museum (Plano): http://www.heritagefarmstead.org/
Perry Homestead Museum (Carrollton): http://www.cityofcarrollton.com/index.aspx?page=321

Indoor Activity Centers
Boomerangs (Flower Mound and Plano): http://www.boomerangspartyandplay.com/locations
BounceU (Carrollton and Plano): http://http://www.bounceu.com/
Chuck E Cheese (Plano, Lewisville, Grapevine): http://www.chuckecheese.com/
Factory Tours: http://factorytoursusa.com/StateList.asp?state=TX
Galleria Third Floor Soft Play Area: http://www.galleriadallas.com/#cnt_skating
Ikea Smaland: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/frisco
Nicklemania: http://www.nickelmania.com/index.html
Paradise Pond: http://www.fbcgrapevine.com/groups/children/paradise-pond/
Planet Pizza Plano: http://www.planetpizzaplano.com/
Pump It Up: http://www.pumpitupparty.com/
Shops at Willow Bend in Plano Soft Play Area: http://www.shopwillowbend.com/infodesk/customerServices.html
The Tubes at Irving Bible Church, 2435 Kinwest Pkwy, Irving http://www.irvingbible.org/index.php?id=1516

Lakes
Burgers Lake (FW): http://www.burgerslake.com/
Grapevine
Ray Hubbard
Lewisville
Rockwall
White Rock

Libraries
Coppell Library: http://www.ci.coppell.tx.us/
Dallas Library: http://www.dallaslibrary.org/
Launa’s Little Library (Dallas): 9549 Spring Branch Dr.

Misc.
Blue Bell Creamery Tour (Brenham): http://www.bluebell.com/the_little_creamery/visiting_blue_bell
DFW Airport Observation at Founder’s Plaza: http://www.dfwairport.com/visitor/index.php?ctnid=28578
Fire Department (Coppell): Station #123, 133 Parkway Blvd.
FW Stock Show and Rodeo: http://www.fwstockshowrodeo.com/
FW Stockyards Station: http://www.stockyardsstation.com/
Fountain Place (Dallas): 1445 Ross Avenue at Field Street, 214-855-7766
Katy Trail (Dallas): http://www.katytraildallas.org/
Medieval Times (Dallas): http://www.medievaltimes.com/
Mustangs Sculptures (Las Colinas): http://www.mustangsoflascolinas.com/
Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive Statues (Dallas): Young & Griffin Streets
Planetarium at UT Arlington: http://www.uta.edu/planetarium/
Reunion Tower (Dallas): http://dallas.about.com/od/landmarks/p/ReunionTower.htm
Sandy Lake Amusement Park: http://www.sandylake.com/
SeaWorld (San Antonio): www.seaworld.com/sanantonio
Six Flags (Arlington): http://www.sixflags.com/
Strikz Bowling (Frisco): http://www.strikz.com/
Thanks-Giving Square (Dallas): Pacific, Bryan and Ervay Streets, 214-969-1977

Museums
American Airlines Museum (FW): http://www.crsmithmuseum.org/home.htm
Cowgirl Hall of Fame (FW): http://www.cowgirl.net/generalinfo.asp
Crow Collection of Asian Art (Dallas): http://www.crowcollection.org/
Dallas Arts District: http://www.artsdistrict.org/
Dallas Museum of Nature and Science: http://www.natureandscience.org/
FW Museum of Science: http://www.fortworthmuseum.org/home/index.html
Frontiers of Flight (Dallas): http://flightmuseum.com/
Meadows Museum at SMU: http://smu.edu/meadows/museum/family.htm
Nasher Sculpture Center (Dallas): http://nashersculpturecenter.org/
Old Red Museum (Dallas): http://www.oldred.org/
Printing and Engraving Museum (FW): http://www.moneyfactory.gov/locations/section.cfm/25/493
Trammell Crow Center Sculpture Garden (Dallas): http://www.trammellcrowcenter.com/pages/factsheet.asp?propid=89

