101 Family Day Trips and Staycations Around the Mid-Cities
Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation.
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from the Mid-Cities. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Explore Gardens and Sculpture Gardens
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Nasher Sculpture Center |
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Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens |
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Lavender Ridge Farms |
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Dallas Museum of Art Sculpture Garden |
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Fort Worth Botanical Garden |
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Nasher Sculpture Center |
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Texas Sculpture Garden |
Get Wild on a Hike
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Bob Jones Nature Center |
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Cedar Hill State Park |
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Cedar Ridge Preserve |
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Colleyville Nature Center |
Time Travel Today
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A.W. Perry Homestead Museum |
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Arlington Historical Society |
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Old City Park |
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Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum |
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National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum |
Make Life a Beach
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Joe Pool Lake |
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Pebble Beach Park |
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Burger's Lake |
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Meadowmere Park |
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Little Elm Park |
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Ray Roberts Lake State Park |
Splash into Some Water Fun
Spend the Day at a Museum
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Arlington Museum of Art |
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Cattle Raisers Museum |
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Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax |
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National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame |
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National Videogame Museum |
Explore These Cities
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Glen Rose |
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Salado |
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Dallas |
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Tyler |
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Forth Worth |
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Terrell |
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Palestine |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
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Cavanaugh Flight Museum |
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Vintage Flying Museum |
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Grapevine Vintage Railroad |
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Interurban Railway Museum |
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Frontiers of Flight Museum |
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Forest Park Miniature Railroad |
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McKinney Avenue Trolley |
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Hall's Pumpkin Farm |
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Kadee Farm |
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Preston Trail Farms |
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Henrietta Creek Orchard |
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Elves Farm |
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Blueberry Hill Farms |
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Mainstay Farm |
Play Ball!
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Dallas Cowboys |
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Allen Americans |
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Dallas Mavericks |
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Texas Rangers |
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Dallas Stars |
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FC Dallas |
Treat Yo' Self
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Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream |
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Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream |
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Paradise Bakery and Cafe |
Connect with Nature
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Arbor Hills Nature Preserve |
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Colleyville Nature Center |
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Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area |
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Dallas Arboretum |
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Lake Texoma |
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Davy Crockett National Forest |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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Six Flags Over Texas |
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Celebration Station |
Talk to the Animals
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Children's Aquarium at Fair Park |
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Dallas Zoo |
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RNR Stables |
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SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium |
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Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch |
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The Dallas World Aquarium |
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Fort Worth Zoo |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
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Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center for the Arts |
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The Samurai Collection |
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Meadows Museum |
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African American Museum, Dallas |
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Crow Collection of Asian Art |
Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
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Turner Falls State Park |
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Wichita Falls at Lucy Park |
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Hamilton Pool Preserve |
Get Active Indoors
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Altitude Trampoline Park |
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Pump it Up |
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Arlington-Mansfield Area YMCA |
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The REC of Grapevine |
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Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center |
Challenge Yourself
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Go Ape! |
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Summit Rock Climbing Gym |
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Trinity Forest Adventure Park |
Shop Your Heart Out
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The Shops at Willow Bend |
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Bricks & Minifigs |
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Half Price Books |
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Galleria Dallas |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Midcities. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away