Summer will officially be here on Sunday! Looking for things to do with your children in Dallas? Now that the CDC has relaxed its protocols and there has been an increased rollout of the vaccine, there are some fun options to do outside of the home. If you aren’t comfortable venturing out of the home yet, there are also some activities listed that can be done from the safety of your own home!

Online or at-home activities:

KERA Summer Learning Challenge
This free summer program gives parents a structured, easily-accessible blueprint to a fun, educational summer filled with your child’s favorite PBS characters. Simply register your child online, and then you’ll receive a packet in the mail full of summer learning materials. Each month features a calendar of daily activities for children to complete challenges and log progress. Once the challenge is complete, submit the checklist and your child will receive a STEM prize pack in the mail!

Dallas City of Learning 
Discover fun activities in robotics, sports, coding, games and more from the comfort of your home!

 

Indoor activities outside of the house:

Dallas Museum of Art
The Dallas Museum of Art offers free admission and free exhibits! Children can explore the numerous hands-on exhibits showcased at the Center of Creative Connections. Garage parking is available for $15.00, but outside parking meters are also available. In addition, the museum has week-long summer art camps for ages 4-12 now through August 6. The fee for summer camps for DMA members is $185, and the non-member public rate is $220.

Rec Center Summer Camps
Dallas Park and Recreation will be offering 8 weeks of recreation center summer camps. Camp start dates will vary depending on which school district each rec center is located. For youth ages 5-12 years, the cost is $50 per week.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science offers a variety of programs and events geared toward early childhood, children, teens, adults and all ages. The Interactive Children’s Museum includes a farmer’s market, an engineering and innovation hall and a museum scavenger hunt – perfect for a summer day! For non-members, admission starts at $20 for adults and $13 for children, but you can also look online for other discounts or memberships.

Museum of Geometric and MADI Art
Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The museum concentrates on MADI art which is geometric shapes that spill out of the traditional frames. Workshops and classes for children ages kindergarten through college are available. The cost for the workshops is $5 per student and include an instructor and materials.

Dallas World Aquarium
Children two and under receive free admission. For children aged 3-12, the cost is $18.95 plus tax, and adults pay $26.95 plus tax. The aquarium also offers senior (65+) and military discounts for $22.95 plus tax.

 

Outdoor activities:

Trolley Rides
Take the “M” line in between popular Dallas destinations such as Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Museum of Art as well as the Perot Museum and the Dallas World Aquarium. The trolleys are air-conditioned and heated for comfort all year round.

Self-Guided Walking Tours
Download the “Pegasus Urban Trails” app on your phone for seven free DIY walking tours. You can explore the Dallas Arts District, Deep Ellum or the West End Historic District at your own pace! For iPhones, click here. For Androids, click here.

Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park offers five acres to enjoy for all ages with a multi-dimensional playground. The park is an expansive green space home to live music side-by-side with lawn games. The park is also surrounded by food trucks to grab a bite to eat and enjoy on one of the various green bistro tables, or bring your own food to enjoy a picnic! Children can beat the heat and have some fun in the splash pad! You can also enjoy Klyde Warren’s Movies in the Park on select Saturday evenings. On Saturday, June 19, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will be playing and on Saturday, August 14, enjoy “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.”

Guapo Skatepark & Shop
The Mission of The Texas Skateboarding Museum is to preserve and share skateboarding history and culture with skateboarders and a wide range of audiences. What started as a getaway for the founders has grown into a safe, drug-free environment where Dallas’ underserved youth can escape and stay out of trouble. While admission is free, donations are encouraged.

The Cove at Crawford Waterpark
The Cove is only open on weekends. For those 11 and under, admission is $6.00, and for anyone over the age of 12, $8.00. The facility offers picnic tables, a lazy river, a swimming pool, diving boards, slides, a toddler pool, concession stands and more!

Bahama Beach Waterpark
A brand-new waterpark, Bahama Beach just opened in Dallas on May 29! General admission 48″ and taller is $15.00. Junior admission under 48″ tall is $11.00. Age 2 and under are free. Dallas resident discount are also available!

Trinity River Audobon Center
The Trinity River Audubon Center invites visitors of all ages to explore miles of trails, learn about local birds and wildlife at its Children’s Discovery Garden. From its inception in 2008, the Trinity River Audubon Center has been welcoming visitors to its sanctuaries and inviting them to participate in nature education programs. Admission: adults ages 13 – 59: $6.00. Children ages 3 – 12: $3.00. Seniors ages 60+: $4.00. Members, children age 2 and under, and 75217 residents are free.

Texas Discovery Gardens
Explore 7.5 acres of gardens, the Butterfly House, and the Native Snakes of Texas house! Last tickets sold for day are at 4:15 p.m. Every Wednesday, admission to the Butterfly House and Gardens is FREE, although donations are encouraged. For parking, enter Fair Park through Gate 5 at the intersection of Robert B. Cullum Blvd. and Grand Ave. Take an immediate right once in the gate. Continue straight down Second Ave. Go just past the stop sign and park in lot 6 to your right. Texas Discovery Gardens should be across the street from you!

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