Nature Centers
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve (Plano): http://www.plano.gov/Departments/parksandrecreation/Parks/Pages/arbor_hills.aspx
Cedar Ridge Preserve (Dallas): http://audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center (Cedar Hills): http://www.tx.audubon.org/Dogwood.html
Elm Fork Nature Preserve (Carrollton): http://www.pegasusnews.com/places/elm-fork-nature-preserve/
FW Nature Center and Refuge: http://www.nhnct.org/
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge: http://dfwandbeyond.com/tours/wildlife/destinations/hagerman-national-wildlife-refuge
Heard Museum (McKinney): http://www.heardmuseum.org/
Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area: http://www.ias.unt.edu/llela/main.htm
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve (Plano): http://www.plano.gov/Departments/parksandrecreation/Parks/OakPoint/Pages/default.aspx
River Legacy Science Center and Park (Arlington): http://www.riverlegacy.org/rss2html.php
Shoreline Trail (The Colony): http://www.ci.the-colony.tx.us/Depts/PARD/Documents/2009TrailFlyer.pdf
Trinity River Audubon (Dallas): http://www.trinityriveraudubon.org/

Parks and Playgrounds
Blast Off Park: 711 W. Arapaho Rd., Richardson
Fantasy Landing: Kiest Park in Oak Cliff, 214-939-2746
White Rock Creek Park

Railroads, Trains, & Trolleys
Forest Park Miniature Railroad (just outside FW Zoo): http://www.fpmt.us/
Grapevine Vintage Railroad: http://www.grapevinesteamrailroad.com/index.asp
McKinney Avenue Trolley: http://www.mata.org/
Model Train Exhibit in Children’s Medical Center: 1935 Motor Street, 214-640-2000
Museum of the American Railroad: http://dallasrailwaymuseum.com/
Trinity Railway Express: http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org/

Shopping Centers
Allen Premium Outlets
Galleria
Grapevine Mills
Highland Park Village
Irving Mall
NorthPark Center
Stonebriar Center
Southlake Town Square
Town East Mall
Valley View Center
Vista Ridge Mall

Skating
Galleria Ice Rink: http://www.galleriadallas.com/#cnt_skating
Polar Ice House (Grapevine): http://www.polaricehousegrapevine.com/
Stonebriar Ice Rink: http://www.shopstonebriar.com/
Thunderbird Skate Center: http://www.thunderbirdskatecenter.com/index.php

Spraygrounds & Water Parks
Allen Celebration Park: http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/parks_recreation/visiting_allen/celebrationpark.html
Bahama Beach (Dallas): http://www.bahamabeachdallas.com/
NRH20 (North Richland Hills): http://www.nrh2o.com/
Ridgewood Park: http://www.ridgewoodpark.org/
Splash Factory: http://www.grandfungp.com/aquatics/splashfactory.htm

Theater & Puppet Shows
Dallas Children’s Theater: http://www.dct.org/
Dallas Theater Center: http://www.dallastheatercenter.org/
Irving Arts Center: http://www.irvingartscenter.com/
Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse (Galleria Level 3): http://www.slappysplayhouse.com/

Toy Stores
Whole Earth Provision: http://www.wholeearthprovision.com/

Zoos & Petting Zoos
Caldwell Zoo (Tyler): http://dfwandbeyond.com/tours/wildlife/destinations/caldwell-zoo
Dallas Zoo: http://www.dallas-zoo.com/
Dinosaur Valley State Park (Glen Rose): http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/dinosaur_valley/
FW Zoo: http://www.fortworthzoo.com/
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (Glen Rose): http://www.fossilrim.org/
Frank Buck Zoo (Gainesville): http://www.frankbuckzoo.com/
Fritz Park Petting Farm (Irving): http://www.cityofirving.org/parks-and-recreation/facilities/fritz-park-petting-farm.html
Green Meadows Petting Farm (Grand Prairie): http://www.greenmeadowsevents.com/gm/grand_prairie.htm
Grisham Farms Petting Zoo (McKinney, by appt only): http://www.grishamfarms.org/index.html
Owens Spring Creek Farm (Dallas): http://www.owensinc.com/ourfarms/springcreekfarm/default.aspx
Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch (Pilot Point): http://www.sharkarosa.com/index.htm
Texas Fresh Water Fisheries (Athens): http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/
Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge (Tyler): http://tigercreek.org/