Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the Mid-Cities - 2020
2020's Best Places for Kids in the Mid-Cities!
The best places to take kids around the Mid-Cities, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey (May-June each year). Of course, there is LOTS more to do in our area! Get great ideas below, make sure to check out the Everything That's Free page, sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter packed with things to do, and then explore the rest of KidsOutAndAbout.com for lots more!
Fort Worth Zoo
The mission of the Fort Worth Zoo is to strengthen the bond between humans and the environment by promoting responsible stewardship of wildlife and ensuring diverse, high-quality educational and entertaining family experiences through effective and efficient management of its resources.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Dedicated to lifelong learning and anchored by rich collections, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History engages the community through creative, vibrant programs and interactive exhibits. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History houses a variety of traveling and permanent exhibitions. Permanent exhibits include DinoLabs & DinoDig, Energy Blast, the Fort Worth Children’s Museum and the Cattle Raisers Museum. Innovation Studios— a five glass-walled studio that houses Inventor, Doodler, Designer, Imaginer and Explorer—is where imagination, curiosity and creativity are encouraged and nurtured. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is also home to two theaters, the Omni Theater, an IMAX dome and the Noble Planetarium.
My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Midcities area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!
Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
Epic Waters is TX's Largest Indoor Waterpark! Located in Grand Prairie, TX, the park showcases 80,000 sq. ft. of year-round weatherproof family fun. Epic Waters is home to thrills from mild to wild, including 12 waterslides, the longest indoor action river in Texas, an outdoor wavepool, a children’s play area that’s equipped with an aquatic fort, a double FlowRider® surfing simulator, an arcade, a café, a full-service bar, private cabanas, and much more!
Kimbell Art Museum
The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth is internationally renowned for both its collections and its architecture. The Kimbell's collections range in period from antiquity to the 20th century and include European masterpieces by artists such as Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Poussin, Velázquez, Monet, Picasso and Matisse; important collections of Egyptian and classical antiquities; and the art of Asia, Africa and the Ancient Americas. Admission is always FREE to view the museum’s permanent collection. Special exhibitions require a ticket. For more information, visit kimbellart.org/visit.
Alley Cats Entertainment
40,000 sf of INDOOR entertainment. Alley Cats is open year-round. We offer a variety of packages for Kids and Adults. Groups are a Specialty at Alley Cats. With an indoor catering department, and Full Bar Service, we are the perfect place for Corporate Outings. And of course, nobody does Birthday Parties better than Alley Cats! Open every day of the year. Check www.alleycatsbowl.com for hours. Located next door to Putt-Putt near I-20 and Cooper in Arlington.
Putt-Putt Fun Center
When you visit a Putt-Putt Fun Center, you choose fun for you and your family. At a Fun Center you may find go-karts, batting cages, game rooms, lazer tag, miniature golf and more.
Urban Air Indoor Trampoline Park
Urban Air Trampoline Parks are the perfect venue in Dallas Fort Worth for some good old family fun, kids birthday parties, church events, corporate events, or any other event you can dream up.
Country Critters Farm
Petting Zoos and a Lot More! Come to the Farm or We'll Come to You!
Grapevine Vintage Railroad
Head to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad in Historic Downtown Grapevine and climb aboard an authentic 1920's Victorian coach for a train trip along the historic Cotton Belt Route that travels from Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards most weekends throughout the year.
Pump It Up of Arlington
Who wants to wait for the next birthday party? Check out our Event Calendar to put some jump into your normal routine.
Stockyards Museum
The Museum features artifacts from the Stockyards and the Swift and Armour Packing Plants. You will also find saddles and other cowboy collectibles from the cattle drive era to contemporary times. Learn more about the Fort Worth Stockshow, American Indians of the area and Camp Bowie.
Vintage Flying Museum
The primary mission of the Vintage Flying Museum, a Texas 501(c)(3) Non Profit, is to preserve America’s flying heritage in Word, Deed and Action.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Located on the western border of Plano, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a 200-acre park featuring vast areas of natural beauty for walking, jogging, hiking, orienteering, and other outdoor activity. The preserve has a natural biofilter for cleaning surface run-off from the parking lot before it re-enters the groundwater tables. The observation tower gives a spectacular view of the city.
Mainstay Farm
During October our farm offers a great selection of pumpkins and a variety of fall activities. Each November and December, Mainstay Farm is bustling with families selecting their perfect Christmas tree. We are also open to the public during Spring Break days each year.
Painting with a Twist
Painting with a Twist is a FUN art studio. We offer Kids classes, birthday parties and kids camp.
Ripley's Believe It or Not - Grand Prairie
Come explore the unexplainable at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! With 5 unique attractions, there is something for everyone of all ages! Take selfies with the stars in our Louis Tussauds Palace Of Wax, see unique artifacts and artwork from all over the world in our Ripley’s Odditorium, get lost in our Enchanted Mirror Maze, test your senses in our new 7D Moving Theater, and duck under lasers to beat the clock in our Impossible Laser Race. You can even make custom wax hands and green screen photos, see you there!
UTA Planetarium
UTA Planetarium is one of the three largest planetariums in Texas located in Arlington on The University of Texas at Arlington campus. With its 60-foot dome projection surface, fully digital projection system, and advanced software, UTA Planetarium provides unparalleled views of the night sky, the solar system, stars, and distant galaxies — all complemented with Dolby® surround sound. The theater provides comfortable reclining seats for an audience of nearly 150, is wheelchair friendly, and can provide radio headsets for the hearing impaired.
Art Centre Theatre
The Art Centre Theatre is a place to "ACT" for life. All ages, races, sexes, experience levels, reilgions, orientations and individuals are accepted and welcome under our roof. Come play! We aim to create a sense of unity and cohesion through the presentation of works that challenge conventional ideals and commonly accepted mores. ACT accomplishes this goal through the presentation of a highly varied program of musical theatre, drama, comedy, opera, operetta, dance, children's theatre, concerts and art exhibits in a season that runs year-round.
Chuck E. Cheese
Where A Kid Can Be A Kid! Have a blast with food, games and prizes for the whole family.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in six categories. Here were their choices.Favorite Place for Arts Education
Art Ballet AcademyArt Ballet Academy is committed to providing the finest Vaganova training available to students interested in the art of classical ballet. ABA offers a structured curriculum in a professional atmosphere for students at all levels of training.
Favorite Place for Physical/Sports Education
Arlington SportsElzie Odom Athletic Center offers a wide variety of programs and activities for all ages. League and class activities are taught throughout the day, Monday through Saturday.
