10 summer activities in Dallas for adoptive families

School’s out, and it’s time for summer! There’s no better time to connect with your children and make memories that last a lifetime. We usually share tips for birth mothers and families wanting to adopt, but this month we wanted to share some fun summer tips for all the families who’ve already adopted (and any other Dallas area families looking for fun summer activities).

There are tons of fun things to do in the Dallas area in the summer, but sometimes when you live somewhere, you forget about the things that are right there in your own town. Here’s our list of 10 fun family activities in Dallas this summer:

Spend some time at the park

Klyde Warren Park

This is a great free option for a morning or afternoon of fun. Built above the highway between Uptown and Downtown, Klyde Warren Park is guaranteed fun. The park has an area packed with lawn games and ping pong tables, and there’s even a putting green. Your kids will love the jungle gym and the splash pad is perfect for those hot summer days. When you get hungry, there are always a few food trucks at the edge of the park, and several awesome restaurants are just a short walk away.

Check out awesome museums

The Perot Museum

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is just down the road from Klyde Warren Park, and it’s a blast for the whole family. Where else can you race a dinosaur or feel what it’s like to stand in an earthquake? There’s a children’s area on the lower level for kids 5 and under, but the museum really shines with the 6 and older crowd. And a special bonus – there’s an absolutely amazing Lego exhibit through the end of the summer that you don’t want to miss!

The Heard Museum

Take a quick drive up to McKinney and check out the Heard Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary. Most Dallas residents haven’t heard of it, but it’s one of the most awesome family activities in the area. The animatronic dinosaurs exhibit is amazing (but it’s closed for the summer – it reopens in September), but the real animals are the draw here. Learn about Texas wildlife in exhibits and see live animals in the sanctuary. If you’re a fan of birds, you definitely want to make a stop here this summer!

Legoland Discovery Center

This one’s not really a museum, but the Legoland Discovery Center in Grapevine is a blast for kids of all ages (and just as much fun for adults). Master builders have built Lego versions of Dallas landmarks, there’s a play area, and several Lego-themed rides to entertain both adults and kids. The new Pirate Beach water play area just opened outside this week, so make sure to bring your bathing suits.

Go see some animals

The Dallas World Aquarium

Basically an indoor zoo, the Dallas World Aquarium is much more than its name implies. It’s 3 buildings of animals, from sea creatures to rain forest dwellers. The penguins are a favorite, so make sure you check out the penguin feeding time for an extra dose of cuteness. It’s crowded on the weekends, so check it out early mornings during the week for the best experience.

The Dallas Zoo

If you want to see animals, there’s no better place to visit than the Dallas Zoo. The open African Safari area is amazing, and your kids will love feeding giraffes. There’s a kids play area that’s a ton of fun, and animals from all over the world will keep you entertained all day long. You definitely need to go soon to check out the new baby hippo!

Fossil Rim

If you’re an animal fan and you want to see animals in a more natural cage-free habitat, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is only about an hour and a half drive from Dallas, and it’s absolutely stunning. Drive your own car through the park and see animals roaming free – you can even feed many of them! Fossil Rim offers various guided tours as well, and you can even stay overnight on the property!

Ride coasters and waterslides

Six Flags Over Texas

If you’re feeling more adventurous, you definitely need to take a drive out to Six Flags Over Texas. Sure, there’s a chain of Six Flags theme parks, but this was the first one. It’s over 200 acres of roller coasters, water rides, shows, and games. The season pass is a great value if you’re going to go multiple times a year. Most importantly, you need to take a ride on El Diablo, the world’s largest loop rollercoaster.

Hawaiian Falls

If you’re a fan of water slides, you’ll definitely want to spend a day or two at Hawaiian Falls. There are 4 locations in the Dallas area, so you should have one nearby no matter where you live. They each have an awesome play area for young kids, great slides for older kids, and a few fun slides for the adults as well. For only $15, you can bring your own cooler if you’d rather bring your own food and drinks.

Great Wolf Lodge

Dallas summers can get pretty hot, so if you wanna hit some awesome water slides without the heat, head to the indoor waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine. It’s more than the slides, though – it’s an entire overnight experience. You can’t visit the waterpark if you’re not a hotel guest, and there’s so much more to do than just the water slides. The magic wand scavenger hunt game is a blast for kids of all ages, there’s an arcade on the bottom level, and even a children’s spa for manicures and pedicures.

Have your own favorite summer activities? Share them with us in the comments below!