Best Places For A Fun Family Day In Dallas

Everything’s bigger in Texas, and when it comes to family fun, there’s no exception. From outdoor thrill parks to indoor discovery centers, Dallas is the perfect city for a family adventure. Whether you’re visiting in the blistering summer or during the crisp fall, the third largest city in the Lone Star State is sure to have something for you. Check out these top places and discover why Dallas is anything but ordinary. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Located in the heart of Dallas inside an 11th-century-style castle, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament is definitely one not to be missed. From preschoolers to senior citizens, everyone will marvel at the two-hour live jousting tournament featuring six heroic knights on beautiful spirited horses with electrifying swordplay. Sitting ringside, prepare to be crowned as you cheer your personal knight to victory all while eating a ‘utensil free’ four-course meal fit for royalty. Be sure to check out their website for specials, as tickets can be pricey, but they’re definitely worth it.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, 2021 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX, USA +1 866 543 9637

Even for a non-golfer, Topgolf is a great way to spend the day with family. Unlike regular golf that’s slow-paced and outdoors, Topgolf is fast-paced and similar to an upscale driving range with targets to aim at. This digital driving range has several different games to choose from for both first timers and avid golfers. Complete with the amenities of a sports bar, Topgolf also offers a 54-hole mini golf course and batting cages. Whether you’re in the mood to relax inside one of the lounges or outside on the patio, Topgolf has something for everyone.

Topgolf Dallas, 8787 Park Lane, Dallas, TX, USA +1 214 341 9600

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Located in Victory Park near Downtown Dallas, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science offers families a wide variety of exhibits and activities, including hands-on experiments with the actual scientists who work there. Opened in 2012, this gorgeous science center features interactive kiosks, an IMAX theater, an outdoor plaza and a one-acre science park with water features, giant leap frogs and musical instruments. Highlights include digging for dinosaurs, experiencing an actual earthquake, building robots and creating digital music, just to name a few. This 180,000-square-feet museum with five levels of state-of-the art interactive and multimedia exhibits and educational programs is sure to fascinate visitors of any age.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2201 North Field Street, Dallas, TX, USA +1 214 428 5555

Dallas World Aquarium

More like walking through a rainforest, the Dallas World Aquarium is more than just about fish. There are tons of different animals to see such as monkeys, sloths, birds, penguins, frogs and turtles. Plan to spend several hours admiring the wonderful animal exhibits, using the interactive touchscreens, listening to the lectures, or even catching a crocodile or shark feeding. Then top the visit off by grabbing a bite to eat at one of three cafés. Long after the visit, families can stay engaged by logging on to the Dallas World Aquariums website to view the shark or manatee water web cam.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens features 66 acres of gardens, from the ornamental to the sunken and colorful. This beautiful serene place is a year-round attraction that’s fun for all ages. Children are sure to enjoy over 150 activities in the 8-acre Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden that features The Texas Skywalk, The Moody Oasis, a Walk in the Clouds, and much more. Grab lunch to-go from one of the many restaurants and have a picnic on the lawn while soaking in the sun, or sit back and relax at a summer evening concert. With plenty of family activities including indoor and outdoor learning galleries, a scavenger hunt, and tons of interactive exhibits, find out why the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is one of the best family-friendly attractions in Dallas. Don’t forget the camera as there are plenty of photo ops.

Dallas Zoo

The Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest zoological park in Texas with over 2000 animals representing 406 species. Filled with your typical monkeys, lions, tigers and bears, the Dallas Zoo is also one of the only ten zoos in the country to house a koala exhibit. Children of all ages can explore their wild side at the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo that features plenty of activities including crawling eye-level with bugs and rodents and a petting zoo full of gentle, friendly goats. Catch a show of soaring birds, hop on a hump back for a camel ride, or get up close and personal to feed a giraffe lettuce. Make sure you have on your walking shoes because this 100+ acre park is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

iFly Indoor Skydiving

Ever dream of flying? Worth the 30-minute drive to the suburbs of Frisco, iFly Indoor Skydiving makes the dream of flight a reality for ages 3 to 103. With the newest and most advanced wind tunnels in the world, iFly gives the excitement and feel of skydiving without having to jump out an airplane. Get ready to be blown away, literally, for 1.5 hours as you float, parachute free, on a smooth cushion of air.

iFly Indoor Skydiving, 8380 State Highway 121, Frisco, TX, USA +1 214 618 4359

Six Flags Over Texas

A classic theme park, but an ultimate goody. Located in Arlington, about 15 miles outside of Dallas, Six Flags Over Texas offers thrilling roller coasters, great entertainment shows, carnival-style games and plenty of restaurants. From rides like the Titan and the Texas Giant for teens and adults to softer rides like Daffy Duck Bucket Blasters and Bugs Bunny Boomtown for toddlers and small children, there truly is something for everyone. With over 45 rides, including five water rides, be sure to grab an all-access fast pass to enjoy all Six Flags Over Texas has to offer.

Dallas Cowboy Stadium

AT&T Stadium is one of the largest domed structures in the world

Don’t have to be a Cowboys fan to tour the Dallas Cowboy Stadium. The AT&T Stadium is full of endless fun and facts as the world’s largest domed structure. Tour the locker rooms, walk through the tunnel or simply admire its contemporary art. Guests have the option of choosing from four daily tours: Self-Guided, VIP-Guided, Art Tour or an Educational Tour. Enjoy a quick bite at the café, shop the Official Dallas Cowboys Gift Shop, or toss the football around (bring your own) on the actual field for as long as you want. The AT&T Stadium located in Arlington is an experience sure to appeal to everyone.

Grapevine Mills Mall

Grapevine Mills Mall is the ultimate family experience and only 30 minutes from Dallas. From LEGOLAND Discovery Center to Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium to the Rainforest Café to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, these are many fun activities for kids. Parents can also take advantage of the great shopping discounts offered from factory stores like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Disney and Nike. Grapevine Mills Malls offers so much more, so families might have to make it a two-day trip.

Grapevine Mills Mall, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, TX, USA +1 972 724 4910

Great Wolf Lodge

Stay, swim and play at the Great Wolf Lodge of Grapevine. Choose your cabin-style suite that’s an experience in itself, filled with either single beds or log style bunkbeds, a refrigerator and a flat screen TV. Then head over to the outdoor/indoor 84 degrees waterpark featuring nine water slides, six pools, a giant water fort bucket, a lazy river, an obstacle course and basketball hoops. With so many attractions, activities, and interactive games, your children will be begging to stay an extra day. Nightly rates can change during peak season, so be sure to check out their specials.

Great Wolf Lodge, 100 Great Wolf Drive, Grapevine, TX, USA +1 800 693 9653

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.